Thoughts on DCI, Latin or BASIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BASIS parents fight all the time - on this board, to the detriment of BASIS
BASIS has discipline issues as well -
for example, the girl's bathroom on the first floor is constantly trashed - no holes, but they have taken the towel thing off the wall etc
dismantled some things that I would not have expected and require some strength - and this is the girls!

BASIS is the epitome of unethical institution. They use comp exams to boost the grades of certain students and totally plummet the grades of others -- especially at the high school level

And what about the unethical DCPS practice of social promotion??? And fraud?

Fraud is synonymous with BASIS. This is not an opinion.

I have no dog in this fight, but when you say things like this, you just sound moronic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Different poster but I think kids should not have access to cell phones during the school day when they are in middle school. Not sure why school allows it given that there is no academic benefit. Seems crazy.

That sounds like a very legitimate concern. Are you talking about DCI, or which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Different poster but I think kids should not have access to cell phones during the school day when they are in middle school. Not sure why school allows it given that there is no academic benefit. Seems crazy.

That sounds like a very legitimate concern. Are you talking about DCI, or which school?

Students at DCI can use their phones during the school day.

I don't know about Washington Latin.

BASIS middle school students are not allowed access to cell phones during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a LAMB parent with children in lower elementary, but I'm engaged with some upper elementary kids (including current 5th graders). Unfortunately, I'm aware of several parents who will not be sending their kids to DCI due to concern about the "tech focus" and discipline issues. Perhaps they're blowing smoke or perhaps it's genuine concern. Since I'm a long ways away from having to be concerned myself, I'm happy just to listen to their concerns. Whatever the case, the school should address whatever the concerns are in a more transparent fashion. Shutting down critiques of the tech focus is not helpful. Perhaps concern about that is helicopter parents ruck amuck. But, the school should just acknowledge the concern and refute it with science. Unless they can do that by the time it's my kids' turn, we won't be going.

What changes would you like to see made to their 'tech focus'?

For starters, the need to adequately state what it is. Next, they need to provide the science that supports their particular use. Stuff that negates its utility abounds, so if everyone else has it wrong and DCI has it right, it needs to pony up the "proof". Also, with all of the threads on this topic, discussions at the feeder schools etc... It sounds like the school is tech focused due to budget issues. Chrome books take the place of live instruction because it's cheaper. If that's the case, so be it. But, that needs to be acknowledged. The hush-hush and lack of transparency really bothers parents. Again, if it's truly "all good", no harm, no foul, but DCI needs to make that case loud and clear. It doesn't sound like they've done that. If they have, there's some position statement out there to put all of the chatter to rest, please post a link. It would do a lot of parents good and perhaps steer parents back in the direction of sending their kids. As a LAMB parent, at this juncture, we're going elsewhere. There are a few more like me. And my child is extremely strong in Spanish. She tutors other kids and is great. This is DCI's loss. They should care about this. Again, I won't let the door hit me and me and my precious snowflake will go elsewhere. But, at some point snowflakes turn into snowballs and avalanches and so on...

[Anonymous]

10:59

Where and how are Chrome books taking the place of live instruction?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:59

Where and how are Chrome books taking the place of live instruction?

Yes, I never heard that. I know a couple of parents at DCI and they were thrilled with the instruction they were getting. Yes, complaints about kids going off task to play on phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a LAMB parent with children in lower elementary, but I'm engaged with some upper elementary kids (including current 5th graders). Unfortunately, I'm aware of several parents who will not be sending their kids to DCI due to concern about the "tech focus" and discipline issues. Perhaps they're blowing smoke or perhaps it's genuine concern. Since I'm a long ways away from having to be concerned myself, I'm happy just to listen to their concerns. Whatever the case, the school should address whatever the concerns are in a more transparent fashion. Shutting down critiques of the tech focus is not helpful. Perhaps concern about that is helicopter parents ruck amuck. But, the school should just acknowledge the concern and refute it with science. Unless they can do that by the time it's my kids' turn, we won't be going.

What changes would you like to see made to their 'tech focus'?

For starters, the need to adequately state what it is. Next, they need to provide the science that supports their particular use. Stuff that negates its utility abounds, so if everyone else has it wrong and DCI has it right, it needs to pony up the "proof". Also, with all of the threads on this topic, discussions at the feeder schools etc... It sounds like the school is tech focused due to budget issues. Chrome books take the place of live instruction because it's cheaper. If that's the case, so be it. But, that needs to be acknowledged. The hush-hush and lack of transparency really bothers parents. Again, if it's truly "all good", no harm, no foul, but DCI needs to make that case loud and clear. It doesn't sound like they've done that. If they have, there's some position statement out there to put all of the chatter to rest, please post a link. It would do a lot of parents good and perhaps steer parents back in the direction of sending their kids. As a LAMB parent, at this juncture, we're going elsewhere. There are a few more like me. And my child is extremely strong in Spanish. She tutors other kids and is great. This is DCI's loss. They should care about this. Again, I won't let the door hit me and me and my precious snowflake will go elsewhere. But, at some point snowflakes turn into snowballs and avalanches and so on...

I am at DCI feeder as well and I have never heard an inkling about Chrome books being used because of budget issues. That is a pretty strong claim.

[Anonymous]

10:59 here. I'm not certain about the live instruction concern with chrome books. It's a part of the chatter along with kids allegedly using cell phones and playing games during instruction time. Again, DCI would handle this by addressing this head on and not downplaying concerns. If the live instruction thing is completely unfounded, DCI is not doing itself any favors by not addressing that directly. Even a posting on the website about the tech concerns would begin to allay fears. But the "it's all okay" attitude, when it's not okay, is a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a LAMB parent with children in lower elementary, but I'm engaged with some upper elementary kids (including current 5th graders). Unfortunately, I'm aware of several parents who will not be sending their kids to DCI due to concern about the "tech focus" and discipline issues. Perhaps they're blowing smoke or perhaps it's genuine concern. Since I'm a long ways away from having to be concerned myself, I'm happy just to listen to their concerns. Whatever the case, the school should address whatever the concerns are in a more transparent fashion. Shutting down critiques of the tech focus is not helpful. Perhaps concern about that is helicopter parents ruck amuck. But, the school should just acknowledge the concern and refute it with science. Unless they can do that by the time it's my kids' turn, we won't be going.

What changes would you like to see made to their 'tech focus'?

For starters, the need to adequately state what it is. Next, they need to provide the science that supports their particular use. Stuff that negates its utility abounds, so if everyone else has it wrong and DCI has it right, it needs to pony up the "proof". Also, with all of the threads on this topic, discussions at the feeder schools etc... It sounds like the school is tech focused due to budget issues. Chrome books take the place of live instruction because it's cheaper. If that's the case, so be it. But, that needs to be acknowledged. The hush-hush and lack of transparency really bothers parents. Again, if it's truly "all good", no harm, no foul, but DCI needs to make that case loud and clear. It doesn't sound like they've done that. If they have, there's some position statement out there to put all of the chatter to rest, please post a link. It would do a lot of parents good and perhaps steer parents back in the direction of sending their kids. As a LAMB parent, at this juncture, we're going elsewhere. There are a few more like me. And my child is extremely strong in Spanish. She tutors other kids and is great. This is DCI's loss. They should care about this. Again, I won't let the door hit me and me and my precious snowflake will go elsewhere. But, at some point snowflakes turn into snowballs and avalanches and so on...

I am at DCI feeder as well and I have never heard an inkling about Chrome books being used because of budget issues. That is a pretty strong claim.

It's been brought up on threads here on DCUM. In some parent conversations where no of us has first hand experience we all thought that there were concerns that the tech was filling in gaps where the money was short. It was all "I heard from this person" and "I heard from that person", etc... DCI should take a stand and correct the record. Again, science would also help us to understand. The developing brain needs tactile engagement, not the kind that comes from typing on a key board, etc... and playing games during class is distracting and a negative. Come on, DCI. Explain how this position is wrong and you guys have a handle on it.

[Anonymous]

How are they downplaying your tech concerns? Have you asked for a meeting? All these concerns in 16 pages- how many people have actually discussed their concerns with DCI Admin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are they downplaying your tech concerns? Have you asked for a meeting? All these concerns in 16 pages- how many people have actually discussed their concerns with DCI Admin?

NP - also a feeder school parent.

Questions about this have been answered in generalities and concerns downplayed during open houses.

It's not really an issue for me or my kids so I haven't sought a meeting. But I can see why others feel brushed off - no clue if they took the next step to ask for a 1:1 meeting.

[Anonymous]

DCI has offered a parent tech night each year to help parents understand the use of chromebooks and technology at DCI.
DCI never replaces teachers with computers. That's a flat-out lie.
Students only are allowed to use phones during brunch and lunch. Phones are confiscated if seen otherwise.

[Anonymous]

You would think DCI would care more about this attrition of feeder kids. This impacts their model and mission greatly. Shouldn't they want to keep the kids with the second language, rather than fill the spaces with English speaking only lottery spaces?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You would think DCI would care more about this attrition of feeder kids. This impacts their model and mission greatly. Shouldn't they want to keep the kids with the second language, rather than fill the spaces with English speaking only lottery spaces?

They don't seem to have much attrition at all from feeders, despite all the posturing on this board!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCI has offered a parent tech night each year to help parents understand the use of chromebooks and technology at DCI.
DCI never replaces teachers with computers. That's a flat-out lie.
Students only are allowed to use phones during brunch and lunch. Phones are confiscated if seen otherwise.

Why are they allowed to have phones at all during the day? What's the point?

Don't they have access to the internet/social media throughout the day (including class time)?