demoralized in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some students that this doesn’t work with for a variety of reasons (students in constant crisis, psychopaths/sociopaths, strong peer influence, gangs influence, parents overriding proper behavior patterns,etc.)

Perhaps. However, MCPS says statistically it works for most students. The Restorative Justice office at the Carver Center presented info at a PTA meeting at our school this past year. The principal said she supported the use of Restorative Justice but didn't use it when some problems came up.

I often wonder if there is an inherent racial bias in MCPS to reserve nonpunitive measures for some students then throw multi-day suspensions at others because of the offender's race. That seems to be the pattern at our school.

Lol
You believe the county? I want some of your drugs!

Admin loves covering up referrals & suspensions. So data are skewed. There are many kids just sent back to the classroom after an " intervention" has occurred. And the kids are repeat offenders. But nothing is ever officially logged in. That's why it's imperative that teachers document everything. I loved showing logs at meetings - with admin not following through on their end.

Different teacher here. I’ve observed the bias with the dress code and earbuds for years at three different schools. AA and Latino girls get in trouble for wearing the exact garments as white girls. The exact garment not just a similar style. An Asian or white boy walks by with earbuds in and teachers say nothing, but harass the AA and Latino boys. The students see the difference.

Of course, the obvious question is whether the AA and Latino girls are wearing the same exact garments 3 sizes too small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some students that this doesn’t work with for a variety of reasons (students in constant crisis, psychopaths/sociopaths, strong peer influence, gangs influence, parents overriding proper behavior patterns,etc.)

Perhaps. However, MCPS says statistically it works for most students. The Restorative Justice office at the Carver Center presented info at a PTA meeting at our school this past year. The principal said she supported the use of Restorative Justice but didn't use it when some problems came up.

I often wonder if there is an inherent racial bias in MCPS to reserve nonpunitive measures for some students then throw multi-day suspensions at others because of the offender's race. That seems to be the pattern at our school.

Lol
You believe the county? I want some of your drugs!

Admin loves covering up referrals & suspensions. So data are skewed. There are many kids just sent back to the classroom after an " intervention" has occurred. And the kids are repeat offenders. But nothing is ever officially logged in. That's why it's imperative that teachers document everything. I loved showing logs at meetings - with admin not following through on their end.

Different teacher here. I’ve observed the bias with the dress code and earbuds for years at three different schools. AA and Latino girls get in trouble for wearing the exact garments as white girls. The exact garment not just a similar style. An Asian or white boy walks by with earbuds in and teachers say nothing, but harass the AA and Latino boys. The students see the difference.

Of course, the obvious question is whether the AA and Latino girls are wearing the same exact garments 3 sizes too small.

Why do you assume white girls don’t wear too small clothing? Stop sexualizing black and brown children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some students that this doesn’t work with for a variety of reasons (students in constant crisis, psychopaths/sociopaths, strong peer influence, gangs influence, parents overriding proper behavior patterns,etc.)

Perhaps. However, MCPS says statistically it works for most students. The Restorative Justice office at the Carver Center presented info at a PTA meeting at our school this past year. The principal said she supported the use of Restorative Justice but didn't use it when some problems came up.

I often wonder if there is an inherent racial bias in MCPS to reserve nonpunitive measures for some students then throw multi-day suspensions at others because of the offender's race. That seems to be the pattern at our school.

Lol
You believe the county? I want some of your drugs!

Admin loves covering up referrals & suspensions. So data are skewed. There are many kids just sent back to the classroom after an " intervention" has occurred. And the kids are repeat offenders. But nothing is ever officially logged in. That's why it's imperative that teachers document everything. I loved showing logs at meetings - with admin not following through on their end.

Different teacher here. I’ve observed the bias with the dress code and earbuds for years at three different schools. AA and Latino girls get in trouble for wearing the exact garments as white girls. The exact garment not just a similar style. An Asian or white boy walks by with earbuds in and teachers say nothing, but harass the AA and Latino boys. The students see the difference.

Of course, the obvious question is whether the AA and Latino girls are wearing the same exact garments 3 sizes too small.

Why do you assume white girls don’t wear too small clothing? Stop sexualizing black and brown children.

Because I chaperoned a dance at Sligo MS and saw it for myself. It's not me sexualizing black and brown children - it's the black and brown children (and their parents) doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Because I chaperoned a dance at Sligo MS and saw it for myself. It's not me sexualizing black and brown children - it's the black and brown children (and their parents) doing that.

Oh good grief, PP. Just stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Restorative Justice is implemented correctly, it gives the offender an opportunity to reflect on the harmful action and an opportunity to change behavior so it aligns with expected behavior. It provides healing for the victim that does not happen with the traditional punishment scenario. The victim is supported in telling the perpetrator the impact of his/her actions. The victim should come a way that there is atonement and plan to do better.

The problem in MCPS is there is no fidelity to using Restorative Justice. A principal can profess support for Restorative Justice just to be politically correct then never use it or Central Office resources in practice. This is a problem of bad leadership, not a problem with Restorative Justice.

Well, it wasn't a miracle worker at Alt.

That's for sure.

so . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Different teacher here. I’ve observed the bias with the dress code and earbuds for years at three different schools. AA and Latino girls get in trouble for wearing the exact garments as white girls. The exact garment not just a similar style. An Asian or white boy walks by with earbuds in and teachers say nothing, but harass the AA and Latino boys. The students see the difference.

Of course, the obvious question is whether the AA and Latino girls are wearing the same exact garments 3 sizes too small.

Why do you assume white girls don’t wear too small clothing? Stop sexualizing black and brown children.

Because I chaperoned a dance at Sligo MS and saw it for myself. It's not me sexualizing black and brown children - it's the black and brown children (and their parents) doing that.

I see this too at my daughter's "majority minority" middle school. It's crazy what some of these kids are wearing to class.

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify: MCPS dress codes do not address clothing being tight. However, if the rule is no spaghetti straps or crop trips (belly shirts), the enforcement should be the same whether the girl is a size 2 or a size 20.

[Anonymous]

Like it or not a lot of AA and Hispanic girls can be quite curvy. Combined with the how fast bodies change in middle school, clothes that fit one month, can seem tight and or sexualizing a few months later. Some skinny white girls do wear really really small t-shirts showing midrifs. Usually these ladies are very tall for their build, so can run into the same issues. I am well aware that buying clothes that fit can be a challenge, however I am surprised at what some parents allow their kids to leave the house with. As a male teacher, I refer any dress code issue to a female staff member. Female students can feel very, very uncomfortable talking to a male teacher about clothes. In fact, commenting on student clothing at all as a compliment or negatively, is not a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Different teacher here. I’ve observed the bias with the dress code and earbuds for years at three different schools. AA and Latino girls get in trouble for wearing the exact garments as white girls. The exact garment not just a similar style. An Asian or white boy walks by with earbuds in and teachers say nothing, but harass the AA and Latino boys. The students see the difference.

Of course, the obvious question is whether the AA and Latino girls are wearing the same exact garments 3 sizes too small.

Why do you assume white girls don’t wear too small clothing? Stop sexualizing black and brown children.

Because I chaperoned a dance at Sligo MS and saw it for myself. It's not me sexualizing black and brown children - it's the black and brown children (and their parents) doing that.

I see this too at my daughter's "majority minority" middle school. It's crazy what some of these kids are wearing to class.

Quoting this from the current thread that DW buys DD short shorts

Anonymous wrote:It's actually hard to get a DD that age shorts that are not very short. I know, I have a DD that age, and if I want something with more than a 2-3 inch inseam, I have to look hard. Whereas all shorts for boys are practically knee length and baggy. Your DW is probably just grabbing whatever shorts the store is selling for both, and this is what most stores have. Take it up with the designers.

And yeah, you should stay out of it.

When the child is white or Asian, the parents’ best intentions are assumed.

[Anonymous]

The girls dress the way their mothers dress. Their overweighted mothers were clothing that is too tight/too small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like it or not a lot of AA and Hispanic girls can be quite curvy. Combined with the how fast bodies change in middle school, clothes that fit one month, can seem tight and or sexualizing a few months later. Some skinny white girls do wear really really small t-shirts showing midrifs. Usually these ladies are very tall for their build, so can run into the same issues. I am well aware that buying clothes that fit can be a challenge, however I am surprised at what some parents allow their kids to leave the house with. As a male teacher, I refer any dress code issue to a female staff member. Female students can feel very, very uncomfortable talking to a male teacher about clothes. In fact, commenting on student clothing at all as a compliment or negatively, is not a good idea.

Curvy or not, if the clothing has spaghetti straps or shows the midriff, it is in violation. Choosing to only enforce on curvy girls is discriminatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like it or not a lot of AA and Hispanic girls can be quite curvy. Combined with the how fast bodies change in middle school, clothes that fit one month, can seem tight and or sexualizing a few months later. Some skinny white girls do wear really really small t-shirts showing midrifs. Usually these ladies are very tall for their build, so can run into the same issues. I am well aware that buying clothes that fit can be a challenge, however I am surprised at what some parents allow their kids to leave the house with. As a male teacher, I refer any dress code issue to a female staff member. Female students can feel very, very uncomfortable talking to a male teacher about clothes. In fact, commenting on student clothing at all as a compliment or negatively, is not a good idea.

Obesity rates are higher among blacks and Hispanics.

It's not curvy; it's fat. caused by poor minorities' reliance on sh*tty cafeteria food for 2/3 of their meals - sometimes all three of their meals

Look up CDC stats.

And if you're poor, you're wearing hand-me-downs that don't fit well, or you're wearing clothes you've outgrown years ago. $$$$ is a factor. Many of the kids who come from Central America don't even have coats b/c there was no need for them back home. So you will also arrive with clothes that fit another climate.

a variety of factors to consider, folks

But I can't blame you if you've never worked in a challenging school. You are the true definition of ignorance.

[Anonymous]

I want to redouble what 9:16 is saying.

If you are poor, you take what you can get in terms of clothing and you wear it as long as you can.

If you are not poor, but rather lower middle class, there are still challenges. They are getting better, but for a long time the places where most LMC folks could afford to buy clothes were also the places with the shortest shorts and skimpiest t-shirts. Target, Children's Place, Carter's - those clothes tend to be highly gendered and pretty skimpy for girls.

On the "short shorts" thread, people are recommending HA, Boden, Tea, and Primary for girls clothes that are modest.

That's fine, but let's be real about who can afford to shop there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like it or not a lot of AA and Hispanic girls can be quite curvy. Combined with the how fast bodies change in middle school, clothes that fit one month, can seem tight and or sexualizing a few months later. Some skinny white girls do wear really really small t-shirts showing midrifs. Usually these ladies are very tall for their build, so can run into the same issues. I am well aware that buying clothes that fit can be a challenge, however I am surprised at what some parents allow their kids to leave the house with. As a male teacher, I refer any dress code issue to a female staff member. Female students can feel very, very uncomfortable talking to a male teacher about clothes. In fact, commenting on student clothing at all as a compliment or negatively, is not a good idea.

Obesity rates are higher among blacks and Hispanics.

It's not curvy; it's fat. caused by poor minorities' reliance on sh*tty cafeteria food for 2/3 of their meals - sometimes all three of their meals

Look up CDC stats.

And if you're poor, you're wearing hand-me-downs that don't fit well, or you're wearing clothes you've outgrown years ago. $$$$ is a factor. Many of the kids who come from Central America don't even have coats b/c there was no need for them back home. So you will also arrive with clothes that fit another climate.

a variety of factors to consider, folks

But I can't blame you if you've never worked in a challenging school. You are the true definition of ignorance.

Please be careful how you use the word ignorant.
I have worked in challenging schools in the Wheaton/Silver spring areas as well as in the alternative programs. Certainly, weight is a factor. As I said bodies change very quickly in middle school. The kids in these schools, particularly the girls dress much more fashionable than how I remember growing up. Clothes are much cheaper now. Hand me downs are not as common as you may think. Even though the families might struggle financially, you would be surprised how much their kids spend on clothes out of the family budget. Being clean and having nice clothing is a big part of the culture for many of these families more so than many obviously wealthier white families. However, even money doesn't easily solve the shopping difficulties curvy or taller girls have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to redouble what 9:16 is saying.

If you are poor, you take what you can get in terms of clothing and you wear it as long as you can.

If you are not poor, but rather lower middle class, there are still challenges. They are getting better, but for a long time the places where most LMC folks could afford to buy clothes were also the places with the shortest shorts and skimpiest t-shirts. Target, Children's Place, Carter's - those clothes tend to be highly gendered and pretty skimpy for girls.

On the "short shorts" thread, people are recommending HA, Boden, Tea, and Primary for girls clothes that are modest.

That's fine, but let's be real about who can afford to shop there.

+1000 to all of this!

Our school does a clothing drive and I see my students wearing my DD’s hand me downs. Cheap clothing for girls is skimpy because it is less fabric, helping to keep the production cost down. Less fabric and less labor.