"Is MCPS losing its edge?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the title question: yes.
However,
if you talk to MCPS students who have met and talked to students from other parts of the country, let's say at camp, youth group, cousins etc.. they will tell you they are doing well and better off in the Montgomery County school system. As Board of Education member Harris said something along the lines of - people don't know how good they have it until they go elsewhere - could be true. (And no this is not someone from the Harris campaign nor is it Harris herself).

This is true.

My kids are thriving compared to similarly situated peers in neighboring states.

Sure.

But they aren’t thriving when compared to kids at dc metro area privates.

^^^
And that’s the problem imho.

As a parent with a handful of kids—including mcps graduates all the way down to current elementary students (and everything in between)—I can report things have gotten worse.

I can also report a dramatic increase in mcps families trying to get their kids into area private schools. Sadly, there are a very limited number of seats so most will be left in mcps.

I’m sick of it.

Raise the standards, focus on core subjects, use well established methods rather than chasing after the silver bullet that simply doesn’t exist, etc.

Actually, they thriving compared to kids at DC metro area private schools, and for free.

You're delusional. Mcps is the bottom of the barrel outside of a few jewels like Poolesville and the Ws. If you can come up with a comparison that mcps is "better than" you're relying on fallacy. MCPS has a culture of apathy which is devolving into a culture of animosity towards students. It's worse than you think.

Why this argument again and again. There is no comparison to be had between MCPS and local privates. It’s an apples to oranges comparison. And quite frankly local private and local private school parents are happy that MCPS exist. Can you imagine what it would look like if they actually had to compete with one another on a level playing field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the title question: yes.
However,
if you talk to MCPS students who have met and talked to students from other parts of the country, let's say at camp, youth group, cousins etc.. they will tell you they are doing well and better off in the Montgomery County school system. As Board of Education member Harris said something along the lines of - people don't know how good they have it until they go elsewhere - could be true. (And no this is not someone from the Harris campaign nor is it Harris herself).

This is true.

My kids are thriving compared to similarly situated peers in neighboring states.

Sure.

But they aren’t thriving when compared to kids at dc metro area privates.

^^^
And that’s the problem imho.

As a parent with a handful of kids—including mcps graduates all the way down to current elementary students (and everything in between)—I can report things have gotten worse.

I can also report a dramatic increase in mcps families trying to get their kids into area private schools. Sadly, there are a very limited number of seats so most will be left in mcps.

I’m sick of it.

Raise the standards, focus on core subjects, use well established methods rather than chasing after the silver bullet that simply doesn’t exist, etc.

Since when are DC-area private schools a reasonable comparison for MCPS? There are so many differences between those students before they even enter school that it's a laughable comparison. Your "reports" are your personal observations, nothing more. They're not relevant, particularly not when you think DC-area private schools are the standard against which MCPS should be compared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the title question: yes.
However,
if you talk to MCPS students who have met and talked to students from other parts of the country, let's say at camp, youth group, cousins etc.. they will tell you they are doing well and better off in the Montgomery County school system. As Board of Education member Harris said something along the lines of - people don't know how good they have it until they go elsewhere - could be true. (And no this is not someone from the Harris campaign nor is it Harris herself).

This is true.

My kids are thriving compared to similarly situated peers in neighboring states.

Sure.

But they aren’t thriving when compared to kids at dc metro area privates.

^^^
And that’s the problem imho.

As a parent with a handful of kids—including mcps graduates all the way down to current elementary students (and everything in between)—I can report things have gotten worse.

I can also report a dramatic increase in mcps families trying to get their kids into area private schools. Sadly, there are a very limited number of seats so most will be left in mcps.

I’m sick of it.

Raise the standards, focus on core subjects, use well established methods rather than chasing after the silver bullet that simply doesn’t exist, etc.

Since when are DC-area private schools a reasonable comparison for MCPS? There are so many differences between those students before they even enter school that it's a laughable comparison. Your "reports" are your personal observations, nothing more. They're not relevant, particularly not when you think DC-area private schools are the standard against which MCPS should be compared.

Why?

Parochial schools have a long history of taking everyone and successfully operating in very low income areas.

The difference largely stems from expectations. And what I’ve observed as a lifetime resident of MoCo and a longtime mcps parent (my oldest is wrapping up college and my youngest is in elementary school; I also have kids in MS and HS) is a dumbing down of the curriculum and setting the bar lower in terms of expectations and personal responsibility. Public schools in other communities actually set expectations high and enforce discipline. ICYMI: mcps does not.

Having attended multiple open houses at area privates this year, I’m seeing lots of disgruntled mcps parents who feel the same way.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the title question: yes.
However,
if you talk to MCPS students who have met and talked to students from other parts of the country, let's say at camp, youth group, cousins etc.. they will tell you they are doing well and better off in the Montgomery County school system. As Board of Education member Harris said something along the lines of - people don't know how good they have it until they go elsewhere - could be true. (And no this is not someone from the Harris campaign nor is it Harris herself).

This is true.

My kids are thriving compared to similarly situated peers in neighboring states.

Sure.

But they aren’t thriving when compared to kids at dc metro area privates.

^^^
And that’s the problem imho.

As a parent with a handful of kids—including mcps graduates all the way down to current elementary students (and everything in between)—I can report things have gotten worse.

I can also report a dramatic increase in mcps families trying to get their kids into area private schools. Sadly, there are a very limited number of seats so most will be left in mcps.

I’m sick of it.

Raise the standards, focus on core subjects, use well established methods rather than chasing after the silver bullet that simply doesn’t exist, etc.

Since when are DC-area private schools a reasonable comparison for MCPS? There are so many differences between those students before they even enter school that it's a laughable comparison. Your "reports" are your personal observations, nothing more. They're not relevant, particularly not when you think DC-area private schools are the standard against which MCPS should be compared.

Why?

Parochial schools have a long history of taking everyone and successfully operating in very low income areas.

The difference largely stems from expectations. And what I’ve observed as a lifetime resident of MoCo and a longtime mcps parent (my oldest is wrapping up college and my youngest is in elementary school; I also have kids in MS and HS) is a dumbing down of the curriculum and setting the bar lower in terms of expectations and personal responsibility. Public schools in other communities actually set expectations high and enforce discipline. ICYMI: mcps does not.

Having attended multiple open houses at area privates this year, I’m seeing lots of disgruntled mcps parents who feel the same way.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

The only reason those schools can “set the bar higher” and enforce discipline is that they can kick students out. We have students at our school who have hurt others, brought weapons, threatened students and teachers… and I work at an elementary. According to our administration, there is nothing to be done other than brief in-school suspensions (sitting in the office or the counselor’s office for a day). There can be do discipline if there are no possible consequences the students care about.

[Anonymous]

I have a senior at a W school and if I could do it over again, I would have sent her to a private school for high school. I really don’t think she received a good education and I fear for her readiness for college next year.

[Anonymous]

MCPS won’t get better until it has a real attendance policy and controls the phone use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

Even in AP classes! Look at your high school’s AP scores and you can easily see that. Very much a lack of rigor.

I’m amazed at the lack of homework and assignments.

I really don't understand homework. How is it the kids are in school 6 to 8 hours per day and they have to come home to complete assignments. When I was home schooled I had my work done the time bus got to school. Wasted time..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the title question: yes.
However,
if you talk to MCPS students who have met and talked to students from other parts of the country, let's say at camp, youth group, cousins etc.. they will tell you they are doing well and better off in the Montgomery County school system. As Board of Education member Harris said something along the lines of - people don't know how good they have it until they go elsewhere - could be true. (And no this is not someone from the Harris campaign nor is it Harris herself).

This is true.

My kids are thriving compared to similarly situated peers in neighboring states.

Sure.

But they aren’t thriving when compared to kids at dc metro area privates.

^^^
And that’s the problem imho.

As a parent with a handful of kids—including mcps graduates all the way down to current elementary students (and everything in between)—I can report things have gotten worse.

I can also report a dramatic increase in mcps families trying to get their kids into area private schools. Sadly, there are a very limited number of seats so most will be left in mcps.

I’m sick of it.

Raise the standards, focus on core subjects, use well established methods rather than chasing after the silver bullet that simply doesn’t exist, etc.

Actually, they thriving compared to kids at DC metro area private schools, and for free.

You're delusional. Mcps is the bottom of the barrel outside of a few jewels like Poolesville and the Ws. If you can come up with a comparison that mcps is "better than" you're relying on fallacy. MCPS has a culture of apathy which is devolving into a culture of animosity towards students. It's worse than you think.

Not delusional, fact.
The area private schools cannot compete with MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the title question: yes.
However,
if you talk to MCPS students who have met and talked to students from other parts of the country, let's say at camp, youth group, cousins etc.. they will tell you they are doing well and better off in the Montgomery County school system. As Board of Education member Harris said something along the lines of - people don't know how good they have it until they go elsewhere - could be true. (And no this is not someone from the Harris campaign nor is it Harris herself).

This is true.

My kids are thriving compared to similarly situated peers in neighboring states.

Sure.

But they aren’t thriving when compared to kids at dc metro area privates.

^^^
And that’s the problem imho.

As a parent with a handful of kids—including mcps graduates all the way down to current elementary students (and everything in between)—I can report things have gotten worse.

I can also report a dramatic increase in mcps families trying to get their kids into area private schools. Sadly, there are a very limited number of seats so most will be left in mcps.

I’m sick of it.

Raise the standards, focus on core subjects, use well established methods rather than chasing after the silver bullet that simply doesn’t exist, etc.

Since when are DC-area private schools a reasonable comparison for MCPS? There are so many differences between those students before they even enter school that it's a laughable comparison. Your "reports" are your personal observations, nothing more. They're not relevant, particularly not when you think DC-area private schools are the standard against which MCPS should be compared.

Why?

Parochial schools have a long history of taking everyone and successfully operating in very low income areas.

The difference largely stems from expectations. And what I’ve observed as a lifetime resident of MoCo and a longtime mcps parent (my oldest is wrapping up college and my youngest is in elementary school; I also have kids in MS and HS) is a dumbing down of the curriculum and setting the bar lower in terms of expectations and personal responsibility. Public schools in other communities actually set expectations high and enforce discipline. ICYMI: mcps does not.

Having attended multiple open houses at area privates this year, I’m seeing lots of disgruntled mcps parents who feel the same way.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

The only reason those schools can “set the bar higher” and enforce discipline is that they can kick students out. We have students at our school who have hurt others, brought weapons, threatened students and teachers… and I work at an elementary. According to our administration, there is nothing to be done other than brief in-school suspensions (sitting in the office or the counselor’s office for a day). There can be do discipline if there are no possible consequences the students care about.

This is my biggest issue in ES right now. We have violent students that repeatedly have incidents and come back to school. And nothing can be done. Evacuating a class of 25 kids for misbehavior of one is insane and takes away from the education of the rest. This on top of a sliding curriculum rigor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

Even in AP classes! Look at your high school’s AP scores and you can easily see that. Very much a lack of rigor.

I’m amazed at the lack of homework and assignments.

I really don't understand homework. How is it the kids are in school 6 to 8 hours per day and they have to come home to complete assignments. When I was home schooled I had my work done the time bus got to school. Wasted time..

Do you realize how little of those 68 hours are actually spent doing anything you might call learning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

Even in AP classes! Look at your high school’s AP scores and you can easily see that. Very much a lack of rigor.

I’m amazed at the lack of homework and assignments.

I really don't understand homework. How is it the kids are in school 6 to 8 hours per day and they have to come home to complete assignments. When I was home schooled I had my work done the time bus got to school. Wasted time..

Do you realize how little of those 68 hours are actually spent doing anything you might call learning?

This.

Plus: in the olden days, we challenged kids with a more rigorous curriculum that included homework. Private schools still do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a senior at a W school and if I could do it over again, I would have sent her to a private school for high school. I really don’t think she received a good education and I fear for her readiness for college next year.

The reality is your kid probably could not have gotten into a private high school.

There is a mass exodus happening from area public schools and even stellar students are shut out of private schools. There simply aren’t enough spots.

Your kid won’t be ready for college the way you were. Kids simply aren’t prepared the way prior generations were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer the title question: yes.
However,
if you talk to MCPS students who have met and talked to students from other parts of the country, let's say at camp, youth group, cousins etc.. they will tell you they are doing well and better off in the Montgomery County school system. As Board of Education member Harris said something along the lines of - people don't know how good they have it until they go elsewhere - could be true. (And no this is not someone from the Harris campaign nor is it Harris herself).

This is true.

My kids are thriving compared to similarly situated peers in neighboring states.

Sure.

But they aren’t thriving when compared to kids at dc metro area privates.

^^^
And that’s the problem imho.

As a parent with a handful of kids—including mcps graduates all the way down to current elementary students (and everything in between)—I can report things have gotten worse.

I can also report a dramatic increase in mcps families trying to get their kids into area private schools. Sadly, there are a very limited number of seats so most will be left in mcps.

I’m sick of it.

Raise the standards, focus on core subjects, use well established methods rather than chasing after the silver bullet that simply doesn’t exist, etc.

Since when are DC-area private schools a reasonable comparison for MCPS? There are so many differences between those students before they even enter school that it's a laughable comparison. Your "reports" are your personal observations, nothing more. They're not relevant, particularly not when you think DC-area private schools are the standard against which MCPS should be compared.

Why?

Parochial schools have a long history of taking everyone and successfully operating in very low income areas.

The difference largely stems from expectations. And what I’ve observed as a lifetime resident of MoCo and a longtime mcps parent (my oldest is wrapping up college and my youngest is in elementary school; I also have kids in MS and HS) is a dumbing down of the curriculum and setting the bar lower in terms of expectations and personal responsibility. Public schools in other communities actually set expectations high and enforce discipline. ICYMI: mcps does not.

Having attended multiple open houses at area privates this year, I’m seeing lots of disgruntled mcps parents who feel the same way.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

The only reason those schools can “set the bar higher” and enforce discipline is that they can kick students out. We have students at our school who have hurt others, brought weapons, threatened students and teachers… and I work at an elementary. According to our administration, there is nothing to be done other than brief in-school suspensions (sitting in the office or the counselor’s office for a day). There can be do discipline if there are no possible consequences the students care about.

This is what needs to change.

Have multiple parents write letters to the principal and the community superintendent asking for a meeting. Detail the situation with the problematic student(s) and the impact to the class (evacuations).

It took a while, but we had the problem child removed from the school.

The county needs to invest in more alternative schools for kids who can’t be in a traditional classroom. They do exist, but the process is a lift…and principals need to be pushed. You must provide visibility to their boss. It works.

[Anonymous]

All of these problems seem to always be blamed and directed toward the teachers for retaliation. Violent students- the blame the teacher for no control, kids won't get off cell phones- write a bad review of the teacher to lose their job and measly income, teacher reports crime and violence in the classroom- admin ignore and continues to bash the teachers. I don't recommend this profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The article points out that at ALL MCPS schools, even in honor classes, there’s a lack of rigor, grade level assignments, and assigned books.

Even in AP classes! Look at your high school’s AP scores and you can easily see that. Very much a lack of rigor.

I’m amazed at the lack of homework and assignments.

I really don't understand homework. How is it the kids are in school 6 to 8 hours per day and they have to come home to complete assignments. When I was home schooled I had my work done the time bus got to school. Wasted time..

Do you realize how little of those 68 hours are actually spent doing anything you might call learning?

I think we're on the same page here. They spend 6 to 8 hours not learning anything, then the teacher sends home some busy work, so they won't learn anything at home either.