McLean to Explore Separating from FC & FCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think maybe we disagree on what public schools mean in a fundamental way if you believe that the price of the house a child's family can afford should directly determine the quality of their public school education. Maybe you should get a cheaper house and pay for private school.

Or maybe you should acknowledge that FCPS short-changes the public schools in McLean and then takes credit for the high achievement of their students that is a result of the additional resources that the parents there have to fork over on their own.

+1

No one wants McLean schools to get more than other schools in FCPS. They want to be treated equally. I’m not sure you understand what goes on. FCPS regularly puts money into schools in poorer areas and then expects McLean schools to do without. For example, fields at poorer schools are regularly funded by FCPS. If McLean needs money for fields, they are required to fundraise for them. The county will not pay for them. That is just one example.

Citizens of mclean just want to be treated equally, not better than. But they are constantly being treated less than all others in the county because they assume the citizens will just fund it themselves.

But then FCPS is perfectly ready to take credit for the high test scores that come out of the underfunded schools. Even though it is the parents and students that actually are responsible for those phenomenal test scores.

Ummm... maybe the teachers helped also. But they don't live in McLean, I guess.

Sorry - I don't disagree that the teachers help. But McLean is not provided with better teachers than the rest of the county. You can't say that the teachers at McLean/Langley are so much better than the teachers at South Lakes can you? So much so that it makes the difference in all the test scores?

It is generally easier to recruit and retain teachers at McLean/Langley than at many other schools because the teachers don't have to work as hard or deal with as many disciplinary issues, but the flip-side is that the area is expensive and teachers may prefer positions closer to where they live.

If McLean City ran its own schools, it likely could pay higher salaries than FCPS or offer smaller class sizes, both advantages to teachers.

You have no way of knowing this.

You have no way of disproving it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant, I could never understand why there was such a disparity in education quality across the U.S. I couldn't understand why poor black areas had such worse schools compared to more affluent (and usually white) areas. But this thread has been an eye-opener. I understand this much better now. It seems the more affluent folks want their money to benefit only them and their families. They don't see the benefit to society of elevating everyone and giving a good education to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Don't people want the US to succeed long-term? How does keeping poor people less educated benefit a country in the long-run?

I am an immigrant as well and I live in McLean. Nobody here opposes other schools benefiting from a healthy tax base, what we have accepted is that “others” will be benefited at our expense while our kids sit in trailers. No, thanks!

Just move a couple streets over and your children can go to Langley in a lovely newly renovated building with no overcrowding.

What's the problem?

[Anonymous]

I think McLean is tired of subsidizing the rest of the FCPS. Also, FCPS is horribly inefficient, due to its unmanageable size. Not saying I agree which way, but something had to be done.

Just like Fairfax County and Northern VA should be tired of subsidizing the rest of VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant, I could never understand why there was such a disparity in education quality across the U.S. I couldn't understand why poor black areas had such worse schools compared to more affluent (and usually white) areas. But this thread has been an eye-opener. I understand this much better now. It seems the more affluent folks want their money to benefit only them and their families. They don't see the benefit to society of elevating everyone and giving a good education to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Don't people want the US to succeed long-term? How does keeping poor people less educated benefit a country in the long-run?

I am an immigrant as well and I live in McLean. Nobody here opposes other schools benefiting from a healthy tax base, what we have accepted is that “others” will be benefited at our expense while our kids sit in trailers. No, thanks!

Just move a couple streets over and your children can go to Langley in a lovely newly renovated building with no overcrowding.

What's the problem?

That is not the solution, to treat people in McLean with such dismissive attitude is the issue. You are happy to take our dollars but want us to shut up and never voice a concern. This Sorry, pocket dial attitude is driving this discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant, I could never understand why there was such a disparity in education quality across the U.S. I couldn't understand why poor black areas had such worse schools compared to more affluent (and usually white) areas. But this thread has been an eye-opener. I understand this much better now. It seems the more affluent folks want their money to benefit only them and their families. They don't see the benefit to society of elevating everyone and giving a good education to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Don't people want the US to succeed long-term? How does keeping poor people less educated benefit a country in the long-run?

I am an immigrant as well and I live in McLean. Nobody here opposes other schools benefiting from a healthy tax base, what we have accepted is that “others” will be benefited at our expense while our kids sit in trailers. No, thanks!

+1. It's not like FCPS isn't aware of the problems or couldn't take appropriate steps. They are just too befuddled and indifferent to do so. At some point things boil over.

[Anonymous]

sorry*... ignore the pocket dial stupid autocorrect.

[Anonymous]

This is the spiral of the way America generally funds its public schools; it ALWAYS makes sense for wealthy areas to separate from less wealthy areas.

100% it should happen.

[Anonymous]

I wonder what the Langley parents think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant, I could never understand why there was such a disparity in education quality across the U.S. I couldn't understand why poor black areas had such worse schools compared to more affluent (and usually white) areas. But this thread has been an eye-opener. I understand this much better now. It seems the more affluent folks want their money to benefit only them and their families. They don't see the benefit to society of elevating everyone and giving a good education to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Don't people want the US to succeed long-term? How does keeping poor people less educated benefit a country in the long-run?

I am an immigrant as well and I live in McLean. Nobody here opposes other schools benefiting from a healthy tax base, what we have accepted is that “others” will be benefited at our expense while our kids sit in trailers. No, thanks!

Just move a couple streets over and your children can go to Langley in a lovely newly renovated building with no overcrowding.

What's the problem?

I love that FCPS is so progressive and focused on equity, but they'll spend $40 million to expand West Potomac so kids don't have to go to Mount Vernon, but next to nothing on McLean because maybe they'll get around eventually (just not in 2018, 2019, or 2020) to moving some kids to the richer school in town. Or people can just move or send their kids to privates, no big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what the Langley parents think?

Someone posted upthread that this is being driven by Langley parents who are happy with the schools and only want more input on zoning decisions. This doesn't actually have anything to do with complaints about trailers (because there's nothing to actually complain about wrt Langley HS and McLean HS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant, I could never understand why there was such a disparity in education quality across the U.S. I couldn't understand why poor black areas had such worse schools compared to more affluent (and usually white) areas. But this thread has been an eye-opener. I understand this much better now. It seems the more affluent folks want their money to benefit only them and their families. They don't see the benefit to society of elevating everyone and giving a good education to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Don't people want the US to succeed long-term? How does keeping poor people less educated benefit a country in the long-run?

I am an immigrant as well and I live in McLean. Nobody here opposes other schools benefiting from a healthy tax base, what we have accepted is that “others” will be benefited at our expense while our kids sit in trailers. No, thanks!

Just move a couple streets over and your children can go to Langley in a lovely newly renovated building with no overcrowding.

What's the problem?

That is not the solution, to treat people in McLean with such dismissive attitude is the issue. You are happy to take our dollars but want us to shut up and never voice a concern. This Sorry, pocket dial attitude is driving this discussion.

The solution is to look at what you have and think about what the problem is.

Trailers aren't great but they're not a problem. McLean HS is a great high school. What is the problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder what the Langley parents think?

They are the ones at the MCA raising it in the first instance. They are worried about the county up-zoning their neighborhoods and adding density with no commitment to make further investments in the schools, and think Langley could either end up as overcrowded as McLean in a few years. Obviously they get a receptive audience with some of the McLean folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant, I could never understand why there was such a disparity in education quality across the U.S. I couldn't understand why poor black areas had such worse schools compared to more affluent (and usually white) areas. But this thread has been an eye-opener. I understand this much better now. It seems the more affluent folks want their money to benefit only them and their families. They don't see the benefit to society of elevating everyone and giving a good education to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Don't people want the US to succeed long-term? How does keeping poor people less educated benefit a country in the long-run?

I am an immigrant as well and I live in McLean. Nobody here opposes other schools benefiting from a healthy tax base, what we have accepted is that “others” will be benefited at our expense while our kids sit in trailers. No, thanks!

Just move a couple streets over and your children can go to Langley in a lovely newly renovated building with no overcrowding.

What's the problem?

I love that FCPS is so progressive and focused on equity, but they'll spend $40 million to expand West Potomac so kids don't have to go to Mount Vernon, but next to nothing on McLean because maybe they'll get around eventually (just not in 2018, 2019, or 2020) to moving some kids to the richer school in town. Or people can just move or send their kids to privates, no big deal.

This indifference and dismissive attitude is what’s fueling the resentment, McLean is tired of giving gobs of cash and getting nothing in return. For too long, FCPS has treated McLean with indifference, those chickens have come home to roost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant, I could never understand why there was such a disparity in education quality across the U.S. I couldn't understand why poor black areas had such worse schools compared to more affluent (and usually white) areas. But this thread has been an eye-opener. I understand this much better now. It seems the more affluent folks want their money to benefit only them and their families. They don't see the benefit to society of elevating everyone and giving a good education to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Don't people want the US to succeed long-term? How does keeping poor people less educated benefit a country in the long-run?

I am an immigrant as well and I live in McLean. Nobody here opposes other schools benefiting from a healthy tax base, what we have accepted is that “others” will be benefited at our expense while our kids sit in trailers. No, thanks!

Just move a couple streets over and your children can go to Langley in a lovely newly renovated building with no overcrowding.

What's the problem?

I love that FCPS is so progressive and focused on equity, but they'll spend $40 million to expand West Potomac so kids don't have to go to Mount Vernon, but next to nothing on McLean because maybe they'll get around eventually (just not in 2018, 2019, or 2020) to moving some kids to the richer school in town. Or people can just move or send their kids to privates, no big deal.

you have the same school board rep for both districts, she came through for Langley - maybe vote for someone who cares about your school (that's how West Potomac got its expansion)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an immigrant, I could never understand why there was such a disparity in education quality across the U.S. I couldn't understand why poor black areas had such worse schools compared to more affluent (and usually white) areas. But this thread has been an eye-opener. I understand this much better now. It seems the more affluent folks want their money to benefit only them and their families. They don't see the benefit to society of elevating everyone and giving a good education to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Don't people want the US to succeed long-term? How does keeping poor people less educated benefit a country in the long-run?

I am an immigrant as well and I live in McLean. Nobody here opposes other schools benefiting from a healthy tax base, what we have accepted is that “others” will be benefited at our expense while our kids sit in trailers. No, thanks!

Just move a couple streets over and your children can go to Langley in a lovely newly renovated building with no overcrowding.

What's the problem?

I love that FCPS is so progressive and focused on equity, but they'll spend $40 million to expand West Potomac so kids don't have to go to Mount Vernon, but next to nothing on McLean because maybe they'll get around eventually (just not in 2018, 2019, or 2020) to moving some kids to the richer school in town. Or people can just move or send their kids to privates, no big deal.

This indifference and dismissive attitude is what’s fueling the resentment, McLean is tired of giving gobs of cash and getting nothing in return. For too long, FCPS has treated McLean with indifference, those chickens have come home to roost.

Oh, McLean wants to be under the eye of FCPS? What should the name be changed to?