Considering pulling kid from Wilson

[Anonymous]

My DS said the drug problem is bad, like heroin bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, what's your other option? Would you homeschool? Could you get him into a private school somewhere?

I homeschooled my child last year and it was great. I kept my child socially connected with positive friends and activities. There is a homeschooling page on dcum as well as lots on Facebook like SEA (secular, eclectic, academic). What are your means like? DC is great about homeschooling in one regard - very hands off. However, they don't provide resources- other states do. We used the library a LOT.

NP. What is your feeling about homeschooling in HS and then college? I am interested in doing longterm homeschooling but worried it might make the college application process more difficult (no GPA, no recs from teachers, etc.).

Also, beyond activities, do homeschooling resources in DC enable you to find other homeschooling families and do some joint coursework? I know this is possible at the elementary level, but I worry there are not enough homeschooling high schoolers in the area to do something similar at this level. It would be nice to be able to pool resources for science learning, for instance.

There are such large contingents of homeschoolers in almost every area of the country hence many many opportunities for all of the things you mentioned . It’s the best thing I’ve ever done, especially made clear when I read the posts below the one I’m replying to. It’s a disgrace what children today are being subjected to on a daily basis .

The homeschooling community tends to crazy Christians. I think I would rather have my kid at Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, what's your other option? Would you homeschool? Could you get him into a private school somewhere?

I homeschooled my child last year and it was great.[b] I kept my child socially connected with positive friends and activities. There is a homeschooling page on dcum as well as lots on Facebook like SEA (secular, eclectic, academic). What are your means like? DC is great about homeschooling in one regard - very hands off. However, they don't provide resources- other states do. We used the library a LOT.

PP, no offense, but as someone who has homeschooled nieces and nephews, and other homeschooled kids, it is very difficult to provide any social interactions that really resemble, and teach the lessons, of the day to day, unsupervised socializing that occurs among kids in school. I hate to say it, I know many homeschooled parents are good parents, they try hard, they teach their kids academically fine...but there is a reason why homeschooled kids are a bunch of weirdos. You simply cannot learn how to act in society unless you are in society.

Yes, PP, your social skills are extraordinary.

Its true, I have been blessed with extraordinary social skills that have allowed me to adroitly navigate complex situations and be successful academically, socially, and in my personal life with my family and friends. I feel very lucky that this is the case - and also very grateful that my parents allowed me to grow up doing normal things like going to school and working plain old retail jobs that taught me how to spontaneously interact with people - even those that I may not agree with or have anything in common with. Without that background - say if I had been homeschooled - I would not be the successful adult I am today. Sorry if that makes you mad PP, but it is the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS said the drug problem is bad, like heroin bad.

I think your son is exaggerating. If you are a teen it's exciting to think that this may be going on - like you're living in a movie! But as a parent who has two kids at Wilson, that's now how it is. It's not always great, but its not heroin bad.

[Anonymous]

Pull out. Trust your instinct. But be methodical. Consider your options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS said the drug problem is bad, like heroin bad.

I think your son is exaggerating. If you are a teen it's exciting to think that this may be going on - like you're living in a movie! But as a parent who has two kids at Wilson, that's now how it is. It's not always great, but its not heroin bad.

Well he said it happens all the time at Ft. Reno Park. Feel free it check it out yourself. Said it’s in the tree area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS said the drug problem is bad, like heroin bad.

I think your son is exaggerating. If you are a teen it's exciting to think that this may be going on - like you're living in a movie! But as a parent who has two kids at Wilson, that's now how it is. It's not always great, but its not heroin bad.

Well he said it happens all the time at Ft. Reno Park. Feel free it check it out yourself. Said it’s in the tree area.

If he knows this first hand, it sounds like he might be part of the problem. If he doesn't, it sounds like he's just passing on rumors.

[Anonymous]

I hate the idea of homeschooling. Social interaction is so important in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD and her friends report there are pretty bad fights at Wilson multiple times a day. Fights in hallways, in class. Boy on girl, kids getting jumped etc. I know this is “normal” high school behavior but it’s become quite disruptive for DD.

It isn't normal. This behavior doesn't happen in all high schools. Teenagers don't have to be violent.

DD showed me a video of a few of the fights that are going around Instagram. It’s so sad. Some are in class, some are at the Whole Foods corridor after school.

Neighbors have begged the school to engage with the community and community police over this corridor. Why can't the principal / administrators stand out there after school Stand and Deliver style and work WITH the police, businesses, neighborhood. Why the "what happens outside the school gates stays outside the school gates" attitude? Such a culture of low expectations, ugh.

You have just as much of an ability to stand outside Stand and Deliver style after school, off school property. Go set your expectations instead of blaming the principal for not working even longer hours and off of school grounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD and her friends report there are pretty bad fights at Wilson multiple times a day. Fights in hallways, in class. Boy on girl, kids getting jumped etc. I know this is “normal” high school behavior but it’s become quite disruptive for DD.

Actually, it's not. Why do you accept this kind of environment for your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD and her friends report there are pretty bad fights at Wilson multiple times a day. Fights in hallways, in class. Boy on girl, kids getting jumped etc. I know this is “normal” high school behavior but it’s become quite disruptive for DD.

It isn't normal. This behavior doesn't happen in all high schools. Teenagers don't have to be violent.

DD showed me a video of a few of the fights that are going around Instagram. It’s so sad. Some are in class, some are at the Whole Foods corridor after school.

Neighbors have begged the school to engage with the community and community police over this corridor. Why can't the principal / administrators stand out there after school Stand and Deliver style and work WITH the police, businesses, neighborhood. Why the "what happens outside the school gates stays outside the school gates" attitude? Such a culture of low expectations, ugh.

You have just as much of an ability to stand outside Stand and Deliver style after school, off school property. Go set your expectations instead of blaming the principal for not working even longer hours and off of school grounds.

dp: The city/DCPS brings the kids together at this (overcrowded!) school daily and is responsible for oversight of their school-related behavior, which includes arrival and departure. PP has no responsibility for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS said the drug problem is bad, like heroin bad.

I think your son is exaggerating. If you are a teen it's exciting to think that this may be going on - like you're living in a movie! But as a parent who has two kids at Wilson, that's now how it is. It's not always great, but its not heroin bad.

Same. Dd has really nice friends and loves going there. It’s not perfect, but no high school is. I promise that there is drug use at high schools in McLean and Bethesda as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:dp: The city/DCPS brings the kids together at this (overcrowded!) school daily and is responsible for oversight of their school-related behavior, which includes arrival and departure. PP has no responsibility for this.

+1 school admin should be working with the community to come up with a solution. Other HSs have the same issues but work with their wider communities to address.

I wonder how much impact overcrowding has TBH—most people need space to function and regulate their behavior. Teens with developing brains and crazy hormones more so.

[Anonymous]

Just asked my DD (with whom I have very open conversations about drugs and sex) about how much fighting and drug use she sees. She says there are occasional fights but she hasn’t experienced drug use in bathrooms. She has great, bright, engaged friends. They do their own thing and ignore the rest. She appreciates being able to be herself at Wilson instead of conforming to private school norms and the pressures of wealth and privilege that come with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS said the drug problem is bad, like heroin bad.

I think your son is exaggerating. If you are a teen it's exciting to think that this may be going on - like you're living in a movie! But as a parent who has two kids at Wilson, that's now how it is. It's not always great, but its not heroin bad.

Same. Dd has really nice friends and loves going there. It’s not perfect, but no high school is. I promise that there is drug use at high schools in McLean and Bethesda as well.

I’m in no way implying it is all Wilson kids. I’m in no way implying it is only at Wilson. It was informational.