FCPS school decline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

I have been hearing this complaint since I moved here in 1987. Some people will always believe it. Some will eventually see the light when their kids go off to college and see how well prepared or not they are.

This.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, the whole "equity" agenda along with Covid cause the decline of FCPS to significantly increase. I wasn't the best student myself but understood the concept of discipline, but the decline really started in the 90's, specifically in eastern Fairfax, when they started to turn older apartments into section 8 sanctuaries, along with lack of zoning. If you can afford an alternative than I would recommend that. Even Langley and TJ have been brought down from "equity" instead of merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader didn't get to go to Jamestown. I'm pretty pissed about that.

+1 same

Other schools went. Ours didn’t.

Not all schools go to Jamestown. I taught 4th grade for a few years about 7-9 years ago and we didn’t go. I don’t ever remember the 4th graders going to Jamestown.

My current school has never gone to Jamestown. My last school did - they went to Williamsburg in the same trip (the farms rate was about 10%). It cost $70 per person. This is why my current school has never gone. Parents at Title 1 schools don’t have that kind of money to spare. And no, there is no money from the school or the virtually non-existent PTA.

In fact, for some grades in my school there is ZERO money from the school to go on any field trips (but I’ve seen it in the county budget plans so that’s always confusing). And you can’t go far because you leave at 9:30 and have to be back at 1:00.

PP here. My ES has a FARMS rate under 10%. I know one reason we didn’t go is because there just weren’t enough teachers willing to go through all that is involved with that trip.

I have a really hard time believing that. Teachers love that trip. They have parent chaperones and get to have fun all day. Who wouldn’t love that?

Believe it. I’ve taught at the school for three decades. I’ve taught fourth grade. We didn’t go because the majority, if not all, didn’t want to do it. Getting up early and spending hours on a bus with fourth graders was not our idea of having fun all day.

Planning field trips has become a PITA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader didn't get to go to Jamestown. I'm pretty pissed about that.

+1 same

Other schools went. Ours didn’t.

Not all schools go to Jamestown. I taught 4th grade for a few years about 7-9 years ago and we didn’t go. I don’t ever remember the 4th graders going to Jamestown.

My current school has never gone to Jamestown. My last school did - they went to Williamsburg in the same trip (the farms rate was about 10%). It cost $70 per person. This is why my current school has never gone. Parents at Title 1 schools don’t have that kind of money to spare. And no, there is no money from the school or the virtually non-existent PTA.

In fact, for some grades in my school there is ZERO money from the school to go on any field trips (but I’ve seen it in the county budget plans so that’s always confusing). And you can’t go far because you leave at 9:30 and have to be back at 1:00.

PP here. My ES has a FARMS rate under 10%. I know one reason we didn’t go is because there just weren’t enough teachers willing to go through all that is involved with that trip.

I have a really hard time believing that. Teachers love that trip. They have parent chaperones and get to have fun all day. Who wouldn’t love that?

Teachers that don’t want to be with the kids and parents from 6am-6pm (but only paid for 7.5 hours), go home and be back at school the next morning.

100% this ^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

Blah, blah, blah. Tired of the right wing attacks on public schools. I have kids in FCPS and do not believe schools are in free fall. Many of us disagree yet you people keep stating this same thing as if it’s fact.

They’re like a broken record, starting a new post weekly on this forum.

When I can see the difference between my older DC and younger DC's learning, at the same schools, I'm not a right winger. I'm a concerned parent. It seems Democrats haven't learned anything from Youngkin's election.

Parents are unhappy.

What is there to learn? Youngkin hasn’t done anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

Blah, blah, blah. Tired of the right wing attacks on public schools. I have kids in FCPS and do not believe schools are in free fall. Many of us disagree yet you people keep stating this same thing as if it’s fact.

Blame right wing nut jobs if that makes you feel better, but take a look at the screen time and grammar threads. Reality is FCPS is using fad of the day online solutions to capture irrelevant data on your child's learning progress. Teachers got used to using screens as a prop and continue to use them. Hope your kid(s) are visual learners and can get at least something out of learning by screen.

Good teachers would see what the children in their classrooms preferred learning style is (visual, auditory or kinesthetic) and their teaching style accordingly.

COVID put a spotlight on public education. It has been two years since FCPS students have returned to the classroom. Do you really believe things have gotten better?

Technology is not a fad, it’s here to stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader didn't get to go to Jamestown. I'm pretty pissed about that.

Did you know that your car can go there as well?

I don't know that the trip to Jamestown is necessary, however second grade took a trip to Gunston Hall and I dont understand why 4th did not.

Because one is an hour away and the other is 3.5 hours.

That is not the point. I am wondering why 4th did not go to Gunston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader didn't get to go to Jamestown. I'm pretty pissed about that.

Did you know that your car can go there as well?

I don't know that the trip to Jamestown is necessary, however second grade took a trip to Gunston Hall and I dont understand why 4th did not.

Because one is an hour away and the other is 3.5 hours.

That is not the point. I am wondering why 4th did not go to Gunston.

Because that’s where they went in 2nd grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader didn't get to go to Jamestown. I'm pretty pissed about that.

+1 same

Other schools went. Ours didn’t.

Our didn’t either. Still upset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rising 5th grader didn't get to go to Jamestown. I'm pretty pissed about that.

+1 same

Other schools went. Ours didn’t.

Not all schools go to Jamestown. I taught 4th grade for a few years about 7-9 years ago and we didn’t go. I don’t ever remember the 4th graders going to Jamestown.

My current school has never gone to Jamestown. My last school did - they went to Williamsburg in the same trip (the farms rate was about 10%). It cost $70 per person. This is why my current school has never gone. Parents at Title 1 schools don’t have that kind of money to spare. And no, there is no money from the school or the virtually non-existent PTA.

In fact, for some grades in my school there is ZERO money from the school to go on any field trips (but I’ve seen it in the county budget plans so that’s always confusing). And you can’t go far because you leave at 9:30 and have to be back at 1:00.

PP here. My ES has a FARMS rate under 10%. I know one reason we didn’t go is because there just weren’t enough teachers willing to go through all that is involved with that trip.

I have a really hard time believing that. Teachers love that trip. They have parent chaperones and get to have fun all day. Who wouldn’t love that?

Teachers that don’t want to be with the kids and parents from 6am-6pm (but only paid for 7.5 hours), go home and be back at school the next morning.

This and the crazy behaviors the last few years. No thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

Blah, blah, blah. Tired of the right wing attacks on public schools. I have kids in FCPS and do not believe schools are in free fall. Many of us disagree yet you people keep stating this same thing as if it’s fact.

They’re like a broken record, starting a new post weekly on this forum.

When I can see the difference between my older DC and younger DC's learning, at the same schools, I'm not a right winger. I'm a concerned parent. It seems Democrats haven't learned anything from Youngkin's election.

Parents are unhappy.

Teachers are unhappy too...we spend our days parenting kids with out of control behaviors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

Blah, blah, blah. Tired of the right wing attacks on public schools. I have kids in FCPS and do not believe schools are in free fall. Many of us disagree yet you people keep stating this same thing as if it’s fact.

They’re like a broken record, starting a new post weekly on this forum.

When I can see the difference between my older DC and younger DC's learning, at the same schools, I'm not a right winger. I'm a concerned parent. It seems Democrats haven't learned anything from Youngkin's election.

Parents are unhappy.

Teachers are unhappy too...we spend our days parenting kids with out of control behaviors.

+1, we can’t teach when we’re managing ongoing, disruptive behaviors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to accept the fact that FCPS is in free fall. There is no fixing it without voting in a school board that will lead, find a competent superintendent, and ensure worthless layers of middle management are eliminated to provide funding to hire and retain excellent teachers.

FCPS uses technology very poorly and burdens teachers with a myriad of non-teaching duties.

Given the political makeup of Fairfax County, that is very likely to happen, so if you have the means it is time to go private.

Blah, blah, blah. Tired of the right wing attacks on public schools. I have kids in FCPS and do not believe schools are in free fall. Many of us disagree yet you people keep stating this same thing as if it’s fact.

+1

[Anonymous]

Not sure we will ever go back to the days when consequences were implemented for disrupting class. This is not just FCPS ,this is all across the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure we will ever go back to the days when consequences were implemented for disrupting class. This is not just FCPS ,this is all across the country.

And much of that is due to parents’ reaction to consequences. A few years ago, a student admitted to hitting another girl (and there were witnesses). She got 1-day suspension and the parents yelled at admin and threatened to sue.