Anonymous grousing about SWW!

[Anonymous]

Walls has always been pretty clear that they want “independent” kids, that it’s a “sink or swim” environment, that the kids need to “demand their education” because no one is going to reach out to them. I don’t know why people keep expecting the school to be other than as advertised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Walls has always been pretty clear that they want “independent” kids, that it’s a “sink or swim” environment, that the kids need to “demand their education” because no one is going to reach out to them. I don’t know why people keep expecting the school to be other than as advertised.

That "demand their education" thing is such a stupid line. And if it means something, it should mean the students are avid learners.

But meaning the school admin can shirk their responsibility to be good educators? That's a cheap interpretation.

I guarantee you that administrators at few other big city or state-wide application schools say, "We offer them classes. Isn't that enough?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Walls has always been pretty clear that they want “independent” kids, that it’s a “sink or swim” environment, that the kids need to “demand their education” because no one is going to reach out to them. I don’t know why people keep expecting the school to be other than as advertised.

This is true and why it's not a fit for kids that are not self-starters(yet). It really does resemble my college experience at a top university. The issue is when the kids actually "demand their education" a lot of instructors are failing them. Parents that have had multiple kids graduate, experienced different leadership teams, etc. say it's been like this for years. Just understand what you are getting and go from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The schools with the best teachers are the schools with the best principals. Good principals know how to pick the excellent and energetic teachers, and then manage a positive workplace where the teachers can do a good job with support and with minimal drama.

Good point and Walls Principal is uninspiring at best. So not impressed with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What explains this? Walls is supposed to be the crown jewel of DCPS. Why can’t they get good teachers??

Regarding teachers, and a warning to future parents: Do NOT sign up for AP Spanish. The teacher is horrendous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The schools with the best teachers are the schools with the best principals. Good principals know how to pick the excellent and energetic teachers, and then manage a positive workplace where the teachers can do a good job with support and with minimal drama.

I think this is the thing - and it ties with the other thread expressing concern about the leadership of the Walls principal. My kid is having a good peer experience at Walls and is bummed that classes are mostly lackluster and teaching is really uneven (in terms of curriculum/content, feedback provided to students, and expertise of teacher). Kid was hoping for a super-charged academic experience with highly engaged/motivated peers, and that's not the day to day experience in the classroom. I'm hopeful to read PP's post about strong math instruction - maybe that will be in my kid's future!

One thing that's surprised me (though probably it shouldn't) is that the Walls admin team seems to be expending a lot more energy on supporting kids who are struggling than on providing enrichment/opportunity for those who aren't.

That's depressing. Kids with high academic potential go through years of classes focused on students behind grade level, and then make into one of the few selective high schools, only to have the focus still on tstruggling students.

Maybe they should try to solve why the selective admissions process is letting through kids not prepared to thrive? Or maybe the kids that are not prepared for an accelerated experience should be allowed to return to their neighborhood high school?

“Return to their neighborhood high school”!! = This is an example of classism, individualism, privilege, lack of the spirit of building and supporting a community, and entitlement!

+ 100 - What an awful comment!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What explains this? Walls is supposed to be the crown jewel of DCPS. Why can’t they get good teachers??

Regarding teachers, and a warning to future parents: Do NOT sign up for AP Spanish. The teacher is horrendous.

Thanks for the warning. Are there additional classes to be avoided?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What explains this? Walls is supposed to be the crown jewel of DCPS. Why can’t they get good teachers??

Regarding teachers, and a warning to future parents: Do NOT sign up for AP Spanish. The teacher is horrendous.

Thanks for the warning. Are there additional classes to be avoided?

About 50 percent of the teachers in any given year are lousy/uninspred/uninterested in teaching - truly subpar. But these are required classes so nothing you can do to avoid it - just gut it out and get through the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What explains this? Walls is supposed to be the crown jewel of DCPS. Why can’t they get good teachers??

Regarding teachers, and a warning to future parents: Do NOT sign up for AP Spanish. The teacher is horrendous.

Thanks for the warning. Are there additional classes to be avoided?

About 50 percent of the teachers in any given year are lousy/uninspred/uninterested in teaching - truly subpar. But these are required classes so nothing you can do to avoid it - just gut it out and get through the year.

Yeah, you just need to thug it out.

[Anonymous]

What about the silver lining? What are the great experiences going on for Walls?

[Anonymous]

Cohort is top notch. Hard working and smart - but not cutthroat. This is huge! Not sure where you would find equivalent (no disruptive kids either). Maybe you would find something similar at a top private - but I personally don’t want to send my kid to a fancy private school - hanging out with majority rich kids would make me uneasy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What explains this? Walls is supposed to be the crown jewel of DCPS. Why can’t they get good teachers??

Regarding teachers, and a warning to future parents: Do NOT sign up for AP Spanish. The teacher is horrendous.

Thanks for the warning. Are there additional classes to be avoided?

About 50 percent of the teachers in any given year are lousy/uninspred/uninterested in teaching - truly subpar. But these are required classes so nothing you can do to avoid it - just gut it out and get through the year.

Come on 50% is a stretch I'd say 25%-30% and they are normally the most arrogant!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walls has always been pretty clear that they want “independent” kids, that it’s a “sink or swim” environment, that the kids need to “demand their education” because no one is going to reach out to them. I don’t know why people keep expecting the school to be other than as advertised.

That "demand their education" thing is such a stupid line. And if it means something, it should mean the students are avid learners.

But meaning the school admin can shirk their responsibility to be good educators? That's a cheap interpretation.

I guarantee you that administrators at few other big city or state-wide application schools say, "We offer them classes. Isn't that enough?"

Yeah..it is kind of a BS line meant to paper over terrible administration and some bad teachers.

I assume kids at TJ in Fairfax are independent and also "demand their education"...but they don't have to worry that what they demand will be taught by a mediocre teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What explains this? Walls is supposed to be the crown jewel of DCPS. Why can’t they get good teachers??

Regarding teachers, and a warning to future parents: Do NOT sign up for AP Spanish. The teacher is horrendous.

Is this the AP Spanish Culture or Spanish Literature teacher? What’s the issue?

This really concerns me. My current 7th grader attends a DCPS Spanish immersion school, and Walls is at the top of his list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What explains this? Walls is supposed to be the crown jewel of DCPS. Why can’t they get good teachers??

Regarding teachers, and a warning to future parents: Do NOT sign up for AP Spanish. The teacher is horrendous.

Is this the AP Spanish Culture or Spanish Literature teacher? What’s the issue?

This really concerns me. My current 7th grader attends a DCPS Spanish immersion school, and Walls is at the top of his list.

AP Spanish Lit has only been offered one year ever. It’s a matter of demand for the course.