At the end of the day, our job is teaching - Mississippi schools excel

[Anonymous]

"Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

This is absolutely journalism malpractice. Nobody is disagreeing that academics is the North Star, but the first paragraph mde is sound like other states are "focusing" on something else.

This is how America get divided, journalist's innate tendency to create drama and conflicts. I am not blaming everything wrong in US to journalists, but let's say my view of the profession changed from the venerated fourth estate to the likes of a group of gossipers never left high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

This is absolutely journalism malpractice. Nobody is disagreeing that academics is the North Star, but the first paragraph mde is sound like other states are "focusing" on something else.

This is how America get divided, journalist's innate tendency to create drama and conflicts. I am not blaming everything wrong in US to journalists, but let's say my view of the profession changed from the venerated fourth estate to the likes of a group of gossipers never left high school.

Look no further than how FCPS has been spending its money. Look at what the School Board spends its time on during their meetings. Look at the lawsuits. Look at the size of Nardos King's organization. Look at One Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

This is absolutely journalism malpractice. Nobody is disagreeing that academics is the North Star, but the first paragraph mde is sound like other states are "focusing" on something else.

This is how America get divided, journalist's innate tendency to create drama and conflicts. I am not blaming everything wrong in US to journalists, but let's say my view of the profession changed from the venerated fourth estate to the likes of a group of gossipers never left high school.

Look no further than how FCPS has been spending its money. Look at what the School Board spends its time on during their meetings. Look at the lawsuits. Look at the size of Nardos King's organization. Look at One Fairfax.

Whatever you are "looking" at, did FCPS lose focus on academics? I don't think so. Maybe focused more on academics of disadvantaged communities, and that's how you raise the performance of a school district. Affluent families has resources for tutors and enrichments, and disadvantaged families only have the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi also holds kids back in 3rd grade if they are not on grade level, which I think we need to do in FCPS. Kids who are not on grade level should be retained and the earlier they do it the more likely kids will catch up. We are promoting kids for emotional health who then fall further behind, which cannot be good for their emotional health or academic confidence.

Grade level in what? Anything? What if you have a child that is dyslexic and below grade level for eye reading, but if they listen to the story, they are well above grade level in terms of understanding, language, vocabulary? What about math, what if you have a kid who is several grade levels above for math, but below grade level for printing?

Did you read any articles about Mississippi's education success?

One of mine struggled mightily with reading and writing, but had very high comprehension and understanding of texts, as well as a good vocabulary because we are a literate, educated, upper class family surrounded by educated people. He got passed along because of his comprehension and FCPS no failure policy, but if he had been paused in 3rd grade based on reading tests, then he might not have struggled as much in high school when faking it no longer worked. He struggled so much being successful in higher level AP classes in subjects he loved and excelled in, because the advanced high school classes are writing heavy, but his writing was not up to grade level and he struggled with reading.

I think that what Mississippi is doing here is wonderful, especially for kids like your kid and mine who are bright and intuitive, but struggle with reading and writing.

He sounds dyslexic. Not passing him wouldn’t have helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift Article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/us/mississippi-schools-transformation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EFA.fmpE.-DdheKRUoFxa&smid=url-share

Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

Do you think FCPS should focus more on learning and less on equity and mental health?

Teaching core subject matter is what teachers do all day every day. SEL and mental health lessons are a VERY small percentage of what we teach. At the HS level, SEL lessons are done during the remediation block so no class time is lost for it.

+1 billion

The posters whining about "getting back to basics" don't actually have kids in FCPS.

Actually I think you DP sound like a higher up in gatehouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

This is absolutely journalism malpractice. Nobody is disagreeing that academics is the North Star, but the first paragraph mde is sound like other states are "focusing" on something else.

This is how America get divided, journalist's innate tendency to create drama and conflicts. I am not blaming everything wrong in US to journalists, but let's say my view of the profession changed from the venerated fourth estate to the likes of a group of gossipers never left high school.

Look no further than how FCPS has been spending its money. Look at what the School Board spends its time on during their meetings. Look at the lawsuits. Look at the size of Nardos King's organization. Look at One Fairfax.

What have they done to focus on disadvantaged students other than plan to shift more affluent students into the struggling schools?


Whatever you are "looking" at, did FCPS lose focus on academics? I don't think so. Maybe focused more on academics of disadvantaged communities, and that's how you raise the performance of a school district. Affluent families has resources for tutors and enrichments, and disadvantaged families only have the school.

Do you know what really helps disadvantaged students? Good, direct instruction. Start where they are and push and pull them as far as possible. Throwing them into advanced classes unprepared is not the answer. Exposing them to higher concepts is good--but you cannot hopscotch over the basics.
signed:
Been there and done that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

This is absolutely journalism malpractice. Nobody is disagreeing that academics is the North Star, but the first paragraph mde is sound like other states are "focusing" on something else.

This is how America get divided, journalist's innate tendency to create drama and conflicts. I am not blaming everything wrong in US to journalists, but let's say my view of the profession changed from the venerated fourth estate to the likes of a group of gossipers never left high school.

Look no further than how FCPS has been spending its money. Look at what the School Board spends its time on during their meetings. Look at the lawsuits. Look at the size of Nardos King's organization. Look at One Fairfax.

What have they done to focus on disadvantaged students other than plan to shift more affluent students into the struggling schools?


Whatever you are "looking" at, did FCPS lose focus on academics? I don't think so. Maybe focused more on academics of disadvantaged communities, and that's how you raise the performance of a school district. Affluent families has resources for tutors and enrichments, and disadvantaged families only have the school.

Do you know what really helps disadvantaged students? Good, direct instruction. Start where they are and push and pull them as far as possible. Throwing them into advanced classes unprepared is not the answer. Exposing them to higher concepts is good--but you cannot hopscotch over the basics.
signed:
Been there and done that.

My DW teaches math in a MS and I hear about this problem quite often. It seems very frustrating for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

This is absolutely journalism malpractice. Nobody is disagreeing that academics is the North Star, but the first paragraph mde is sound like other states are "focusing" on something else.

This is how America get divided, journalist's innate tendency to create drama and conflicts. I am not blaming everything wrong in US to journalists, but let's say my view of the profession changed from the venerated fourth estate to the likes of a group of gossipers never left high school.

Look no further than how FCPS has been spending its money. Look at what the School Board spends its time on during their meetings. Look at the lawsuits. Look at the size of Nardos King's organization. Look at One Fairfax.

What have they done to focus on disadvantaged students other than plan to shift more affluent students into the struggling schools?


Whatever you are "looking" at, did FCPS lose focus on academics? I don't think so. Maybe focused more on academics of disadvantaged communities, and that's how you raise the performance of a school district. Affluent families has resources for tutors and enrichments, and disadvantaged families only have the school.

Do you know what really helps disadvantaged students? Good, direct instruction. Start where they are and push and pull them as far as possible. Throwing them into advanced classes unprepared is not the answer. Exposing them to higher concepts is good--but you cannot hopscotch over the basics.
signed:
Been there and done that.

"Do you know what really helps disadvantaged students? Good, direct instruction. " FCPS is not doing this? "Throwing them into advanced class unprepared" is also "Good, direct instruction". "Throwing them into advanced class unprepared" is also "academics is the North Star". It is about different ways to help kids.

Many people complain about DEI by providing false choices. Giving disadvantaged but proven smart kids some challenge is also focusing on academics. You guys have the zero sum mentality, somehow giving someone something extra means taking it away from yours. Focus on your children first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

This is absolutely journalism malpractice. Nobody is disagreeing that academics is the North Star, but the first paragraph mde is sound like other states are "focusing" on something else.

This is how America get divided, journalist's innate tendency to create drama and conflicts. I am not blaming everything wrong in US to journalists, but let's say my view of the profession changed from the venerated fourth estate to the likes of a group of gossipers never left high school.

Look no further than how FCPS has been spending its money. Look at what the School Board spends its time on during their meetings. Look at the lawsuits. Look at the size of Nardos King's organization. Look at One Fairfax.

What have they done to focus on disadvantaged students other than plan to shift more affluent students into the struggling schools?


Whatever you are "looking" at, did FCPS lose focus on academics? I don't think so. Maybe focused more on academics of disadvantaged communities, and that's how you raise the performance of a school district. Affluent families has resources for tutors and enrichments, and disadvantaged families only have the school.

Do you know what really helps disadvantaged students? Good, direct instruction. Start where they are and push and pull them as far as possible. Throwing them into advanced classes unprepared is not the answer. Exposing them to higher concepts is good--but you cannot hopscotch over the basics.
signed:
Been there and done that.

"Do you know what really helps disadvantaged students? Good, direct instruction. " FCPS is not doing this? "Throwing them into advanced class unprepared" is also "Good, direct instruction". "Throwing them into advanced class unprepared" is also "academics is the North Star". It is about different ways to help kids.

Many people complain about DEI by providing false choices. Giving disadvantaged but proven smart kids some challenge is also focusing on academics. You guys have the zero sum mentality, somehow giving someone something extra means taking it away from yours. Focus on your children first.

A confusing statement.

I posted earlier and said that kids should be exposed to higher concepts, but that you cannot hopscotch over basic skills.
I learned this when I taught extremely poor children. And, yes, some were very smart, but basic skills cannot be ignored. Some things have to be learned first. And, if you do not understand that, I hope you are not a teacher.

[Anonymous]

The main thing Mississippi did to improve their reading was to dump methods that do not work (Lucy Calkins crap and other junk). They were the first state to mandate Science of Reading.

VA's recent bi-partisan legislation mandating the same in VA public schools directly came from seeing the Mississippi Miracle improve reading scores statewide, even in low performing schools, on NAEP and similar measures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi also holds kids back in 3rd grade if they are not on grade level, which I think we need to do in FCPS. Kids who are not on grade level should be retained and the earlier they do it the more likely kids will catch up. We are promoting kids for emotional health who then fall further behind, which cannot be good for their emotional health or academic confidence.

holding a kid back and create a whole host of other issues: social, emotional, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gift Article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/us/mississippi-schools-transformation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EFA.fmpE.-DdheKRUoFxa&smid=url-share

Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

Do you think FCPS should focus more on learning and less on equity and mental health?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi also holds kids back in 3rd grade if they are not on grade level, which I think we need to do in FCPS. Kids who are not on grade level should be retained and the earlier they do it the more likely kids will catch up. We are promoting kids for emotional health who then fall further behind, which cannot be good for their emotional health or academic confidence.

holding a kid back and create a whole host of other issues: social, emotional, etc.

Kids not reading and falling further behind creates a whole host of other issues: social, emotional, academic confidence, etc. Pick your poison. Do you want a kid who has issues because they were held back but they can read and do math or do you want a kid who has issues who was held back but can read and do math?

Promoting kids who cannot read or do math so that they don’t have social issues is not helping them. They continue to fall behind academically, which means that they struggle with school and develop social issues because they are behind their peers. And now they can’t read or do math.

Test scores are falling because kids are not learning. Promoting a kid who is grade levels h=behind is irresponsible and simply passing on a kid to another teacher and hoping that teacher can catch them up when the current grades teacher couldn’t. It doesn’t work. And when you end up with a class were a good number of kids are in the same boat you end up with teachers focused on the group of kids who are grade levels behind while the kids on grade level and the kids a bit ahead are ignored. This doesn’t work out for anyone.

Hold back the kids who are behind so that they are in a grade that is meant to address their level. Provide the additional support to those kids who have been retained and help them get on grade level. This helps the kids who are behind and the kids who are on grade level. Mississippi focused on 3rd grade because we know that there are some neurotypical kids who will not read until 2nd grade. A kid who is still not reading or is struggling with math in 3rd grade is a kid who needs support and time to learn the basics. Retain them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gift Article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/11/us/mississippi-schools-transformation.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EFA.fmpE.-DdheKRUoFxa&smid=url-share

Even as schools elsewhere have focused on issues like school funding, social justice and mental health in recent years, Mississippi schools like Hazlehurst have made academics their North Star.

“At the end of the day, our job is teaching. Their job is learning,” said Ms. Langston, who added that no matter what is going on in a child’s life, the classroom is the one thing she can control. “If we don’t meet that need, we have failed them.”

Do you think FCPS should focus more on learning and less on equity and mental health?

I walk and chew gum all the time. FCPS can manage to do the same. Fairfax county values equity and wants it in the schools.

Obviously, FCPS cannot walk and chew gum at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mississippi also holds kids back in 3rd grade if they are not on grade level, which I think we need to do in FCPS. Kids who are not on grade level should be retained and the earlier they do it the more likely kids will catch up. We are promoting kids for emotional health who then fall further behind, which cannot be good for their emotional health or academic confidence.

Grade level in what? Anything? What if you have a child that is dyslexic and below grade level for eye reading, but if they listen to the story, they are well above grade level in terms of understanding, language, vocabulary? What about math, what if you have a kid who is several grade levels above for math, but below grade level for printing?

Did you read any articles about Mississippi's education success?

One of mine struggled mightily with reading and writing, but had very high comprehension and understanding of texts, as well as a good vocabulary because we are a literate, educated, upper class family surrounded by educated people. He got passed along because of his comprehension and FCPS no failure policy, but if he had been paused in 3rd grade based on reading tests, then he might not have struggled as much in high school when faking it no longer worked. He struggled so much being successful in higher level AP classes in subjects he loved and excelled in, because the advanced high school classes are writing heavy, but his writing was not up to grade level and he struggled with reading.

I think that what Mississippi is doing here is wonderful, especially for kids like your kid and mine who are bright and intuitive, but struggle with reading and writing.

Then move there.

This is not a very thoughtful response.

It is as if some posters hear Mississippi, and just plug their ears and squeeze their eyes shut, chanting "lalalala I can't hear you"

What they are doing is fairly impressive and should be duplicated everywhere with large numbers of failing schools.

For the teachers here, how much better would your jobs be if parents of stuggling elementary students who normally just get passed through were suddenly engaged and completely focused on partnering with you to do their part at home to get their 2nd and 3rd graders literate? Even if the only catalyst for some parents was that they didn't want the embarrassment of telling their friends and families that their kid failed 3rd grade, wouldn't having them engaged at home make things so much better in the classroom?

Equity folks are not very thoughtful people. Their entire philosophy can be put on bumper stickers.