Boundary Focus Groups

[Anonymous]

Well what I'm hearing is that every single focus group is full of high SES white parents. And a process like that will feed into "The Plan" paranoia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well what I'm hearing is that every single focus group is full of high SES white parents. And a process like that will feed into "The Plan" paranoia.

Are you white? If not, how did you hear about "The Plan." We'd better come up with a new name.

[Anonymous]

I am The Man. And you KNOW we have The Plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am The Man. And you KNOW we have The Plan.

But, do you have a canal in Panama?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am The Man. And you KNOW we have The Plan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbJecXQ1Hgk
The Golden An

[Anonymous]

These focus groups are a micrcosm of the broader debate and problem. Ward 3 schools are good, not so much because of parental resources (though it obviously helps), but more because the parents are strongly engaged. They read to their kids early and often, make sure they are prepared each school day, volunteer at school, and discipline when necessary. So when the focus groups were announced, naturally the Ward 3 parents were all over them. I got shut out of the NW sessions so I will be traveling to SE in order for my voice to be heard. I've worked too hard and sacrificed a lot to make sure my kids are educated and surrounded by other equally prepared students in the public schools. I feel bad that many schools in this city are deficient, but my sympathy does not extend to allowing my children to be used as ballast to right a sinking ship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These focus groups are a micrcosm of the broader debate and problem. Ward 3 schools are good, not so much because of parental resources (though it obviously helps), but more because the parents are strongly engaged. They read to their kids early and often, make sure they are prepared each school day, volunteer at school, and discipline when necessary. So when the focus groups were announced, naturally the Ward 3 parents were all over them. I got shut out of the NW sessions so I will be traveling to SE in order for my voice to be heard. I've worked too hard and sacrificed a lot to make sure my kids are educated and surrounded by other equally prepared students in the public schools. I feel bad that many schools in this city are deficient, but my sympathy does not extend to allowing my children to be used as ballast to right a sinking ship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These focus groups are a micrcosm of the broader debate and problem. Ward 3 schools are good, not so much because of parental resources (though it obviously helps), but more because the parents are strongly engaged. They read to their kids early and often, make sure they are prepared each school day, volunteer at school, and discipline when necessary. So when the focus groups were announced, naturally the Ward 3 parents were all over them. I got shut out of the NW sessions so I will be traveling to SE in order for my voice to be heard. I've worked too hard and sacrificed a lot to make sure my kids are educated and surrounded by other equally prepared students in the public schools. I feel bad that many schools in this city are deficient, but my sympathy does not extend to allowing my children to be used as ballast to right a sinking ship.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These focus groups are a micrcosm of the broader debate and problem. Ward 3 schools are good, not so much because of parental resources (though it obviously helps), but more because the parents are strongly engaged. They read to their kids early and often, make sure they are prepared each school day, volunteer at school, and discipline when necessary. So when the focus groups were announced, naturally the Ward 3 parents were all over them. I got shut out of the NW sessions so I will be traveling to SE in order for my voice to be heard. I've worked too hard and sacrificed a lot to make sure my kids are educated and surrounded by other equally prepared students in the public schools. I feel bad that many schools in this city are deficient, but my sympathy does not extend to allowing my children to be used as ballast to right a sinking ship.

I lake you ballast metaphor, PP.

[Anonymous]

Look upper NW, residential segregation's got you covered. These plans are about the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Well 9:41, if you listen to Kyla, where you actually live may end up having little to do with what schools your children end up getting assigned to. If geography is going to be used as a criteria for assignment, she sure has not said so. Have you heard otherwise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am The Man. And you KNOW we have The Plan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbJecXQ1Hgk
The Golden An

So, are you Dan? Or Fran?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well 9:41, if you listen to Kyla, where you actually live may end up having little to do with what schools your children end up getting assigned to. If geography is going to be used as a criteria for assignment, she sure has not said so. Have you heard otherwise?

Well, if HS boundaries are eliminated, many more families will opt for charter schools that go through 12th grade, such a BASIS, Latin and DCI.

It will probably also lead to the demise of Deal MS, as Deal families are counting on guaranteed admission to Wilson.

More people will probably leave for the burbs for MS as well, where their children will establish friendships with the kids they will attend HS with.

Also, families who are forward thinking will probably try hard to get into the language immersion ESs to secure a spot at DCI and a good cohort.

The other K-8 charters will probably suffer, unless they combine forces to feed into a good HS.

[Anonymous]

Yep. What 12:42 said. That idea doesn't improve dc high schools, it just tanks the one decent non-application hs that exists. Great idea dcps.

[Anonymous]

The scary thing is that This city and DCPS are capable of enacting such a plan in the name of equity. Here you have got to understand that mediocre/crappy equity trumps excellence every time. Every time. Excellence and success are actually dirty words if not everyone can have it at the same time. Even if there is a benefit down the road for everyone. There is no patience for that. The thought is "if I can't have it, neither can you" its deep