If you were the Superintendent what would you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Segregate kids based on subject mastery. They do this to some extent with reading, but not enough for math and science.

Zero tolerance bullying. Create a school for troublemakers with teachers that have experience dealing with them.

Test into kindergarten. Require kids that dont pass to attend pre-k for special instruction.

2 recess period

Healthier lunches

Supplemental packets for struggling or high achieving kids.

After school programs for at risk students needing more tutoring.

These all sound good to me.

Creating a school for troublemakers seems a bit fantasy, but all the other suggestions are common sense. I wish they were real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I , honestly, would rely on my experience and training as an educator and ignore all suggestions from parents.

Yes, now, THAT is an awesome idea. Parents with kids at the schools should have absolutely NO input. They can't possibly have a clue as to what the schools need.

Do you tell your doctor how to practice medicine?

Very poor analogy.

1. Doctors with MD degrees have been through much more training/tests/scrutinies.
2. Doctors' mistakes can end your life.
3. Doctors are legally liable for their mistakes.
4. Finally, people can tell doctors that they are not comfortable and doctors may choose alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Segregate kids based on subject mastery. They do this to some extent with reading, but not enough for math and science.

Zero tolerance bullying. Create a school for troublemakers with teachers that have experience dealing with them.

Test into kindergarten. Require kids that dont pass to attend pre-k for special instruction.

2 recess period

Healthier lunches

Supplemental packets for struggling or high achieving kids.

After school programs for at risk students needing more tutoring.

These all sound good to me.

Creating a school for troublemakers seems a bit fantasy, but all the other suggestions are common sense. I wish they were real.

Montgomery County used to have one - Thomas Edison. The kids there learned trades, such as mechanic, hvac, cosmetology. I think it is still around but anyone can attend. Before, it was just the bad kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I , honestly, would rely on my experience and training as an educator and ignore all suggestions from parents.

Yes, now, THAT is an awesome idea. Parents with kids at the schools should have absolutely NO input. They can't possibly have a clue as to what the schools need.

Do you tell your doctor how to practice medicine?

They do. Hence the over prescribing of antibiotics and the under-vaccination.

Both of those posts are so ridiculous.

In medicine, there are usually several ways to treat any condition. Your doctor should be asking for your input in treatment decisions.

If you're letting your doctor/pediatrician make all the decisions about your health care, while you passively sit there and nod, you're doing yourself a disservice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if I just stop reading these treads I would be a much happier person... I could just focus on my own reality. While not perfect, it is not nearly as troubled as most of what is described here.

Good for you. Really.

Sounds like you are one of the fortunate ones, who is in one of the 'better' schools. There ARE some. Consider yourself lucky!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We pay a lot in taxes in Montgomery County. Half of our County budget goes to MCPS. Unions demand high wages.

So what? Teachers report to the principals. Principals report to area superintendents. The superintendent reports to the BOE. The BOE knows that no one bothers to pay attention who to vote for in local elections so they only need to keep the union happy. Its a circle of no accountability with no one really steering the ship and the status quo being always maintained.

I support the theory of public education but I'm beginning to accept that it can't work in practice because their is no direct accountability for performance or outcomes. The taxpayers have virtually no say in how MCPS is run and it shows in the hubris that MCPS displays.

This is the same conclusion I have come to. We can't afford private, so we just have to work with what MCPS does.

[Anonymous]

I support the theory of public education but I'm beginning to accept that it can't work in practice because their is no direct accountability for performance or outcomes. The taxpayers have virtually no say in how MCPS is run and it shows in the hubris that MCPS displays.

hubris is putting in mildly, MCPS is downright arrogant.

[Anonymous]

Do you tell your doctor how to practice medicine?

Yes, if the doctor is a billable hour quack?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Segregate kids based on subject mastery. They do this to some extent with reading, but not enough for math and science.

Zero tolerance bullying. Create a school for troublemakers with teachers that have experience dealing with them.

Test into kindergarten. Require kids that dont pass to attend pre-k for special instruction.

2 recess period

Healthier lunches

Supplemental packets for struggling or high achieving kids.

After school programs for at risk students needing more tutoring.

These all sound good to me.

Creating a school for troublemakers seems a bit fantasy, but all the other suggestions are common sense. I wish they were real.

MCPS has a school for "troublemakers."

Where do you people live? in a cave?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Segregate kids based on subject mastery. They do this to some extent with reading, but not enough for math and science.

Zero tolerance bullying. Create a school for troublemakers with teachers that have experience dealing with them.

Test into kindergarten. Require kids that dont pass to attend pre-k for special instruction.

2 recess period

Healthier lunches

Supplemental packets for struggling or high achieving kids.

After school programs for at risk students needing more tutoring.

These all sound good to me.

Creating a school for troublemakers seems a bit fantasy, but all the other suggestions are common sense. I wish they were real.

Montgomery County used to have one - Thomas Edison. The kids there learned trades, such as mechanic, hvac, cosmetology. I think it is still around but anyone can attend. Before, it was just the bad kids.

Edison was NEVER a school for "troublemakers."

again - cave dwellers posting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I , honestly, would rely on my experience and training as an educator and ignore all suggestions from parents.

Yes, now, THAT is an awesome idea. Parents with kids at the schools should have absolutely NO input. They can't possibly have a clue as to what the schools need.

Do you tell your doctor how to practice medicine?

Do you let your doctor make all your medical decisions? I come from a family of doctors, and they ALL would tell you that YOU have to advocate for your own healthcare. So, yes, I am an active participant in my health care decisions. Everyone should be. Your doctor actually wants it that way. They want your input. They want you to be involved in decision making. (or at least, if they're a good doctor, they do)

right . . .

So you know exactly which antibiotic to prescribe. You know which tests to give. You know exact doses of meds to give. And you question your doctor's medical degree on a daily basis.

Being an advocate is NOT the same as TELLING a professional how to do his/her job.

I am an educator; I am also a parent. As a parent and educator, I am an advocate for my children. But that doesn't mean that as a secondary educator, I understand how to teach a 5 yo basic reading skills. So I rely on the experts to help me if a problem arises.

You come from a family of doctors - lol!
b/c that means YOU'RE an expert in medicine