MCPS-Big fail!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps you should move away from Bethesda/Potomac? I read more complaints about Bethesda/Potomac schools on DCUM than about schools anywhere else in MCPS. My children go to unregarded MCPS elementary and middle schools, and I am very happy with the education they've received so far.

Are you highly educated? Bethesda is home to the most highly educated population in the nation; we're very picky about the schools. I'm sure if Bethesdans lived in your cluster, they'd complain too. The curriculum is the same throughout MCPS - we are just more aware of its shortcomings.

Yes, I'm highly educated, thanks.

[Anonymous]

New poster here with a 5th grader in a MCPS school. A fellow parent told me that when she complained to the the teacher about her child not learning how to spell and not being corrected on her spelling, the teacher replied "oh, we don't teach spelling anymore since kids will just have spell check anyway."
Can you hear my head banging against my desk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here with a 5th grader in a MCPS school. A fellow parent told me that when she complained to the the teacher about her child not learning how to spell and not being corrected on her spelling, the teacher replied "oh, we don't teach spelling anymore since kids will just have spell check anyway."
Can you hear my head banging against my desk?

"We" who? This is not an MCPS policy. I know this because my child has had weekly spelling lists since first grade.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is highly regarded in the country and "W" cluster schools are highest performing schools within MCPS. This is a fact.

Many people in DMV area are highly educated. Many more are are from other countries where curriculum, rigor, expectations in top-notch schools are far above and beyond the "W" cluster schools in MCPS. People from other countries (including me) expected that school education will be far more superior in the US than in our own home countries. When we have found that it is not so - we have deemed MCPS to be a big fail.

The truth is that school education in the US is a big fail with a few spots of excellence here and there. This excellence has also come about with private tutoring and coaching and not with what the schools have taught.

MCPS is doing ok as compared to the rest of the nation. Private schools in US are also no better. Any student who is excelling - it is because of enrichment and tutoring outside of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is highly regarded in the country and "W" cluster schools are highest performing schools within MCPS. This is a fact.

Many people in DMV area are highly educated. Many more are are from other countries where curriculum, rigor, expectations in top-notch schools are far above and beyond the "W" cluster schools in MCPS. People from other countries (including me) expected that school education will be far more superior in the US than in our own home countries. When we have found that it is not so - we have deemed MCPS to be a big fail.

The truth is that school education in the US is a big fail with a few spots of excellence here and there. This excellence has also come about with private tutoring and coaching and not with what the schools have taught.

MCPS is doing ok as compared to the rest of the nation. Private schools in US are also no better. Any student who is excelling - it is because of enrichment and tutoring outside of school.

Sad, but true.

[Anonymous]

I just met a mom from Russia today who told me that she could not believe that her son's "W" school is regarded as one of the best in the county.

[Anonymous]

Because it's a huge county w/ tremendous differences between Bethesda & Wheaton. The more MCPS tries to pretend the kids are all the same & to design a curriculum based on that premise, the more higher educated parents will be unhappy.

The reality is the MCPS needs to plan for the fact that a large chunk of the county is likely to need more advanced work than another really big chunk. If you ignore this reality and try to pitch it solely down the middle you are going to have problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is highly regarded in the country and "W" cluster schools are highest performing schools within MCPS. This is a fact.

But "highest performing" is not the same as "best".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps you should move away from Bethesda/Potomac? I read more complaints about Bethesda/Potomac schools on DCUM than about schools anywhere else in MCPS. My children go to unregarded MCPS elementary and middle schools, and I am very happy with the education they've received so far.

Higher standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of different opinions here. What is considered to be good instruction is subjective. A parent with Ivy League goals and comfort around making kids miserable and stressed will always say instruction is not on par. When you have a moment, compare MoCo's test scores with a few counties in Mississippi or Alabama. Boy, do we forget how good we have it here.

THAT.IS.JUST.SILLY.

Silly? Perhaps you should be reminded that children eventually graduate and compete with other kids across the nation for college spots. That includes every state, every county and every district. Yep, seems pretty silly that this is actually a fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps you should move away from Bethesda/Potomac? I read more complaints about Bethesda/Potomac schools on DCUM than about schools anywhere else in MCPS. My children go to unregarded MCPS elementary and middle schools, and I am very happy with the education they've received so far.

Higher standards.

Or a better education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of different opinions here. What is considered to be good instruction is subjective. A parent with Ivy League goals and comfort around making kids miserable and stressed will always say instruction is not on par. When you have a moment, compare MoCo's test scores with a few counties in Mississippi or Alabama. Boy, do we forget how good we have it here.

THAT.IS.JUST.SILLY.

Silly? Perhaps you should be reminded that children eventually graduate and compete with other kids across the nation for college spots. That includes every state, every county and every district. Yep, seems pretty silly that this is actually a fact.

Kids graduate and go to college, true. No doubt. But if you think your DC's application is compared with some uncle Joe's kid from Mississippi where school district has only 1% of the resources MCPS has, you are NOT understanding the college process.

[Anonymous]

I was told that they don't teach spelling because it would discourage the kids from sounding it out. Drives me nuts. But my mom said she was taught in a similar fashion in Eastern Europe so I am trying to ignore the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it's a huge county w/ tremendous differences between Bethesda & Wheaton. The more MCPS tries to pretend the kids are all the same & to design a curriculum based on that premise, the more higher educated parents will be unhappy.

The reality is the MCPS needs to plan for the fact that a large chunk of the county is likely to need more advanced work than another really big chunk. If you ignore this reality and try to pitch it solely down the middle you are going to have problems.

It is reflective of our country-The implemetation of this "Common Core" is going to widen the gap even more-not fix it. The "haves" will be unhappy and will move to privates, the "have nots" will remain with this dumbed down, sub-par education and the true middle class will all but dissapear. And the publics will churn out stupider kids who lack the most basic skills, especially in reading and writing. This county and this country are completely going to shit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of different opinions here. What is considered to be good instruction is subjective. A parent with Ivy League goals and comfort around making kids miserable and stressed will always say instruction is not on par. When you have a moment, compare MoCo's test scores with a few counties in Mississippi or Alabama. Boy, do we forget how good we have it here.

When half the kids in 4th grade can't spell properly, have terrible spelling and awful handwriting in a "W" school-then it is time to complain. We chose not to live in Alabama and Mississippi for a reason-and expect better!

Exactly! Wait till you get to 6th grade and the kids still can't spell!