MoCo school trends

[Anonymous]

The next trend will likely include team Trump using title 1 funds for vouchers, the elimination of common core, and deportations. Not personally for any of this, but it looms large on the horizon.

[Anonymous]

It is my feeling that when DeVos/Trump comes to voucherize MCPS, that Montgomery County will opt to pay for it all ourselves.

This is NOT sustainable in the long term, taxes high enough to pay for it all from the county will slowly turn the county government and BOE over to cut taxes at any cost types.

The point is that voucherization is even less sustainable so MCPS only has to hold out for a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The next trend will likely include team Trump using title 1 funds for vouchers, the elimination of common core, and deportations. Not personally for any of this, but it looms large on the horizon.

If they deport, I think there will be a lot more resources for the kids here legally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The next trend will likely include team Trump using title 1 funds for vouchers, the elimination of common core, and deportations. Not personally for any of this, but it looms large on the horizon.

If they deport, I think there will be a lot more resources for the kids here legally.

I completely agree, however, I don't believe anyone will be deported.

[Anonymous]

So the overall impact of trump will be positive in redirecting resources at mcps or will it be increased taxes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good detailed responses in this thread. Thank you PPs.

I am most concerned about math and science curriculum at MCPS. the rigor has certainly deteriorated. I speak as a theoretical physicist who spent middle and high school in India and the US. I have a 8th grader and the math he does in school is just ridiculously easy. The way he is taught to solve problems is round about and inelegant. To the point of being counter-intuitive. Mathematical problem solving is a skill that blossoms in people who think through the questions and practice for hours. Those insane worksheets where you have to solve problems in a very prescribed way is anti-thetical to development of mathematical intuition.

PPs did I get it right the ES kids do not have homework anymore?

I agree. I have a 7th grader in Alg. I and the HW is haphazard and occasionally the teaching is flat out wrong. I blame the relabeling of concepts that throws the teachers, too. The HS math sequence under 2.0 is a disaster. So many concepts that could be presented in full in Alg I have been chopped up and spread across multiple courses. Not only does this mean a student now needs to complete pre-calc just to be competent in Alg I, it means years of potential practice lost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the overall impact of trump will be positive in redirecting resources at mcps or will it be increased taxes?

Fed tax may go down but county tax will still go UP. At least that's my guess.

[Anonymous]

If the Fed withholds funds from the county for being a sanctuary then taxes will go way up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the Fed withholds funds from the county for being a sanctuary then taxes will go way up

Agree. I don't think county can support the system without Fed's $.

[Anonymous]

Right or wrong the county will fold on that (eventually).

[Anonymous]

Right or wrong, iIf the past is any indication, the county will fold on this issue (eventually).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The influx of Central Americans has taken its toll on mcps. MCPS wants to close the learning gap between the immigrants and the kids in the Churchill school district. That means slowing down the progress of the "white privileged " kids so that the lower achieving kids can appear to be learning more. Multiculturalism is really dragging us down.

Then take the hint and realize that MCPS doesn't really want your white kid anymore. Time to move or private.

I'm not pp you are responding to but what do you mean? Why would it not want white kids?

They care only about closing the achievement gap. White (and Asian) kids bring up the average, meaning the other kids have to work harder about closing the gap.

Here's what an outgoing MCPS board member said this week:

"Outgoing school board member Christopher Barclay Thursday night urged the board to address “the vestiges of white supremacy and colonialism” that create disparities in the education system."

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/Web-2016/Outgoing-School-Board-Member-Urges-Attack-on-Systemic-Racism/

Now, how do you think they feel about white kids?

Overall, we're still satisfied with MCPS. Remember it's all relative -- if MCPS is lower quality due to Common Core, then other school systems are also if they need to do it also.

Ultimately, the biggest determinant of educational success is support at home. Sit down nightly with your kids to go over their homework and so on, and get tutors as needed, and they'll excel.

Can anyone prove the connection between the achievement gap and white supremacy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The question to ask is if US schools will remain on the top? They haven't been for a long time. MCPS may suck, but it still sucks less than other school districts in the US.

Asians know that. They already enrich and accelerate their students outside of the school day. Mostly because they know how rigorous the education is in their own home country. They are aware of the competition that the world will offer. They are not waiting for anything to change here. They are taking the opportunities available here and running with it.

+1 million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When a school system has administration and teachers backed up by their union, there can only be deterioration of service. MoCo schools, WMATA etc. take away the teachers' union, institute pay for performance.

It's beyond that issue. It's the huge growth in Hispanic population in our sanctuary county that has changed everything. It's not the teachers, by and large.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The influx of Central Americans has taken its toll on mcps. MCPS wants to close the learning gap between the immigrants and the kids in the Churchill school district. That means slowing down the progress of the "white privileged " kids so that the lower achieving kids can appear to be learning more. Multiculturalism is really dragging us down.

Then take the hint and realize that MCPS doesn't really want your white kid anymore. Time to move or private.

I'm not pp you are responding to but what do you mean? Why would it not want white kids?

They care only about closing the achievement gap. White (and Asian) kids bring up the average, meaning the other kids have to work harder about closing the gap.

Here's what an outgoing MCPS board member said this week:

"Outgoing school board member Christopher Barclay Thursday night urged the board to address “the vestiges of white supremacy and colonialism” that create disparities in the education system."

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/Web-2016/Outgoing-School-Board-Member-Urges-Attack-on-Systemic-Racism/

Now, how do you think they feel about white kids?

Overall, we're still satisfied with MCPS. Remember it's all relative -- if MCPS is lower quality due to Common Core, then other school systems are also if they need to do it also.

Ultimately, the biggest determinant of educational success is support at home. Sit down nightly with your kids to go over their homework and so on, and get tutors as needed, and they'll excel.

The problem is that this works best for families who have money. Kids who are lower SES often have parents who work multiple jobs and can't help as much as they might like to. If they're not learning what they need to in school, they will just end up left behind, while the parents who have the resources will hire tutors/get enrichment, etc.