Seeking an update on Hardy Middle School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fantastic that one of his accomplishments is a reduction in suspensions. That's great news!

Signed,
Parent whose kids attend a WOTP ES and the idea of suspensions is something I didn't even know I needed to consider until I started getting the sales pitches on going IB to Hardy.

And what is that a 'fantastic accomplishment'? From what I observe almost daily on the sidewalks of Tenleytown, DC schools, particularly Wilson, could use more suspensions -- and even expulsions!

Wow the reactionary and racist nature of DCUM never fails but still surprises me. One of the least effective ways to change behavior is through suspensions and expulsions. In fact, it reinforces and extends the behavior issues. The point is to address the antecedents to prevent the 'need' for these actions. Which starts with stopping thinking from a racist mindset of thinking of kids who have not been supported to succeed in school and/or home as 'thugs'

So you're assuming that all of the major delinquents among Wilson students are minorities? What does that say about you?!

Ah, the old "You noticed a racist dog whistle so it's YOU who are racist" switcheroo! Bzzt, thanks for playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fantastic that one of his accomplishments is a reduction in suspensions. That's great news!

Signed,
Parent whose kids attend a WOTP ES and the idea of suspensions is something I didn't even know I needed to consider until I started getting the sales pitches on going IB to Hardy.

And what is that a 'fantastic accomplishment'? From what I observe almost daily on the sidewalks of Tenleytown, DC schools, particularly Wilson, could use more suspensions -- and even expulsions!

Wow the reactionary and racist nature of DCUM never fails but still surprises me. One of the least effective ways to change behavior is through suspensions and expulsions. In fact, it reinforces and extends the behavior issues. The point is to address the antecedents to prevent the 'need' for these actions. Which starts with stopping thinking from a racist mindset of thinking of kids who have not been supported to succeed in school and/or home as 'thugs'

So you're assuming that all of the major delinquents among Wilson students are minorities? What does that say about you?!

Ah, the old "You noticed a racist dog whistle so it's YOU who are racist" switcheroo! Bzzt, thanks for playing.

NP: There is always a poster like who who will not allow a discussion of how to manage behavior in schools. Why can't we talk about it? Why do you always try to shut down the discussion by calling everyone racist? Is it really never OK in your world to discuss discipline in any school system?

[Anonymous]

Hardy has had a suspension problem.

Per the last equity report, 87 of 434 students were suspended 1 or more days (none were expelled) in one school year.

The suspended students were of ALL races and demographic groups (white, black, Asian and Latino).

[Anonymous]

The need for better, more responsive, more immediate and more trasnparent dealings with discipline was a big issue for parents at Hardy. And while I did not sit on the selection panel, I would bet they had at least one question for the candidates about their views on discipline. aWhile some seem to be reading the touting of fewer suspensions under Mr. Cooke as perhaps condoning or being too forgiving of poor or disruptive behavior, I actually think his experience means he's going to show up at Hardy having more tools and effective processes to apply to discipline problems. I personally think DCPS choosing to highlight this "acheivement" in Mr. Cooke's bio statement is tone deaf and not understanding what Hardy parents (particularly feeder school families) need or want to hear. But that's not Mr. Cooke's fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The need for better, more responsive, more immediate and more trasnparent dealings with discipline was a big issue for parents at Hardy. And while I did not sit on the selection panel, I would bet they had at least one question for the candidates about their views on discipline. aWhile some seem to be reading the touting of fewer suspensions under Mr. Cooke as perhaps condoning or being too forgiving of poor or disruptive behavior, I actually think his experience means he's going to show up at Hardy having more tools and effective processes to apply to discipline problems. I personally think DCPS choosing to highlight this "acheivement" in Mr. Cooke's bio statement is tone deaf and not understanding what Hardy parents (particularly feeder school families) need or want to hear. But that's not Mr. Cooke's fault.

+ 1. Well stated. The issues is about finding a positive way to deal with behavior & culture & boundaries -- and having the skills to do that, which is different than either turning a blind eye or giving out too many suspensions. & DCPS's statement was tone deaf/poorly stated. The review panel was incredibly positive about Mr. Cooke, and felt like the Chancellor was responsive to the needs of the community and parents, and he has a great reputation from his time in Bushwick and also at Eastern -- and this should be a great move forward for the school.

[Anonymous]

Restorative justice -- such as mediation between students -- certainly works, but it costs money to hire skilled people to do it. And, if Hardy were the only school to have it, that would be inequitable because other schools would not have it. So better not do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Restorative justice -- such as mediation between students -- certainly works, but it costs money to hire skilled people to do it. And, if Hardy were the only school to have it, that would be inequitable because other schools would not have it. So better not do it.

The point is Hardy will now have a principal with these skills, which is fantastic. And with an enrollment of under 500, I bet he'll actually be able to find the time to apply his mediation skills directly and also prepare his leadership team. Honestly, I'm very optimistic about the future of Hardy and everyone who loves to come onto this board to bitch and gripe about Hardy isn't going to grind me down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Restorative justice -- such as mediation between students -- certainly works, but it costs money to hire skilled people to do it. And, if Hardy were the only school to have it, that would be inequitable because other schools would not have it. So better not do it.

They started responsive class room this past year (PTA funded). The 2015-2016 #s were almost double the year before, which makes you wonder what happened - and were supposed to come back down this past year. DCPS seems open to things that will get closer to having another high performing (Deal-ish for All) school right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Restorative justice -- such as mediation between students -- certainly works, but it costs money to hire skilled people to do it. And, if Hardy were the only school to have it, that would be inequitable because other schools would not have it. So better not do it.

The point is Hardy will now have a principal with these skills, which is fantastic. And with an enrollment of under 500, I bet he'll actually be able to find the time to apply his mediation skills directly and also prepare his leadership team. Honestly, I'm very optimistic about the future of Hardy and everyone who loves to come onto this board to bitch and gripe about Hardy isn't going to grind me down.

Most principals --especially Hardy's -- are simply not going to have time to mediate conflicts between students. Now, maybe if he gets a VP who he feels comfortable delegating a lot of duties, OK, he could do it, but really principals spend most of their time on organizational management and not direct intervention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Restorative justice -- such as mediation between students -- certainly works, but it costs money to hire skilled people to do it. And, if Hardy were the only school to have it, that would be inequitable because other schools would not have it. So better not do it.

The point is Hardy will now have a principal with these skills, which is fantastic. And with an enrollment of under 500, I bet he'll actually be able to find the time to apply his mediation skills directly and also prepare his leadership team. Honestly, I'm very optimistic about the future of Hardy and everyone who loves to come onto this board to bitch and gripe about Hardy isn't going to grind me down.

Most principals --especially Hardy's -- are simply not going to have time to mediate conflicts between students. Now, maybe if he gets a VP who he feels comfortable delegating a lot of duties, OK, he could do it, but really principals spend most of their time on organizational management and not direct intervention.

Well considering Hardy plugged away this year despite having a principal that was "checked out" the entire year (quote from someone made publicly at the recent PTO meeting), I'm going to give Mr. Cooke the benefit of the doubt and believe he'll find the time to actually apply the skills he has acquired and which were a real attraction for the hiring panel. Some people on here just want to see Hardy fail for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Restorative justice -- such as mediation between students -- certainly works, but it costs money to hire skilled people to do it. And, if Hardy were the only school to have it, that would be inequitable because other schools would not have it. So better not do it.

The point is Hardy will now have a principal with these skills, which is fantastic. And with an enrollment of under 500, I bet he'll actually be able to find the time to apply his mediation skills directly and also prepare his leadership team. Honestly, I'm very optimistic about the future of Hardy and everyone who loves to come onto this board to bitch and gripe about Hardy isn't going to grind me down.

Most principals --especially Hardy's -- are simply not going to have time to mediate conflicts between students. Now, maybe if he gets a VP who he feels comfortable delegating a lot of duties, OK, he could do it, but really principals spend most of their time on organizational management and not direct intervention.

The principal does make the potential difference to understand how to make the system work for the school - resources, policies, and best practices (or even getting the parents to raise the $ to support it). The school where he was in Brooklyn was at the forefront in a lot of these innovative approaches and 'social justice' practices - and he has now been with DCPS for 3 years with experience to understand how this system works in an even more challenging environment.

[Anonymous]

Geez, you guys make Cooke sound like he has superpowers -- other schools that missed out on him gonna be jealous.

[Anonymous]

I don't think he has superpowers. I'm sure he has plenty of flaws and he'll disappoint once in a while. But I do believe he's the right leader at the right time for Hardy. And for a motivated school leader, Hardy is a dream job. Not too big and a quickly growing engaged feeder school community with parents willing to step up and help precisely when DCPS has made middle school a real emphasis and priority and we have a new Chancellor anxious to hit one out of the park and make his tenure distinct from Henderson's. We're lucky but so his Mr. Cooke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hardy has had a suspension problem.

Per the last equity report, 87 of 434 students were suspended 1 or more days (none were expelled) in one school year.

The suspended students were of ALL races and demographic groups (white, black, Asian and Latino).

I now think that Hardy's much maligned school uniforms are a good idea. When the Hardy kids made trouble at the Safeway across the street, uniforms make it much easier to identify from where they've come.

[Anonymous]

uh. OK. thanks for weighing in.