Parent Essay critical of DCI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, you'd promptly push back, but in practice, tangling with a school constantly is exhausting and often pointless. '

I sympathize with the mom and think she makes valid points in her article. In fact, I thought that the article was brave, given that it's really easy to figure out that she's writing about experiences with a DCI education.

There's far too much whitewashing of glaring rigor issues in our public middle schools, other than at BASIS, with it hopeless facilities (no real gym, stage, outdoor space or even a school library).

DCI is printed right at the end of the article. I appreciated her willingness to publicly call out the school. Far too often parents are afraid of doing so.[/
quote]
My guess is she did bring this up, and coordinated with other parents on the article. Maybe this is her way of getting the school to listen.

[Anonymous]

The reading list was one issue for her. She also didn’t think the kids were challenged during the school year, and says she brought it up to a teacher. That teacher’s response was that it is the child's responsibility to approach her about extra work, rather than noticing if some kids were phoning it in, essentially.

Anyone who thinks a 6th or 7th grade kid is going to approach a teacher and say the work is too easy or boring for them... should not be teaching middle school.

Good on this mom for

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, you'd promptly push back, but in practice, tangling with a school constantly is exhausting and often pointless. '

I sympathize with the mom and think she makes valid points in her article. In fact, I thought that the article was brave, given that it's really easy to figure out that she's writing about experiences with a DCI education.

There's far too much whitewashing of glaring rigor issues in our public middle schools, other than at BASIS, with it hopeless facilities (no real gym, stage, outdoor space or even a school library).

DCI is printed right at the end of the article. I appreciated her willingness to publicly call out the school. Far too often parents are afraid of doing so.

She was a coward. She didn’t address the problem with her kids, just wrote an article wondering why dci didn’t do her part in raising her kids.

It is exhausting to motivate kids, especially after a hard day at work, but you have to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reading list was one issue for her. She also didn’t think the kids were challenged during the school year, and says she brought it up to a teacher. That teacher’s response was that it is the child's responsibility to approach her about extra work, rather than noticing if some kids were phoning it in, essentially.

Anyone who thinks a 6th or 7th grade kid is going to approach a teacher and say the work is too easy or boring for them... should not be teaching middle school.

Good on this mom for

If she didn’t like the rescuers response, email the principal.

There are a lot of holes in her story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's about a 12 year old. It's listed BY THE PUBLISHER as being for Middle Grades (ages 9-12). What's your problem with this being one option for a summer reading list for incoming 6th graders? Get a grip.

A book assigned by the school for 9 year olds, that common sense media says is for 8+ should be one of the options for 6th graders? Really? How low are your standards?

Additionally, Be Prepared, which DD loved when she was in 2nd and 3rd grade, is a graphic novel. I would be really upset if my school thought the level or reading of a rising middle schooler required a graphic novel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had the same question about the reading list. My rising 6th grader asked why DCI was listing a book for summer reading that she had read at her charter elementary in 4th grade. We can't afford private and she didn't get in anywhere else so I guess we will have to supplement.

I suspect they don’t want to make it too hard. Just read over the summer. They don’t know any of the incoming kids so will likely sort them out as the year progresses - below grade level, at grade level, above, etc... I would imagine.

She was referring to lists for rising 7th and 8th graders. The 'incoming kids' excuse doesn't apply. And since 95% comes from feeders, DCI asks for and gets information from the elementary schools about levels.

I've heard versions of this from 6 other families at DCI. Their kids are happy, socially, but not working that hard (rising 8th/9th and 10th grade). The students are still there because their inbound schools are worse and they can't afford private.

I think it will probably get better over time. But it doesn't help current students there now.

You also have to consider that these kids are coming from Mundo Verde, one of the weakest links, if not the weakest link.

It’s DCB that is the weakest link with the lowest ELA scores not only on PARCC but also math. Get your data straight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, you'd promptly push back, but in practice, tangling with a school constantly is exhausting and often pointless. '

I sympathize with the mom and think she makes valid points in her article. In fact, I thought that the article was brave, given that it's really easy to figure out that she's writing about experiences with a DCI education.

There's far too much whitewashing of glaring rigor issues in our public middle schools, other than at BASIS, with it hopeless facilities (no real gym, stage, outdoor space or even a school library).

DCI is printed right at the end of the article. I appreciated her willingness to publicly call out the school. Far too often parents are afraid of doing so.

She was a coward. She didn’t address the problem with her kids, just wrote an article wondering why dci didn’t do her part in raising her kids.

It is exhausting to motivate kids, especially after a hard day at work, but you have to do it.

Yes, this. I have two middle schoolers at Deal. They're not challenged either. But we do a lot of academics outside of school. Neither of them particularly wants to cover more material but it's not optional in our household.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, you'd promptly push back, but in practice, tangling with a school constantly is exhausting and often pointless. '

I sympathize with the mom and think she makes valid points in her article. In fact, I thought that the article was brave, given that it's really easy to figure out that she's writing about experiences with a DCI education.

There's far too much whitewashing of glaring rigor issues in our public middle schools, other than at BASIS, with it hopeless facilities (no real gym, stage, outdoor space or even a school library).

DCI is printed right at the end of the article. I appreciated her willingness to publicly call out the school. Far too often parents are afraid of doing so.

She was a coward. She didn’t address the problem with her kids, just wrote an article wondering why dci didn’t do her part in raising her kids.

It is exhausting to motivate kids, especially after a hard day at work, but you have to do it.

Yes, this. I have two middle schoolers at Deal. They're not challenged either. But we do a lot of academics outside of school. Neither of them particularly wants to cover more material but it's not optional in our household.

Exactly. DC has far too many kids that are weak academically and below grade level. She is expecting the minimum out of her kids and expecting teachers who are overwhelmed to address each individual kids needs. Not going to happen at any school.

I consider it weak parenting if you just accept the minimum from your kid and then blames the teachers. She is not the only household that has 2 working parents. Many are and you have to be active in assessing your kid and speak up to see if the teacher can assign more challenging work or supplement at home if necessary. Plenty of parents do. If she is unable to do that then put the kid in private where there are much smaller classrooms or move to the burbs to a school with tracking in all subjects.

Not impressed that she just gave up, accepted the minimum from her kid, and then wrote an article about it.

[Anonymous]

I was in the gifted track and my parents still pushed and supplemented. Schools are going to teach to the middle. It’s up to the parent to make sure individual needs are addressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Asian and the conversation in the article would never happen in my house growing up. I think it might be cultural.

Parents expected that I get straight A’s, ingrained quite frequently. Then it was up to me to meet that expectation. Luckily school was very easy so it wasn’t hard. There would be no question like the article what do you want to read and it’s OK not to read it. I would be expected to read everything, period. If I did not, there were consequences and things were taken away, etc.. Education to my parents was far more important than anything else and they made it known quite frequently. They also did not expect the teacher to motivate me. They expected self motivation and this started at an early age.

This is why Asians do well even if they grew up dirt poor. It all starts at home and high expectations start early. Self motivation is expected. Failure is not an option. Laziness in school is not an option. Education is the top priority and the parents will sacrifice and do whatever it takes for that.

I really admire this attitude and the way Asians stress education and being self-motivated. I’m curious, what would happen if you didn’t get straight A’s, or complete the summer reading, or self-motivate?

Like the PP said, it’s cultural. If you didn’t complete the summer reading, you’d feel shame for letting down your family. And like the other PP said, not all Asians are like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had the same question about the reading list. My rising 6th grader asked why DCI was listing a book for summer reading that she had read at her charter elementary in 4th grade. We can't afford private and she didn't get in anywhere else so I guess we will have to supplement.

I suspect they don’t want to make it too hard. Just read over the summer. They don’t know any of the incoming kids so will likely sort them out as the year progresses - below grade level, at grade level, above, etc... I would imagine.

She was referring to lists for rising 7th and 8th graders. The 'incoming kids' excuse doesn't apply. And since 95% comes from feeders, DCI asks for and gets information from the elementary schools about levels.

I've heard versions of this from 6 other families at DCI. Their kids are happy, socially, but not working that hard (rising 8th/9th and 10th grade). The students are still there because their inbound schools are worse and they can't afford private.

I think it will probably get better over time. But it doesn't help current students there now.

I am not so sure it's all that clear (which suggests being kinder with your tone wouldn't hurt). These are the most recent 5th grade ELA scores from the feeder schools. Percent 4 and above and percent 3 and above.

Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS 78.1% 93.8%
DC Bilingual PCS 50.0% 85.0%
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS 43.8% 75.0%
Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS 54.2% 79.2%
Washington Yu Ying PCS 73.3% 93.3%


You also have to consider that these kids are coming from Mundo Verde, one of the weakest links, if not the weakest link.

It’s DCB that is the weakest link with the lowest ELA scores not only on PARCC but also math. Get your data straight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had the same question about the reading list. My rising 6th grader asked why DCI was listing a book for summer reading that she had read at her charter elementary in 4th grade. We can't afford private and she didn't get in anywhere else so I guess we will have to supplement.

I suspect they don’t want to make it too hard. Just read over the summer. They don’t know any of the incoming kids so will likely sort them out as the year progresses - below grade level, at grade level, above, etc... I would imagine.

She was referring to lists for rising 7th and 8th graders. The 'incoming kids' excuse doesn't apply. And since 95% comes from feeders, DCI asks for and gets information from the elementary schools about levels.

I've heard versions of this from 6 other families at DCI. Their kids are happy, socially, but not working that hard (rising 8th/9th and 10th grade). The students are still there because their inbound schools are worse and they can't afford private.

I think it will probably get better over time. But it doesn't help current students there now.

You also have to consider that these kids are coming from Mundo Verde, one of the weakest links, if not the weakest link.

It’s DCB that is the weakest link with the lowest ELA scores not only on PARCC but also math. Get your data straight.

These are the most recent scores for 5th graders from the feeder schools. First 4 and above and then 3 and above. Overall, YY and LAMB are on top and then DCB, Stokes, and Mundo follow (all about the same depending if you look at 3s or 4s).

Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS 78.1% 93.8%
DC Bilingual PCS 50.0% 85.0%
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS 43.8% 75.0%
Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS 54.2% 79.2%
Washington Yu Ying PCS 73.3% 93.3%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had the same question about the reading list. My rising 6th grader asked why DCI was listing a book for summer reading that she had read at her charter elementary in 4th grade. We can't afford private and she didn't get in anywhere else so I guess we will have to supplement.

I suspect they don’t want to make it too hard. Just read over the summer. They don’t know any of the incoming kids so will likely sort them out as the year progresses - below grade level, at grade level, above, etc... I would imagine.

She was referring to lists for rising 7th and 8th graders. The 'incoming kids' excuse doesn't apply. And since 95% comes from feeders, DCI asks for and gets information from the elementary schools about levels.

I've heard versions of this from 6 other families at DCI. Their kids are happy, socially, but not working that hard (rising 8th/9th and 10th grade). The students are still there because their inbound schools are worse and they can't afford private.

I think it will probably get better over time. But it doesn't help current students there now.

I am not so sure it's all that clear (which suggests being kinder with your tone wouldn't hurt). These are the most recent 5th grade ELA scores from the feeder schools. Percent 4 and above and percent 3 and above.

Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS 78.1% 93.8%
DC Bilingual PCS 50.0% 85.0%
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS 43.8% 75.0%
Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS 54.2% 79.2%
Washington Yu Ying PCS 73.3% 93.3%


You also have to consider that these kids are coming from Mundo Verde, one of the weakest links, if not the weakest link.

It’s DCB that is the weakest link with the lowest ELA scores not only on PARCC but also math. Get your data straight.

Looking at above, it looks like Stokes is weakest in ELA followed by DCB. Nevertheless, numbers above are far, far higher than other DCPS middle schools EOTP which are terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had the same question about the reading list. My rising 6th grader asked why DCI was listing a book for summer reading that she had read at her charter elementary in 4th grade. We can't afford private and she didn't get in anywhere else so I guess we will have to supplement.

I suspect they don’t want to make it too hard. Just read over the summer. They don’t know any of the incoming kids so will likely sort them out as the year progresses - below grade level, at grade level, above, etc... I would imagine.

She was referring to lists for rising 7th and 8th graders. The 'incoming kids' excuse doesn't apply. And since 95% comes from feeders, DCI asks for and gets information from the elementary schools about levels.

I've heard versions of this from 6 other families at DCI. Their kids are happy, socially, but not working that hard (rising 8th/9th and 10th grade). The students are still there because their inbound schools are worse and they can't afford private.

I think it will probably get better over time. But it doesn't help current students there now.

I am not so sure it's all that clear (which suggests being kinder with your tone wouldn't hurt). These are the most recent 5th grade ELA scores from the feeder schools. Percent 4 and above and percent 3 and above.

Latin American Montessori Bilingual PCS 78.1% 93.8%
DC Bilingual PCS 50.0% 85.0%
Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS 43.8% 75.0%
Mundo Verde Bilingual PCS 54.2% 79.2%
Washington Yu Ying PCS 73.3% 93.3%


You also have to consider that these kids are coming from Mundo Verde, one of the weakest links, if not the weakest link.

It’s DCB that is the weakest link with the lowest ELA scores not only on PARCC but also math. Get your data straight.

Looking at above, it looks like Stokes is weakest in ELA followed by DCB. Nevertheless, numbers above are far, far higher than other DCPS middle schools EOTP which are terrible.

4’s is what we look at. That is grade level. You should be looking at 4 and 5. The only reason DCPS does 3 and 4 is to show them in a better light. Many schools no one is at 5 and very small percentage of students at 4.

[Anonymous]

"why are 8th graders being given a 5th grade reading list"? because for most 8th graders in DC, they are on a 5th grade level but have bee passed on year to year to be another teachers problem. What the writer needs to understand is that if DC actually challenged kids the achievement gap would only widen and that cannot happen. Until DC actually comes up with real rigor and not "honors for all" (what a joke at wilson), this isn't going tp change. To the teachers, the writers kids are just fine, they wil test well and sit quietly why they are trying to teach basic grammar and writing to kids who should have learned it 4 years earlier.