Jack Smith vs Josh Starr

[Anonymous]

I don't disagree. We need more mental health professionals too, for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every teacher hates Smith. The schools are a disaster with no discipline allowed. The schools are a mess and we all want to leave.

+ 1000

[Anonymous]

This is OP again.

For the elem teachers who've been here a while, when was the Proficient, Exceeds Standards, etc. system first introduced and discussed? Was that under Starr or Jerry Weast? Weast left in 2011. It seems like nearly all changes take at least a year to implement, but maybe this one was only a few months.

I recall DD was in 2nd grade in 2011-2012 and I'm pretty sure they were using the regular Outstanding, Satisfactory, Needs Improvemnt scale. I am pretty sure it was 2012-2013 that the grading that was allegedly aligned with Curriculum 2.0 came into play. That stupid ES-P etc. scale was a disaster (at least, in my opinion it was).

I do remember that Curriculum 2.0 came under Weast. So can't blame that on Starr.

To the HS teachers, thanks for sticking it out. I hope your morale improves. DD is now in HS. Just two years left. Smith can't make things any worse in 2 years, can he?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re both corrupted.

Starr wasn’t the least bit corrupt. That was his problem, he didn’t play the game. But he’s been gone more than six years, so what difference does it make now? That’s water under the bridge, The focus should be on the current board and current superintendent.

LOL Starr wasn't corrupt. He totally 100% supported keeping pedophiles in the classroom with the doors shut so they could sexually abuse little girls without being seen. That's not corrupt in Maryland. That's working for the pedophile union.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re both corrupted.

Starr wasn’t the least bit corrupt. That was his problem, he didn’t play the game. But he’s been gone more than six years, so what difference does it make now? That’s water under the bridge, The focus should be on the current board and current superintendent.

LOL Starr wasn't corrupt. He totally 100% supported keeping pedophiles in the classroom with the doors shut so they could sexually abuse little girls without being seen. That's not corrupt in Maryland. That's working for the pedophile union.

I'm not saying there aren't pedophiles in Mcps-- I'm sure I've worked with one or two over the years, unfortunately, and there's nothing lol about that, TBH -- but I don't think he purposely did anything to keep pedophiles in the classroom. I worked with him personally on two projects and there was no way he was sanctioning that behavior or purposely protecting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They’re both corrupted.

Starr wasn’t the least bit corrupt. That was his problem, he didn’t play the game. But he’s been gone more than six years, so what difference does it make now? That’s water under the bridge, The focus should be on the current board and current superintendent.

LOL Starr wasn't corrupt. He totally 100% supported keeping pedophiles in the classroom with the doors shut so they could sexually abuse little girls without being seen. That's not corrupt in Maryland. That's working for the pedophile union.

I'm not saying there aren't pedophiles in Mcps-- I'm sure I've worked with one or two over the years, unfortunately, and there's nothing lol about that, TBH -- but I don't think he purposely did anything to keep pedophiles in the classroom. I worked with him personally on two projects and there was no way he was sanctioning that behavior or purposely protecting them.

Sorry. The Washington Post already reported on his agreement to leave John Vigna in the classroom when Vigna was lap sitting with little girls. Starr had the same problem in Stamford, CT covering up for sex offenders. The newspapers in Stamford covered that for years.

So yes, way. He was sanctioning that behavior in not just one, but two public school systems.

[Anonymous]

What specific rules has Smith put in place that have changed/reduced discipline in schools? I ask just because I don't know. The stories I hear from my middle schooler about the kids acting out are ridiculous so I agree change is needed; I'm just curious if it was specific changes that Smith has made?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP again.

For the elem teachers who've been here a while, when was the Proficient, Exceeds Standards, etc. system first introduced and discussed? Was that undr Staerr or Jerry Weast? Weast left in 2011. It seems like nearly all changes take at least a year to implement, but maybe this one was only a few months.

I recall DD was in 2nd grade in 2011-2012 and I'm pretty sure they were using the regular Outstanding, Satisfactory, Needs Improvemnt scale. I am pretty sure it was 2012-2013 that the grading that was allegedly aligned with Curriculum 2.0 came into play. That stupid ES-P etc. scale was a disaster (at least, in my opinion it was).

I do remember that Curriculum 2.0 came under Weast. So can't blame that on Starr.

To the HS teachers, thanks for sticking it out. I hope your morale improves. DD is now in HS. Just two years left. Smith can't make things any worse in 2 years, can he?

The ES P I N report cards began for all K-5 students in 2013. Though there was a pilot group of schools which had been using them before that.

https://news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/quicknotes/report-cards-a-parents-guide/

[Anonymous]

This is OP again.

For the elem teachers who've been here a while, when was the Proficient, Exceeds Standards, etc. system first introduced and discussed? Was that under Starr or Jerry Weast? Weast left in 2011. It seems like nearly all changes take at least a year to implement, but maybe this one was only a few months.

I recall DD was in 2nd grade in 2011-2012 and I'm pretty sure they were using the regular Outstanding, Satisfactory, Needs Improvemnt scale. I am pretty sure it was 2012-2013 that the grading that was allegedly aligned with Curriculum 2.0 came into play. That stupid ES-P etc. scale was a disaster (at least, in my opinion it was).

I do remember that Curriculum 2.0 came under Weast. So can't blame that on Starr.

To the HS teachers, thanks for sticking it out. I hope your morale improves. DD is now in HS. Just two years left. Smith can't make things any worse in 2 years, can he?

The P/ES grading system came out of Starr's administration. Weast was the one that cut the deal with Pearson for 2.0 and set in motion MCPS creating it internally. Starr however presided over much of the time it was being creating and was responsible for the roll out and cloning to it despite the problems. For the poster joking that Starr shouldn't be held responsible for all the errors in the materials (up to 30% found by Hopkins) -he absolutely was responsible! It was his job to ensure that quality control and review processes were in place. He failed to do this. It was his responsibility to listen to teachers and parents when they pointed out what was wrong. Instead he put in place a process where principals were rewarded for holding the party line and beefed up his PR office to deny there were any problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What specific rules has Smith put in place that have changed/reduced discipline in schools? I ask just because I don't know. The stories I hear from my middle schooler about the kids acting out are ridiculous so I agree change is needed; I'm just curious if it was specific changes that Smith has made?

One of the biggest things that Smith has done is put an end to almost all special ed programs. Almost all kids are now mainstreamed to save money- even if it is not what is best for the child. *I am aware that this benefits some children, but I am not only a teacher, but a parent of a child who lost his program. Through a lot of hard work and paying an advocate, he is now successful in a private school that the county is paying for. Not all parents have the resources to fight for their children.*

An example of this at the school where I work: It had a LAD program with 2 self contained classes. Each class had around 8 kids, a special ed teacher and a para. Children in those classes could be bussed in from neighboring schools to ensure that they had the extra support. In addition to this, the school had another special ed teacher and paras to help with the other children with less severe needs and lived in the neighborhood. Now, there are no more self contained LAD classes in elementary schools. The children who were originally here for the program with significant needs are still here but spread around in larger classes. There are no longer extra special ed teachers for these children. So now we have 2 total special ed teachers who need to meet the needs of all of the children who it had already been determined could not be successful in a general ed classroom AND meet the needs of the neighborhood children. So what we have is complete chaos! Kids are not successful and the special ed teachers are unable to meet any of the students needs. The neighborhood kids who still need help are completely ignored while the behavioral issues try to be dealt with. As this is not possible, everyone is suffering! At our school, if a child physically assaults a teacher, we are not allowed to send them to the office- that's not bad enough and should be dealt with in the classroom. How can we possibly teach in this mess?

We need more programs for the children with mental health issues. Smith taking away the programs has created an environment that is impossible to work in.

[Anonymous]

^^ So agree that Smith has been a disaster for special ed. Even at the younger levels, in PEP, he changed the intensive needs classroom for the convenience of buses and overloaded the classroom size, and now he's changing the 5-Hour program to 6 hour program for the convenience of buses, and not students, as well.

Too much mainstreaming and not enough support to help those mainstreamed kids!

[Anonymous]

OMG yes all of the above. It's called the "Home School Model" and its serving no one. It's not just taxing the other students and special ed teachers. It's putting a huge burden on principals and counselors. This can't be rationalized away as least restrictive environment, it's neglect. Some kid is going to elope (run away) and god forbid get hurt and it will be because of this type of change. All means all, Dr. Smith. This isn't about equity -- you are not serving the kids' needs in order to save a buck.

[Anonymous]

Smith is easily the best super this county has seen in decades. Sorry, you people are craycray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smith is easily the best super this county has seen in decades. Sorry, you people are craycray.

Using cray cray doesn't help your unsupported point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG yes all of the above. It's called the "Home School Model" and its serving no one. It's not just taxing the other students and special ed teachers. It's putting a huge burden on principals and counselors. This can't be rationalized away as least restrictive environment, it's neglect. Some kid is going to elope (run away) and god forbid get hurt and it will be because of this type of change. All means all, Dr. Smith. This isn't about equity -- you are not serving the kids' needs in order to save a buck.

Didn't Weast destroy the sped programs? He blew up Twain and sent kids back to their home schools. Alt Programs is now a big joke.

Is this home school model a result of what happened under Weast? Home school model is for elementary, however, correct? I am only familiar with secondary.