FCPS decline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I have been teaching for 9 years in FCPS. I agree that there needs to be a better reading/writing program. There also needs to be time in the day to do science and SS. Background knowledge is key. The only way true ability grouping would work is with departmentalizations. You can have a kid who is a high reader but low in math and vice versa. Class sizes would also have to be smaller. Most years I have had 26-31 kids. This year I have 20 and I can give more 1:1 attention. 20 should be the max size.

Wouldn't it be great to add 30 additional minutes to the school day to add in proper time for science and social studies, and to keep all classes around 20 students? Pay the teacher for the time or trade in some work days to make longer days happen. I'm a former teacher I am with you.

I agree adding 20-30 mins wouldn’t be a big deal but it could be taken from LA and Math. There is no need to have 90- 120 min blocks. I think 50 mins of math would be fine. 50 mins of reading. 50 mins of LA and writing. 30 minsSS. 30 mins science. Or the teachers should have autonomy to make schedule based on the kids and what they are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you had ever experienced schools in other states, you would be begging to return to FCPS. Yes, there are problems, especially at the elementary school levels. Class sizes are too big in many schools, but principals could stop hiring instructional coaches and put the money into classroom staff. There is a shortage of special ed teachers, who quit because they are so overworked. There are a lot of students with serious behavior problems who are not moved to appropriate programs. There is a lack of discipline at many schools, because principals don’t want to have to submit discipline data to the district or state, so kids are not managed effectively. And, we need freaking textbooks! Kids need to read for information and have a resource for reviewing their learning or working ahead.

I went to school in NY. Schools are waaay better there. My husband went to FCPS. Our secondary school offerings were night/day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had ever experienced schools in other states, you would be begging to return to FCPS. Yes, there are problems, especially at the elementary school levels. Class sizes are too big in many schools, but principals could stop hiring instructional coaches and put the money into classroom staff. There is a shortage of special ed teachers, who quit because they are so overworked. There are a lot of students with serious behavior problems who are not moved to appropriate programs. There is a lack of discipline at many schools, because principals don’t want to have to submit discipline data to the district or state, so kids are not managed effectively. And, we need freaking textbooks! Kids need to read for information and have a resource for reviewing their learning or working ahead.

I went to school in NY. Schools are waaay better there. My husband went to FCPS. Our secondary school offerings were night/day.

And I'm sure your pizza was better. I graduated from a "regular" FCPS high school and did just as well at an Ivy as classmates who'd gone to Andover, Exeter, Stuyvesant, and public schools in Nassau and Westchester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had ever experienced schools in other states, you would be begging to return to FCPS. Yes, there are problems, especially at the elementary school levels. Class sizes are too big in many schools, but principals could stop hiring instructional coaches and put the money into classroom staff. There is a shortage of special ed teachers, who quit because they are so overworked. There are a lot of students with serious behavior problems who are not moved to appropriate programs. There is a lack of discipline at many schools, because principals don’t want to have to submit discipline data to the district or state, so kids are not managed effectively. And, we need freaking textbooks! Kids need to read for information and have a resource for reviewing their learning or working ahead.

I went to school in NY. Schools are waaay better there. My husband went to FCPS. Our secondary school offerings were night/day.

And I'm sure your pizza was better. I graduated from a "regular" FCPS high school and did just as well at an Ivy as classmates who'd gone to Andover, Exeter, Stuyvesant, and public schools in Nassau and Westchester.

Not saying that FCPS kids don’t fare well. Just comparing NY standards for their students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had ever experienced schools in other states, you would be begging to return to FCPS. Yes, there are problems, especially at the elementary school levels. Class sizes are too big in many schools, but principals could stop hiring instructional coaches and put the money into classroom staff. There is a shortage of special ed teachers, who quit because they are so overworked. There are a lot of students with serious behavior problems who are not moved to appropriate programs. There is a lack of discipline at many schools, because principals don’t want to have to submit discipline data to the district or state, so kids are not managed effectively. And, we need freaking textbooks! Kids need to read for information and have a resource for reviewing their learning or working ahead.

I went to school in NY. Schools are waaay better there. My husband went to FCPS. Our secondary school offerings were night/day.

And I'm sure your pizza was better. I graduated from a "regular" FCPS high school and did just as well at an Ivy as classmates who'd gone to Andover, Exeter, Stuyvesant, and public schools in Nassau and Westchester.

Not saying that FCPS kids don’t fare well. Just comparing NY standards for their students.

Also adding, special needs programming is way better. Anyone can get a 1:1 aide if in IEP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had ever experienced schools in other states, you would be begging to return to FCPS. Yes, there are problems, especially at the elementary school levels. Class sizes are too big in many schools, but principals could stop hiring instructional coaches and put the money into classroom staff. There is a shortage of special ed teachers, who quit because they are so overworked. There are a lot of students with serious behavior problems who are not moved to appropriate programs. There is a lack of discipline at many schools, because principals don’t want to have to submit discipline data to the district or state, so kids are not managed effectively. And, we need freaking textbooks! Kids need to read for information and have a resource for reviewing their learning or working ahead.

I went to school in NY. Schools are waaay better there. My husband went to FCPS. Our secondary school offerings were night/day.

And I'm sure your pizza was better. I graduated from a "regular" FCPS high school and did just as well at an Ivy as classmates who'd gone to Andover, Exeter, Stuyvesant, and public schools in Nassau and Westchester.

Not saying that FCPS kids don’t fare well. Just comparing NY standards for their students.

Also adding, special needs programming is way better. Anyone can get a 1:1 aide if in IEP

Suuure.

And you believe that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had ever experienced schools in other states, you would be begging to return to FCPS. Yes, there are problems, especially at the elementary school levels. Class sizes are too big in many schools, but principals could stop hiring instructional coaches and put the money into classroom staff. There is a shortage of special ed teachers, who quit because they are so overworked. There are a lot of students with serious behavior problems who are not moved to appropriate programs. There is a lack of discipline at many schools, because principals don’t want to have to submit discipline data to the district or state, so kids are not managed effectively. And, we need freaking textbooks! Kids need to read for information and have a resource for reviewing their learning or working ahead.

I went to school in NY. Schools are waaay better there. My husband went to FCPS. Our secondary school offerings were night/day.

And I'm sure your pizza was better. I graduated from a "regular" FCPS high school and did just as well at an Ivy as classmates who'd gone to Andover, Exeter, Stuyvesant, and public schools in Nassau and Westchester.

Not saying that FCPS kids don’t fare well. Just comparing NY standards for their students.

Also adding, special needs programming is way better. Anyone can get a 1:1 aide if in IEP

Suuure.

And you believe that?[/quote


Um, I lived there and worked in the schools there. This is a fact. I could not believe how little sped support kids down here get.

[Anonymous]

If we're adding to the wish list of things we'd like FCPS to do better in ES, could we please add spelling to the list? They don't teach it, which absolutely floored me when I finally realized that this year. My 2nd grader has never had a spelling test. I'd have to hire a reading tutor because my kid is behind and the tutor is helping her with spelling. It's insane.

[Anonymous]

I have kids currently in HS and MS Piggybacking on a couple of comments...each successive school, we have found the education/teachers better. AAP doesn't mean anything. Current HS was found not to be eligible for AAP. Took the MS math placement test and placed in honors algebra in 7th grade. Honors courses in every subject since then and all A's. MS selected for AAP in ES. Pulled out of Level IV after a year because he struggled so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we're adding to the wish list of things we'd like FCPS to do better in ES, could we please add spelling to the list? They don't teach it, which absolutely floored me when I finally realized that this year. My 2nd grader has never had a spelling test. I'd have to hire a reading tutor because my kid is behind and the tutor is helping her with spelling. It's insane.

You know as a parent that you can help them with their spelling as well, correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we're adding to the wish list of things we'd like FCPS to do better in ES, could we please add spelling to the list? They don't teach it, which absolutely floored me when I finally realized that this year. My 2nd grader has never had a spelling test. I'd have to hire a reading tutor because my kid is behind and the tutor is helping her with spelling. It's insane.

You know as a parent that you can help them with their spelling as well, correct?

You know that spelling is a fundamental skill one would expect a school to teach, correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS was never that great, academically or administratively, people are just noticing it now. FCSP's reputation will never recover.

+10000

I graduated from FCPS 12 years ago. It certainly wasn’t great then — I’m surprised people are only noticing it now. Where have you guys been?

[Anonymous]

We moved here because we thought the schools were the best in the country. I have friends all across the country, our schools are NOT even close to the personalized, thoughtful, child-centered education their kids are getting in smaller school districts. It's a size issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved here because we thought the schools were the best in the country. I have friends all across the country, our schools are NOT even close to the personalized, thoughtful, child-centered education their kids are getting in smaller school districts. It's a size issue.

Who told you the schools were the best in the country? Is this some article you read that said that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If we're adding to the wish list of things we'd like FCPS to do better in ES, could we please add spelling to the list? They don't teach it, which absolutely floored me when I finally realized that this year. My 2nd grader has never had a spelling test. I'd have to hire a reading tutor because my kid is behind and the tutor is helping her with spelling. It's insane.

You know as a parent that you can help them with their spelling as well, correct?

You know that spelling is a fundamental skill one would expect a school to teach, correct?

There are many fundamental skills that you could go on forever expecting to happen. Like peeing in the right spot. They certainly aint gonna teach that, among the many others. Just stop resisting and be the parent and teacher as others said, it isn't going to kill you. It's literallly 15 minutes a day to improve spelling.