So, what is wrong with Hardy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not that she was just resistant to replacing Pope. She was vocally resistant to the changes that Rhee wanted to make at the school, including making Hardy more attractive to in-boundaries families.

So people can't dare to disagree? Voicing an opinion respectfully is admirable, especially when it can have repercussions (and even thought you care to take the risk) And then, that's democracy, you loose, or the option you were supporting looses, and you continue give the best of yourself for that school.

The workplace is not the place for voicing your opinions. I was around during those days and I remember thinking that this has to be one of the few jobs in America where you can publicly castigate your employer and keep your job.

Well, it depends. When I worked as an advisor is was critical to be able to disagree (not easy, but critical). In education, when you are changing the system of a school, you better hear and take into account the teachers opinions. They are a key part of the system. You don't have to do what they say, but at least you need to have their input.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not that she was just resistant to replacing Pope. She was vocally resistant to the changes that Rhee wanted to make at the school, including making Hardy more attractive to in-boundaries families.

So people can't dare to disagree? Voicing an opinion respectfully is admirable, especially when it can have repercussions (and even thought you care to take the risk) And then, that's democracy, you loose, or the option you were supporting looses, and you continue give the best of yourself for that school.

The workplace is not the place for voicing your opinions. I was around during those days and I remember thinking that this has to be one of the few jobs in America where you can publicly castigate your employer and keep your job.

Well, it depends. When I worked as an advisor is was critical to be able to disagree (not easy, but critical). In education, when you are changing the system of a school, you better hear and take into account the teachers opinions. They are a key part of the system. You don't have to do what they say, but at least you need to have their input.

Publicly disparaging your employer to your customers is a career limiting move just about everywhere. It's not the same as constructive engagement or vigorous debate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not that she was just resistant to replacing Pope. She was vocally resistant to the changes that Rhee wanted to make at the school, including making Hardy more attractive to in-boundaries families.

So people can't dare to disagree? Voicing an opinion respectfully is admirable, especially when it can have repercussions (and even thought you care to take the risk) And then, that's democracy, you loose, or the option you were supporting looses, and you continue give the best of yourself for that school.

The workplace is not the place for voicing your opinions. I was around during those days and I remember thinking that this has to be one of the few jobs in America where you can publicly castigate your employer and keep your job.

Well, it depends. When I worked as an advisor is was critical to be able to disagree (not easy, but critical). In education, when you are changing the system of a school, you better hear and take into account the teachers opinions. They are a key part of the system. You don't have to do what they say, but at least you need to have their input.

Publicly disparaging your employer to your customers is a career limiting move just about everywhere. It's not the same as constructive engagement or vigorous debate.

Except in DCPS, when one is able to tap into and stoke the old resentments.....as this teacher did.

[Anonymous]

Oh, it's Wednesday. We must have moved on to the "cranky teacher from the Pope era" portion of the thread. Call me when we're back to the "uniforms are ghetto" pages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not that she was just resistant to replacing Pope. She was vocally resistant to the changes that Rhee wanted to make at the school, including making Hardy more attractive to in-boundaries families.

So people can't dare to disagree? Voicing an opinion respectfully is admirable, especially when it can have repercussions (and even thought you care to take the risk) And then, that's democracy, you loose, or the option you were supporting looses, and you continue give the best of yourself for that school.

The workplace is not the place for voicing your opinions. I was around during those days and I remember thinking that this has to be one of the few jobs in America where you can publicly castigate your employer and keep your job.

Well, it depends. When I worked as an advisor is was critical to be able to disagree (not easy, but critical). In education, when you are changing the system of a school, you better hear and take into account the teachers opinions. They are a key part of the system. You don't have to do what they say, but at least you need to have their input.

Publicly disparaging your employer to your customers is a career limiting move just about everywhere. It's not the same as constructive engagement or vigorous debate.

Except in DCPS, when one is able to tap into and stoke the old resentments.....as this teacher did.

OK, let's stipulate that this teacher acted poorly five years ago when Pope was fired. Since then she has been nothing but an excellent teacher to all the students from Hardy. So is this something that IB parents can move on from, or is it an ongoing reason not to send your kid to Hardy?

[Anonymous]

So, lets sum up.... WTF is wrong with Hardy? And moreover, why is so controversial?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not that she was just resistant to replacing Pope. She was vocally resistant to the changes that Rhee wanted to make at the school, including making Hardy more attractive to in-boundaries families.

So people can't dare to disagree? Voicing an opinion respectfully is admirable, especially when it can have repercussions (and even thought you care to take the risk) And then, that's democracy, you loose, or the option you were supporting looses, and you continue give the best of yourself for that school.

The workplace is not the place for voicing your opinions. I was around during those days and I remember thinking that this has to be one of the few jobs in America where you can publicly castigate your employer and keep your job.

So everyone who speaks out against their employer should be fired, regardless of the reasoning behind it?

[Anonymous]

I'm not a teacher, but most places I have worked as a professional, over the last 25+ years, constructive criticism was a must, and for the most part was accepted. But bear in mind that it also takes tact, you can't just disparage and complain without tying it to some constructive solutions. Showing leadership and initiative takes a bit more work and conviction than just being an armchair critic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not that she was just resistant to replacing Pope. She was vocally resistant to the changes that Rhee wanted to make at the school, including making Hardy more attractive to in-boundaries families.

So people can't dare to disagree? Voicing an opinion respectfully is admirable, especially when it can have repercussions (and even thought you care to take the risk) And then, that's democracy, you loose, or the option you were supporting looses, and you continue give the best of yourself for that school.

The workplace is not the place for voicing your opinions. I was around during those days and I remember thinking that this has to be one of the few jobs in America where you can publicly castigate your employer and keep your job.

So everyone who speaks out against their employer should be fired, regardless of the reasoning behind it?

My personal opinion is no, but bear in mind that DCPS has disciplined even great teachers who dared to buck the bureaucracy on minor things.

In this case, the teacher's anger and militant attitude were so notable that it scared a lot of prospective parents off, who believed that she would be very hostile to a more "diverse" and changed Hardy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a teacher, but most places I have worked as a professional, over the last 25+ years, constructive criticism was a must, and for the most part was accepted. But bear in mind that it also takes tact, you can't just disparage and complain without tying it to some constructive solutions. Showing leadership and initiative takes a bit more work and conviction than just being an armchair critic.

There is a difference between constructive criticism and insubordination.

[Anonymous]

BUMP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who think that the IB parent population shuns Hardy because there are too many OOB (code for AA) kids---I think the reality is more complicated. Hardy appears to me--a high SES EOTP parent with kids at a charter---to have an OOB population of AA kids from middle class homes who clearly cared enough about their children's education to seek out the next best middle school in DC. It has also been my observation that the largest demographic group at the highly regarded charters such as Latin and Basis are also middle class AA kids. Yet white IB families who shun Hardy will happily send their kids to Basis or Latin-------so it would seem that IB families are not shunning Hardy solely because of racial discomfort. My guess is that those parents believe that the administration and faculty culture at Basis and Latin are more receptive to parental input and less DCPS bureaucratic than Hardy, which is a regular DCPS school.

But that is just my guess.

My experience with Ward 3 parents is that they don't "happily" send their kids to Basis, Latin, or even Hardy -- kids go to those schools because it's the best their parents can do, considering the options. With respect to Latin, and even moreso Basis, the most common complaint is that those schools have too much homework, but the kids can't get in anywhere else with a kinder curriculum. These are parents that compare their options with the 'burbs and they take what they can get -- Basis, Latin, or even (ugh!) Hardy - because for one reason or another they are invested in D.C.

What every Ward 3 parent wants, who can't get into Deal, is Deal. Deal for All is what they want -- surprised? And, those who are in Deal, want better than Deal, too, but they mortgages don't let them pay for private. You shouldn't be surprised that Deal parents want better than Deal, either. These are the most self-impressed parents in the United States. At some point, we all gotta settle for what we can get. "What? Toby only went to Duke and not Williams?! He better be happy you settled for HIM!"

I think what is so intriguing about Hardy is that many IB parents see Hardy as potentially being so much better than it currently is. So they gripe. Back to the Hardy thread!

I was not convinced that a large fee could buy me a better education that my kid is having at Hardy. It's not that I cannot afford GDS or WIS, which we did like and could have afforded. We were not convinced that it was going to be a good investment, that our kid was going to have a better social and academic experience at those schools than at Hardy. And we did not think that a $35,000/year investment to have the kid stay in a SES environment similar to her ES and to our status was a good one. If you have a frank and cozy conversation with parents from NW private schools you will hear that each school has its own issues.... The difference is that it is easier for me to be frank to myself and to others about areas for improvement at Hardy than is for other parents from my block who are paying $3,000/month for private education! I have no problem admitting that, while the 6th grade team was outstanding with non exceptions, I do not like one of the 7th grade teachers (poor communication; outdated teaching). Not a very big deal given that I am very happy with, for instance, math and English (the very politicized teacher mentioned above, yes, reading list focused on emargination and social issues but she works hard and makes them work hard) but there's definetly an area in 7th grade where we are demanding improvement and change.

We did not believe that our kid would be dragged down by the relatively larger number of students from lower performing ES. She is actually thriving and attends honors classes in the most important subjects, which are physically separated classes (not just more advanced homework as a troll was stating). Classes and team assignments are stimulating her creativity and teamwork capabilities, both crucial skills to succeed in the modern world... She has a nice relationship with most girls of her age, though I see that for hangouts and team projects she mainly picks mates from our same neighborhood... She tells us that there's troublemakers in the school, "you just don't care, we are not friends and they don't bother us" . But she has never felt intimidated. And by the way, talking about intimidation, if you have close friends at National Cathedral , try ask them about girl bullying...

So I am afraid money cannot buy me or you a smart kid, and the decision set and factors are much more complex than the mere $$$ argument you were presenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not that she was just resistant to replacing Pope. She was vocally resistant to the changes that Rhee wanted to make at the school, including making Hardy more attractive to in-boundaries families.

So people can't dare to disagree? Voicing an opinion respectfully is admirable, especially when it can have repercussions (and even thought you care to take the risk) And then, that's democracy, you loose, or the option you were supporting looses, and you continue give the best of yourself for that school.

The workplace is not the place for voicing your opinions. I was around during those days and I remember thinking that this has to be one of the few jobs in America where you can publicly castigate your employer and keep your job.

So everyone who speaks out against their employer should be fired, regardless of the reasoning behind it?

My personal opinion is no, but bear in mind that DCPS has disciplined even great teachers who dared to buck the bureaucracy on minor things.

In this case, the teacher's anger and militant attitude were so notable that it scared a lot of prospective parents off, who believed that she would be very hostile to a more "diverse" and changed Hardy.

I don't believe it scared a lot of parents off. I believe it scared you off and a few more but a lot? No.

[Anonymous]

Hardy, like Deal 10 years ago, is a school in transition. It has stable leadership, financial focus from DCPS, strong academic offerings, differentiated math with a track to get to Calculus in HS, honors programs, and a variety of interesting extracurricular offerings. Much of this is new, and represents a change from even 2 years ago. There are some people who feel comfortable being on the forefront of a process, and some who want guarantees of success (which don't really exist; but people feel more comfortable thinking they can control their destinies). After closely watching the progress of the school under the leadership of Trish Pride, I am completely amazed and astounded at how much has been accomplished in such a short time, and how receptive both the Principal and DCPS are to the concerns of local parents. They have done this without pushing out other parents, who have worked hard to get their kids into Hardy out of boundary, and don't want to lose that option. Since it is under enrolled, there is room for both more feeder school kids AND out of boundary kids. This is likely only true in the next few years, because, given demographic trends, more in boundary parents will send their kids to Hardy, and it will soon be like Deal - all in boundary. Right now is a great time for Hardy - and especially if you want to put a lot into the school and make your voice heard. And by saying this, it's not to say it's better than a private school - but that's because there's no one measure of what makes a good school. The same one that might be perfect for my child may not be so for yours. And therefore, we can both be "right" - which is what fuels so much of the vitriol on DCUM.

I feel truly fortunate to think that I can live in such a cool city as DC, send my kids to public school from PK to HS, and not feel an iota of guilt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hardy, like Deal 10 years ago, is a school in transition. It has stable leadership, financial focus from DCPS, strong academic offerings, differentiated math with a track to get to Calculus in HS, honors programs, and a variety of interesting extracurricular offerings. Much of this is new, and represents a change from even 2 years ago. There are some people who feel comfortable being on the forefront of a process, and some who want guarantees of success (which don't really exist; but people feel more comfortable thinking they can control their destinies). After closely watching the progress of the school under the leadership of Trish Pride, I am completely amazed and astounded at how much has been accomplished in such a short time, and how receptive both the Principal and DCPS are to the concerns of local parents. They have done this without pushing out other parents, who have worked hard to get their kids into Hardy out of boundary, and don't want to lose that option. Since it is under enrolled, there is room for both more feeder school kids AND out of boundary kids. This is likely only true in the next few years, because, given demographic trends, more in boundary parents will send their kids to Hardy, and it will soon be like Deal - all in boundary. Right now is a great time for Hardy - and especially if you want to put a lot into the school and make your voice heard. And by saying this, it's not to say it's better than a private school - but that's because there's no one measure of what makes a good school. The same one that might be perfect for my child may not be so for yours. And therefore, we can both be "right" - which is what fuels so much of the vitriol on DCUM.

I feel truly fortunate to think that I can live in such a cool city as DC, send my kids to public school from PK to HS, and not feel an iota of guilt.

Thanks. Nicely said and useful thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's not that she was just resistant to replacing Pope. She was vocally resistant to the changes that Rhee wanted to make at the school, including making Hardy more attractive to in-boundaries families.

So people can't dare to disagree? Voicing an opinion respectfully is admirable, especially when it can have repercussions (and even thought you care to take the risk) And then, that's democracy, you loose, or the option you were supporting looses, and you continue give the best of yourself for that school.

The workplace is not the place for voicing your opinions. I was around during those days and I remember thinking that this has to be one of the few jobs in America where you can publicly castigate your employer and keep your job.

So everyone who speaks out against their employer should be fired, regardless of the reasoning behind it?

My personal opinion is no, but bear in mind that DCPS has disciplined even great teachers who dared to buck the bureaucracy on minor things.

In this case, the teacher's anger and militant attitude were so notable that it scared a lot of prospective parents off, who believed that she would be very hostile to a more "diverse" and changed Hardy.

I don't believe it scared a lot of parents off. I believe it scared you off and a few more but a lot? No.

The angry teacher made it very clear at the time that she was not a fan of change at Hardy. She came across like the rudest, most haughty person one has ever encountered at DC DMV.