BOE Memer is proposing to study school boundary in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has been going downhill since Weast left. Reminds me of the classic story of dysfunction:

Even the future used to be better.

-Karl Valentin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every time anyone opposes long bus rides for any kids, or advocates for a W school, they are labeled racist. In reality, some of us like community schools. We want community (whatever color or household income) to get together at the school. To see neighbors when we vote, go to a homecoming game, a meeting about a new development in the community, etc. We do not want a consortium, where neighbors end up at different schools. And, we are not racists for wanting this.

Nobody wants long bus rides. Nobody. The proposal is about considering adjacent schools. People who live near the Wootton /Gaithersburg boundary are neighbors. People who live near the WJ/Wheaton boundary are neighbors. People who live near the B-CC/Einstein boundary are neighbors. Etc.

Wootton boundaries aren't really close to Gaithersburg boundaries with the exception of students who live near the Rio being bussed over to Fallsmead. That is already bussing in effect. Otherwise, Wootton boundaries are up against RM and QO boundaries.

What is the difference between "taking a school bus to school" and "bussing"? For example, my kid takes a bus to our zoned high school. Does my kid take the bus, or is my kid bussed?

Does your child live far away from the school and bussed in to create greater diversity at the school? The Fallsmead boundaries were created in the 80s (when I attended school there) to bring in families from the Rio area which was mostly lower income at the time. If boundaries were drawn purely by geography, families in that neighborhood would be more likely to attend Fields Road ES. Demographics have changed and now most people who live in Rio/Downtown Crown area are higher income. The newer houses near Rio are assigned to Gaithersburg schools. It's actually a good example of how bussing for diversity only works temporarily because demographics can change. It actually helps SES diversity in Gaithersburg schools now to have those students attend Gaithersburg schools instead of being bussed over to the Wootton cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every school must be half students on the dole and half students whose families w HHI over $42k.

One third must be Hispanic, one third black, one third white plus Asian. Pro rate the FARMS.

50/50 female/male.


This, my friends, is the recipe for success. The achievement gap will dissipate and all will be eager and ready for MOCo Community College. There is a special program there where you can teach ESOL at MCPS during and after college, go for it!!

At least it would help illustrate how kids academic performance is a function of their SES not which school they attend. A kid from Churchill will do more or less the same at Kennedy. People get all worked up about good and bad schools, but there isn't any real difference between the schools just the students. Sure, busing kids around to make things fair sounds great but it would also have little impact.

MCPS has gone downhill. I can tell you based on firsthand experience. Rigor is a joke. Teachers are scared into passing students, and kids can bully teachers with the 50% rule and the re-teach/re-assess mess.

My own kid, now a HS freshman in a different system, has said that she finally has peers to ramp up the competition in her classes. She was a straight A student in her other school - As w/o even trying. Now, she has to work very hard to maintain a low A. No system is perfect of course, but I prefer watching my own children (younger one is in ES) become self-reliant and resourceful.

There was far too much enabling in MCPS, with too much emphasis on the social-emotional realm. The best way to grow confidence is through skills. And sometimes that means kids NEED to fail. They NEED remediation. But those are nasty words in MCPS.

Many kids living in poverty come with a different set of issues. Rather than coddling them, have enough RESPECT for them to build their capacity. If the home life is crap, encourage them to visit the library. Hold after-school homework clubs. But hold them accountable. All we've done is created an underclass by passing kids along b/c failing them is not PC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every school must be half students on the dole and half students whose families w HHI over $42k.

One third must be Hispanic, one third black, one third white plus Asian. Pro rate the FARMS.

50/50 female/male.


This, my friends, is the recipe for success. The achievement gap will dissipate and all will be eager and ready for MOCo Community College. There is a special program there where you can teach ESOL at MCPS during and after college, go for it!!

At least it would help illustrate how kids academic performance is a function of their SES not which school they attend. A kid from Churchill will do more or less the same at Kennedy. People get all worked up about good and bad schools, but there isn't any real difference between the schools just the students. Sure, busing kids around to make things fair sounds great but it would also have little impact.

MCPS has gone downhill. I can tell you based on firsthand experience. Rigor is a joke. Teachers are scared into passing students, and kids can bully teachers with the 50% rule and the re-teach/re-assess mess.

My own kid, now a HS freshman in a different system, has said that she finally has peers to ramp up the competition in her classes. She was a straight A student in her other school - As w/o even trying. Now, she has to work very hard to maintain a low A. No system is perfect of course, but I prefer watching my own children (younger one is in ES) become self-reliant and resourceful.

There was far too much enabling in MCPS, with too much emphasis on the social-emotional realm. The best way to grow confidence is through skills. And sometimes that means kids NEED to fail. They NEED remediation. But those are nasty words in MCPS.

Many kids living in poverty come with a different set of issues. Rather than coddling them, have enough RESPECT for them to build their capacity. If the home life is crap, encourage them to visit the library. Hold after-school homework clubs. But hold them accountable. All we've done is created an underclass by passing kids along b/c failing them is not PC.

Just another sky is falling post. Nothing to see here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

MCPS has gone downhill. I can tell you based on firsthand experience. Rigor is a joke. Teachers are scared into passing students, and kids can bully teachers with the 50% rule and the re-teach/re-assess mess.

My own kid, now a HS freshman in a different system, has said that she finally has peers to ramp up the competition in her classes. She was a straight A student in her other school - As w/o even trying. Now, she has to work very hard to maintain a low A. No system is perfect of course, but I prefer watching my own children (younger one is in ES) become self-reliant and resourceful.

There was far too much enabling in MCPS, with too much emphasis on the social-emotional realm. The best way to grow confidence is through skills. And sometimes that means kids NEED to fail. They NEED remediation. But those are nasty words in MCPS.

Many kids living in poverty come with a different set of issues. Rather than coddling them, have enough RESPECT for them to build their capacity. If the home life is crap, encourage them to visit the library. Hold after-school homework clubs. But hold them accountable. All we've done is created an underclass by passing kids along b/c failing them is not PC.

Just another sky is falling post. Nothing to see here.

Yes, the use of the word "coddling" is usually a reliable indicator.