testify to SAVE Mayoral control of DCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take issue with "the majority of DCPS parents". There's no way of knowing that. It's not like we were polled periodically in the pandemic.

yep. and some very good research showed that parental opinion was swayed by the messages they got from their school being opened or closed. WTU playing on and amplifying these parental fears (both through their rhetoric and keeping schools closed) was unforgivable.

I’m sorry you don’t like that black parents and teacher trust each other.

The research wasn't about just DC, by the way, and it wasn't about just Black parents and teachers. Also, less than half of DC teachers are Black. But thanks for looking at it with that lens to heighten the politicization!

Not sure where you get your data from but half of DC’s teachers are black. Well DCPS, I don’t care about charters.

And please be specific next time. Most people will assume you’re talking about DC, since you know this is a dc public schools forum.

Technically slightly less than half: https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/DCPS-Fast-Facts-2019-20.pdf

The point is, your characterization of the situation is off base, and only meant to instigate division.

+1. Also the black DCPS parents who trust the teachers are doing so to their own detriment - just look at how abysmal their kids' test scores are. I'll stop myself here before getting into my diatribe about how the poorer black community's tendency to see teacher as authority figures and not to question them is a holdover from slavery/racism and helps keep them down by not demanding more for their kids.

oh, do please go on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take issue with "the majority of DCPS parents". There's no way of knowing that. It's not like we were polled periodically in the pandemic.

yep. and some very good research showed that parental opinion was swayed by the messages they got from their school being opened or closed. WTU playing on and amplifying these parental fears (both through their rhetoric and keeping schools closed) was unforgivable.

I’m sorry you don’t like that black parents and teacher trust each other.

The research wasn't about just DC, by the way, and it wasn't about just Black parents and teachers. Also, less than half of DC teachers are Black. But thanks for looking at it with that lens to heighten the politicization!

Not sure where you get your data from but half of DC’s teachers are black. Well DCPS, I don’t care about charters.

And please be specific next time. Most people will assume you’re talking about DC, since you know this is a dc public schools forum.

Technically slightly less than half: https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/DCPS-Fast-Facts-2019-20.pdf

The point is, your characterization of the situation is off base, and only meant to instigate division.

+1. Also the black DCPS parents who trust the teachers are doing so to their own detriment - just look at how abysmal their kids' test scores are. I'll stop myself here before getting into my diatribe about how the poorer black community's tendency to see teacher as authority figures and not to question them is a holdover from slavery/racism and helps keep them down by not demanding more for their kids.

Their test scores may be lower but most mass shooters at schools are white kids. And of course some of the most heinous things in history and presently have been due to whites. Perhaps you should look into your own communities problems before throwing shots.

The division is already here. I see the digs all over this forum about ward 7/8.

[Anonymous]

I want to go back to the derailer comment bc how did we get here.

Good lord, make a comment about mayoral control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The people giving commentary about why DC schools should be under SBOE control aren't really making a case about how things would change. If they would say HOW it would make a much stronger argument.

On the flip side, the people saying we shouldn't end mayoral control are making strong arguments about what shifting governance would do that would hurt education.

Man I am beginning to hate Robert White.

+1. The people who want to change mayoral control have a raft of concerns which I don’t fault them for, but they don’t connect any of the solutions to mayoral control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people giving commentary about why DC schools should be under SBOE control aren't really making a case about how things would change. If they would say HOW it would make a much stronger argument.

On the flip side, the people saying we shouldn't end mayoral control are making strong arguments about what shifting governance would do that would hurt education.

Man I am beginning to hate Robert White.

+1. The people who want to change mayoral control have a raft of concerns which I don’t fault them for, but they don’t connect any of the solutions to mayoral control.

I’m ready to conclude they are just fundamentally dishonest. They are all over social media misrepresenting what’s in the bills and will never answer honestly about the purpose… which is to empower WTU and shut out charters.

[Anonymous]

I’m against mayoral control and the main thing is basically that the Mayor is disinterested. Schools are depoliticized but also directionless. No fire, no need to make the system work better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m against mayoral control and the main thing is basically that the Mayor is disinterested. Schools are depoliticized but also directionless. No fire, no need to make the system work better.

To me, Shannon Hidge was the one who spoke with most fire. She was advocating for some research that was underway, saying to let the research guide what needs to be done to help student outcomes. And that without any kind of research, we have no clue whether changing governance structures would actually help student outcomes.

I don’t know if it is still possible to watch the video from the hearing (linked above) but she was worth a watch.

[Anonymous]

^^Hodge not Hidge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people giving commentary about why DC schools should be under SBOE control aren't really making a case about how things would change. If they would say HOW it would make a much stronger argument.

On the flip side, the people saying we shouldn't end mayoral control are making strong arguments about what shifting governance would do that would hurt education.

Man I am beginning to hate Robert White.

+1. The people who want to change mayoral control have a raft of concerns which I don’t fault them for, but they don’t connect any of the solutions to mayoral control.

I’m ready to conclude they are just fundamentally dishonest. They are all over social media misrepresenting what’s in the bills and will never answer honestly about the purpose… which is to empower WTU and shut out charters.

+1. I came to that conclusion a long time ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people giving commentary about why DC schools should be under SBOE control aren't really making a case about how things would change. If they would say HOW it would make a much stronger argument.

On the flip side, the people saying we shouldn't end mayoral control are making strong arguments about what shifting governance would do that would hurt education.

Man I am beginning to hate Robert White.

+1. The people who want to change mayoral control have a raft of concerns which I don’t fault them for, but they don’t connect any of the solutions to mayoral control.

I’m ready to conclude they are just fundamentally dishonest. They are all over social media misrepresenting what’s in the bills and will never answer honestly about the purpose… which is to empower WTU and shut out charters.

Can you say where on social media? If twitter, can you share groups or handles? I'm just interested in seeing what they are saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m against mayoral control and the main thing is basically that the Mayor is disinterested. Schools are depoliticized but also directionless. No fire, no need to make the system work better.

a fine example of the persuasive reasoning power of the anti-mayoral control crowd! really, kudos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The people giving commentary about why DC schools should be under SBOE control aren't really making a case about how things would change. If they would say HOW it would make a much stronger argument.

On the flip side, the people saying we shouldn't end mayoral control are making strong arguments about what shifting governance would do that would hurt education.

Man I am beginning to hate Robert White.

+1. The people who want to change mayoral control have a raft of concerns which I don’t fault them for, but they don’t connect any of the solutions to mayoral control.

I’m ready to conclude they are just fundamentally dishonest. They are all over social media misrepresenting what’s in the bills and will never answer honestly about the purpose… which is to empower WTU and shut out charters.

Can you say where on social media? If twitter, can you share groups or handles? I'm just interested in seeing what they are saying.

search for OSSE and “mayoral control.” Also @EmpowerEDDC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m against mayoral control and the main thing is basically that the Mayor is disinterested. Schools are depoliticized but also directionless. No fire, no need to make the system work better.

To me, Shannon Hidge was the one who spoke with most fire. She was advocating for some research that was underway, saying to let the research guide what needs to be done to help student outcomes. And that without any kind of research, we have no clue whether changing governance structures would actually help student outcomes.

I don’t know if it is still possible to watch the video from the hearing (linked above) but she was worth a watch.

Shannon Hodge's statements:

https://www.dccharters.org/testimony-whole-osse-independence-bills/

"There may come a time when we will need a serious examination of our education governance system. But any changes made should be done carefully, with significant stakeholder input on implementation. Instead of changing OSSE’s structure and oversight in isolation—without regard for how such changes could upset public education in the District—the entire ecosystem needs deep study. Fortunately, the Council, in partnership with Mayor Bowser, has already created a mechanism for such a study.

In March 2019, this Council created the independent Research Practice Partnership (RPP) to “conduct independent education-related research that will support improvement in the District’s public schools” (DC Code § 38-785.02(b)). We encourage the Council not to abandon a structure it established just a couple years ago in favor of upending OSSE’s governance during a pandemic. Instead, we strongly urge the Council to allow the independent RPP, which is removed from politics, to undertake studies to inform any shifts in OSSE’s structure that the Council considers. As an alternative to the bills before you, the Council should focus on ensuring that the RPP is operational and operating to achieve its critical mission on supporting improvement in the District’s public schools."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m against mayoral control and the main thing is basically that the Mayor is disinterested. Schools are depoliticized but also directionless. No fire, no need to make the system work better.

To me, Shannon Hidge was the one who spoke with most fire. She was advocating for some research that was underway, saying to let the research guide what needs to be done to help student outcomes. And that without any kind of research, we have no clue whether changing governance structures would actually help student outcomes.

I don’t know if it is still possible to watch the video from the hearing (linked above) but she was worth a watch.

Shannon Hodge's statements:

https://www.dccharters.org/testimony-whole-osse-independence-bills/

"There may come a time when we will need a serious examination of our education governance system. But any changes made should be done carefully, with significant stakeholder input on implementation. Instead of changing OSSE’s structure and oversight in isolation—without regard for how such changes could upset public education in the District—the entire ecosystem needs deep study. Fortunately, the Council, in partnership with Mayor Bowser, has already created a mechanism for such a study.

In March 2019, this Council created the independent Research Practice Partnership (RPP) to “conduct independent education-related research that will support improvement in the District’s public schools” (DC Code § 38-785.02(b)). We encourage the Council not to abandon a structure it established just a couple years ago in favor of upending OSSE’s governance during a pandemic. Instead, we strongly urge the Council to allow the independent RPP, which is removed from politics, to undertake studies to inform any shifts in OSSE’s structure that the Council considers. As an alternative to the bills before you, the Council should focus on ensuring that the RPP is operational and operating to achieve its critical mission on supporting improvement in the District’s public schools."

Of course What she's saying makes sense. The only "problem" with Ms. Hodge's recommendation (based on actual expertise and studies) is that it wouldn't shift power to WTU, Robert White and Janeese Lewis George's endorser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m against mayoral control and the main thing is basically that the Mayor is disinterested. Schools are depoliticized but also directionless. No fire, no need to make the system work better.

To me, Shannon Hidge was the one who spoke with most fire. She was advocating for some research that was underway, saying to let the research guide what needs to be done to help student outcomes. And that without any kind of research, we have no clue whether changing governance structures would actually help student outcomes.

I don’t know if it is still possible to watch the video from the hearing (linked above) but she was worth a watch.

Shannon Hodge's statements:

https://www.dccharters.org/testimony-whole-osse-independence-bills/

"There may come a time when we will need a serious examination of our education governance system. But any changes made should be done carefully, with significant stakeholder input on implementation. Instead of changing OSSE’s structure and oversight in isolation—without regard for how such changes could upset public education in the District—the entire ecosystem needs deep study. Fortunately, the Council, in partnership with Mayor Bowser, has already created a mechanism for such a study.

In March 2019, this Council created the independent Research Practice Partnership (RPP) to “conduct independent education-related research that will support improvement in the District’s public schools” (DC Code § 38-785.02(b)). We encourage the Council not to abandon a structure it established just a couple years ago in favor of upending OSSE’s governance during a pandemic. Instead, we strongly urge the Council to allow the independent RPP, which is removed from politics, to undertake studies to inform any shifts in OSSE’s structure that the Council considers. As an alternative to the bills before you, the Council should focus on ensuring that the RPP is operational and operating to achieve its critical mission on supporting improvement in the District’s public schools."

Of course What she's saying makes sense. The only "problem" with Ms. Hodge's recommendation (based on actual expertise and studies) is that it wouldn't shift power to WTU, Robert White and Janeese Lewis George's endorser.

Notably, Robert White ripped into her for this statement. Which was very very telling. Like how can he disagree with using research to make reform and improve student outcomes?