Basis PCS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, there are at least 125 dissenting former BASIS families (175-40/50). And a number of parents I know avoid BASIS because they do perceive it as a possibly stressful and grim experience.

With students leaving, and with somewhat limited appeal, is BASIS DC able to cover its expenses? Is that why they are opening the private school in Virginia?

Hello again, insane BASIS basher. Tell me: after three years, how have you avoided getting a life?

Actually, this is the first time I've posted about BASIS. I'm genuinely curious, and as a tax paying DC resident, I have the right to ask any questions I choose about this public institution.

[Anonymous]

Those questions are loaded. Many people will leave a school that is just starting, people also leave Latin for high school, and BASIS is actually bigger than Latin, so there isn't limited appeal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

With students leaving, and with somewhat limited appeal, is BASIS DC able to cover its expenses? Is that why they are opening the private school in Virginia?

Yes. No. They are legally separate entities. You can review the BASIS DC 990 and audit report if you are concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, there are at least 125 dissenting former BASIS families (175-40/50). And a number of parents I know avoid BASIS because they do perceive it as a possibly stressful and grim experience.

With students leaving, and with somewhat limited appeal, is BASIS DC able to cover its expenses? Is that why they are opening the private school in Virginia?

Hello again, insane BASIS basher. Tell me: after three years, how have you avoided getting a life?

Actually, this is the first time I've posted about BASIS. I'm genuinely curious, and as a tax paying DC resident, I have the right to ask any questions I choose about this public institution.

It's somewhat limited appeal keeps filling 5th and 6th grade, due to the very few decent middle school options in DCPS. Can you think a little OP? If they are fully subscribed, regardless of how many students are in 5th or 12th grade and how many start and how many depart, why would they have financial difficulties?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is with kids who switch schools in the middle of the sequence. The kids who stay at Basis will get all the content eventually.

It is just something that parents of kids who want to move from Basis to another school need to take into consideration.

if you start in 8/7 in 5th, Algebra I in 6th, Algebra II in 7th, and Precalculus in 8th and leave for high school you have completed the sequence and thus deserve full credit for Geometry

And that their two years of World History will be wasted but the AP maybe will be good practice?

I disagree re 'deserve.' The reality is you're transferring between two separate school districts that happen to be in the same city. And there is nothing that requires - or precludes - one to accept the credits from another.

Life isn't fair, caveat emptor and so on.

there's absolutely no reason why DCPS and charters can't coordinate on accreditation within OSSE oversight. That cuts both ways, as plenty of students move from DCPS to charters too.

Please look up what accreditation means.

There are standards that each school must meet - it's called Common Core. But aligning curriculum beyond that is a very slippery slope.

I'm sorry, but demonstrating proficiency, be it through testing or completion of necessary course material, should be sufficient. If universities can figure out how to credit work at other far more diverse higher education settings then a relatively small public school district can figure it out. That's such a weak argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, there are at least 125 dissenting former BASIS families (175-40/50). And a number of parents I know avoid BASIS because they do perceive it as a possibly stressful and grim experience.

With students leaving, and with somewhat limited appeal, is BASIS DC able to cover its expenses? Is that why they are opening the private school in Virginia?

Hello again, insane BASIS basher. Tell me: after three years, how have you avoided getting a life?

Actually, this is the first time I've posted about BASIS. I'm genuinely curious, and as a tax paying DC resident, I have the right to ask any questions I choose about this public institution.

Not on DCUM you don't. I mean, I have no issue with your questions, but I take issue with people who claim rights that do not exist. You also don't have a right to freedom of speech...unless that freedom is abridged by the state. Last I checked Jess isn't a state agent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, there are at least 125 dissenting former BASIS families (175-40/50). And a number of parents I know avoid BASIS because they do perceive it as a possibly stressful and grim experience.

With students leaving, and with somewhat limited appeal, is BASIS DC able to cover its expenses? Is that why they are opening the private school in Virginia?

Hello again, insane BASIS basher. Tell me: after three years, how have you avoided getting a life?

Actually, this is the first time I've posted about BASIS. I'm genuinely curious, and as a tax paying DC resident, I have the right to ask any questions I choose about this public institution.

Not on DCUM you don't. I mean, I have no issue with your questions, but I take issue with people who claim rights that do not exist. You also don't have a right to freedom of speech...unless that freedom is abridged by the state. Last I checked Jess isn't a state agent.

Well, I will certainly ask questions here until Jeff advises me that I should not. But you are right, I should and will take my questions to the charter board; thank you for that suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is with kids who switch schools in the middle of the sequence. The kids who stay at Basis will get all the content eventually.

It is just something that parents of kids who want to move from Basis to another school need to take into consideration.

if you start in 8/7 in 5th, Algebra I in 6th, Algebra II in 7th, and Precalculus in 8th and leave for high school you have completed the sequence and thus deserve full credit for Geometry

And that their two years of World History will be wasted but the AP maybe will be good practice?

I disagree re 'deserve.' The reality is you're transferring between two separate school districts that happen to be in the same city. And there is nothing that requires - or precludes - one to accept the credits from another.

Life isn't fair, caveat emptor and so on.

there's absolutely no reason why DCPS and charters can't coordinate on accreditation within OSSE oversight. That cuts both ways, as plenty of students move from DCPS to charters too.

Please look up what accreditation means.

There are standards that each school must meet - it's called Common Core. But aligning curriculum beyond that is a very slippery slope.

I'm sorry, but demonstrating proficiency, be it through testing or completion of necessary course material, should be sufficient. If universities can figure out how to credit work at other far more diverse higher education settings then a relatively small public school district can figure it out. That's such a weak argument.

By and large, universities have economies of scale which exceed those of Basis (the amassed personal wealth of founders aside of course - don't they sell their own course materials to all their schools for personal gain?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And? In Arizona, they've gotten away with the wholesale culling of students they cannot openly vet for 25 years now. They're well on their way to getting away with it in DC, where the evangelism of school choice remains at fever pitch. BASIS ducks and weaves and take no responsibility for brutishness masquerading as a fine liberal arts education for all who work hard. Politicians, parents and ed leaders celebrate their grim model, accepting massive attrition as reasonable, wherever BASIS empire builds. Dissenting voices are few. And the beat goes on.

You speak the truth, PP. It took us time to appreciate the true impact of the BASIS model on our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And? In Arizona, they've gotten away with the wholesale culling of students they cannot openly vet for 25 years now. They're well on their way to getting away with it in DC, where the evangelism of school choice remains at fever pitch. BASIS ducks and weaves and take no responsibility for brutishness masquerading as a fine liberal arts education for all who work hard. Politicians, parents and ed leaders celebrate their grim model, accepting massive attrition as reasonable, wherever BASIS empire builds. Dissenting voices are few. And the beat goes on.

You speak the truth, PP. It took us time to appreciate the true impact of the BASIS model on our family.

Why do some people fear the combination of education and success?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And? In Arizona, they've gotten away with the wholesale culling of students they cannot openly vet for 25 years now. They're well on their way to getting away with it in DC, where the evangelism of school choice remains at fever pitch. BASIS ducks and weaves and take no responsibility for brutishness masquerading as a fine liberal arts education for all who work hard. Politicians, parents and ed leaders celebrate their grim model, accepting massive attrition as reasonable, wherever BASIS empire builds. Dissenting voices are few. And the beat goes on.

You speak the truth, PP. It took us time to appreciate the true impact of the BASIS model on our family.

Why do some people fear the combination of education and success?

We don't fear the combination of education and success, PP. We're both educated and successful. We've merely concluded that BASIS is probably not the best fit for our family. Apparently, we're not in the minority, as the majority of entering 5th and 6th grade families come to the same conclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And? In Arizona, they've gotten away with the wholesale culling of students they cannot openly vet for 25 years now. They're well on their way to getting away with it in DC, where the evangelism of school choice remains at fever pitch. BASIS ducks and weaves and take no responsibility for brutishness masquerading as a fine liberal arts education for all who work hard. Politicians, parents and ed leaders celebrate their grim model, accepting massive attrition as reasonable, wherever BASIS empire builds. Dissenting voices are few. And the beat goes on.

You speak the truth, PP. It took us time to appreciate the true impact of the BASIS model on our family.

Why do some people fear the combination of education and success?

We don't fear the combination of education and success, PP. We're both educated and successful. We've merely concluded that BASIS is probably not the best fit for our family. Apparently, we're not in the minority, as the majority of entering 5th and 6th grade families come to the same conclusion.

. . .and your successful and educated family was negatively impacted by your child attending 5th and or 6th grade at BASIS? Seems extreme.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP who posted about the brutishness. I'm a Boston Latin and Ivy graduate from a working-class background. I loved Boston Latin as much for the esprit de corps as the rigor. Very few washed out because, although standards were high, the school's commitment to each and every student's success and happiness trumped concerns about performance and output, about test scores and grades. When we were told that Latin had left few students behind for three centuries, and wasn't about to start weeding out kids in our generation, we had reason to believe it. We were put on lower academic tracks if need be, or higher academic tracks. We were retained and valued, even when we stumbled or failed. We grew up, did well, and stayed loyal to the school with an unwavering belief in our abilities and drive. As a result, we give generously to Latin in middle age.

The Hobbesian BASIS models seems twisted and empty by comparison, and that's putting it mildly. BASIS, good luck raising funds from graduates.

[Anonymous]

Q. If I Get Into Boston Latin, Will I Do Well?
A. Getting into BLS is a very proud moment for young people, and it means that you have the necessary skills to succeed at the school. However, not everyone who goes to Latin School will finish. It’s not because they’re not smart enough, but it’s because they couldn’t handle the amount of work, and weren’t prepared for their new responsibilities.

What you’re doing now in elementary school is already deciding how well you’re going to do at Latin School. The study habits that you form now will follow you to seventh grade and beyond. For example, are you doing your homework every night? Are you following the exact directions that your teacher gives you for your assignments? Do you ask for help when something is confusing to you? If you answered “No” to any of these questions, you might be putting yourself in a tough position to excel at Latin School. BLS expects you to do hours of homework every night. Teachers expect the work to be done completely and correctly, and they want you to tell them if you don’t understand something.

If you answered “Yes” to all of the questions, that’s great. But you could still be doing more to get ready for BLS. If you finish your homework in less than an hour every night, you should be doing extra work. Read books for pleasure when you finish the work your teacher assigned. It doesn’t matter if it’s Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or an R.L. Stein mystery; reading anything will help get you ready for all the books you’ll have to read in seventh grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Q. If I Get Into Boston Latin, Will I Do Well?
A. Getting into BLS is a very proud moment for young people, and it means that you have the necessary skills to succeed at the school. However, not everyone who goes to Latin School will finish. It’s not because they’re not smart enough, but it’s because they couldn’t handle the amount of work, and weren’t prepared for their new responsibilities.

What you’re doing now in elementary school is already deciding how well you’re going to do at Latin School. The study habits that you form now will follow you to seventh grade and beyond. For example, are you doing your homework every night? Are you following the exact directions that your teacher gives you for your assignments? Do you ask for help when something is confusing to you? If you answered “No” to any of these questions, you might be putting yourself in a tough position to excel at Latin School. BLS expects you to do hours of homework every night. Teachers expect the work to be done completely and correctly, and they want you to tell them if you don’t understand something.

If you answered “Yes” to all of the questions, that’s great. But you could still be doing more to get ready for BLS. If you finish your homework in less than an hour every night, you should be doing extra work. Read books for pleasure when you finish the work your teacher assigned. It doesn’t matter if it’s Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or an R.L. Stein mystery; reading anything will help get you ready for all the books you’ll have to read in seventh grade.

and who gives a flying F@!$ about BLS?