Please SOUND OFF if you think FCPS is in decline!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If ESOL is a drain, then why not AAP kids and language immersion kids? They take up resources too. But I guess that's OK?

Exactly. I would think that they should both be on the chopping block. ESOL is required by law.

Completely agree.

Agree. If people want "enrichment", let them pay for it. At our AAP center, there are actually more AAP kids than not. That's not a "gifted" program. Even the teachers will say so (and have). And it's divisive. You cannot imagine the things I have heard AAP parents (and 1 or 2 teachers) say when they thought my kid was in AAP but is not (by choice).

Either they tailor all of it for everyone, or none of it. That's my view.

I don't have an issue with ESOL as it's required and we actually WANT kids to speak English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If ESOL is a drain, then why not AAP kids and language immersion kids? They take up resources too. But I guess that's OK?

AAP is required by law. It’s classified as a special need. Otherwise it would have been gone a long time ago. Now it’s a necessity for MC normal English speaking FCPS students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If ESOL is a drain, then why not AAP kids and language immersion kids? They take up resources too. But I guess that's OK?

Exactly. I would think that they should both be on the chopping block. ESOL is required by law.

Completely agree.

Agree. If people want "enrichment", let them pay for it. At our AAP center, there are actually more AAP kids than not. That's not a "gifted" program. Even the teachers will say so (and have). And it's divisive. You cannot imagine the things I have heard AAP parents (and 1 or 2 teachers) say when they thought my kid was in AAP but is not (by choice).

Either they tailor all of it for everyone, or none of it. That's my view.

I don't have an issue with ESOL as it's required and we actually WANT kids to speak English.

Curious about the things you’ve heard said...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If ESOL is a drain, then why not AAP kids and language immersion kids? They take up resources too. But I guess that's OK?

Exactly. I would think that they should both be on the chopping block. ESOL is required by law.

Completely agree.

Agree. If people want "enrichment", let them pay for it. At our AAP center, there are actually more AAP kids than not. That's not a "gifted" program. Even the teachers will say so (and have). And it's divisive. You cannot imagine the things I have heard AAP parents (and 1 or 2 teachers) say when they thought my kid was in AAP but is not (by choice).

Either they tailor all of it for everyone, or none of it. That's my view.

I don't have an issue with ESOL as it's required and we actually WANT kids to speak English.

Your DC was admitted to AAP, your base school is a center school, and you declined. And then you are offended when people are surprised?

[Anonymous]

I think all schools are in decline.

My kids were in school when the SOLs started. There was a sea change in the atmosphere. Teachers and principals became obsessed with ensuring that all the kids passed. Before that, there was a sense of fun that was lost.

Accountability is important. This testing thing is not working,though. It only determines whether the kid can pass the test. It doesn't do anything to encourage intellectual curiosity. It doesn't allow for creativity in the classrooms. It has encouraged rigidity rather than allowing teachers to adapt to the learning styles of their students.

Test scores are not everything. Great Schools scores are not everything.

This is not unique to FCPS.

The sad part is that if they went back to the way it was before and did not practice SOLs so much, the kids would probably do just as well or better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think all schools are in decline.

My kids were in school when the SOLs started. There was a sea change in the atmosphere. Teachers and principals became obsessed with ensuring that all the kids passed. Before that, there was a sense of fun that was lost.

Accountability is important. This testing thing is not working,though. It only determines whether the kid can pass the test. It doesn't do anything to encourage intellectual curiosity. It doesn't allow for creativity in the classrooms. It has encouraged rigidity rather than allowing teachers to adapt to the learning styles of their students.

Test scores are not everything. Great Schools scores are not everything.

This is not unique to FCPS.

The sad part is that if they went back to the way it was before and did not practice SOLs so much, the kids would probably do just as well or better.

What year was this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all schools are in decline.

My kids were in school when the SOLs started. There was a sea change in the atmosphere. Teachers and principals became obsessed with ensuring that all the kids passed. Before that, there was a sense of fun that was lost.

Accountability is important. This testing thing is not working,though. It only determines whether the kid can pass the test. It doesn't do anything to encourage intellectual curiosity. It doesn't allow for creativity in the classrooms. It has encouraged rigidity rather than allowing teachers to adapt to the learning styles of their students.

Test scores are not everything. Great Schools scores are not everything.

This is not unique to FCPS.

The sad part is that if they went back to the way it was before and did not practice SOLs so much, the kids would probably do just as well or better.

What year was this?

Not the PP, but it must have been prior to the late 1990s. SOLs started about 5 years into my teaching career.

[Anonymous]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standards_of_Learning

Late '90's--but, it acquired more weight after No Child Left Behind in 2002. I think that is when you could request to leave a school if it failed.

[Anonymous]

Have we solved all of society's issues in the schools yet? Free lunch and breakfasts (although many parents already receive food stamps and there are a lot of free food distribution sites, at least there are in FC); in-house psychologists and social workers; a bus that takes children to see the dentist and provides free dental care; free summer books and free coats, mittens and hats in the winter; free school supplies; fees waived for extra curricular activities; free access to technology and free computers; free ESOL classes for students and parents; free translation services, on demand... and yet, no change in scores for certain ethnic students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have we solved all of society's issues in the schools yet? Free lunch and breakfasts (although many parents already receive food stamps and there are a lot of free food distribution sites, at least there are in FC); in-house psychologists and social workers; a bus that takes children to see the dentist and provides free dental care; free summer books and free coats, mittens and hats in the winter; free school supplies; fees waived for extra curricular activities; free access to technology and free computers; free ESOL classes for students and parents; free translation services, on demand... and yet, no change in scores for certain ethnic students.

Feeling a little grumpy and a lot racist tonight, are we?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think all schools are in decline.

My kids were in school when the SOLs started. There was a sea change in the atmosphere. Teachers and principals became obsessed with ensuring that all the kids passed. Before that, there was a sense of fun that was lost.

Accountability is important. This testing thing is not working,though. It only determines whether the kid can pass the test. It doesn't do anything to encourage intellectual curiosity. It doesn't allow for creativity in the classrooms. It has encouraged rigidity rather than allowing teachers to adapt to the learning styles of their students.

Test scores are not everything. Great Schools scores are not everything.

This is not unique to FCPS.

The sad part is that if they went back to the way it was before and did not practice SOLs so much, the kids would probably do just as well or better.

I completely agree. Greatschools doesn’t reflect the level of bullying (even from a group of teachers).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have we solved all of society's issues in the schools yet? Free lunch and breakfasts (although many parents already receive food stamps and there are a lot of free food distribution sites, at least there are in FC); in-house psychologists and social workers; a bus that takes children to see the dentist and provides free dental care; free summer books and free coats, mittens and hats in the winter; free school supplies; fees waived for extra curricular activities; free access to technology and free computers; free ESOL classes for students and parents; free translation services, on demand... and yet, no change in scores for certain ethnic students.

Feeling a little grumpy and a lot racist tonight, are we?

This person is just stating facts. Perhaps it does make him/her grumpy. But you can't deny this is true. The FCPS average F/R lunch rate across all high schools has gone up 10% in last 15 years. It has gone up much more at half a dozen high schools. So perhaps you are in one of the lucky high schools that has not been impacted. Langley's rate has barely budged - meanwhile Lee's rate has gone up 31%, Herndon's 26%, Annandale's 23%, and Falls Church's 21%. So this situation is very real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have we solved all of society's issues in the schools yet? Free lunch and breakfasts (although many parents already receive food stamps and there are a lot of free food distribution sites, at least there are in FC); in-house psychologists and social workers; a bus that takes children to see the dentist and provides free dental care; free summer books and free coats, mittens and hats in the winter; free school supplies; fees waived for extra curricular activities; free access to technology and free computers; free ESOL classes for students and parents; free translation services, on demand... and yet, no change in scores for certain ethnic students.

Yes, I'm in one of the now food distribution centers, I mean, schools in Fcps. Don't forget, some of Title 1 funding goes toward bussing teachers into neighborhoods over the summer to read to children (ome of these neighborhoods are near public libraries with literacy programs), parent liaissons to drum up parental involvement, and math, reading and science nights complete with bus service. When that didn't get parents in the door, offers to feed the entire family finally did.

All positive incentives for reading, etc. were removed to make things fair. If everyone can't/won't do it, then nobody will be doing it. And you wonder why we ditched for AAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have we solved all of society's issues in the schools yet? Free lunch and breakfasts (although many parents already receive food stamps and there are a lot of free food distribution sites, at least there are in FC); in-house psychologists and social workers; a bus that takes children to see the dentist and provides free dental care; free summer books and free coats, mittens and hats in the winter; free school supplies; fees waived for extra curricular activities; free access to technology and free computers; free ESOL classes for students and parents; free translation services, on demand... and yet, no change in scores for certain ethnic students.

Feeling a little grumpy and a lot racist tonight, are we?

This person is just stating facts. Perhaps it does make him/her grumpy. But you can't deny this is true. The FCPS average F/R lunch rate across all high schools has gone up 10% in last 15 years. It has gone up much more at half a dozen high schools. So perhaps you are in one of the lucky high schools that has not been impacted. Langley's rate has barely budged - meanwhile Lee's rate has gone up 31%, Herndon's 26%, Annandale's 23%, and Falls Church's 21%. So this situation is very real.

I agree with you, PP and I'll tell you, I am grumpy. Frustrating to see more and more programs rolled out to little or no avail.

And, I'll say it: its extraordinarily difficult to get immigrant parents involved, period. Tough to get a parent on the phone in an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Recipients of these programs must be laughing at us. Just say they can't do something and there are a bunch of people bending over backwards to do it for them. There is no need to lift a finger. As a working parent, it does make it easier that the schools expect nothing.