New TA here: please don’t send your kids to high poverty schools if you can avoid it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is we need better teachers and school staff. We go where there is affordable housing that is not a stretch...

Op here. The teachers I work for all seem to be juggling so many things and doing a great job at it. They are pretty rigid in terms of discipline but I know where they are coming from. I would say each class needs a couple permanent instructional assistants for these kids to have a semblance of normal educational experience that kids in “normal” schools have

The educational system needs to adjust to the reality that if you want kids in high poverty/high mobility/high EL schools to succeed you need at least one adult for every 8 kids and you need to lower that ratio if you have a class that is exceptionally high need. In my city the highest income public school has 40% non-low-income students and that school is an outlier because in most of our schools over 80% of students come from families with low income. Every single public school and public charter in the city has a majority of low-income students.

I know grads of every single school who have been successful in college and careers. Kids can succeed academically in the right environment, but the powers that be won't invest in the things that actually make kids successful, instead we have the endless search for the easy fix and that's never going to happen.

The high poverty schools can’t work. For most kids, their academic trajectory is set by 2nd grade. What a mess.

These kids are screwed early on, they just don't know it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is we need better teachers and school staff. We go where there is affordable housing that is not a stretch...

Op here. The teachers I work for all seem to be juggling so many things and doing a great job at it. They are pretty rigid in terms of discipline but I know where they are coming from. I would say each class needs a couple permanent instructional assistants for these kids to have a semblance of normal educational experience that kids in “normal” schools have

The educational system needs to adjust to the reality that if you want kids in high poverty/high mobility/high EL schools to succeed you need at least one adult for every 8 kids and you need to lower that ratio if you have a class that is exceptionally high need. In my city the highest income public school has 40% non-low-income students and that school is an outlier because in most of our schools over 80% of students come from families with low income. Every single public school and public charter in the city has a majority of low-income students.

I know grads of every single school who have been successful in college and careers. Kids can succeed academically in the right environment, but the powers that be won't invest in the things that actually make kids successful, instead we have the endless search for the easy fix and that's never going to happen.

The high poverty schools can’t work. For most kids, their academic trajectory is set by 2nd grade. What a mess.

Keep in mind that every child is entitled to a free and appropriate education. "Closing down'' schools, without putting the kids somewhere else, is not an option, nor should it be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is we need better teachers and school staff. We go where there is affordable housing that is not a stretch...

Op here. The teachers I work for all seem to be juggling so many things and doing a great job at it. They are pretty rigid in terms of discipline but I know where they are coming from. I would say each class needs a couple permanent instructional assistants for these kids to have a semblance of normal educational experience that kids in “normal” schools have

The educational system needs to adjust to the reality that if you want kids in high poverty/high mobility/high EL schools to succeed you need at least one adult for every 8 kids and you need to lower that ratio if you have a class that is exceptionally high need. In my city the highest income public school has 40% non-low-income students and that school is an outlier because in most of our schools over 80% of students come from families with low income. Every single public school and public charter in the city has a majority of low-income students.

I know grads of every single school who have been successful in college and careers. Kids can succeed academically in the right environment, but the powers that be won't invest in the things that actually make kids successful, instead we have the endless search for the easy fix and that's never going to happen.

The high poverty schools can’t work. For most kids, their academic trajectory is set by 2nd grade. What a mess.

These kids are screwed early on, they just don't know it.

??? Yes, they do know.

[Anonymous]

Isn't a teachers assistant a job that doesn't even require a college degree? OP are you a college student? If not you have no business critiquing anyone on this subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is we need better teachers and school staff. We go where there is affordable housing that is not a stretch...

Op here. The teachers I work for all seem to be juggling so many things and doing a great job at it. They are pretty rigid in terms of discipline but I know where they are coming from. I would say each class needs a couple permanent instructional assistants for these kids to have a semblance of normal educational experience that kids in “normal” schools have

The educational system needs to adjust to the reality that if you want kids in high poverty/high mobility/high EL schools to succeed you need at least one adult for every 8 kids and you need to lower that ratio if you have a class that is exceptionally high need. In my city the highest income public school has 40% non-low-income students and that school is an outlier because in most of our schools over 80% of students come from families with low income. Every single public school and public charter in the city has a majority of low-income students.

I know grads of every single school who have been successful in college and careers. Kids can succeed academically in the right environment, but the powers that be won't invest in the things that actually make kids successful, instead we have the endless search for the easy fix and that's never going to happen.

The high poverty schools can’t work. For most kids, their academic trajectory is set by 2nd grade. What a mess.

These kids are screwed early on, they just don't know it.

Dying to know what your solution is to that. And don't say ''replace all the teachers''; Baltimore City Public Schools can't retain teachers at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have recently started working as a TA at an 85% low income and ESL school. This is not in the DMV area but I think there are very similar schools in FCPS for example. I can never say this to parents in my district because I am bound by all the privacy stuff but I want to say it here: please please don’t send your child to a school like that, even for K.
I don’t know why the kids from middle class families are there. Many of them seem at least 3rd Gen American so it’s not like their parents have no clue about the school system. Heck, many first Gen parents have a good idea! But apparently not them?
Each class has a group of very disruptive kids who ideally need their own aide, either as a group or even individually. They don’t seem to be getting much education simply because they are so distracted they can’t possibly learn much.
The rest of the kids are very very different from each other in terms of their levels. Ideally each class should have at least 3 level groups (not counting the separate one for distractable kids).
But since they only have one teacher… most of the time most of the kids are left to their own devices. The teacher works with one group at a time, doing an awesome job juggling them. The rest are doing activities mostly on their chromebooks. If your child is highly driven, disciplined, is able to ask for help, and has a good attention span - this kid will be fine. But even in that case… there won’t be much fun or enthusiasm in learning. Most of the energy is spent keeping discipline, and helping those who clearly struggle.
Your child’s presence doesn’t seem to benefit anyone either. I mean, maybe it benefits another child like that who now has a friend who is “good, smart” kid. But it definitely doesn’t have any influence on the overall class dynamic, I mean, yeah, it’s better than the class being 100% disruptive but maybe in the latter case help would arrive a little faster?
At the same time, it’s hurting the kids who are capable of learning and being excited to learn, but who instead spend their days almost forgotten (unless they get in trouble) and on their chromebooks.
Anyway, sorry if I am being too direct, but I really wanted to help the kids who can do so much better than this.

How about we knock it off with being judgemental toward parents, please.

Yeah, that’ll fix the problem.

Don’t be judgemental.

Practicing what you preach would serve you well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have recently started working as a TA at an 85% low income and ESL school. This is not in the DMV area but I think there are very similar schools in FCPS for example. I can never say this to parents in my district because I am bound by all the privacy stuff but I want to say it here: please please don’t send your child to a school like that, even for K.
I don’t know why the kids from middle class families are there. Many of them seem at least 3rd Gen American so it’s not like their parents have no clue about the school system. Heck, many first Gen parents have a good idea! But apparently not them?
Each class has a group of very disruptive kids who ideally need their own aide, either as a group or even individually. They don’t seem to be getting much education simply because they are so distracted they can’t possibly learn much.
The rest of the kids are very very different from each other in terms of their levels. Ideally each class should have at least 3 level groups (not counting the separate one for distractable kids).
But since they only have one teacher… most of the time most of the kids are left to their own devices. The teacher works with one group at a time, doing an awesome job juggling them. The rest are doing activities mostly on their chromebooks. If your child is highly driven, disciplined, is able to ask for help, and has a good attention span - this kid will be fine. But even in that case… there won’t be much fun or enthusiasm in learning. Most of the energy is spent keeping discipline, and helping those who clearly struggle.
Your child’s presence doesn’t seem to benefit anyone either. I mean, maybe it benefits another child like that who now has a friend who is “good, smart” kid. But it definitely doesn’t have any influence on the overall class dynamic, I mean, yeah, it’s better than the class being 100% disruptive but maybe in the latter case help would arrive a little faster?
At the same time, it’s hurting the kids who are capable of learning and being excited to learn, but who instead spend their days almost forgotten (unless they get in trouble) and on their chromebooks.
Anyway, sorry if I am being too direct, but I really wanted to help the kids who can do so much better than this.

I'm a teacher in a low income school with many kids who have many extreme needs. While a part of me understands where you are coming from, a part of me feels angry about this post. What are you doing to help? Are you offering to tutor before or after school? Do you help kids during your lunch break? Have you been to meetings to advocate for more support in the classrooms? Gone to board meetings to do so?
Because these are all things I do as a teacher. This is what good staff members do. I feel like you just insulted the students I love very, very much. From the good, quiet ones to the severely disturbed ones. These are little human people you are talking about. Here's my advice for you: Don't be an aide in a school with those types of needs if you aren't willing to sacrifice your time and effort and money to help. Don't be an aide in this type of school if you think it's all so hopeless. I haven't given up on my students. I would not want an aide who has working with them.

[Anonymous]

If your parents are well educated and connected, and supplement at home and pay attention to what the school is providing, the kids will probably be fine.

It's all the parents who send their kids to school and don't care who are the problem. And, yes, there are LMC and MC parents who don't pay that much attention or care, because they don't think school is important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is we need better teachers and school staff. We go where there is affordable housing that is not a stretch...

Op here. The teachers I work for all seem to be juggling so many things and doing a great job at it. They are pretty rigid in terms of discipline but I know where they are coming from. I would say each class needs a couple permanent instructional assistants for these kids to have a semblance of normal educational experience that kids in “normal” schools have

The educational system needs to adjust to the reality that if you want kids in high poverty/high mobility/high EL schools to succeed you need at least one adult for every 8 kids and you need to lower that ratio if you have a class that is exceptionally high need. In my city the highest income public school has 40% non-low-income students and that school is an outlier because in most of our schools over 80% of students come from families with low income. Every single public school and public charter in the city has a majority of low-income students.

I know grads of every single school who have been successful in college and careers. Kids can succeed academically in the right environment, but the powers that be won't invest in the things that actually make kids successful, instead we have the endless search for the easy fix and that's never going to happen.

The high poverty schools can’t work. For most kids, their academic trajectory is set by 2nd grade. What a mess.

These kids are screwed early on, they just don't know it.

Worked for me and my siblings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue is we need better teachers and school staff. We go where there is affordable housing that is not a stretch...

Op here. The teachers I work for all seem to be juggling so many things and doing a great job at it. They are pretty rigid in terms of discipline but I know where they are coming from. I would say each class needs a couple permanent instructional assistants for these kids to have a semblance of normal educational experience that kids in “normal” schools have

The educational system needs to adjust to the reality that if you want kids in high poverty/high mobility/high EL schools to succeed you need at least one adult for every 8 kids and you need to lower that ratio if you have a class that is exceptionally high need. In my city the highest income public school has 40% non-low-income students and that school is an outlier because in most of our schools over 80% of students come from families with low income. Every single public school and public charter in the city has a majority of low-income students.

I know grads of every single school who have been successful in college and careers. Kids can succeed academically in the right environment, but the powers that be won't invest in the things that actually make kids successful, instead we have the endless search for the easy fix and that's never going to happen.

The high poverty schools can’t work. For most kids, their academic trajectory is set by 2nd grade. What a mess.

These kids are screwed early on, they just don't know it.

*My siblings and I, I meant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the enrichment programs the district can offer and when. My kids went to private k-elementary. Then to an >80% FARMS middle school. However, the enrichment, starting in middle school is excellent. My kids go to a local university for core classes- paid for my the district. For the highly advanced, it is even better than academics private can offer. If my kids were middle of the road academically, I would have stayed private

I am talking about ES experience only. These kids will actually go to a decent middle since other elementaries are not as bad and some even good.

I would never send kids to a high FARMS elementary school. They teach at a very low level, have tons of behavioral issues and distractions in class, and don’t have the ability or structure in place to teach kids that are above grade level or really, even AT grade level, since the majority of the class is below that. Once you get to middle school, most districts have some degree of special programs in place for the kids that can be taught/learn at an accelerated pace. Depending on the district, those programs can be amazing and under utilized (since so few kids within district qualify).

[Anonymous]

Yes this is what limousine liberals don’t get and why they seem out of touch. Most families in these schools would love school choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is what limousine liberals don’t get and why they seem out of touch. Most families in these schools would love school choice.

We’ve got plenty of underperforming charters, too. No “voucher” will ever allow your child to go to Sidwell. I hope you realize that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't a teachers assistant a job that doesn't even require a college degree? OP are you a college student? If not you have no business critiquing anyone on this subject.

Rude. OP is trying to help folks see the reality of a school like this. And if you can’t see that then perhaps YOU have no business critiquing. Also I am an elementary teacher who fully agrees with OP. These schools are healthier environments than many of the students homes, but they are far from acceptable despite caring, effective faculty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes this is what limousine liberals don’t get and why they seem out of touch. Most families in these schools would love school choice.

We’ve got plenty of underperforming charters, too. No “voucher” will ever allow your child to go to Sidwell. I hope you realize that.

Lots of great parochial schools that actually teach kids grammar, writing and math.