Daughter hates her middle school

[Anonymous]

As a longtime mcps parent, I’m shocked by the lack of discipline in middle and high schools.

The schools seemingly have control in elementary, and then they lose it in middle school.

My theory is they set the tone for a big free for all by not enforcing order as kids switch classes. There’s no control. Once you’ve lost control, you can’t get it back.

Private schools don’t have these issues—even inner city parochial schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a longtime mcps parent, I’m shocked by the lack of discipline in middle and high schools.

The schools seemingly have control in elementary, and then they lose it in middle school.

My theory is they set the tone for a big free for all by not enforcing order as kids switch classes. There’s no control. Once you’ve lost control, you can’t get it back.

Private schools don’t have these issues—even inner city parochial schools.

How do you suggest doing that? Some charter schools force silence and walking in a straight line during the change of classes. We visited a charter school where the kids were visibly terrified to be in the hallways because there were staff monitoring for any infraction, including whispering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did none of her ES friends go to that MS? We live in East County and have one year to go until MS. I’m getting nervous, though I suspect my daughter will be ok…though she’s in the CES program now so it’ll be quite a shock. It’s my son who I’m really worried about-he’s a sensitive, follower type who wants to be liked. He may get eaten alive.

Most 6th graders in Eastern’s magnet program adjust in the first two months of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a longtime mcps parent, I’m shocked by the lack of discipline in middle and high schools.

The schools seemingly have control in elementary, and then they lose it in middle school.

My theory is they set the tone for a big free for all by not enforcing order as kids switch classes. There’s no control. Once you’ve lost control, you can’t get it back.

Private schools don’t have these issues—even inner city parochial schools.

Yes, it helps when you can just dump any student you don't want onto the public schools.

[Anonymous]

I moved mine to virtual school for middle. It’s not ideal at all but better than our home MS, which is ranked one of the lowest and has fights all the time. We tried parochial and they curse and fight there too but not as bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did none of her ES friends go to that MS? We live in East County and have one year to go until MS. I’m getting nervous, though I suspect my daughter will be ok…though she’s in the CES program now so it’ll be quite a shock. It’s my son who I’m really worried about-he’s a sensitive, follower type who wants to be liked. He may get eaten alive.

Most 6th graders in Eastern’s magnet program adjust in the first two months of school.

This is such a weird comment. I have a child at Eastern, in the magnet, and the most consistent complaint I hear at home is about another magnet kid who is clearly extremely troubled and who also makes sure everyone in the program knows that he is going back to his (rich, extremely white) home school next year.

The kids in the regular program? Not nearly as terrifying as the magnet kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did none of her ES friends go to that MS? We live in East County and have one year to go until MS. I’m getting nervous, though I suspect my daughter will be ok…though she’s in the CES program now so it’ll be quite a shock. It’s my son who I’m really worried about-he’s a sensitive, follower type who wants to be liked. He may get eaten alive.

Most 6th graders in Eastern’s magnet program adjust in the first two months of school.

This is such a weird comment. I have a child at Eastern, in the magnet, and the most consistent complaint I hear at home is about another magnet kid who is clearly extremely troubled and who also makes sure everyone in the program knows that he is going back to his (rich, extremely white) home school next year.

The kids in the regular program? Not nearly as terrifying as the magnet kid.

The poster before that was concerned about her child at a CES adjusting to MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about home schooling for a year and a half?

Is this an option for you? You could use an online school as others have suggested if you don't want to take on actual homeschooling. If you're on FB, I highly recommend the group "Secular, Eclectic, Academic (SEA) Homeschoolers" and then within it the MS & HS subgroup. They have lots of conversations around situations where people are pulling their kids out of unfortunate public school situations to homeschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about home schooling for a year and a half?

Is this an option for you? You could use an online school as others have suggested if you don't want to take on actual homeschooling. If you're on FB, I highly recommend the group "Secular, Eclectic, Academic (SEA) Homeschoolers" and then within it the MS & HS subgroup. They have lots of conversations around situations where people are pulling their kids out of unfortunate public school situations to homeschool.

Wouldn't that just reinforce her issues? Seems more like psychiatric help is in order.

[Anonymous]

Good luck with the COSA, but I suspect by the time you get your ducks in a row (official reporting of bully on the right forms, regular meetings with the counselor, etc), many more months will have passed.

The COSA process is difficult. They can't grant it just because there is an unsafe environment in the school, and they'll ask that you exhaust every other option before granting it due to bullying

[Anonymous]

Are you available to facilitate or hire someone to facilitate a homeschool curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion, you can get whatever you want from MCPS if you do some digging to talk to the right person. And someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you can appeal if you apply for a COSA and get denied.

Yes. The first appeal is a rubber stamp No.

the second appeal goes to the board, who might actually consider.

The final appeal is to the state board of education.

But this will take MONTHS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a longtime mcps parent, I’m shocked by the lack of discipline in middle and high schools.

The schools seemingly have control in elementary, and then they lose it in middle school.

My theory is they set the tone for a big free for all by not enforcing order as kids switch classes. There’s no control. Once you’ve lost control, you can’t get it back.

Private schools don’t have these issues—even inner city parochial schools.

Yes, it helps when you can just dump any student you don't want onto the public schools.

Lots of us went to public school and did not experience lack of discipline. The actual problem is mainstreaming everyone. There is no other option to send kids to, so they have no fear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck with the COSA, but I suspect by the time you get your ducks in a row (official reporting of bully on the right forms, regular meetings with the counselor, etc), many more months will have passed.

The COSA process is difficult. They can't grant it just because there is an unsafe environment in the school, and they'll ask that you exhaust every other option before granting it due to bullying

There doesn’t seem to be an actual bully. There’s widespread misbehavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a longtime mcps parent, I’m shocked by the lack of discipline in middle and high schools.

The schools seemingly have control in elementary, and then they lose it in middle school.

My theory is they set the tone for a big free for all by not enforcing order as kids switch classes. There’s no control. Once you’ve lost control, you can’t get it back.

Private schools don’t have these issues—even inner city parochial schools.

I'm constantly surprised at how some adults lack critical thinking skills.

Private schools really don't have this issue because the schools can kick troublemaker kids out of the schools. Public schools cannot do that. They are legally obliged to educate ALL children, even the troublemakers.