New Principal at Oyster Adams? Whoa.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

DCI is not the utopia you seem to be describing z. They also don’t have the deep pockets DCPS has if something goes wrong.

Different poster- no one was describing dci as a utopia. Chill out.

This is a huge downgrade for OA. We are very angry about this and making our views known.

Okay. But “I wanted my kid to go on an international trip in seventh grade through a public school and the kind of trip is changing” isn’t a very strong argument. Especially where most DCPS kids can’t read or do math, but even without that. You sound unreasonable.

Public school parents, like you, have such low expectations. You people expect scraps, so you get scraps. Couldn’t be me!

This. So what if the kid next to mine can’t do math. My kid can and gets penalize and things taken away over things I have no control over. Such a lost opportunity of an experience that can strengthen and improve my kids Spanish. In fact we don’t even need to focus and worry about Spanish although it’s a Spanish immersion school. Let’s just focus on basic math and reading.

This is what equity looks like and the race to the bottom. Nothing matters but the bottom.

Send your kid to a program in the summer. You sound ridiculous and entitled. I went to a top high school in the country and the school took one international trip with like 15 kids. Some of my friends did a homestay in Spanish speaking countries through private companies.

Your experience ages ago is not relevant to today. No it’s not entitled at all when this is actually offered and standard at other schools in this town.

What other DCPS schools offer homestays? I’m so old I can’t keep track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

DCI is not the utopia you seem to be describing z. They also don’t have the deep pockets DCPS has if something goes wrong.

Different poster- no one was describing dci as a utopia. Chill out.

This is a huge downgrade for OA. We are very angry about this and making our views known.

Okay. But “I wanted my kid to go on an international trip in seventh grade through a public school and the kind of trip is changing” isn’t a very strong argument. Especially where most DCPS kids can’t read or do math, but even without that. You sound unreasonable.

Public school parents, like you, have such low expectations. You people expect scraps, so you get scraps. Couldn’t be me!

This. So what if the kid next to mine can’t do math. My kid can and gets penalize and things taken away over things I have no control over. Such a lost opportunity of an experience that can strengthen and improve my kids Spanish. In fact we don’t even need to focus and worry about Spanish although it’s a Spanish immersion school. Let’s just focus on basic math and reading.

This is what equity looks like and the race to the bottom. Nothing matters but the bottom.

Send your kid to a program in the summer. You sound ridiculous and entitled. I went to a top high school in the country and the school took one international trip with like 15 kids. Some of my friends did a homestay in Spanish speaking countries through private companies.

Your experience ages ago is not relevant to today. No it’s not entitled at all when this is actually offered and standard at other schools in this town.

What other DCPS schools offer homestays? I’m so old I can’t keep track.

There is only one other DCPS middle school that is “supposedly” immersion and that is McFarland which doesn’t.

But the point is that DCI, WIS in this city and other schools in the country does.

DCPS had at least 1 school do it which is OA and now is cutting it completely. Honestly it’s terrible those that are justifying this cut especially since it’s the only true immersion experience the kids have. It doesn’t have to be one or other. Sure math is weak at OA but that doesn’t justify cutting the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

DCI is not the utopia you seem to be describing z. They also don’t have the deep pockets DCPS has if something goes wrong.

Different poster- no one was describing dci as a utopia. Chill out.

This is a huge downgrade for OA. We are very angry about this and making our views known.

Okay. But “I wanted my kid to go on an international trip in seventh grade through a public school and the kind of trip is changing” isn’t a very strong argument. Especially where most DCPS kids can’t read or do math, but even without that. You sound unreasonable.

Public school parents, like you, have such low expectations. You people expect scraps, so you get scraps. Couldn’t be me!

This. So what if the kid next to mine can’t do math. My kid can and gets penalize and things taken away over things I have no control over. Such a lost opportunity of an experience that can strengthen and improve my kids Spanish. In fact we don’t even need to focus and worry about Spanish although it’s a Spanish immersion school. Let’s just focus on basic math and reading.

This is what equity looks like and the race to the bottom. Nothing matters but the bottom.

Send your kid to a program in the summer. You sound ridiculous and entitled. I went to a top high school in the country and the school took one international trip with like 15 kids. Some of my friends did a homestay in Spanish speaking countries through private companies.

Your experience ages ago is not relevant to today. No it’s not entitled at all when this is actually offered and standard at other schools in this town.

What other DCPS schools offer homestays? I’m so old I can’t keep track.

There is only one other DCPS middle school that is “supposedly” immersion and that is McFarland which doesn’t.

But the point is that DCI, WIS in this city and other schools in the country does.

DCPS had at least 1 school do it which is OA and now is cutting it completely. Honestly it’s terrible those that are justifying this cut especially since it’s the only true immersion experience the kids have. It doesn’t have to be one or other. Sure math is weak at OA but that doesn’t justify cutting the program.

So the other schools where it is ‘standard in this town’ are WIS (an expensive private school) and DCI? Sure seems standard!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

DCI is not the utopia you seem to be describing z. They also don’t have the deep pockets DCPS has if something goes wrong.

Different poster- no one was describing dci as a utopia. Chill out.

This is a huge downgrade for OA. We are very angry about this and making our views known.

Okay. But “I wanted my kid to go on an international trip in seventh grade through a public school and the kind of trip is changing” isn’t a very strong argument. Especially where most DCPS kids can’t read or do math, but even without that. You sound unreasonable.

Public school parents, like you, have such low expectations. You people expect scraps, so you get scraps. Couldn’t be me!

This. So what if the kid next to mine can’t do math. My kid can and gets penalize and things taken away over things I have no control over. Such a lost opportunity of an experience that can strengthen and improve my kids Spanish. In fact we don’t even need to focus and worry about Spanish although it’s a Spanish immersion school. Let’s just focus on basic math and reading.

This is what equity looks like and the race to the bottom. Nothing matters but the bottom.

Send your kid to a program in the summer. You sound ridiculous and entitled. I went to a top high school in the country and the school took one international trip with like 15 kids. Some of my friends did a homestay in Spanish speaking countries through private companies.

Your experience ages ago is not relevant to today. No it’s not entitled at all when this is actually offered and standard at other schools in this town.

What other DCPS schools offer homestays? I’m so old I can’t keep track.

There is only one other DCPS middle school that is “supposedly” immersion and that is McFarland which doesn’t.

But the point is that DCI, WIS in this city and other schools in the country does.

DCPS had at least 1 school do it which is OA and now is cutting it completely. Honestly it’s terrible those that are justifying this cut especially since it’s the only true immersion experience the kids have. It doesn’t have to be one or other. Sure math is weak at OA but that doesn’t justify cutting the program.

So the other schools where it is ‘standard in this town’ are WIS (an expensive private school) and DCI? Sure seems standard!

That’s because these are the only other 2 immersion middle school in the city. What exactly don’t you get? We are talking about language immersion schools, not traditional schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

Not an OA family, but do you mean that she's replaced international exchange trips with international not-exchange trips?

The 7th grade Spain trip was an exchange program, as in students stayed in the home of a Spain student and then the Spanish students came to the US and stayed with a family. It’s a very long and complicated story in this case, and there are other factors, but DCPS basically said the liability of having 7th graders do this was too risky. And the organization of the trip and exchange program was all on teachers and parent volunteers, meaning the liability was solely on DCPS if anything happened. DCPS is releasing new rules about these international trips that require schools to use a travel agent.

The 7th grade teachers are putting together a Puerto Rico trip where kids will stay in a hotel rather than in homes.

There are a lot of feelings and anger over this and it seems like people want to blame the principal rather than understand the nuances of how DCPS operates and how much control the principal had in the decision.

Just get out of the s*itshow that is DCPS.

No issues with DCI and their exchange programs in middle school. Then high school they offer and support opportunities for study abroad semesters.

DCI is not the utopia you seem to be describing z. They also don’t have the deep pockets DCPS has if something goes wrong.

Different poster- no one was describing dci as a utopia. Chill out.

This is a huge downgrade for OA. We are very angry about this and making our views known.

Okay. But “I wanted my kid to go on an international trip in seventh grade through a public school and the kind of trip is changing” isn’t a very strong argument. Especially where most DCPS kids can’t read or do math, but even without that. You sound unreasonable.

Public school parents, like you, have such low expectations. You people expect scraps, so you get scraps. Couldn’t be me!

This. So what if the kid next to mine can’t do math. My kid can and gets penalize and things taken away over things I have no control over. Such a lost opportunity of an experience that can strengthen and improve my kids Spanish. In fact we don’t even need to focus and worry about Spanish although it’s a Spanish immersion school. Let’s just focus on basic math and reading.

This is what equity looks like and the race to the bottom. Nothing matters but the bottom.

Send your kid to a program in the summer. You sound ridiculous and entitled. I went to a top high school in the country and the school took one international trip with like 15 kids. Some of my friends did a homestay in Spanish speaking countries through private companies.

You sound comfortable with a dual immersion language program that provides the bare minimum. I’m not and that’s why my children have received a high quality public education (despite DCPS’ efforts).

My children are OA lifers, and since Myra left, I’ve had to fight tooth and nail for them to receive an education that meets my standards. The end results prove the fight was worth it.
However, you are free to accept whatever OA/DCPS hands to you.

So OA provides the bare minimum but your kid receive a high quality education? Your posts are confusing.

Clearly, you struggle with reading comprehension. Go back and reread what I wrote. My post isn’t confusing. You are simply confused.

NP but I have no idea what you are talking about and my reading comprehension is fine. Care to elaborate so the rest of the world can decipher your rant?

Lol—it’s not a rant, and I have no interest in deciphering anything for you. I have two children—an OA alum who did the Spain homestay, and a current OA student who also did the Spain homestay.

If the Spain exchange program goes away, then that’s too bad for current OA students. We’ve gotten everything we’ve needed out of OA, but it hasn’t happened without a lot of advocacy and pushing on my part (especially lately). My youngest child graduates next year, so we’re moving on to greener pastures. Good luck to the rest of y’all!

[Anonymous]

"So this post is no longer relevant unless we’re using this platform to complain."

Of course we're using this platform to complain - it is kind of the entire point of anonymous forums! Welcome to the Internet.

[Anonymous]

NP: My child is at DCI - high school now, started in 6th. There are no homestays or, indeed, international trips in middle school. They are in 9th or 10th grade. Very early on there were some 8th grade trips, but not since the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People the liability excuse is just a cover for the real reason - equity.

If all kids can’t have it then no kids can.

BTW a PR trip at a hotel is not immersion and not anywhere close to the same experience. Also watch and wait if there is even approval for this since there is a cost and it’s not equitable.

You say that as if it's the wrong thing. Of course if not all can go, nobody should go. If equity is such a big deal for you, go to a private school. I bet you can afford it.

You are so entitled and elitist, it's gross. You know, OA has a lot of good things but one bad thing is people like you, who look down on everyone and think they are superior to everyone else.

I hope this new principal ignores all your temper tantrums and does what she need to do to make OA MORE equitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People the liability excuse is just a cover for the real reason - equity.

If all kids can’t have it then no kids can.

BTW a PR trip at a hotel is not immersion and not anywhere close to the same experience. Also watch and wait if there is even approval for this since there is a cost and it’s not equitable.

You say that as if it's the wrong thing. Of course if not all can go, nobody should go. If equity is such a big deal for you, go to a private school. I bet you can afford it.

You are so entitled and elitist, it's gross. You know, OA has a lot of good things but one bad thing is people like you, who look down on everyone and think they are superior to everyone else.

I hope this new principal ignores all your temper tantrums and does what she need to do to make OA MORE equitable.

🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People the liability excuse is just a cover for the real reason - equity.

If all kids can’t have it then no kids can.

BTW a PR trip at a hotel is not immersion and not anywhere close to the same experience. Also watch and wait if there is even approval for this since there is a cost and it’s not equitable.

You say that as if it's the wrong thing. Of course if not all can go, nobody should go. If equity is such a big deal for you, go to a private school. I bet you can afford it.

You are so entitled and elitist, it's gross. You know, OA has a lot of good things but one bad thing is people like you, who look down on everyone and think they are superior to everyone else.

I hope this new principal ignores all your temper tantrums and does what she need to do to make OA MORE equitable.

Nobody is looking down on anybody. You are making incorrect assumptions.
You don’t make things more equitable by taking away options that strengthen a child’s experience. You find a way to offer it to those who don’t have that option.

People like you and your way of thinking is what is driving families with options away from DCPS and the resources they provide and why more then 1/2 the kids in this city opt out.

As someone said earlier, Adams is not that great and coasting on its reputation. Making it equitable at all costs without seeing the big picture will further drive away families. Good luck with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People the liability excuse is just a cover for the real reason - equity.

If all kids can’t have it then no kids can.

BTW a PR trip at a hotel is not immersion and not anywhere close to the same experience. Also watch and wait if there is even approval for this since there is a cost and it’s not equitable.

You say that as if it's the wrong thing. Of course if not all can go, nobody should go. If equity is such a big deal for you, go to a private school. I bet you can afford it.

You are so entitled and elitist, it's gross. You know, OA has a lot of good things but one bad thing is people like you, who look down on everyone and think they are superior to everyone else.

I hope this new principal ignores all your temper tantrums and does what she need to do to make OA MORE equitable.

Nobody is looking down on anybody. You are making incorrect assumptions.
You don’t make things more equitable by taking away options that strengthen a child’s experience. You find a way to offer it to those who don’t have that option.

People like you and your way of thinking is what is driving families with options away from DCPS and the resources they provide and why more then 1/2 the kids in this city opt out.

As someone said earlier, Adams is not that great and coasting on its reputation. Making it equitable at all costs without seeing the big picture will further drive away families. Good luck with that.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People the liability excuse is just a cover for the real reason - equity.

If all kids can’t have it then no kids can.

BTW a PR trip at a hotel is not immersion and not anywhere close to the same experience. Also watch and wait if there is even approval for this since there is a cost and it’s not equitable.

You say that as if it's the wrong thing. Of course if not all can go, nobody should go. If equity is such a big deal for you, go to a private school. I bet you can afford it.

You are so entitled and elitist, it's gross. You know, OA has a lot of good things but one bad thing is people like you, who look down on everyone and think they are superior to everyone else.

I hope this new principal ignores all your temper tantrums and does what she need to do to make OA MORE equitable.

Nobody is looking down on anybody. You are making incorrect assumptions.
You don’t make things more equitable by taking away options that strengthen a child’s experience. You find a way to offer it to those who don’t have that option.

People like you and your way of thinking is what is driving families with options away from DCPS and the resources they provide and why more then 1/2 the kids in this city opt out.

As someone said earlier, Adams is not that great and coasting on its reputation. Making it equitable at all costs without seeing the big picture will further drive away families. Good luck with that.

According to data, only 45% of school aged children attend a DCPS- the rest attend charters and private.

[Anonymous]

This is not the only school where this issue has come up. Honestly from DCPS and DC government perspective they were taking on a lot of liability for trips planned by teachers and parents. They would be the ones sued if something happened. I don’t blame DCPS for this one.

Well . . . Hmmm . . . Possible liability, huh? I cannot imagine . . . What to do, what to do — if ONLY we had some dang lawyers around in this here town!

Wait, I once remember reading something about — wait — what was it called? A “W-A-I-V-E-R?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OA families are living in such a different world than most dcps families. It's amazing.

'

That may be true, but most dcps families live in a different world than the average American. DCPS has to serve all its students, not just the highest needs students.

An international stay in someone’s home is not a need.

I get that people are upset, and I was too when I initially heard about it because it’s frustrating watching DCPS cut things… but I get upset that they’re cutting advanced math options, or trimming extracurriculars. This is not the same. This is changing an international trip to stay in someone’s home, to an international trip. I am often critical of DCPS, but not with this. There are bigger priorities, even within OA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have NOT cancelled international trips. They have cancelled international exchange trips because of liability and as dictated by DCPS. Stop stirring things up here. If you have something to say, talk to her. Her doors are wide open. Don't be a coward and try to create some sort of scandal here. The new principal is great. I have faith in her. You can go ahead and schedule your own student exchange trip if it's so important to you. The students will still go on trips. Which, btw, NOBODY is entitled to have. Get over it!

This is not really true. DCPS did not cut anything. As of yet, there has been no change to DCPS policies. What was an established international exchange trip was, yes, cancelled. The alternative proposed is a short domestic (domestic) trip to Puerto Rico. There did seem to be an agenda (shared by a few parents apparently on here) which related to children without documentation not being able to travel. Hence the domestic "alternative". The principal chose not to discuss this with the broader community. Cancelling what was an amazing opportunity for all kids, of all socio-economics, is a shame, and the alternative proposed is unlikely to solve anything.