Why are Maryland schools so anti-achievement?

[Anonymous]

I'll step in for the poster. Proficient was the wrong word. I'll let you substitute any word of your choosing. It doesn't change the thrust of the assertions.

MCPS does not encourage, promote, or provide pathways for proficient students to take on more challenge.

This is acceptable in music and athletics but not academics.

Why (in the US) does administration and leadership (in sports) seem to encourage, promote or provide pathways for proficient children in athletics/sports (and music) to take on more challenge?

[Anonymous]

For one, participation in sports is self selecting and optional. And only the most motivated and talented kids are selected for travel teams etc. If parents aren't happy with the way the team or league is working, they can switch. Coaches and league administrators are motivated to keep parents happy.

Public schools are not self selecting, and schools have no motivating factor to keep kids in the system. The majority are stuck in the system without any options. So if you have a motivated, academically focused child, sooner or later they will be turned off and bored by public school. FWIW, I do not have super athletic kids, and keep them active in rec leagues (since there is barely any recess or PE in public school at the ES and MS levels). I'm the PP who is pulling my GT/LD out of public because I'm lucky enough to have private as an option, and I will not let him founder in public school.

And thank you to the poster who brought up the fact that the US does well in the Olympics, but consistently ranks well below other industrialized countries in education.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/03/248329823/u-s-high-school-students-slide-in-math-reading-science

[Anonymous]

I think it is terrible when people want to do away with tracking and teach to one level at public schools. The fallacy is that it makes everyone's educational "opportunities" equal. I was the exceptional child. I grew up probably what many would consider lower middle class but advocated for myself and worked hard and took advanced (AP/honors) classes. My family wasn't involved either in my schooling. I am white but I felt there was a lot prejudge against me by the teachers in the AP/ honors classes due to my SES- but that's for another thread.

The fact that I had the opportunity to learn though it was an uphill battle without problem children/distractions in HS was a life changing event. I think that trying to provide one level of education for all students really hurts people like me the worst. The classes really provided a social net that I needed. I graduated near the top of my class and went on to college/graduate school and now have a good job.


Equal opportunity does not mean everyone should get taught the same thing. The people who are willing to work hard and perform should have more opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Several posters have demonstrated here the US public education system is neither egalitarian nor equitable. Neither is the US healthcare system for that matter. Despite the fact, we spend vastly more than any other country on earth on public education and healthcare for worse outcomes. In this respect, America is a global outlier and anathema.

"As for what might improve America's showing, the PISA assessment (in education) suggests there is no simple answer:

"While the U.S. spends more per student than most countries, this does not translate into better performance. For example, the Slovak Republic, which spends around USD 53,000 per student, performs at the same level as the United States, which spends over USD 115,000 per student."

The reasons are simple say my 10-year-old boy: we have an (pernicious and entrenched) apartheid system for funding and implementing US public education and public health ... out of the mouth of babes

Romney and his disciplines, who bootleg America's assets off shore and into their bank accounts while pretending to be "American", should take note as America continues to spend more and more for less and less in the education and health of its countrymen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Several posters have demonstrated here the US public education system is neither egalitarian nor equitable. Neither is the US healthcare system for that matter. Despite the fact, we spend vastly more than any other country on earth on public education and healthcare for worse outcomes. In this respect, America is a global outlier and anathema.

Health care, yes. (Also military spending and prisons.) Public education, no.

Also, "anathema" may not mean what you think it means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:16 AKA MCPS Snowflake poster has graced us again with their presence. Where do you teach when you aren't working on the curriculum committee, Strayer University or McDonalds U? Personally, I am fed up with your MCPS walks on water, this is so wonderful nonsense.

You may be happy that you are screwing parents who are more successful and educated than you but guess what....these parents will not sit by and just let their kids drop down to your levels. They will do outside enrichment, teach them at home, drop out for private schools, or go to Virginia. Your kid who inherited your lack of motivation and IQ will still be at the bottom not caring about how he does in school and on a path to community college. Nothing will change other than a decline of what was once a good school system.

The real damage is to the kids that have parents who don't have the education, time, or means to educate their kids beyond the lowered expectations of you and your colleagues in MCPS. For these kids, education is their only shot to change their circumstances but they have less of a chance now thanks to people like you. You may think your job is just to justify your own existence, hide the underachievers, and pass them through the system but this is wrong. Just dead wrong for kids who need education.

Wow. This post is a little over the top. And it's not cool to attack someone's kid, nor is it cool to slam community colleges. Community colleges can really benefit some students, including those you claim to support in your third paragraph -- those who have fewer outside resources.

[Anonymous]

Wow. This post is a little over the top. And it's not cool to attack someone's kid, nor is it cool to slam community colleges. Community colleges can really benefit some students, including those you claim to support in your third paragraph -- those who have fewer outside resources

Thank you Ms coolie.

[Anonymous]

For one, participation in sports is self selecting and optional. And only the most motivated and talented kids are selected for travel teams etc. If parents aren't happy with the way the team or league is working, they can switch. Coaches and league administrators are motivated to keep parents happy.

Public schools are not self selecting, and schools have no motivating factor to keep kids in the system. The majority are stuck in the system without any options. So if you have a motivated, academically focused child, sooner or later they will be turned off and bored by public school. FWIW, I do not have super athletic kids, and keep them active in rec leagues (since there is barely any recess or PE in public school at the ES and MS levels). I'm the PP who is pulling my GT/LD out of public because I'm lucky enough to have private as an option, and I will not let him founder in public school.

And thank you to the poster who brought up the fact that the US does well in the Olympics, but consistently ranks well below other industrialized countries in education.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/03/248...-slide-in-math-reading-science

+1

[Anonymous]

For Dr. Joshua Starr and MCPS:

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT: THE GREATEST AND RICHEST POWER ON EARTH -- USA: # 1 in sports (Olympics) and # 20 - 30 in education (primary and secondary school)

...US News and World Report

[Anonymous]

For Dr. Joshua Starr and MCPS:

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT: THE GREATEST AND RICHEST POWER ON EARTH -- USA: # 1 in sports (Olympics) and # 20 - 30 in education (primary and secondary school)

...US News and World Report


...Sacre bleu, est-ce que un docteur dans la maison!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Dr. Joshua Starr and MCPS:

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT: THE GREATEST AND RICHEST POWER ON EARTH -- USA: # 1 in sports (Olympics) and # 20 - 30 in education (primary and secondary school)

...US News and World Report


...Sacre bleu, est-ce que un docteur dans la maison!

If you're trying to make the point that the US does not do well with teaching foreign languages, I'm persuaded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Dr. Joshua Starr and MCPS:

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT: THE GREATEST AND RICHEST POWER ON EARTH -- USA: # 1 in sports (Olympics) and # 20 - 30 in education (primary and secondary school)

...US News and World Report


...Sacre bleu, est-ce que un docteur dans la maison!

If you're trying to make the point that the US does not do well with teaching foreign languages, I'm persuaded.

I'm not the PP, but I agree with most of the points he/she has been making. It seems that you disagree?

Feel free to come on and post some rebuttals to show how the school system is encouraging high achievement and advancement and competition (the same way the US encourages competition in sports). Other than that, your comments don't really say much.

[Anonymous]

PP at 7;55, what I disagree with is the other PP's idea that "Sacre bleu, est-ce que un docteur dans la maison!" is correct French.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP at 7;55, what I disagree with is the other PP's idea that "Sacre bleu, est-ce que un docteur dans la maison!" is correct French.

In other words, no real point to your post on this thread about academic achievement in Maryland/US schools. Fair enough - thank you for making that clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP at 7;55, what I disagree with is the other PP's idea that "Sacre bleu, est-ce que un docteur dans la maison!" is correct French.

In other words, no real point to your post on this thread about academic achievement in Maryland/US schools. Fair enough - thank you for making that clear.

Well, no, my real point is that, assuming that the PP learned French in a US school, the US school did not do a good job of teaching French to the PP. Which, actually, agrees with your point that the US schools are not doing a good job. So I don't understand what you are disagreeing with.