Langley 25?

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. Where is there anything about abusive teachers in this subthread? Where did I say it was only week of relieving stress?

I see ongoing presentations to the parents. I see counselors doing things year round. Both Langley and McLean are stressful schools, just like other high schools with %s of high achieving students. But, I do see the administration, staff and teachers going out of their way to make it less. When I am volunteering at my DC's school, I see many teachers and staff making room in their schedules to help kids along the way- many times spur of the moment-. I see much more done for the whole student than in MS - where academics were king.

That's a lovely picture, and it may even happen regularly, but there are also teachers who are quite abusive to students, and it's rare that anything is done, because that's not what "the community" wants to acknowledge can ever take place at their wonderful schools.

So the principals will arrange annual presentations on "relieving stress," which have a way of coming across as weirdly self-congratulatory ("wow, we are all just such perfectionists, aren't we?"), and the important steps that might make students who don't fit the "Langley Leap" or "McLeader" profile feel a bit more comfortable in their own skin at these schools, such as letting a teacher know she'll be fired if she keeps insulting and demeaning students in her classroom, rarely get taken.

Obviously you have an ax to grind (over and over) and I am sorry that your DC had such an experience, but please accept that there are others who have had very different and positive experiences with their teachers, staff and the administration and open your mind to the thought that her experience may be the exception and not the rule. Both of my DC's have issues and are far from the "McLeader" profile and they have found a niche there- due to the work of the people that work at the school.

[Anonymous]

Time to circle the wagons, as always.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone love to hate on Langley? It's an excellent school.

Consider the possibility that many Langley students and/or parents have displayed spoiled, entitled attitudes often enough that it has acquired a reputation for being an elitist bubble.

Add to that, an administration who feeds that attitude. And that makes for an unhappy place to attend school.

Perhaps for your child. Not for most others. Still waiting for concrete examples, not gross over-generalizations about students other than your own.

Most others is not accurate. I suggest you ask students outright.

Let me guess: Bullis mom is back and wants everyone to know that the kids all "talk to her" and "tell her all their problems" and that Langley is just horrible. Puh-leeze. Don't paint the entire population of a school with the same broad brush because of your own negative experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so we're all clear, Bullis Mom is back from her college visits and Nashville concerts, and has resumed with her frequent posts on Langley.

Not trying to suppress your stream of negative comments about Langley, but you did take a break from bashing Langley, and it apparently was short-lived.

And it was such a lovely break too, ya'll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm confused. Where is there anything about abusive teachers in this subthread? Where did I say it was only week of relieving stress?

I see ongoing presentations to the parents. I see counselors doing things year round. Both Langley and McLean are stressful schools, just like other high schools with %s of high achieving students. But, I do see the administration, staff and teachers going out of their way to make it less. When I am volunteering at my DC's school, I see many teachers and staff making room in their schedules to help kids along the way- many times spur of the moment-. I see much more done for the whole student than in MS - where academics were king.

That's a lovely picture, and it may even happen regularly, but there are also teachers who are quite abusive to students, and it's rare that anything is done, because that's not what "the community" wants to acknowledge can ever take place at their wonderful schools.

So the principals will arrange annual presentations on "relieving stress," which have a way of coming across as weirdly self-congratulatory ("wow, we are all just such perfectionists, aren't we?"), and the important steps that might make students who don't fit the "Langley Leap" or "McLeader" profile feel a bit more comfortable in their own skin at these schools, such as letting a teacher know she'll be fired if she keeps insulting and demeaning students in her classroom, rarely get taken.

Obviously you have an ax to grind (over and over) and I am sorry that your DC had such an experience, but please accept that there are others who have had very different and positive experiences with their teachers, staff and the administration and open your mind to the thought that her experience may be the exception and not the rule. Both of my DC's have issues and are far from the "McLeader" profile and they have found a niche there- due to the work of the people that work at the school.

Couldn't agree more. My DCs also have their own issues - every student does, regardless of what their outside image is like. Mine are not particularly outgoing kids and both have found their "people" and their niches within Langley. The kids there have lots of different interests, just like at any high school, and there really is a place for everyone. I know Bullis mom wants everyone to believe that it's just a hellish place to go to school, simply because her child had a bad experience. I'm sorry about that, but ask around at ANY high school and you will find that not everyone is happy or fits in. Unfortunately, that's high school in a nutshell, and not any different from my teenaged days. Langley has just as many positives and negatives as any other high school, period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

How would you respond to an asinine comment when "WTF?" while accurate, would be inappropriate?

Because a principal can't take action to reduce the factors causing stress in his own school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

She was staring back at you to do something too. The schools can only do so much, the parents have the driver's seat here.

I did. I pulled my kid. No more stress and great grades!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

She was staring back at you to do something too. The schools can only do so much, the parents have the driver's seat here.

No, I understand what she's saying, which is that the steps that school administrators take throughout the year to make a school a less stressful environment are far more important than having one week a year dedicated to "Relieving Stress" and arranging for the annual showing of "Race to Nowhere."

Of course, parents have a major role to play as well, but when principals allow abusive teachers to treat kids like crap, there's only so much parents can do. And that is at least as likely to occur at the likes of Langley, McLean, and Madison as anywhere else, if not more so, because the administrators can always point to some kids who had the abusive teacher and ended up acing their SATs and getting into top schools. That's fine for those kids, but it does nothing for other children.

Well-put. Great post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

How would you respond to an asinine comment when "WTF?" while accurate, would be inappropriate?

Because a principal can't take action to reduce the factors causing stress in his own school?

Who do you blame when it rains?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

She was staring back at you to do something too. The schools can only do so much, the parents have the driver's seat here.

No, I understand what she's saying, which is that the steps that school administrators take throughout the year to make a school a less stressful environment are far more important than having one week a year dedicated to "Relieving Stress" and arranging for the annual showing of "Race to Nowhere."

Of course, parents have a major role to play as well, but when principals allow abusive teachers to treat kids like crap, there's only so much parents can do. And that is at least as likely to occur at the likes of Langley, McLean, and Madison as anywhere else, if not more so, because the administrators can always point to some kids who had the abusive teacher and ended up acing their SATs and getting into top schools. That's fine for those kids, but it does nothing for other children.

I'm confused. Where is there anything about abusive teachers in this subthread? Where did I say it was only week of relieving stress?

I see ongoing presentations to the parents. I see counselors doing things year round. Both Langley and McLean are stressful schools, just like other high schools with %s of high achieving students. But, I do see the administration, staff and teachers going out of their way to make it less. When I am volunteering at my DC's school, I see many teachers and staff making room in their schedules to help kids along the way- many times spur of the moment-. I see much more done for the whole student than in MS - where academics were king.

There are other schools that have high achieving kids who don't feel as much stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

She was staring back at you to do something too. The schools can only do so much, the parents have the driver's seat here.

No, I understand what she's saying, which is that the steps that school administrators take throughout the year to make a school a less stressful environment are far more important than having one week a year dedicated to "Relieving Stress" and arranging for the annual showing of "Race to Nowhere."

Of course, parents have a major role to play as well, but when principals allow abusive teachers to treat kids like crap, there's only so much parents can do. And that is at least as likely to occur at the likes of Langley, McLean, and Madison as anywhere else, if not more so, because the administrators can always point to some kids who had the abusive teacher and ended up acing their SATs and getting into top schools. That's fine for those kids, but it does nothing for other children.

I'm confused. Where is there anything about abusive teachers in this subthread? Where did I say it was only week of relieving stress?

I see ongoing presentations to the parents. I see counselors doing things year round. Both Langley and McLean are stressful schools, just like other high schools with %s of high achieving students. But, I do see the administration, staff and teachers going out of their way to make it less. When I am volunteering at my DC's school, I see many teachers and staff making room in their schedules to help kids along the way- many times spur of the moment-. I see much more done for the whole student than in MS - where academics were king.

That's a lovely picture, and it may even happen regularly, but there are also teachers who are quite abusive to students, and it's rare that anything is done, because that's not what "the community" wants to acknowledge can ever take place at their wonderful schools.

So the principals will arrange annual presentations on "relieving stress," which have a way of coming across as weirdly self-congratulatory ("wow, we are all just such perfectionists, aren't we?"), and the important steps that might make students who don't fit the "Langley Leap" or "McLeader" profile feel a bit more comfortable in their own skin at these schools, such as letting a teacher know she'll be fired if she keeps insulting and demeaning students in her classroom, rarely get taken.

VERY true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone love to hate on Langley? It's an excellent school.

Consider the possibility that many Langley students and/or parents have displayed spoiled, entitled attitudes often enough that it has acquired a reputation for being an elitist bubble.

Add to that, an administration who feeds that attitude. And that makes for an unhappy place to attend school.

Perhaps for your child. Not for most others. Still waiting for concrete examples, not gross over-generalizations about students other than your own.

Most others is not accurate. I suggest you ask students outright.

Let me guess: Bullis mom is back and wants everyone to know that the kids all "talk to her" and "tell her all their problems" and that Langley is just horrible. Puh-leeze. Don't paint the entire population of a school with the same broad brush because of your own negative experiences.

Actually, that is not me making the argument. The other PP though, is doing quite well with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

How would you respond to an asinine comment when "WTF?" while accurate, would be inappropriate?

Because a principal can't take action to reduce the factors causing stress in his own school?

Who do you blame when it rains?

Rain brings flowers and rainbows. Too much stress causes health issues, depression and suicide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

She was staring back at you to do something too. The schools can only do so much, the parents have the driver's seat here.

I did. I pulled my kid. No more stress and great grades!

We know your story, already. If you and your child are so gawsh-darn happy now, then why do you feel the need to continually dump on Langley? Can't you move on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how do you know - I know McLean and Langley have made concerted efforts to reduce the number of AP tests some of their students take.

I have students at one of the HSs and friends with students at the other HS. We go to PTSA meetings, Principal's coffees, AP night, talk with counselors, volunteer in the school. The Principal and the PTSA routinely bring in experts about how to manage stress for your child, have a showing of 'Road to Nowhere".... There was a Washington Post article a few weeks ago about the McLean PTA President and her efforts to reduce stress at the school.

I once said to the principal "Instead of holding stress seminars, why don't you simply reduce stress?" I got a blank stare.

She was staring back at you to do something too. The schools can only do so much, the parents have the driver's seat here.

No, I understand what she's saying, which is that the steps that school administrators take throughout the year to make a school a less stressful environment are far more important than having one week a year dedicated to "Relieving Stress" and arranging for the annual showing of "Race to Nowhere."

Of course, parents have a major role to play as well, but when principals allow abusive teachers to treat kids like crap, there's only so much parents can do. And that is at least as likely to occur at the likes of Langley, McLean, and Madison as anywhere else, if not more so, because the administrators can always point to some kids who had the abusive teacher and ended up acing their SATs and getting into top schools. That's fine for those kids, but it does nothing for other children.

I'm confused. Where is there anything about abusive teachers in this subthread? Where did I say it was only week of relieving stress?

I see ongoing presentations to the parents. I see counselors doing things year round. Both Langley and McLean are stressful schools, just like other high schools with %s of high achieving students. But, I do see the administration, staff and teachers going out of their way to make it less. When I am volunteering at my DC's school, I see many teachers and staff making room in their schedules to help kids along the way- many times spur of the moment-. I see much more done for the whole student than in MS - where academics were king.

There are other schools that have high achieving kids who don't feel as much stress.

I see, and you know this because - let me guess - you've talked to those other kids and they just love confiding in you and telling you their innermost demons. Only, because they happen to go to a school other than Langley, they have no demons and virtually no stress! It's magical how that happens isn't it?