Help deciding between Maret and WIS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not bashing, just pointing out certain hidden issues at WIS.
Adm. has tried to fire some teachers, because of the Union, they have not been able to. Sorry for the bluntness...
As for native speakers I love them, just love a little more a teacher with PhD than without one(specially if it costs almost 40,000)!

PP, you seriously think that your snow flake can only be effectively taught to tell time, and to know her alphabet, and to not take what is not her's by someone who has a PhD ?

A Master's degree is nice, but "must have a PhD" , that is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much does Maret raise at their annual auction?

What a very odd comment on this thread. Why? Need it to be rich enough for your taste?

OK, I have lived in DC for 20 or so years so I'll bite on this one.

OP, Maret used to be the "reject school" among DC Privates back in 1970's 1980's . Think Field.

And they embraced their role of being a " supportive school" for kids who either could not get into STA, Sidwell or GDS , got kicked out, or knuckled under . An "alternative school" for rich kids if you will ( there was little to no FA in the 60's /70's) Embracing theirr role meant hiring engaging , supportive , think outside box kid of teachers ( nothing wrong with that )

Then, a King& Queen decided that their children would do better there than at X school , partially because said Queen had attended X school. And a few Kennedy family members followed. Then in typical DC fashion, a new "IT" school was perceived and, as it got more and more , applicants it became harder to get into , harder to get into + more perceived exclusivity.

Basically, its still a good school filled with lots of very dedicated, creative think outside the box teachers , but the rest is, well , the rest.

PP above: I believe that the purpose of the Auction is to raise funds for FA. Maret has a big comittment to provide an opportunity for talented and low/ middle class income DCPS kids. That is great, but they lack the kind of endowment to do so, so they fund raise, They also sold some of their land off. So... you heard the one about glass houses, right.

What land did they sell off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maret offers Spanish as part of their curriculum and French in after school. What language your husband speaks?

Immersion is way different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WIS.

Your DH will be deeply disappointed at the level of Spanish language instruction in younger grades. We heard a lot of Spanglish in the classrooms on our visit. We asked to speak with other Latins and the administration basically said there weren't any. They were pretty open that they have a hard time recruiting Hispanics and said something about Catholic schools being more culturally attractive. (?) They seemed very keen to have our bilingual from birth Latino child at their school. We appreciated their openness, but it was very awkward. We are a mixed-race family who would have fit in visually at Maret. But we were concerned our child would be the "only one" in his grade and were a bit skeptical.

For early elementary, there is not alternative to immersion in the classroom and cultural exposure socially outside the classroom. For Spanish, in the city the only way to get both is either WIS or a DC public or charter immersion program.

As someone mentioned, Maret has the U.S. kind of visual diversity by race. Our family does, too. But for us, language and culture trumped skintone.

Congratulations on having excellent options.

I assume that the bolded paragraph above refers to Maret and not WIS, correct?

Correct. My apologies.

[Anonymous]

Does Maret also have a teachers union like WIS?

[Anonymous]

I always found the WIS teachers, with one exception, very nurturing and caring for the younger children, and very engaged with and inspiring for the older students. It is truly an excellent education.

[Anonymous]

Are we saying teachers being organized for collective bargaining is a bad thing? I'd rather have happy, motivated, well-paid teachers than overworked and underpaid ones. Private schools are not known for their generous salaries.

[Anonymous]

Look, the WIS union doesn't allow bad teachers to get fired.
C'mon, a good private school needs to be able to get rid
Of teachers if the parents complain about the same
teachers year after year.
WIS can't get rid of the bad apples due to the Union.
So no, it's not fair to students. & at the $$$
Of WIS, or any private, that shouldn't be the case

[Anonymous]

I believe that the OP has checked out of the thread, suggesting that she has already made a decision, so at this point it might be best stop debating the merits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look, the WIS union doesn't allow bad teachers to get fired.
C'mon, a good private school needs to be able to get rid
Of teachers if the parents complain about the same
teachers year after year.
WIS can't get rid of the bad apples due to the Union.
So no, it's not fair to students. & at the $$$
Of WIS, or any private, that shouldn't be the case

Can you substantiate this claim? What's the nature of your affiliation with WIS? Given the excellent academic level of that school, I can't see them having a "bad teacher" problem. Everyone I've spoken to before deciding to apply raves about the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe that the OP has checked out of the thread, suggesting that she has already made a decision, so at this point it might be best stop debating the merits.

I'm op - still here. Still undecided. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe that the OP has checked out of the thread, suggesting that she has already made a decision, so at this point it might be best stop debating the merits.

The original poster has exited the discussion, it is really unworthy of either of these schools, Maret or WIS, to continue this discussion in a way that diminishes them. OP, congratulations on your choice, and best of luck in your new School!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe that the OP has checked out of the thread, suggesting that she has already made a decision, so at this point it might be best stop debating the merits.

I'm op - still here. Still undecided. Ugh.

In that case, go with your feeling OP, either school is a good one, and there is already much information to parse over on this thread. If you have a more specific, follow-up question, please post that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, the WIS union doesn't allow bad teachers to get fired.
C'mon, a good private school needs to be able to get rid
Of teachers if the parents complain about the same
teachers year after year.
WIS can't get rid of the bad apples due to the Union.
So no, it's not fair to students. & at the $$$
Of WIS, or any private, that shouldn't be the case

Can you substantiate this claim? What's the nature of your affiliation with WIS? Given the excellent academic level of that school, I can't see them having a "bad teacher" problem. Everyone I've spoken to before deciding to apply raves about the teachers.

Former wis parent here: its true they can't get rid of some awful teachers at wis. But send DC in lower school until 3 or 4 and then apply out. Your child will have the best of it by then

[Anonymous]

Actually, another former WIS parent here, I agree with the previous poster that the Primary School is very good, but in my opinion, the Middle School is excellent as well. You might apply out in eighth grade, if you feel that the Upper School is too small to meet your child's interests.

Also, the only bad teacher my children ever had, was actually let go by the school a year later, so I am not sure what the previous poster is referring to. I would be curious to know where the previous poster sent her children to high school, though.