Immersion upheaval: immersion schools are changing throughout the county

[Anonymous]

White UMC parent in midcounty that wishes the Spanish program at Washington Grove had come to our school too. Bilingualism has a ton of benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fear that opening 2-way immersion schools only in areas with large Spanish speaking populations will further drive out the non-Hispanic middle class and accelerate segregation in MCPS. If MCPS is really serious about the benefits of learning a second language for all children, they would open immersion schools in Bethesda and Chevy Chase too. But they won't.

And to those who point to the popularity of the lottery immersion schools I'll say this: of 5 families I know who sent their kids to language immersion, 4 did so to avoid their low-income local school and get them into a classroom of middle class peers. If you offer them that same immersion experience at their local low-income school, they will not want it.

This is crazy talk. White middle class and UMC people in these areas view diversity as a feature, not a problem.

[Anonymous]

This is crazy talk. White middle class and UMC people in these areas view diversity as a feature, not a problem.

+1000

[Anonymous]

The BOE meeting that discussed the immersion programs was Jan 10, 2017. I don't know if there was a follow up discussion at another meeting. There is a lot more than is in the memo that was presented and discussed during the meeting - worth watching IMO if this topic is important to you.
https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ACHSA96DF8DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fear that opening 2-way immersion schools only in areas with large Spanish speaking populations will further drive out the non-Hispanic middle class and accelerate segregation in MCPS. If MCPS is really serious about the benefits of learning a second language for all children, they would open immersion schools in Bethesda and Chevy Chase too. But they won't.

And to those who point to the popularity of the lottery immersion schools I'll say this: of 5 families I know who sent their kids to language immersion, 4 did so to avoid their low-income local school and get them into a classroom of middle class peers. If you offer them that same immersion experience at their local low-income school, they will not want it.

OK. But probably plenty of other people will.

And, as the PP already said, it's difficult to have two-way Spanish-English immersion schools in areas where very, very, very few kids speak Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fear that opening 2-way immersion schools only in areas with large Spanish speaking populations will further drive out the non-Hispanic middle class and accelerate segregation in MCPS. If MCPS is really serious about the benefits of learning a second language for all children, they would open immersion schools in Bethesda and Chevy Chase too. But they won't.

And to those who point to the popularity of the lottery immersion schools I'll say this: of 5 families I know who sent their kids to language immersion, 4 did so to avoid their low-income local school and get them into a classroom of middle class peers. If you offer them that same immersion experience at their local low-income school, they will not want it.

Rock creek forest and Westland are in the Bethesda Chevy Chase zone. The problem is not opening schools in Bethesda. It’s why are there aren’t more up county programs.

Yea, and about 90% of the kids in immersion at RCF live in Silver Spring

The worst school in the BCC cluster is still better than anything in the DCC. And then they fight for the kids to “stay with their friends” and go on to Westland even though the immersion program is over. Why not head back to your neighborhood school, wait no need to answer.

No, it's not. Like I said dd's immersion program in the dcc has lots of students from Bethesda area schools. These kids are getting something they can't get from these English only schools Bethesda school. You can't see the value in that. So can just stay basic and ignorant.

In my sons’s class at RCF, a significant majority of the students are from school areas at least on par with BCC (including us). Of the handful from the areas of SS that you are likely talking about, I know several who plan to go to SSIMS...Westland is just too far. So really, we are talking about a small group who might be trying to avoid their home schools. And even so, it’s not like these kids are cheating the system - they entered a lottery that everyone has access to. What I do know is that all are committed to immersion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can keep this mess in the DCC, I am so glad I can walk my kids to their elementary and enjoy.

I'm not sure what you mean. There are plenty of schools within walking distance of homes in the "DCC." What exactly is this mess you are talking about? I'd really like to know.

They multiple reasons the county feels the need to put these programs in those school is the issue that is the growing mess. Think of it this way, stores never put in demand items on sale. It is a last ditch effort to stem white flight in areas that have been getting poorer and darker for 30 years and are reaching tipping points.

And yet, there are many white families here whose children walk to their neighborhood schools where they are taught by bright, passionate people in a positive atmosphere. Plenty of people don't consider it to be a mess, and are unaware of any white flight taking place. Are there issues? Of course, just like anywhere, but that doesn't mean it's an out of control mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fear that opening 2-way immersion schools only in areas with large Spanish speaking populations will further drive out the non-Hispanic middle class and accelerate segregation in MCPS. If MCPS is really serious about the benefits of learning a second language for all children, they would open immersion schools in Bethesda and Chevy Chase too. But they won't.

And to those who point to the popularity of the lottery immersion schools I'll say this: of 5 families I know who sent their kids to language immersion, 4 did so to avoid their low-income local school and get them into a classroom of middle class peers. If you offer them that same immersion experience at their local low-income school, they will not want it.

Rock creek forest and Westland are in the Bethesda Chevy Chase zone. The problem is not opening schools in Bethesda. It’s why are there aren’t more up county programs.

Yea, and about 90% of the kids in immersion at RCF live in Silver Spring

The worst school in the BCC cluster is still better than anything in the DCC. And then they fight for the kids to “stay with their friends” and go on to Westland even though the immersion program is over. Why not head back to your neighborhood school, wait no need to answer.

As someone who is very happy with the DCC schools my child has attended, I would probably sob uncontrollably if I ever experienced the utopia that is BCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fear that opening 2-way immersion schools only in areas with large Spanish speaking populations will further drive out the non-Hispanic middle class and accelerate segregation in MCPS. If MCPS is really serious about the benefits of learning a second language for all children, they would open immersion schools in Bethesda and Chevy Chase too. But they won't.

And to those who point to the popularity of the lottery immersion schools I'll say this: of 5 families I know who sent their kids to language immersion, 4 did so to avoid their low-income local school and get them into a classroom of middle class peers. If you offer them that same immersion experience at their local low-income school, they will not want it.

Rock creek forest and Westland are in the Bethesda Chevy Chase zone. The problem is not opening schools in Bethesda. It’s why are there aren’t more up county programs.

Yea, and about 90% of the kids in immersion at RCF live in Silver Spring

The worst school in the BCC cluster is still better than anything in the DCC. And then they fight for the kids to “stay with their friends” and go on to Westland even though the immersion program is over. Why not head back to your neighborhood school, wait no need to answer.

Immersion continues at Westland - partial immersion like SSIMS. Immersion does not continue at BCC, though not all high schools offer very high level language that the kids who were in immersion need to continue their language studies.

I’m glad my family is (happily) in the DCC and doesn’t have to deal with this elitist bullshit that is brought up every time someone mentions immersion on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Is anything happening to SCES or RCF?

[Anonymous]

Wheat is DCC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can keep this mess in the DCC, I am so glad I can walk my kids to their elementary and enjoy.

I'm not sure what you mean. There are plenty of schools within walking distance of homes in the "DCC." What exactly is this mess you are talking about? I'd really like to know.

They multiple reasons the county feels the need to put these programs in those school is the issue that is the growing mess. Think of it this way, stores never put in demand items on sale. It is a last ditch effort to stem white flight in areas that have been getting poorer and darker for 30 years and are reaching tipping points.

And yet, there are many white families here whose children walk to their neighborhood schools where they are taught by bright, passionate people in a positive atmosphere. Plenty of people don't consider it to be a mess, and are unaware of any white flight taking place. Are there issues? Of course, just like anywhere, but that doesn't mean it's an out of control mess.

Yes, people can choose to be unaware of whatever they wish. Doesn’t stop it from happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wheat is DCC?

Down County Consortium. It is a group of high schools, each with a specialized focus and/or test-in magnets, that kids can choose between. So, Einstein for example is a DCC school with a whole-school arts focus, but also a specialized application-only visual arts program.

On DCUM, it is used as a shorthand for schools that are not predominantly white, and are relatively close-in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wheat is DCC?

The 5 high schools are Einstein, Blair, Wheaton, Northwood, Kennedy. Kids are guaranteed their base school and have some choice among the others based on the special programs hosted in each one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I fear that opening 2-way immersion schools only in areas with large Spanish speaking populations will further drive out the non-Hispanic middle class and accelerate segregation in MCPS. If MCPS is really serious about the benefits of learning a second language for all children, they would open immersion schools in Bethesda and Chevy Chase too. But they won't.

And to those who point to the popularity of the lottery immersion schools I'll say this: of 5 families I know who sent their kids to language immersion, 4 did so to avoid their low-income local school and get them into a classroom of middle class peers. If you offer them that same immersion experience at their local low-income school, they will not want it.

This is a very true statement. Some people simply can't believe it but it's true.