The Whittle school

[Anonymous]

They likely won't be around in another year. If established privates have been hit hard financially by the pandemic, I am sure a start up ponzi scheme will collapse soon.

[Anonymous]

I work in international relations (like a lot of us in DC) and I have two kids (though both are too young for school). I study international education issues for a living, and these are my concerns about Whittle:

First, the Chinese model of education is drastically different than the US's. Chinese schools (even elite ones) often focus more on rote memorization, discipline, and strict adherence to a curriculum. In the US, even more "classical education" schools like St. A's or NCS have started rethinking prescribed curricula like AP, giving teachers and students more flexibility. That's not to say that one model is "right" or "wrong," but they are different. And Whittle's unwillingness to give details about their curriculum worries me. Vague terms like "individualized" and "modern" are marketing words, not education philosophies.

Second, the school picked a location that is less than a block from the Chinese embassy. I'm guessing that the goal is to draw in wealthy diplomatic families from the embassy. But let's say several of those parents, especially those paying full price, are unhappy with Whittle for this reason or that. Since the school is for-profit, and therefore has a fiduciary duty to its investors and NOT its families, will the school be willing to bend to the will of wealthy, unhappy parents?

Some of the board could argue this "bending to the will" issue could happen at any DC private. But if so many of these parents are in the US to represent a foreign government, could that foreign government's philosophies trickle down into the classroom? For example, could the school begin to place emphasis on memorization and test prep, limiting experiential learning and other progressive philosophies? Could tests become preferred evaluations instead of PBL? Could whole topics be banned (like teaching about Tiananmen Square) if too many parents threatened to pull out their kids?

I'm not saying anything of this IS the case or WOULD happen, but I do have concerns about relying on the checkbooks of diplomats of an adversarial foreign government in order for a for-profit school to pay back $700M in investments.

If someone connected to Whittle has responses to my concerns, I'm honestly open to hearing them. Perhaps I'm way off base. Just my own opinions/concerns as I look for a school for my own kids.

[Anonymous]

Whittle parent here : Just finishing up what has been a fantastic year for my middle schooler. There is an enormous amount of misinformation on this thread. The school got off to a rocky start. Teachers are awesome but the systems were not in place and the communication with parents was lacking. But the responsiveness of the administration to any issue raised has been great and the actual academics have been rigorous interesting and truly multi disciplinary. We started the year hopeful and skeptical and we are ending it very happy. The inaugural group of kids are very tight and proud to be part of the school. It’s truly a different approach than standard education and the expectations on the kids are high.

[Anonymous]

Is Chris Whittle running the school on Van Ness? Or is there someone else in charge, whoever he or Xie may be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone ever heard of this school?

Yes. How does one say “Ponzi Academy” in Mandarin?

Biden?

Yeah cause he’s the guy who couldn’t make money running a casino.

[Anonymous]

Ponzi scheme

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in international relations (like a lot of us in DC) and I have two kids (though both are too young for school). I study international education issues for a living, and these are my concerns about Whittle:

First, the Chinese model of education is drastically different than the US's. Chinese schools (even elite ones) often focus more on rote memorization, discipline, and strict adherence to a curriculum. In the US, even more "classical education" schools like St. A's or NCS have started rethinking prescribed curricula like AP, giving teachers and students more flexibility. That's not to say that one model is "right" or "wrong," but they are different. And Whittle's unwillingness to give details about their curriculum worries me. Vague terms like "individualized" and "modern" are marketing words, not education philosophies.

Second, the school picked a location that is less than a block from the Chinese embassy. I'm guessing that the goal is to draw in wealthy diplomatic families from the embassy. But let's say several of those parents, especially those paying full price, are unhappy with Whittle for this reason or that. Since the school is for-profit, and therefore has a fiduciary duty to its investors and NOT its families, will the school be willing to bend to the will of wealthy, unhappy parents?

Some of the board could argue this "bending to the will" issue could happen at any DC private. But if so many of these parents are in the US to represent a foreign government, could that foreign government's philosophies trickle down into the classroom? For example, could the school begin to place emphasis on memorization and test prep, limiting experiential learning and other progressive philosophies? Could tests become preferred evaluations instead of PBL? Could whole topics be banned (like teaching about Tiananmen Square) if too many parents threatened to pull out their kids?

I'm not saying anything of this IS the case or WOULD happen, but I do have concerns about relying on the checkbooks of diplomats of an adversarial foreign government in order for a for-profit school to pay back $700M in investments.

If someone connected to Whittle has responses to my concerns, I'm honestly open to hearing them. Perhaps I'm way off base. Just my own opinions/concerns as I look for a school for my own kids.

They are DIW, in my humble opinion, now that we seem to have entered a cold -war with China and all this Covid fallout

[Anonymous]

This was the first year of the school, right? How’d it go?

[Anonymous]

Good friend is not happy with academics, curriculum. Like previously said “individualized”, “modern” terms are glossy marketing words. Yes, the facilities are quite impressive (saw some pics of renovation update) and some of administration are quite impressive according to friend, but the curriculum is not cohesive or comprehensive. Will need a lot of time to get it together if it can last that long.

[Anonymous]

I heard they are only at 30% of budgeted enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good friend is not happy with academics, curriculum. Like previously said “individualized”, “modern” terms are glossy marketing words. Yes, the facilities are quite impressive (saw some pics of renovation update) and some of administration are quite impressive according to friend, but the curriculum is not cohesive or comprehensive. Will need a lot of time to get it together if it can last that long.

Thank you for this update; I have never understood schools that open without planning the basic curriculum first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whittle parent here : Just finishing up what has been a fantastic year for my middle schooler. There is an enormous amount of misinformation on this thread. The school got off to a rocky start. Teachers are awesome but the systems were not in place and the communication with parents was lacking. But the responsiveness of the administration to any issue raised has been great and the actual academics have been rigorous interesting and truly multi disciplinary. We started the year hopeful and skeptical and we are ending it very happy. The inaugural group of kids are very tight and proud to be part of the school. It’s truly a different approach than standard education and the expectations on the kids are high.

What does a different approach mean in practice? Could you give us some examples?

[Anonymous]

I know a bunch of families who LOVE the curriculum and say the teachers are incredible and passionate and all
Come form top privates but wanted to rethink the old approaches to education. NO ONE has mentioned feeling like the Chinese influence has been remotely unsettling or made any difference to what is taught.

[Anonymous]

What is it with you nasty myopic Washingtonians all so eagerly waiting for a new and different school to fail? These are real people teaching there and sending kids there. And if you thinks it is weird that it’s for-profit then you’re naive about what a racket the privates are in these cities. Sidwell’s financial management is absolutely shocking, as we have all learned during COVID.
And at the privates all we get is bombarded by fundraising, hypocritical vows of progressive and equitable reform (while none of the families actually make real changes to the system.. (See Nice White Parents podcast!). Whether or not a a school is for profit or not-for-profit is the least of my concerns about school choice.

Perhaps you are concerned about the impact of China on the curriculum or COVID on the financials. I get that. By why the Mr Burns-like hand-rubbing glee at the idea of whittle’s downfall? Why do you care and why are you so so mean about it?

Not all of the posters above are like this— but many are

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a bunch of families who LOVE the curriculum and say the teachers are incredible and passionate and all
Come form top privates but wanted to rethink the old approaches to education. NO ONE has mentioned feeling like the Chinese influence has been remotely unsettling or made any difference to what is taught.

Can someone finally clarify what this new approach to education actually looks like?