Feedback about the newly split Roberto Clemente and Martin Luther King middle school magnet programs

[Anonymous]

All parents and students at Clemente, past and present, have found the trips amazing and the parents have paid for anyone who is unable or unwilling to pay. In other words, cost is not a reason why to stop these amazing trips.
The ineffective administrator and brown nosing coordinator hate the magnet program. Clemente and MLK are horrible places to house these programs because the students and teachers are under constant assault.
Maybe they should move it to some other school. Maybe Poolesville or even Gaithersburg MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fundraising would need a parent or teacher to spearhead the operation. When we were at Clemente, I think I remember the administration asserting the fact we didn't have fundraising had to do with accounting - no fund MCPS would let us put the money in? probably explaining this very wrong...

The trip is very worthwhile. Could they do it in the DC area? probably. They'd give up the extreme bonding they gain on the trip, and the independence - the kids really are the leaders and their chaperone of their group of 7 or 8 just makes sure they are safe and helps them out as they navigate the city.

Parents have fought so hard over the years to have the trip, it'd be a shame to lose it. But whatever, I'm used to by now MCPS changing everything that was good. At least they've done it just after we leave that grade, school, etc. The fight's gone out in us, and if future families are ok with it, be complacent and it will go away.

Whether the trip is worthwhile surely depends on whether you or not have the one thousand three hundred dollars to pay for it, and/or what else you were going to do with that money?

And can't kids be independent navigating the city in DC?

Clemente/MLK have a center program coordinator, who would be the logical person to be in charge of fundraising. Plus if Eastern can do fundraising, then so can Clemente.

The current coordinator is a complete moron with no experience. Interestingly has a kid in the magnet program too.

+1
I though I was the only one who thought this. Would much rather have better communication and not the useless “blog” posts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The year before last, they had a parent meeting at the end of 7th grade where they broke down the costs. Once you started unspooling it, it seemed reasonable for what they do. Even four in a hotel room is not cheap in NYC for four nights. The cost did cover some activities/tickets/admissions, transportation within the city, and meals. Also it has to cover eight or nine substitutes for the week back at school so teachers/administrators (the coordinator) can chaperone.

They should have former students come back and talk about the experience. They just glowed for the rest of the year about it. If your kid came back from Outdoor Ed feeling more mature and bonded with peers, it’s like that but on steroids.

The question isn't whether a school field trip that consists of 5 days/4 nights in New York can reasonably cost that much money. It's also not whether the kids enjoy it.

The question is why there even is a school field trip that costs that much money, when the same educational goals could be accomplished for much less by doing something that is not 5 days/4 nights in New York.

Do you even know what the assignments are during this trip? Students are doing undergrad level projects. Many can’t be done here because the sources aren’t here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We loved the Magnet trips. There are a number of parents who will anonymously donate to cover any costs. The magnet secretary and coordinator will say that they are short by x number of dollars, and people will be ready to donate.

Don't worry about paying for it. You can certainly do carwashes and bake sales and sponsorships for it too. We were told to save $15 a week from the 6th grade and that was more than sufficient. However there are tons of money because MD state gives a lot of money to the school for special programs, and even when the school spreads it for everyone, there is a lot of money in the school which they do not want to spend on these students.

I just can't support the idea that it's fine and appropriate to have an unnecessary >$1000 field trip on grounds that affluent parents with kids in the magnet program are willing to pay for the magnet-program kids who have non-affluent parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The year before last, they had a parent meeting at the end of 7th grade where they broke down the costs. Once you started unspooling it, it seemed reasonable for what they do. Even four in a hotel room is not cheap in NYC for four nights. The cost did cover some activities/tickets/admissions, transportation within the city, and meals. Also it has to cover eight or nine substitutes for the week back at school so teachers/administrators (the coordinator) can chaperone.

They should have former students come back and talk about the experience. They just glowed for the rest of the year about it. If your kid came back from Outdoor Ed feeling more mature and bonded with peers, it’s like that but on steroids.

The question isn't whether a school field trip that consists of 5 days/4 nights in New York can reasonably cost that much money. It's also not whether the kids enjoy it.

The question is why there even is a school field trip that costs that much money, when the same educational goals could be accomplished for much less by doing something that is not 5 days/4 nights in New York.

Do you even know what the assignments are during this trip? Students are doing undergrad level projects. Many can’t be done here because the sources aren’t here.

No, they're not.

And yes, by definition, sources that are in NYC are not in DC. But there are plenty of sources in DC. It's not like we live in Ness City, Kansas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The year before last, they had a parent meeting at the end of 7th grade where they broke down the costs. Once you started unspooling it, it seemed reasonable for what they do. Even four in a hotel room is not cheap in NYC for four nights. The cost did cover some activities/tickets/admissions, transportation within the city, and meals. Also it has to cover eight or nine substitutes for the week back at school so teachers/administrators (the coordinator) can chaperone.

They should have former students come back and talk about the experience. They just glowed for the rest of the year about it. If your kid came back from Outdoor Ed feeling more mature and bonded with peers, it’s like that but on steroids.

The question isn't whether a school field trip that consists of 5 days/4 nights in New York can reasonably cost that much money. It's also not whether the kids enjoy it.

The question is why there even is a school field trip that costs that much money, when the same educational goals could be accomplished for much less by doing something that is not 5 days/4 nights in New York.

Do you even know what the assignments are during this trip? Students are doing undergrad level projects. Many can’t be done here because the sources aren’t here.

No, they're not.

And yes, by definition, sources that are in NYC are not in DC. But there are plenty of sources in DC. It's not like we live in Ness City, Kansas.

If you think the projects don’t justify it, don’t send your kid, but don’t shutter the opportunity for those who are doing exceptionally advanced projects.

[Anonymous]

Yikes. That means that families with twins at the magnet have to come up with $2500. I have a 6th grader at MLK. I had no idea that the trip was that long, costs that much, and that they go to Broadway shows. The field trip was mentioned at one parent meeting, but no details were disclosed. There has been almost no communication with parents about the magnet program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The year before last, they had a parent meeting at the end of 7th grade where they broke down the costs. Once you started unspooling it, it seemed reasonable for what they do. Even four in a hotel room is not cheap in NYC for four nights. The cost did cover some activities/tickets/admissions, transportation within the city, and meals. Also it has to cover eight or nine substitutes for the week back at school so teachers/administrators (the coordinator) can chaperone.

They should have former students come back and talk about the experience. They just glowed for the rest of the year about it. If your kid came back from Outdoor Ed feeling more mature and bonded with peers, it’s like that but on steroids.

The question isn't whether a school field trip that consists of 5 days/4 nights in New York can reasonably cost that much money. It's also not whether the kids enjoy it.

The question is why there even is a school field trip that costs that much money, when the same educational goals could be accomplished for much less by doing something that is not 5 days/4 nights in New York.

Do you even know what the assignments are during this trip? Students are doing undergrad level projects. Many can’t be done here because the sources aren’t here.

No, they're not.

And yes, by definition, sources that are in NYC are not in DC. But there are plenty of sources in DC. It's not like we live in Ness City, Kansas.

If you think the projects don’t justify it, don’t send your kid, but don’t shutter the opportunity for those who are doing exceptionally advanced projects.

It's not possible to not send your kid. The whole rest of the year's curriculum is based on it.

Can't one do exceptionally advanced projects based on interviews of people who aren't in New York City?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. That means that families with twins at the magnet have to come up with $2500. I have a 6th grader at MLK. I had no idea that the trip was that long, costs that much, and that they go to Broadway shows. The field trip was mentioned at one parent meeting, but no details were disclosed. There has been almost no communication with parents about the magnet program.

Yup, TWO Broadway shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We loved the Magnet trips. There are a number of parents who will anonymously donate to cover any costs. The magnet secretary and coordinator will say that they are short by x number of dollars, and people will be ready to donate.

Don't worry about paying for it. You can certainly do carwashes and bake sales and sponsorships for it too. We were told to save $15 a week from the 6th grade and that was more than sufficient. However there are tons of money because MD state gives a lot of money to the school for special programs, and even when the school spreads it for everyone, there is a lot of money in the school which they do not want to spend on these students.

I just can't support the idea that it's fine and appropriate to have an unnecessary >$1000 field trip on grounds that affluent parents with kids in the magnet program are willing to pay for the magnet-program kids who have non-affluent parents.

Are you a magnet parent? We are URM and less than affluent. I am glad that my kid was exposed to amazing opportunities and possibilities within the magnet program, which was partly financed by the magnet parents who were able to contribute. We could afford to pay a fraction but the rest was handled beautifully by the magnet coordinator and the magnet secretary. These kinds of pathways are closed to my child in normal programs. I am sure that my child will be able to pay it forward in life by the virtue of being nurtured within the program by not only the program. the teachers but also his peers and their parents.

I am very aware that affluent people cam afford to give all kinds of enrichment to their children, regardless of if such a program exists or not. Magnet programs remain the one avenue for the non-affluent parents to give these children a taste of these kinds of opportunities. I would also say that UpCounty programs are unluke Takoma Park and Eastern where the parents are influential and affluent. Most parents at Clemente were LMC or MC at best. The very first day of the school the parents group advised us to start saving a small amount every single month, because most people were unable to swing $1300 without budgeting for it.

I think you cannot support this idea is perhaps because it rankles you that my brilliant URM child is getting an opportunity in life which you would he rather not get. Sorry, but you can stew somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Affluent people can go to private schools or create amazing opportunities for their bright or exceptional children (or even if their children are not bright and exceptional). Magnet programs caters to brilliant students who are unable to afford these kinds of opportunities on their own. Dilution of magnet programs hurt only the bright children of poor or middle class parents from all races.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I just can't support the idea that it's fine and appropriate to have an unnecessary >$1000 field trip on grounds that affluent parents with kids in the magnet program are willing to pay for the magnet-program kids who have non-affluent parents.

Are you a magnet parent? We are URM and less than affluent. I am glad that my kid was exposed to amazing opportunities and possibilities within the magnet program, which was partly financed by the magnet parents who were able to contribute. We could afford to pay a fraction but the rest was handled beautifully by the magnet coordinator and the magnet secretary. These kinds of pathways are closed to my child in normal programs. I am sure that my child will be able to pay it forward in life by the virtue of being nurtured within the program by not only the program. the teachers but also his peers and their parents.

I am very aware that affluent people cam afford to give all kinds of enrichment to their children, regardless of if such a program exists or not. Magnet programs remain the one avenue for the non-affluent parents to give these children a taste of these kinds of opportunities. I would also say that UpCounty programs are unluke Takoma Park and Eastern where the parents are influential and affluent. Most parents at Clemente were LMC or MC at best. The very first day of the school the parents group advised us to start saving a small amount every single month, because most people were unable to swing $1300 without budgeting for it.

I think you cannot support this idea is perhaps because it rankles you that my brilliant URM child is getting an opportunity in life which you would he rather not get. Sorry, but you can stew somewhere else.


PP you're responding to. My kid is a humanities magnet kid. I am for opportunities. I am not for this particular opportunity, whose goals could be achieved in other ways that don't require non-affluent parents to receive charity from affluent parents (which you're fine with, and that's fine, but not everybody is) and also don't require payment of the equivalent of a month's rent from parents who maybe can afford it but would prefer other uses for the money.

If this field trip is so crucial to the program, then they need to start fundraising for it starting at the beginning of 6th grade, as a group effort, with the funds going to decreasing the required payment of the field trip for everybody. Plus, for people who like the class bonds that are formed in the NYC field trip: this would create class bonds too.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, messed up the quotes. Here is my response:

PP you're responding to. My kid is a humanities magnet kid. I am for opportunities. I am not for this particular opportunity, whose goals could be achieved in other ways that don't require non-affluent parents to receive charity from affluent parents (which you're fine with, and that's fine, but not everybody is) and also don't require payment of the equivalent of a month's rent from parents who maybe can afford it but would prefer other uses for the money.

If this field trip is so crucial to the program, then they need to start fundraising for it starting at the beginning of 6th grade, as a group effort, with the funds going to decreasing the required payment of the field trip for everybody. Plus, for people who like the class bonds that are formed in the NYC field trip: this would create class bonds too.

[Anonymous]

The Eastern humanities program just started their fall fundraiser for the NYC trip, which costs >$900 (so, it’s less than the upcounty one). Sixth and seventh graders earn money that goes into their own accounts to fund their eighth grade trip, and if eighth graders participate in the fundraiser it goes towards scholarships (since they’ve already paid for and gone on their trip).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. That means that families with twins at the magnet have to come up with $2500. I have a 6th grader at MLK. I had no idea that the trip was that long, costs that much, and that they go to Broadway shows. The field trip was mentioned at one parent meeting, but no details were disclosed. There has been almost no communication with parents about the magnet program.

Yeah! There is a lot of problem with the current administration and the coordinator. These kinds of things were handled before by previous coordinators who knew what they were doing and communicated very early on. Now they don't give a shit. Write to BOE about terrible communication from the administration and the inefficient coordinator

In the meanwhile, do not worry about the cost of the fieldtrip because it will get covered. The state of Maryland actually gives money for each student that fall in the special ed bucket. The school does not want to give it for the magnet program though. They ought to be audited.