VMPI-ways to speak out

[Anonymous]

^^ And if I am incorrect about the sequential electives requirement, please correct me.

[Anonymous]

I discovered that there are virtual 3rd party classes that transfer to FCPS

PP, could you elaborate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I dont understand something ....if you know Democrats are going to lower standards continuously why do you keep voting them into office Virginia???? Creating "equity" is code for lowering standards. This is a fact not an opinion.

But it's not with the new diploma proposal. Instead they are eliminating the weak standard diploma that let schools off the hook for not expecting students (particularly Black, Hispanic, and Special Ed) to take all core subjects for all four years. Certainly it will be a challenge to get some to pass all the classes they need but it will show up in graduation rates if they fail.

They are eliminating the advanced diploma, which has more core class requirements and 3 years of a foreign language.

They are NOT bringing up the standard diploma to require all students to take the foreign language.

One one thing the dem VA dept of education did very recently, in the past 2 years, is to require all higg school students to take sequential electives.

They must take a beginner class, then level 2.

So if a kid is qualified for advanced orchestra as a freshman, they must take the lower level for one year before they can do the level they are qualified to do, in order to fulfill the state requirement of sequential electives.

The same goes in reverse. If you have a kid who just loves choir, but sings like a toad, they can no linger just enjoy singing by taking beginning chorus. It won't fulfill their sequential electives graduation requirements. They cannot just stay in the beginning choir for 4 years doing something they love. Either the teacher has to promote them to something they are unqualified for, or they need to find another elective they might not find as enriching, so they can check off the sequential elective box.

Or

If you have a high school kid with a variety of interests who is exploring where their strengths lie, they can no longer explore a variety of electives.

For example, I was a dabbler in high school. I took a different kind of elective every year and had an enriching experience exploring different things. I did theater, drawing, pottery, typing, choir (same beginning level both years) sewing and some business class. I dabbled and was a better student for having the opportunity to explore different things.

The sequential elective requirement decreed by this VA department of education has eliminated one of the most beneficial and enriching parts of the high school experience.

The VA department of education in recent years has been run by a bunch of anti education idiots.

Curious independent here: does "in recent years" correlate to "years with a Democratic governor?"

[Anonymous]

This is the opposite of equity. If the DOE doesn’t realize that parents with means will continue to educate their children outside of public education with expensive extracurricular advanced math programs, they should get new jobs. This will only widen the gap.

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

[Anonymous]

So if this is starting in 2025, are they just going to make kids repeat concepts? My second grader will be starting 7th grade that year. If he's been in advanced math, working a year ahead of grade level, what's the plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

First bolded was my third grader this year jumping into advanced math. Her relationship with school had soured in second over math and was so much better (even with virtual, but especially once she was in person) in third because of math.

Second bolded: yes, they do keep everyone doing the same thing in language arts. They have reading groups (and math groups, for that matter), but kids in level IV do the same thing as kids in gen ed. The level IV projects might have a little more, and there is sometimes more grammar, but it's still basically dumb old Lucy Caulkins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if this is starting in 2025, are they just going to make kids repeat concepts? My second grader will be starting 7th grade that year. If he's been in advanced math, working a year ahead of grade level, what's the plan?

I believe it will be a gradual implementation, with your 2nd grader losing the option for asvance math fairly soon after the plan is adopted.

Somewhere says that full implementation for all grades is either 2025 or 2026. The current 7th grade is the class of 2026.

Anyone 7th grade or lower needs to prepare to have a decimated math curriculum in the next year or two.

Another consequence is that a lot of the high school 9th and 10th grade math teachers will leave the profession if they have to teach Algebra and Geometry with all levels in one class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

Yes, god forbid if more kids are doing well and not just the privileged UMC kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

Yes, god forbid if more kids are doing well and not just the privileged UMC kids.

That's assuming this proposal will encourage more kids to do well.

The general consensus at least here is that it won't help in that regard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

Yes, god forbid if more kids are doing well and not just the privileged UMC kids.

Will this encourage more kids to do well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

Yes, god forbid if more kids are doing well and not just the privileged UMC kids.

Lowering standards by significant amounts because the VA department of education does not believe in the promise or capabilites of minority children does nothing to help any child to reach their potential and is the opposite of the equity they claim to believe in.

Remember the fence drawing?

Equity means giving those kids the tools and resources to see over the fence.

It does not mean making making everyone lay on the ground then sawing down the fence so everyone reaches the same low standards.

If the VA department of education and the politicians who appointed them and set their goals do not believe in the potential of all of our students, including minority students, to rise to their full potential, and don't support giving all students in Virginia a world class education, including poor and minority children, then they do not deserve to serve another minute in office.

There is nothing more racist than assuming that because of their skin tone, children are not capable of performing at their full potential unless you lower standards for everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

Yes, god forbid if more kids are doing well and not just the privileged UMC kids.

That's assuming this proposal will encourage more kids to do well.

The general consensus at least here is that it won't help in that regard.

Based on what? Speculation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

Yes, god forbid if more kids are doing well and not just the privileged UMC kids.

Lowering standards by significant amounts because the VA department of education does not believe in the promise or capabilites of minority children does nothing to help any child to reach their potential and is the opposite of the equity they claim to believe in.

Remember the fence drawing?

Equity means giving those kids the tools and resources to see over the fence.

It does not mean making making everyone lay on the ground then sawing down the fence so everyone reaches the same low standards.

If the VA department of education and the politicians who appointed them and set their goals do not believe in the potential of all of our students, including minority students, to rise to their full potential, and don't support giving all students in Virginia a world class education, including poor and minority children, then they do not deserve to serve another minute in office.

There is nothing more racist than assuming that because of their skin tone, children are not capable of performing at their full potential unless you lower standards for everyone else.

It's not LOWERING the standards - it's helping more kids reach the standards. Your UMC kids will still fully meet the standards.