Anyone else feeling depressed about VA public elementary schools? (Vent)

[Anonymous]

So, we live in Alexandria and our child goes to a public elementary school with a pretty good reputation. We started him off hoping and believing that the school would work out for him: he's a bright boy, sociable, cheerful, cooperative, etc. But after almost two years (he's finishing 1st now), we are almost certainly going to bail out and send him to private school. (We applied and got in and will have to make a final decision by around June 1). We would do this with great sadness-- we love the fact the he's now at a neighborhood school and has lots of school friends within walking distance, DH and I are both public school products and very much wanted our children to be as well, and-- well, the private school pricetag will require belt-tightening all around.

But I just can't see keeping him in his current public school-- and am wondering if other parents are experiencing the same concerns. The problems? Each day seems to consist of an ever-more rushed force march through the curriculum, with virtually no room for creativity, play, or simple down-time. It's one worksheet after another, and he's had daily homework since kindergarten-- all of the truly idiotic worksheet variety. In school, the teachers seem stressed-- they get in trouble with school authorities if they fall behind in the weekly curriculum plan, so they feel that they can't take extra time over any one lesson or activity, regardless of how useful or rewarding it might be. They're tense and that communicates itself to the children as snappishness and pressure. When I visit the school, one on one, the teachers are warm and thoughtful-- but peeking into classrooms, it's all "Sit down! Stop that! Get in line! Focus on your work! Now stand over there! You have a warning card! You're losing five minutes of recess! No talking!"

And the result of all this for DS? He still loves his friends, but he now routinely claims stomach aches before school, describes class as "stupid" and "boring," and only likes music, art, recess and PE. And I feel like we need to just get him out of there if we possibly can-- and we are very lucky in that we can afford to pay the tuition at a nurturing private school, one that seems to emphasis and encourage creativity, curiosity, and respect for children as autonomous little people who don't thrive when they are constantly being ordered around.

I have spoken to a few other parents of my DS's friends, and am beginning to get the sense that unhappiness is more widespread with his school than at first I thought (when we moved here, everyone raved about what a gem this school was). Do other parents out there in NoVa have similar feelings with their child's public schools?? Is this just this one school? Is the all public schools in the era of No Child Left Behind? Or is this just us?

[Anonymous]

Trust me, it is not just you. My DH and I are both products of public schools as well as public universities and we wanted that for our kids too. And we constantly hear how Fairfax schools are some of the top ones in the country. But when we visit the local school, we see good, kind, experienced teachers at the end of their rope. Large class sizes, behavioral issues of all sorts, crowded facilities, ridiculously detailed curriculum, worksheets out the wazoo etc. The "crowd control" methods used are completely understandable but also create an unacceptable learning environment.

So we have DC at a lovely private school where the opposite of everything listed above is true. He is happy and thriving ... loves every day of school. It is ludicrously expensive, but as long as things continue as they are, we will pay it as long as we are able. I regret the lack of socioeconomic diversity, but I just cannot bring myself to consider the publics. They are not the same public schools that I experienced as a child.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you talking about Alexandria City or Alexandria fairfax county? Because we have had bad experiences in ACPS, but I imagine that comes as no surprise to anyone.....

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't generalize to all of Virginia from one school. We're happy. Our son is thriving. His school has good enough test scores that they don't have to worry about them, but not so good that people are concerned about maintaining a ridiculous reputation.

Yes, the SOL is badly written and as a result it makes teaching harder and less interesting. On the other hand, yes, there are some very uninspired private schools around. You can get a mediocre education there, too. I hope you did a good job researching the new school.

[Anonymous]

I think No Child Left Behind has done a LOT of damage to public schools. I'm a big public school fan too, but this federal law, as well-intentioned as it may have been, has really hurt kids, IMO.

It "used" to be that the majority of kids thrived in public schools, but they sucked for fringe kids who may have either had some learning disabilities or who were inordinately bright (or both). Now, it seems to be the reverse. The majority suffer, but some do just fine. Most public school teacher friends I have are really disturbed by how things have changed over the past 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think No Child Left Behind has done a LOT of damage to public schools. I'm a big public school fan too, but this federal law, as well-intentioned as it may have been, has really hurt kids, IMO.

It "used" to be that the majority of kids thrived in public schools, but they sucked for fringe kids who may have either had some learning disabilities or who were inordinately bright (or both). Now, it seems to be the reverse. The majority suffer, but some do just fine. Most public school teacher friends I have are really disturbed by how things have changed over the past 10 years.

Really? I LOVE NCLB. It forces accountability onto the schools and I have noticed that a lot of them don't seem to like it. Data-driven analysis is the way of the future, and there's really no going back to being able to fudge performance.

[Anonymous]

I went to FCPS for elementary, middle school, and high school. OP, I totally get your vent. I will never allow my child to go to FCPS. We are in our parish school and are very happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think No Child Left Behind has done a LOT of damage to public schools. I'm a big public school fan too, but this federal law, as well-intentioned as it may have been, has really hurt kids, IMO.

It "used" to be that the majority of kids thrived in public schools, but they sucked for fringe kids who may have either had some learning disabilities or who were inordinately bright (or both). Now, it seems to be the reverse. The majority suffer, but some do just fine. Most public school teacher friends I have are really disturbed by how things have changed over the past 10 years.

Really? I LOVE NCLB. It forces accountability onto the schools and I have noticed that a lot of them don't seem to like it. Data-driven analysis is the way of the future, and there's really no going back to being able to fudge performance.

They teach to the test, and "only" to the test. As OP said, it doesn't allow for creativity, and IMO, it's not conducive to instilling any love of learning in younger kids. In my local elementary school (in the Wooten cluster in MoCo), kids regularly get 2 hours of homework each night. What 8 year old needs or thrives off of that?

[Anonymous]

Amen PP, that is why this public secondary teacher is sending her soon to be kindergartener to private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think No Child Left Behind has done a LOT of damage to public schools. I'm a big public school fan too, but this federal law, as well-intentioned as it may have been, has really hurt kids, IMO.

It "used" to be that the majority of kids thrived in public schools, but they sucked for fringe kids who may have either had some learning disabilities or who were inordinately bright (or both). Now, it seems to be the reverse. The majority suffer, but some do just fine. Most public school teacher friends I have are really disturbed by how things have changed over the past 10 years.

Really? I LOVE NCLB. It forces accountability onto the schools and I have noticed that a lot of them don't seem to like it. Data-driven analysis is the way of the future, and there's really no going back to being able to fudge performance.

They teach to the test, and "only" to the test. As OP said, it doesn't allow for creativity, and IMO, it's not conducive to instilling any love of learning in younger kids. In my local elementary school (in the Wooten cluster in MoCo), kids regularly get 2 hours of homework each night. What 8 year old needs or thrives off of that?

It's true. Instead of fostering a love for learning, the system is teaching children how to test. NCLB is in need of serious reform. In addition, it's been proven that homework isn't necessary until late elementary and middle school. An 8 year old doesn't need 2 hours of homework, he needs to be a child.

[Anonymous]

Yes thats why we've sent our kids to privates too. My neighbors at our good FC public school aren't very happy there. The class sizes/student-teacher ratios are huge. I went to public schools too, but the schools and classrooms were small, similar to our private school now which we love.

[Anonymous]

The VA SOL tests (state tests in grades 3, 5 and 8) predate NCLB by several years and the pressure and concerns about teaching to the test started before NCLB.

As much as I understand parents being concerned about a test focused elementary school, do realize this: When parents are moving to a new area and looking for a house to buy, what are some of the first hings they look for? They call up each elementary school (and middle and high school) and look up the schools average test scores. Higher test scores mean more desireable house.

It won't be until parents look for signs of creativity, and a warm emotional environment -- and demand some way to evaluate those intangibles -- and value homes in school districts that foster such goals -- that schools will respond to that demand.

[Anonymous]

I don't feel this way. My DD attends Taylor Elementary in Arlington, and we/she loves it. She enjoys every day of school and is definitely thriving. I guess we are lucky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The VA SOL tests (state tests in grades 3, 5 and 8) predate NCLB by several years and the pressure and concerns about teaching to the test started before NCLB.

As much as I understand parents being concerned about a test focused elementary school, do realize this: When parents are moving to a new area and looking for a house to buy, what are some of the first hings they look for? They call up each elementary school (and middle and high school) and look up the schools average test scores. Higher test scores mean more desireable house.

It won't be until parents look for signs of creativity, and a warm emotional environment -- and demand some way to evaluate those intangibles -- and value homes in school districts that foster such goals -- that schools will respond to that demand.

Agreed to a point. I think standardized test scores in high school are far more significant than anything in elementary school, where kids are just beginning to learn how to learn. I want something different for a 5 year old than I do for a 15 year old.

[Anonymous]

OP - are you at a school that is established (full neighborhood enrollment through grade 5) or are you at a school that has only recently attracted neighborhood children in the past 3-4 years?