Do parents get actively involved in MOCO elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

It just seems from an outsider perspective, with my only resource being DCUM currently, that there is a tremendous amount of apathy about elementary schools. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I suspect I won't get any answers and that will just cement my observation...

[Anonymous]

I think you're wrong.

[Anonymous]

OMG yes. There is competition robe room parent and field trip chaperone.

[Anonymous]

For some of the low-income schools, there is not as much parent participation.

[Anonymous]

DO not use DCUM as a resource..it is mostly entertainment like HGTV!

[Anonymous]

We are at a borderline title 1 school that we have actually liked a lot and dc seems to be doing very well. Although it can get tiresome to not have more volunteers for things I LOVE that it is not a hyper competitive dynamic for parents like it seems exists at schools where people have way too much time on their hands.

Kids do about 6 field trips (maybe two of which are actually in school special events). If you want to chaperone they are always happy to have you. My kid is never the only one without a parent at random school parties. They do not go overboard with daytime events and PTA mtgs are all at night. Also most parents are just normal reasonable people instead of trying to one up all the time.)

[Anonymous]

Depends where you are I expect. In bethesda people are tripping over each other to volunteer and there are foundations, spring fairs, and all sorts of parent coordinated activities. It's pretty much the opposite of apathy.

[Anonymous]

Thanks folks.

[Anonymous]

OP its more accurate to say that there is a tremendous amount of anger and frustration not apathy. The current group of elementary school kids are the first 2.0 victims so many have older siblings who received a much better education. MCPS is hoping that once these kids age out the next group which just accept this pile of crap. I don't see that happening as new parents without older kids are complaining about 2.0 just as much.

MCPS does a lot in addition to a bad curriculum to piss off parents. Kids don't get grades in elementary school. Its pass/fail through 5th grade. Every quarter every kid gets an identical report card with all Ps. There is only one brief parent teacher conference.

PTA fundraising can not go to any educational improvements such as increased staffing. If you're in a high performing school, you lose staff and teaching resources o lower performing schools but unlike DC or VA the PTA can't fund raise to replace a K aide.

MCPS is all about leveling. If you're going into a high performing school you are there to pay taxes, keep your mouth shut and let the school enjoy your child's high test scores. Don't expect any real education or for them to give a shit about your child.

[Anonymous]

Yes our children spend 13 years in school and learn absolutely nothing. Not one of them is successful in college. Everyone I know is moving to PG county or the district.

[Anonymous]

Parents are very involved at our school but the principal doesn't allow volunteers in the classroom, playground, or lunchroom. Volunteers can only work in the office, art room, media center, class parties, and do events. There are lots of parents involved with the social activities but its a bummer that you can't help during school.

[Anonymous]

This sounds much better to me ^ I'd like this for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP its more accurate to say that there is a tremendous amount of anger and frustration not apathy. The current group of elementary school kids are the first 2.0 victims so many have older siblings who received a much better education. MCPS is hoping that once these kids age out the next group which just accept this pile of crap. I don't see that happening as new parents without older kids are complaining about 2.0 just as much.

MCPS does a lot in addition to a bad curriculum to piss off parents. Kids don't get grades in elementary school. Its pass/fail through 5th grade. Every quarter every kid gets an identical report card with all Ps. There is only one brief parent teacher conference.

PTA fundraising can not go to any educational improvements such as increased staffing. If you're in a high performing school, you lose staff and teaching resources o lower performing schools but unlike DC or VA the PTA can't fund raise to replace a K aide.

MCPS is all about leveling. If you're going into a high performing school you are there to pay taxes, keep your mouth shut and let the school enjoy your child's high test scores. Don't expect any real education or for them to give a shit about your child.

I have a pre-2.0 child and a 2,0 child, and I prefer 2.0.

Kids do get grades in elementary school. It's standards-based grading. It's not at all true that every kid gets an identical report card with all Ps. If you want more parent-teacher conferences, just ask the teacher.

It's a very good thing that PTA money can't pay for extra education in school. PP evidently thinks that it's ok for children at wealthy public schools to get more education than children at poorer public schools.

I don't know about PP's child, but my children are getting a real education in MCPS.

Or, tl;dr: Don't believe everything you read on DCUM. Or possibly, don't believe anything you read on DCUM. (Except my post, of course.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents are very involved at our school but the principal doesn't allow volunteers in the classroom, playground, or lunchroom. Volunteers can only work in the office, art room, media center, class parties, and do events. There are lots of parents involved with the social activities but its a bummer that you can't help during school.

Too involved.. This principal is doing it right... Some of the patents are evil and I don't want them near my child.

[Anonymous]

OP - 2.0 does suck. If you are moving into MCPS because you thought it was a great system be prepared to be extremely disappointed.