Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sad. When I went to FCPS, we read books, wrote papers, and knew that deadlines matter. For the most part, that was true for our kids as well. Don’t know why they’d relax standards other than to create an illusion of achievement for kids who are just dialing it in. It doesn’t serve anyone’s interests in the long run.

When I was a student with FCPS, I was a straight A student who took AP classes, and I did all of my homework on the bus right before school started. I even placed first at a HS science fair when I did the project the night before. I don’t think FCPS was any better in the 80s/90s.

Well I was also a student many years ago and no one I knew was like this then, even the top five students, so it wasn't the norm. It's also obvious that the AP classes have been watered down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college freshman just got his first semester grades. He got 2 Cs (first ever Cs in his school career). He got them because he turned in two papers late. In both classes, he turned them in 3 days late. He had As in both classes but they dropped to Cs because of the two late papers (after two days late, you get a zero). Maybe public schools need to focus more on skills like turning work in on time or penalties will apply. My kid is in shock that he got zeros from work that was late. FCPS trained him to not pay attention to due dates.

You failed him not FCPS but it's easy to blame someone else.

Actually, I was happy he finally knows what due dates are. Hopefully, it only takes one time for him to unlearn what years of FCPS has taught him. Due dates are real and not meeting them have consequences.

I’m a professor and I personally think a zero for two days late is too harsh. I do a 10% penalty per day late. This gives students the ability to decide if they want to turn the paper in on time, or take extra time knowing they will get a lower grade. We all have to learn to balance and prioritize various tasks, and weigh the pros and cons of our decisions. If they email me asking for extra time, I remind them that they can still get a decent grade if they think they need an extra day or two to complete their best work. It’s not like I can actually grade all of their work in two days. I think having a consequence for late work is good,
but overly harsh penalties just sounds like someone on a power trip.

I actually thought two days leeway was pretty generous. If you didn’t turn in your work in the due date when I was in school (including college), you got a zero.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college freshman just got his first semester grades. He got 2 Cs (first ever Cs in his school career). He got them because he turned in two papers late. In both classes, he turned them in 3 days late. He had As in both classes but they dropped to Cs because of the two late papers (after two days late, you get a zero). Maybe public schools need to focus more on skills like turning work in on time or penalties will apply. My kid is in shock that he got zeros from work that was late. FCPS trained him to not pay attention to due dates.

You failed him not FCPS but it's easy to blame someone else.

Actually, I was happy he finally knows what due dates are. Hopefully, it only takes one time for him to unlearn what years of FCPS has taught him. Due dates are real and not meeting them have consequences.

I’m a professor and I personally think a zero for two days late is too harsh. I do a 10% penalty per day late. This gives students the ability to decide if they want to turn the paper in on time, or take extra time knowing they will get a lower grade. We all have to learn to balance and prioritize various tasks, and weigh the pros and cons of our decisions. If they email me asking for extra time, I remind them that they can still get a decent grade if they think they need an extra day or two to complete their best work. It’s not like I can actually grade all of their work in two days. I think having a consequence for late work is good,
but overly harsh penalties just sounds like someone on a power trip.

I actually thought two days leeway was pretty generous. If you didn’t turn in your work in the due date when I was in school (including college), you got a zero.

Times have changed. No need to be overly harsh just for the sake of it. You can teach the importance of deadlines without making it so someone fails the whole class (or doesn’t get credit for their major) for a paper that’s a couple of days late. With how expensive college is now you’d have a mutiny if every class was like that. Some of the older professors can still get away with these old practices but most cannot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know kids today have access to technology that obviously we didn't 35 years ago so more should be expected of them.
I graduated top 10 in my class in FCPS in an AP program and what I've seen my senior do in IB is so far superior. Really impressed at the level of thinking and response that he is required to do.

I see what you did there but IB is an expensive waste of money. Getting rid of it would be a great idea and align with FCPS’s purported goal of providing students with equitable access to programs.

What has your direct experience been with IB that makes you think that way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know kids today have access to technology that obviously we didn't 35 years ago so more should be expected of them.
I graduated top 10 in my class in FCPS in an AP program and what I've seen my senior do in IB is so far superior. Really impressed at the level of thinking and response that he is required to do.

I see what you did there but IB is an expensive waste of money. Getting rid of it would be a great idea and align with FCPS’s purported goal of providing students with equitable access to programs.

What has your direct experience been with IB that makes you think that way?

We were at an IB school. Lots of hype for the "IB diploma programme" (fancy IBO spelling for global citizens) but small fraction of students getting the diploma. Non-diploma track students were treated as second class, including at graduation. And this was at one of the supposedly better IB programs in FCPS. Younger kids went to an AP school and had a much better experience. The tracking in FCPS is bad enough in ES and MS. IB results in a different type of tracking in HS as well.

Also, it's a matter of public record that it costs more per student and that some schools have but a handful of IB diploma graduates.

When was the last time FCPS made a HS w/AP convert to IB? Answer - over 20 years ago. They know it hasn't panned out as hoped, but they don't want to admit mistakes so they don't revisit their past bad decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know kids today have access to technology that obviously we didn't 35 years ago so more should be expected of them.
I graduated top 10 in my class in FCPS in an AP program and what I've seen my senior do in IB is so far superior. Really impressed at the level of thinking and response that he is required to do.

I see what you did there but IB is an expensive waste of money. Getting rid of it would be a great idea and align with FCPS’s purported goal of providing students with equitable access to programs.

What has your direct experience been with IB that makes you think that way?

We were at an IB school. Lots of hype for the "IB diploma programme" (fancy IBO spelling for global citizens) but small fraction of students getting the diploma. Non-diploma track students were treated as second class, including at graduation. And this was at one of the supposedly better IB programs in FCPS. Younger kids went to an AP school and had a much better experience. The tracking in FCPS is bad enough in ES and MS. IB results in a different type of tracking in HS as well.

Also, it's a matter of public record that it costs more per student and that some schools have but a handful of IB diploma graduates.

When was the last time FCPS made a HS w/AP convert to IB? Answer - over 20 years ago. They know it hasn't panned out as hoped, but they don't want to admit mistakes so they don't revisit their past bad decisions.

I can understand you are not a fan how FCPS has implemented IB but I disagree that non diploma students are treated as second class. Even just taking the IB courses without the extra hoops to get the diploma prepares kids, esp. the with the amount of writing. I know you jump in whenever IB comes up on this forum to harp about how FCPS should get rid of it but many people are actually happy with it.

[Anonymous]

Why not just have all AP high schools? If IB was desirable, parents would want it in the good schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not just have all AP high schools? If IB was desirable, parents would want it in the good schools.

This, plus it just complicates any forced movement of kids between schools via redistricting. AP is the US standard whereas IB is more of a niche program.

[Anonymous]

I can understand you are not a fan how FCPS has implemented IB but I disagree that non diploma students are treated as second class. Even just taking the IB courses without the extra hoops to get the diploma prepares kids, esp. the with the amount of writing. I know you jump in whenever IB comes up on this forum to harp about how FCPS should get rid of it but many people are actually happy with it.

I do understand that IB requires lots of writing. But, somehow, I think IB supporters think that AP has little writing. The history courses and the English AP courses require LOTS of writing.

There is no question that IB is much more restrictive. Is it a good program? Probably. Is it the right program for Fairfax County? I think not. Especially, in this instance when boundary lines are being discussed it is going to create lots of animosity. Go find the parent testimony during the 2008 South Lakes boundary study. Parents BEGGED for them to change to AP. Many of the parents were the immigrant parents that FCPS claims to care so much about. It was very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college freshman just got his first semester grades. He got 2 Cs (first ever Cs in his school career). He got them because he turned in two papers late. In both classes, he turned them in 3 days late. He had As in both classes but they dropped to Cs because of the two late papers (after two days late, you get a zero). Maybe public schools need to focus more on skills like turning work in on time or penalties will apply. My kid is in shock that he got zeros from work that was late. FCPS trained him to not pay attention to due dates.

You failed him not FCPS but it's easy to blame someone else.

Actually, I was happy he finally knows what due dates are. Hopefully, it only takes one time for him to unlearn what years of FCPS has taught him. Due dates are real and not meeting them have consequences.

I’m a professor and I personally think a zero for two days late is too harsh. I do a 10% penalty per day late. This gives students the ability to decide if they want to turn the paper in on time, or take extra time knowing they will get a lower grade. We all have to learn to balance and prioritize various tasks, and weigh the pros and cons of our decisions. If they email me asking for extra time, I remind them that they can still get a decent grade if they think they need an extra day or two to complete their best work. It’s not like I can actually grade all of their work in two days. I think having a consequence for late work is good,
but overly harsh penalties just sounds like someone on a power trip.

I actually thought two days leeway was pretty generous. If you didn’t turn in your work in the due date when I was in school (including college), you got a zero.

Times have changed. No need to be overly harsh just for the sake of it. You can teach the importance of deadlines without making it so someone fails the whole class (or doesn’t get credit for their major) for a paper that’s a couple of days late. With how expensive college is now you’d have a mutiny if every class was like that. Some of the older professors can still get away with these old practices but most cannot.

My brother lost his job when he didn’t file an important brief on time. If I don’t hand in my work on time, I’ll be placed on a PIP. I guess everyone else works in loosey goosey jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college freshman just got his first semester grades. He got 2 Cs (first ever Cs in his school career). He got them because he turned in two papers late. In both classes, he turned them in 3 days late. He had As in both classes but they dropped to Cs because of the two late papers (after two days late, you get a zero). Maybe public schools need to focus more on skills like turning work in on time or penalties will apply. My kid is in shock that he got zeros from work that was late. FCPS trained him to not pay attention to due dates.

You failed him not FCPS but it's easy to blame someone else.

Actually, I was happy he finally knows what due dates are. Hopefully, it only takes one time for him to unlearn what years of FCPS has taught him. Due dates are real and not meeting them have consequences.

I’m a professor and I personally think a zero for two days late is too harsh. I do a 10% penalty per day late. This gives students the ability to decide if they want to turn the paper in on time, or take extra time knowing they will get a lower grade. We all have to learn to balance and prioritize various tasks, and weigh the pros and cons of our decisions. If they email me asking for extra time, I remind them that they can still get a decent grade if they think they need an extra day or two to complete their best work. It’s not like I can actually grade all of their work in two days. I think having a consequence for late work is good,
but overly harsh penalties just sounds like someone on a power trip.

I actually thought two days leeway was pretty generous. If you didn’t turn in your work in the due date when I was in school (including college), you got a zero.

Times have changed. No need to be overly harsh just for the sake of it. You can teach the importance of deadlines without making it so someone fails the whole class (or doesn’t get credit for their major) for a paper that’s a couple of days late. With how expensive college is now you’d have a mutiny if every class was like that. Some of the older professors can still get away with these old practices but most cannot.

My brother lost his job when he didn’t file an important brief on time. If I don’t hand in my work on time, I’ll be placed on a PIP. I guess everyone else works in loosey goosey jobs.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My college freshman just got his first semester grades. He got 2 Cs (first ever Cs in his school career). He got them because he turned in two papers late. In both classes, he turned them in 3 days late. He had As in both classes but they dropped to Cs because of the two late papers (after two days late, you get a zero). Maybe public schools need to focus more on skills like turning work in on time or penalties will apply. My kid is in shock that he got zeros from work that was late. FCPS trained him to not pay attention to due dates.

You failed him not FCPS but it's easy to blame someone else.

Actually, I was happy he finally knows what due dates are. Hopefully, it only takes one time for him to unlearn what years of FCPS has taught him. Due dates are real and not meeting them have consequences.

I’m a professor and I personally think a zero for two days late is too harsh. I do a 10% penalty per day late. This gives students the ability to decide if they want to turn the paper in on time, or take extra time knowing they will get a lower grade. We all have to learn to balance and prioritize various tasks, and weigh the pros and cons of our decisions. If they email me asking for extra time, I remind them that they can still get a decent grade if they think they need an extra day or two to complete their best work. It’s not like I can actually grade all of their work in two days. I think having a consequence for late work is good,
but overly harsh penalties just sounds like someone on a power trip.

I actually thought two days leeway was pretty generous. If you didn’t turn in your work in the due date when I was in school (including college), you got a zero.

Times have changed. No need to be overly harsh just for the sake of it. You can teach the importance of deadlines without making it so someone fails the whole class (or doesn’t get credit for their major) for a paper that’s a couple of days late. With how expensive college is now you’d have a mutiny if every class was like that. Some of the older professors can still get away with these old practices but most cannot.

My brother lost his job when he didn’t file an important brief on time. If I don’t hand in my work on time, I’ll be placed on a PIP. I guess everyone else works in loosey goosey jobs.

Stop being so self-important. There are certain things that must be done on the day they are scheduled or due — e.g. exams and presentations. But for an assignments for which there is no practical reason that they absolutely must be done on a specific day, such policies are punitive for no good reason. I am sure in your oh so important job there are some things with a little
Bit of wiggle room if you communicate properly. Students can learn to differentiate between these things just as well as you can.

It’s also stupid to compare school to the workplace because schools are bound by a mission to educate everyone. Most workplaces exist to make someone money. Not the same goals.

[Anonymous]

If your kid is in college, they’d better act like it is training for a real job. I’m trying to imagine them handing in work late there. It doesn’t matter if the work is “important” or not. If you can’t handle deadlines, you aren’t employable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in college, they’d better act like it is training for a real job. I’m trying to imagine them handing in work late there. It doesn’t matter if the work is “important” or not. If you can’t handle deadlines, you aren’t employable.

I work for the US government. Every deadline has been pushed back days, weeks, or months. For some of us, it is the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in college, they’d better act like it is training for a real job. I’m trying to imagine them handing in work late there. It doesn’t matter if the work is “important” or not. If you can’t handle deadlines, you aren’t employable.

I highly doubt that every single work task you do is a major document with a hard deadline. Sometimes work tasks are things like getting back to someone with some information. Those are the things that have a bit more flexibility as long as you communicate. I’m sure you were able to figure out the difference between major tasks with hard deadlines and more minor tasks with slightly flexible deadlines What is so hard to understand about this? It seems like you are being purposely obtuse because you like to argue. I bet you’re a lawyer.