Please SOUND OFF if you think FCPS is in decline!

[Anonymous]

European model test in 8th grade or earlier. College prep for all is immensely wasteful and actually contributes to dropout rates from kids that will never be prepared for college. They should be funneled into a skilled trade with a path of success in life.

The thing I don't like about this model is that it hurts kids who are late bloomers. I was one. So was my spouse. We did not do well in school until we hit about 15/16. We now earn six figures. If we had been tracked in 8th grade, we would not have ended up as successful as we are. IMO, 13 is too young to decide whether a child is college material or not.


I think this is one of the big myths. There are plenty of ways to make 6 figures without going to college. The sooner people realize this the better.

I think PP's point is that 8th grade is too young to determine your future.

I agree. Some European countries test at 10 years old and your future is then determined--university, commercial, or trade. It is VERY difficult to switch. So, sure, people can make 6 figures without a college degree--but, the greater point is whether or not they have a choice in the matter as to whether they wish to be a tradesman or a professor. Determining that at such a young age is not the way to go.

It happens before eighth grade in most European countries--closer to fifth grade.

[Anonymous]

At our FCPS elementary school, kids are forced to learn the Chinese language from grades 1-6, but proper sentence structure in English is glossed over. I would much rather my children learn how to write in English before they learn the solar system in Chinese!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have we solved all of society's issues in the schools yet? Free lunch and breakfasts (although many parents already receive food stamps and there are a lot of free food distribution sites, at least there are in FC); in-house psychologists and social workers; a bus that takes children to see the dentist and provides free dental care; free summer books and free coats, mittens and hats in the winter; free school supplies; fees waived for extra curricular activities; free access to technology and free computers; free ESOL classes for students and parents; free translation services, on demand... and yet, no change in scores for certain ethnic students.

Best post in thread. So true

+100

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

European model test in 8th grade or earlier. College prep for all is immensely wasteful and actually contributes to dropout rates from kids that will never be prepared for college. They should be funneled into a skilled trade with a path of success in life.

The thing I don't like about this model is that it hurts kids who are late bloomers. I was one. So was my spouse. We did not do well in school until we hit about 15/16. We now earn six figures. If we had been tracked in 8th grade, we would not have ended up as successful as we are. IMO, 13 is too young to decide whether a child is college material or not.


I think this is one of the big myths. There are plenty of ways to make 6 figures without going to college. The sooner people realize this the better.

I think PP's point is that 8th grade is too young to determine your future.

I agree. Some European countries test at 10 years old and your future is then determined--university, commercial, or trade. It is VERY difficult to switch. So, sure, people can make 6 figures without a college degree--but, the greater point is whether or not they have a choice in the matter as to whether they wish to be a tradesman or a professor. Determining that at such a young age is not the way to go.

It happens before eighth grade in most European countries--closer to fifth grade.

Maybe Europe does a better job at critical thinking. The only reason I want as many kids to be on the college track is so they develop some critical thinking skills before they graduate high school. I meet many many people who seem to have never been taught this skill.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is complaining but what are the solutions?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know, I’m just here to SOUND OFF.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Europe does a better job at critical thinking. The only reason I want as many kids to be on the college track is so they develop some critical thinking skills before they graduate high school. I meet many many people who seem to have never been taught this skill.

It's not taught--it is developed. When the bureaucracy dictates all that is done in a class, the teacher has little time to encourage critical thinking skills. They are not measured on an SOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you really all believe that the high performing, highly successful kids who come out of FCPS only do so because of YOU? Not because the schools are doing a good job.

Or that the schools are not doing something valuable in feeding, helping, teaching underprivileged kids? The only marek of success to you IS TJ followed by some big name school?

Or that making sure kids' mental health is prioritized and they are in an environment to learn is worthy?

Really?

lol kids are high performing or low performing because of their family environment it has nothing to do with the schools

FCPS and other schools are dumping billions into low performing schools and it is not making one difference. You need to have metrics for all this spending. If it's not working try something else or maybe come to the conclusion that there will always be lower mid and upper people in a society and ultimately instead of wasting billions give some of that money back to the people who are actually productive with it.

x100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Maybe Europe does a better job at critical thinking. The only reason I want as many kids to be on the college track is so they develop some critical thinking skills before they graduate high school. I meet many many people who seem to have never been taught this skill.

It's not taught--it is developed. When the bureaucracy dictates all that is done in a class, the teacher has little time to encourage critical thinking skills. They are not measured on an SOL!

Bull. Barely any time at our school is spent on SOL's. It's all about portrait of a graduate. They just don't do a good job at implementation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our FCPS elementary school, kids are forced to learn the Chinese language from grades 1-6, but proper sentence structure in English is glossed over. I would much rather my children learn how to write in English before they learn the solar system in Chinese!

Which one is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our FCPS elementary school, kids are forced to learn the Chinese language from grades 1-6, but proper sentence structure in English is glossed over. I would much rather my children learn how to write in English before they learn the solar system in Chinese!

Which one is this?

Haycock

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone is complaining but what are the solutions?

Don’t be afraid to speak out at the SI office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our FCPS elementary school, kids are forced to learn the Chinese language from grades 1-6, but proper sentence structure in English is glossed over. I would much rather my children learn how to write in English before they learn the solar system in Chinese!

Which one is this?

Haycock

No. Chesterbrook and Stenwood, if I remember correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our FCPS elementary school, kids are forced to learn the Chinese language from grades 1-6, but proper sentence structure in English is glossed over. I would much rather my children learn how to write in English before they learn the solar system in Chinese!

Which one is this?

Haycock

No. Chesterbrook and Stenwood, if I remember correctly.

Or Wolftrap.

[Anonymous]

No grammar.
No spelling.
Only teaches to the lowest and highest test scores.
Bloated and racist AAP program.

Yes, FCPS is in decline.