Current MCPS language immersion programs are incredibly classist

[Anonymous]

Current MCPS language immersion programs are incredibly classist;
-requires parent to do research (parents with multiple jobs no time, illiterate parents are not informed)
-available to only for families with flexible schedules to drive to school, or a potentially very long bus ride (if there is a route)

-also big breeders who get kid in get all their subsequent kids in which slims the lottery greatly.


The program should be either eliminated or expanded to serve all. As is now it is just a "leg up for the upwardly mobile" .

Here is a better language immersion program in Evanston that is more equitable and I could get on board with
http://www.district65.net/Page/528

[Anonymous]

I agree 1000%. The fact that you need to know about the program and have your preK-aged child registered for kindergarten the year before in order to enter the lottery is seriously problematic and contributes to how white and middle class the language immersion programs are.

Not to mention they take middle-class kids out of mixed-income neighborhoods, which leaves the neighborhoods schools with a much higher FARMS percentage than the actual neighborhood itself.

[Anonymous]

While I don't agree with many of the assertions in the OP, there is a program similar to the Evanston program in MCPS already. Kemp Mills ES has a dual language program.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/kempmilles/dualprogram/

[Anonymous]

OP, MCPS' magnet programs were an experiment in desegregation. I believe that the immersion programs are managed the same way. It's a strategy that has been controversial for decades.

[Anonymous]

Make sure to complete that MCPS survey and use the comment box.

While I don't agree with some of OP's points ("big breeders"? Come on, OP), I think immersion programs are silly for a different reason - they teach American history and culture in a different language, and scant attention is paid to the history and culture of the immersion language. Language and culture are inseparable, if you want to foster a true understanding and appreciation of either one.

As a multicultural person, I would MUCH rather have a dual program where each culture is taught in its own language. I was in such a high school, actually. The French history teacher had differing views on many points from the British history teacher. It was fascinating how different countries had slightly different takes on the same events in history!

[Anonymous]

I think that the original motivation was to bring higher income kids into lower income schools but that isn't how it necessarily plays out. I am in the DCC and many parents want their kids to go to Rock Creek Forest so that they continue on to Westland and BCC instead of the DCC middle and high schools. So it is really drawing higher income DCC kids into RCF to avoid schools like Einstein, etc. Kind of the opposite of what was intended.

[Anonymous]

The information about the immersion programs is available on the MCPS website. Elementary schools are familiar with the application deadlines/process and can help parents if they have questions.

A child doesn't need to be registered a year before.

There are magnet school buses available, and driving a child to school is not required or necessary.

[Anonymous]

"Illiterate parents"? "Big breeders"?

OP, how is the Rolling Terrace program classist, specifically?

[Anonymous]

We found out about the language immersion program from a friend. Definitely had to do more research to fully understand the pros/cons and how to apply. I agree. For a family without the time, education or resources, this program is a bit out of reach, but so are a lot of other MCPS programs. There are lots of opportunities I hear about after the fact. Why attack language immersion? Maybe MCPS can do a better job promoting all the different opportunities. Regarding travel, we used a magnet bus route that worked out great. It was a long ride, for many other families as well, and there were no complaints. We all knew that was part of the deal. No complaints from the kids either who created great memories and lifelong friends. That said, the program is not the best fit for every family and coming from the perspective of "getting a leg up" is not the best way to embark on this huge commitment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The information about the immersion programs is available on the MCPS website. Elementary schools are familiar with the application deadlines/process and can help parents if they have questions.

A child doesn't need to be registered a year before.

There are magnet school buses available, and driving a child to school is not required or necessary.

There are a lot of families without easy web access, and the elementary magnet spots are filled the spring BEFORE a child start's kindergarten. So they absolutely need to be registered the year before, or at least 7 months before, in order to meet the lottery deadline. So, if a family isn't in the public schools yet because their child is in PreK, who is going to tell them to get their child registered in February in order to get a MCPS student number so they can be in the lottery?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Illiterate parents"? "Big breeders"?

OP, how is the Rolling Terrace program classist, specifically?

Well, the immersion program at my kids' school does have an unusually high number of families with 4 kids...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Illiterate parents"? "Big breeders"?

OP, how is the Rolling Terrace program classist, specifically?

Well, the immersion program at my kids' school does have an unusually high number of families with 4 kids...

Parents with 4 kids are not "big breeders".

And how many families in the non-immersion part of the school have 4 or more kids.

This is a ridiculous anecdote.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree OP.

The county does NOT advertise the immersion program at all in my experience. You need to know that you need to register & apply in Feb rather than as part of the normal registration in the spring. I was aware of spring registration but had no idea until i got to then that the immersion deadlines were done. It sucked.

The current system definitely is set up to give HUGE benefits to families that qualify for the program - you get access to a different school pyramid which can be much better in MS and potentially HS; you get subsequent kids into the program too.

Those unaware of the lottery's deadlines or simply losers in the lottery get zip while the winners get 9+ years at their preferred school location for multiple kids.

It's a very very unfair system.

[Anonymous]

"and how many families in the non-immersion part of the school have 4 or more kids. "

Even if you just have 2 kids there is no reason your subsequent child should get into the program too. If it's an issue of logistics the school could approve COSAs for siblings to attend the regular program at the immersion school site.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree OP.

The county does NOT advertise the immersion program at all in my experience. You need to know that you need to register & apply in Feb rather than as part of the normal registration in the spring. I was aware of spring registration but had no idea until i got to then that the immersion deadlines were done. It sucked.

The current system definitely is set up to give HUGE benefits to families that qualify for the program - you get access to a different school pyramid which can be much better in MS and potentially HS; you get subsequent kids into the program too.

Those unaware of the lottery's deadlines or simply losers in the lottery get zip while the winners get 9+ years at their preferred school location for multiple kids.

It's a very very unfair system.

They don't get zip. They get the general MCPS public-school education.

I still want to know how the immersion programs at Burnt Mills, Rock Creek Forest, and Rolling Terrace are classist, by the way. All three are all local-school preference programs.