Child crying over DCPS letter to cut Fillmore

[Anonymous]

DCPS sent a letter home to all five Fillmore schools stating DCPS is cutting Fillmore. My child had the letter in her backpack and was crying when she gave it to me. She wanted to know if John Davis and Nathaniel Beers hate Fillmore. I tried to sincerely explain to her that they don't care about Fillmore personally, but they are just trying to grab the money for something else. It's hard to explain what is happening. I know it's DCPS business decision. But this program is part of our children's lives. My post is trying to ask a serious question - how do you explain DCPS cutting a program that is so important to your child? And I want to bring attention to DCPS that the children are hurt.

The letter caused more confusion for these kids - is the program cut tomorrow? No, I explained next year. Where will the teachers go? Does it mean they lose their jobs? What happens to all our instruments? DCPS knows the parents and the schools don't want the program cut. I think it was short-sighted to send the letter, knowing children would read it, without any real explanation for what will happen.

And another serious question about that letter - where did DCOS get that arts dollar amount per child? What's the arts costs for these high school kids getting opportunities for marching band (instruments, uniforms) -- http://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Elective%20Course%20Offerings%20by%20School%202015-2016_0.pdf? Drawing, painting, concert choir - all offered to high school students but nothing but art on a cart for elementary students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS sent a letter home to all five Fillmore schools stating DCPS is cutting Fillmore. My child had the letter in her backpack and was crying when she gave it to me. She wanted to know if John Davis and Nathaniel Beers hate Fillmore. I tried to sincerely explain to her that they don't care about Fillmore personally, but they are just trying to grab the money for something else. It's hard to explain what is happening. I know it's DCPS business decision. But this program is part of our children's lives. My post is trying to ask a serious question - how do you explain DCPS cutting a program that is so important to your child? And I want to bring attention to DCPS that the children are hurt.

The letter caused more confusion for these kids - is the program cut tomorrow? No, I explained next year. Where will the teachers go? Does it mean they lose their jobs? What happens to all our instruments? DCPS knows the parents and the schools don't want the program cut. I think it was short-sighted to send the letter, knowing children would read it, without any real explanation for what will happen.

And another serious question about that letter - where did DCOS get that arts dollar amount per child? What's the arts costs for these high school kids getting opportunities for marching band (instruments, uniforms) -- http://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Elective%20Course%20Offerings%20by%20School%202015-2016_0.pdf? Drawing, painting, concert choir - all offered to high school students but nothing but art on a cart for elementary students.

I'm sure this helped.

[Anonymous]

This is a little emotionally over-wrought, no?
Your kid is going to come home crying over much more important things in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a little emotionally over-wrought, no?
Your kid is going to come home crying over much more important things in the future.

No. This is awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS sent a letter home to all five Fillmore schools stating DCPS is cutting Fillmore. My child had the letter in her backpack and was crying when she gave it to me. She wanted to know if John Davis and Nathaniel Beers hate Fillmore. I tried to sincerely explain to her that they don't care about Fillmore personally, but they are just trying to grab the money for something else. It's hard to explain what is happening. I know it's DCPS business decision. But this program is part of our children's lives. My post is trying to ask a serious question - how do you explain DCPS cutting a program that is so important to your child? And I want to bring attention to DCPS that the children are hurt.

The letter caused more confusion for these kids - is the program cut tomorrow? No, I explained next year. Where will the teachers go? Does it mean they lose their jobs? What happens to all our instruments? DCPS knows the parents and the schools don't want the program cut. I think it was short-sighted to send the letter, knowing children would read it, without any real explanation for what will happen.

And another serious question about that letter - where did DCOS get that arts dollar amount per child? What's the arts costs for these high school kids getting opportunities for marching band (instruments, uniforms) -- http://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Elective%20Course%20Offerings%20by%20School%202015-2016_0.pdf? Drawing, painting, concert choir - all offered to high school students but nothing but art on a cart for elementary students.

No wonder your child is upset. Look no further than how you "explain" it to her.

You don't get that the fundamental aspect of her emotional overreaction is right in the mirror? Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a little emotionally over-wrought, no?
Your kid is going to come home crying over much more important things in the future.

No. This is awful.

No. In the scope of things it really isn't. When high-strung entitled white families don't have access to the NPR of cheap and free arts programs in a city where a significant number of children can't read at grade level and SN students are underserved, this is not awful.

So, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a little emotionally over-wrought, no?
Your kid is going to come home crying over much more important things in the future.

No. This is awful.

No. In the scope of things it really isn't. When high-strung entitled white families don't have access to the NPR of cheap and free arts programs in a city where a significant number of children can't read at grade level and SN students are underserved, this is not awful.

So, no.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a little emotionally over-wrought, no?
Your kid is going to come home crying over much more important things in the future.

No. This is awful.

No. In the scope of things it really isn't. When high-strung entitled white families don't have access to the NPR of cheap and free arts programs in a city where a significant number of children can't read at grade level and SN students are underserved, this is not awful.

So, no.

+1

Let's not turn this into a racial issue, please. There are plenty of kids at the five schools who are neither white nor entitled. Fillmore is a wonderful program, and it's not clear how some of these schools will manage any real arts education without it, given lack of space.

[Anonymous]

They should put your child on the LSAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a little emotionally over-wrought, no?
Your kid is going to come home crying over much more important things in the future.

No. This is awful.

No. In the scope of things it really isn't. When high-strung entitled white families don't have access to the NPR of cheap and free arts programs in a city where a significant number of children can't read at grade level and SN students are underserved, this is not awful.

So, no.

+1

Let's not turn this into a racial issue, please. There are plenty of kids at the five schools who are neither white nor entitled. Fillmore is a wonderful program, and it's not clear how some of these schools will manage any real arts education without it, given lack of space.

And by the way, I found the letter very insensitive as well. Luckily our child is too young to read it.

[Anonymous]

How does your child know John Davis and Nathaniel Beers? This is a weird post.

[Anonymous]

Oh please. As a former Fillmore parent I'm not surprised this day has finally come for this mediocre, overpriced program. There are more financially responsible ways to deliver art and music to elementary schools. Your kid will be fine. You need to get a grip and start working with your ES to get art and music directly to your child's class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does your child know John Davis and Nathaniel Beers? This is a weird post.

The letter that went home in the backpacks was signed by them. It was a weird letter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh please. As a former Fillmore parent I'm not surprised this day has finally come for this mediocre, overpriced program. There are more financially responsible ways to deliver art and music to elementary schools. Your kid will be fine. You need to get a grip and start working with your ES to get art and music directly to your child's class.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a little emotionally over-wrought, no?
Your kid is going to come home crying over much more important things in the future.

That was my reaction too. A bit overdramatic.