Why doesn't ACPS address the violence in schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is one supposed to be heard? When my DC experienced violence in middle school I spoke out and continued speaking out as DC went through middle school and high school. I was met with indifference at the school level, silence from Central Office, and sympathetic noises from a couple of school board members. Post covid, central office took the position that it no longer wanted to hear from parents and the school board chair demanded that board members not respond to or communicate with parents. The violence is exponentially worse. Teachers and admins in the buildings respond that they know there is a problem but are overwhelmed and told by central office that they cannot discipline students. Central office and school board members - who conveniently don’t have kids in the see schools or set foot in the buildings - have cut off all methods of communication from parents other than emailing through the “Ask ACPS” link that I am convinced sends all email into the trash. Even showing up at a meeting to speak is pointless- they just look at their phones and ignore whoever is speaking. There is simply no recourse for those who would like school to be a safe place for kids to go. It baffles me that the group of people charged with running our schools don’t care at all that our middle and high school students are subject to constant threat physical violence. The only thing left to parents is to pull their kids out of the schools. Perhaps that’s the administration’s way of solving the overcrowding problem.

I agree it seems hopeless. My only thought is that if even more people were able to speak out (many more at Board meetings etc.), maybe they would get some traction (maybe press coverage that puts more pressure on the Board/ACPS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is one supposed to be heard? When my DC experienced violence in middle school I spoke out and continued speaking out as DC went through middle school and high school. I was met with indifference at the school level, silence from Central Office, and sympathetic noises from a couple of school board members. Post covid, central office took the position that it no longer wanted to hear from parents and the school board chair demanded that board members not respond to or communicate with parents. The violence is exponentially worse. Teachers and admins in the buildings respond that they know there is a problem but are overwhelmed and told by central office that they cannot discipline students. Central office and school board members - who conveniently don’t have kids in the see schools or set foot in the buildings - have cut off all methods of communication from parents other than emailing through the “Ask ACPS” link that I am convinced sends all email into the trash. Even showing up at a meeting to speak is pointless- they just look at their phones and ignore whoever is speaking. There is simply no recourse for those who would like school to be a safe place for kids to go. It baffles me that the group of people charged with running our schools don’t care at all that our middle and high school students are subject to constant threat physical violence. The only thing left to parents is to pull their kids out of the schools. Perhaps that’s the administration’s way of solving the overcrowding problem.

100% accurate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a clarification. When PTA is mentioned does this mean an overarching PTA for the district? Or at the school level?

PTA is at the school level. PTAC is the overarching PTA citywide.

For the east end schools they are the same unpleasant ilk. Upsetting to the PTAC is the west end schools actually have PTAs seeking to do better for their kids. Irony is the west end kids are the ones PTAC should be fighting for, but the Rosemont parties would be unsettling if you had to actually help and mingle with the underserved instead of just virtue signaling.

Perfect summary.

PTAC is in the process of forming a special education committee. It will exist to provide coverage for ACPS' disgusting treatment of these kids and their parents. And its about five years too late. PTAC enthusiastically praised ACPS' handling of the school shut down when ACPS REFUSED to let special ed students back in classrooms. They said nothing when the school board and superintendent insulted parents right in front of them at zoom meetings PTAC was hosting.

Those west end PTAs will have their leadership forced out to keep them quiet.