“Closed campus” at lunch but no enforcement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you tell your kid they are not allowed to leave campus. Unbelievable that you can find a way to blame the school for this.

Seriously I can’t believe that if as a parent you care that you can’t figure out how to enforce it. I mean tell them no. If they do it, take aware their source of funds, take the phone, ground them. Whatever.

Taking their phone away for leaving campus is punishing them after the fact. It is not enforcing the school’s supposed closed campus policy.

Again, only the school can enforce that. Parents are not in the building.

OP you seem outrageous. Plenty of things in the world that can be blamed on failed leadership. This is failed parenting nothing to do with leadership. Punishing them after the fact as you say should be enough to deter them from doing it again. If it is not then that is your problem.

You must be MCPS admin. You can keep denying MCPS has liability and obligation to uphold and enforce its policies if you want to. MCPS, and we the taxpayers, keep paying out judgements where judges and juries disagree with you and say MCPS has a duty to actually do what it says it will do.

You should quit education. It’s not for you.

Wrong - just a parent that thinks this is crazy. Also, I am not the only one responding to you. I am beginning to think you are that lady that runs that website that wants MCPS liable for everything so every morning you wake up and think of something new. Turf, closed lunch, etc. I understand MCPS has issues but this is not one of them.

Tell that to the DoorDash driver who had a gun shoved in her mouth by B-CC kids who were out and about in the community during lunch just a few weeks ago.

You’re in denial and refuse to engage with the real harm and risk that comes from not enforcing this policy. Why you are doing so, only you know.

So, your theory is that open lunch in Bethesda is why the carjacking happened in Wheaton?

That's just silly.

Open lunch IS why kids who otherwise would have been in the school building and not available to roam the streets and assault someone were able to do so. Yes. That is not a leap in logic. Which is why revoking open lunch privileges is a disciplinary measures schools take because it’s a privilege based on trust and meeting expectations.

If B-CC had a closed lunch policy that the school actively monitored and enforced, those kids would not have been able to do what they did when they did it. There is no doubt about that.

If you followed the conversation around juvenile crime, one of the main things contributing to the increase in juvenile crime is kids not being in school when they should be. But you don’t care about that because you don’t care about the youth or the community.

You just want to absolve MCPS of any and all responsibility for the care and wellbeing of students while they are in the school building for reasons known only to you.

Years ago, BCC had the MCDonalds, Roy Rogers and other restaurants really close by. It was a lot cheaper and not much more than the cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't you tell your kid they are not allowed to leave campus. Unbelievable that you can find a way to blame the school for this.

Seriously I can’t believe that if as a parent you care that you can’t figure out how to enforce it. I mean tell them no. If they do it, take aware their source of funds, take the phone, ground them. Whatever.

Taking their phone away for leaving campus is punishing them after the fact. It is not enforcing the school’s supposed closed campus policy.

Again, only the school can enforce that. Parents are not in the building.

OP you seem outrageous. Plenty of things in the world that can be blamed on failed leadership. This is failed parenting nothing to do with leadership. Punishing them after the fact as you say should be enough to deter them from doing it again. If it is not then that is your problem.

You must be MCPS admin. You can keep denying MCPS has liability and obligation to uphold and enforce its policies if you want to. MCPS, and we the taxpayers, keep paying out judgements where judges and juries disagree with you and say MCPS has a duty to actually do what it says it will do.

You should quit education. It’s not for you.

A solution to many of these problems would be increased discipline. Actual consequences for actions. The trend in education across the state and country, not just MCPS, is to not have suspensions and expulsions. If students were suspended for actions, would every student comply? No. But would it serve as a deterrent to many, absolutely. The place MCPS is in, are you going to see this happen, nope, but if you're not going to suspend, then taking away privileges can work. Violate the rules, now you can't be a part of athletic teams, clubs, music, drama, attend school dances. This will not get all students to follow the rules but would encourage a lot more to do so. MCPS teachers and staff are helpless to stop this type of behavior because their hands are tied by not being able to apply strong consequences. I do not blame the students. They are going to try to get away with whatever they can, just like high school students have for generations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see so many kids around Blair during lunch. Why not just make it an open lunch? What’s the point if it’s not enforced?

This is the crazy thing about MCPS. They want to look like they're doing the right thing, by saying they have closed campus lunches for student safety, but then refuse to invest the necessary resources, protocols and enforcements to make what they say they do on paper actually be true.

I agree with you. If MCPS actually has no intention of ever honoring its closed lunch policy, then they should just drop the farce of claiming to have a closed campus. It's ridiculous.

I don’t know if there is an “MCPS Policy”, as there are schools with open lunch. WJ is wide open, for all grades. They cannot possibly service the student body in the cafeteria as things are now. Can anyone chime in what Blair’s actual policy is?

Poolesville also has open lunch for all grades.

But that's probably because it's 20+ miles to the closest fast-food that nobody would use it.

Look at a map of Poolesville, maybe?

[Anonymous]

My kid went to Blair with closed lunches. Of course she was aware that kids would head off campus...but that did not mean that most kids do. 3K kids at Blair. They are not pouring out of the school stopping traffic on Colesville/University as they might if there were actually full open lunch. Maybe the goal is achieved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again you sound crazy but I will agree that kids being out of school is exactly why there is a rise in crime. When schools shut down in 2020 there were kids who were barely hanging on then. Those kids did not come back ....EVER. They are the ones robbing stores, carjacking and joyriding now at the age of 16 17 etc. Direct result of shutting down schools.

Open lunch though has nothing to do with this. A kid can skip a class and get out anyway. You haven't brought up your daughter in any of your posts in a while. Does she even exist or are you really the lady from that website that blames MCPS for everything?

I see now that your stake in this debate is all about preserving open lunch, no matter what. Got it.

It’s a weird hill for a parent to die on, but I know you’re not the only parent who is militant about preserving open lunch at all costs.

[Anonymous]

If only there were SROs to enforce and punish these kids for escaping the school.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I’m stunned that so many parents think an open lunch is the answer.

High school students are (mostly for those who are not repeaters) still minors. MCPS had a responsibility to keep these kids safe. If they leave for lunch and get hit by a car, robbed, or get themselves into any other unthinkable situation, we CANNOT keep them safe.

The only real solutions are…
1) structuring the school day so campuses with 2000+ kids have A, B or C lunch
2) teaching your kids to respect adults and the importance of fiscal and health responsibility.

I want to know how parents are ok with funding $10+ lunches every day and accepting the health concerns that come with eating fast food for every meal. Parents need to teach their kids how to prepare food ahead of time — this is an important life skill.

Also. Parents need to hold the standard at home when it comes to listening to (gasp) authority. Americans are so afraid of holding people accountable. Literally had a 9th grader look me in the eyes and blow me off when I asked her why she was leaving school (in the middle of 2nd period). Rolled her eyes and walked right out the main doors.

Parents should be ashamed of the individuals they are raising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I’m stunned that so many parents think an open lunch is the answer.

High school students are (mostly for those who are not repeaters) still minors. MCPS had a responsibility to keep these kids safe. If they leave for lunch and get hit by a car, robbed, or get themselves into any other unthinkable situation, we CANNOT keep them safe.

The only real solutions are…
1) structuring the school day so campuses with 2000+ kids have A, B or C lunch
2) teaching your kids to respect adults and the importance of fiscal and health responsibility.

I want to know how parents are ok with funding $10+ lunches every day and accepting the health concerns that come with eating fast food for every meal. Parents need to teach their kids how to prepare food ahead of time — this is an important life skill.

Also. Parents need to hold the standard at home when it comes to listening to (gasp) authority. Americans are so afraid of holding people accountable. Literally had a 9th grader look me in the eyes and blow me off when I asked her why she was leaving school (in the middle of 2nd period). Rolled her eyes and walked right out the main doors.

Parents should be ashamed of the individuals they are raising.

did you email her parents? or just post here instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I’m stunned that so many parents think an open lunch is the answer.

High school students are (mostly for those who are not repeaters) still minors. MCPS had a responsibility to keep these kids safe. If they leave for lunch and get hit by a car, robbed, or get themselves into any other unthinkable situation, we CANNOT keep them safe.

The only real solutions are…
1) structuring the school day so campuses with 2000+ kids have A, B or C lunch
2) teaching your kids to respect adults and the importance of fiscal and health responsibility.

I want to know how parents are ok with funding $10+ lunches every day and accepting the health concerns that come with eating fast food for every meal. Parents need to teach their kids how to prepare food ahead of time — this is an important life skill.

Also. Parents need to hold the standard at home when it comes to listening to (gasp) authority. Americans are so afraid of holding people accountable. Literally had a 9th grader look me in the eyes and blow me off when I asked her why she was leaving school (in the middle of 2nd period). Rolled her eyes and walked right out the main doors.

Parents should be ashamed of the individuals they are raising.

did you email her parents? or just post here instead?

With a school of 2000+ students, please tell me how I’m supposed to know her name to contact home. This happened during my planning period. Even if I knew her name and wrote a referral, admin does nothing. Kids leave in droves. No real consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I’m stunned that so many parents think an open lunch is the answer.

High school students are (mostly for those who are not repeaters) still minors. MCPS had a responsibility to keep these kids safe. If they leave for lunch and get hit by a car, robbed, or get themselves into any other unthinkable situation, we CANNOT keep them safe.

The only real solutions are…
1) structuring the school day so campuses with 2000+ kids have A, B or C lunch
2) teaching your kids to respect adults and the importance of fiscal and health responsibility.

I want to know how parents are ok with funding $10+ lunches every day and accepting the health concerns that come with eating fast food for every meal. Parents need to teach their kids how to prepare food ahead of time — this is an important life skill.

Also. Parents need to hold the standard at home when it comes to listening to (gasp) authority. Americans are so afraid of holding people accountable. Literally had a 9th grader look me in the eyes and blow me off when I asked her why she was leaving school (in the middle of 2nd period). Rolled her eyes and walked right out the main doors.

Parents should be ashamed of the individuals they are raising.

I just am. I also pick up my lunch most weekdays. It’s what works for my family. It’s way less expensive than private school, which is something else my family has done.

I hope for the best nutritionally, but figure it’s a balance.

- WJ parent, kid isn’t breaking the rules

[Anonymous]

OP and the "Teacher here" person are too much. Find something better to complain about

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I’m stunned that so many parents think an open lunch is the answer.

High school students are (mostly for those who are not repeaters) still minors. MCPS had a responsibility to keep these kids safe. If they leave for lunch and get hit by a car, robbed, or get themselves into any other unthinkable situation, we CANNOT keep them safe.

The only real solutions are…
1) structuring the school day so campuses with 2000+ kids have A, B or C lunch
2) teaching your kids to respect adults and the importance of fiscal and health responsibility.

I want to know how parents are ok with funding $10+ lunches every day and accepting the health concerns that come with eating fast food for every meal. Parents need to teach their kids how to prepare food ahead of time — this is an important life skill.

Also. Parents need to hold the standard at home when it comes to listening to (gasp) authority. Americans are so afraid of holding people accountable. Literally had a 9th grader look me in the eyes and blow me off when I asked her why she was leaving school (in the middle of 2nd period). Rolled her eyes and walked right out the main doors.

Parents should be ashamed of the individuals they are raising.

What if these things happen (and they do happen) on the way to school or on the way home from school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I’m stunned that so many parents think an open lunch is the answer.

High school students are (mostly for those who are not repeaters) still minors. MCPS had a responsibility to keep these kids safe. If they leave for lunch and get hit by a car, robbed, or get themselves into any other unthinkable situation, we CANNOT keep them safe.

The only real solutions are…
1) structuring the school day so campuses with 2000+ kids have A, B or C lunch
2) teaching your kids to respect adults and the importance of fiscal and health responsibility.

I want to know how parents are ok with funding $10+ lunches every day and accepting the health concerns that come with eating fast food for every meal. Parents need to teach their kids how to prepare food ahead of time — this is an important life skill.

Also. Parents need to hold the standard at home when it comes to listening to (gasp) authority. Americans are so afraid of holding people accountable. Literally had a 9th grader look me in the eyes and blow me off when I asked her why she was leaving school (in the middle of 2nd period). Rolled her eyes and walked right out the main doors.

Parents should be ashamed of the individuals they are raising.

What if these things happen (and they do happen) on the way to school or on the way home from school?

Difference is that MCPS is not responsible for them outside the hours of school. The key word is “liability”… before and after school that liability falls to the other authority… the parent or guardian.

Are you really that brainless?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My freshman leaves at least 3x a week and I don’t care. They eat at chipotle, panera, moby dicks, or Starbucks. All better than the over packed cafeteria.

Not everyone can afford that. Your kid is fortunate.

Ok but it’s good for many kids mental health to NOT be in the cafeteria and get outside

They can do that without $10-15 lunches daily. My kids pack lunch and never have been into the cafeteria.

Yes mine sits on a disgusting dirty floor in the hallway.

MCPS having lunch for all 4 high school grades (over 2000 teens!!!) at once in ONE tiny cramped cafeteria is absolutely ridiculous. Let the teens leave campus if they want.

So many more issues happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I’m stunned that so many parents think an open lunch is the answer.

High school students are (mostly for those who are not repeaters) still minors. MCPS had a responsibility to keep these kids safe. If they leave for lunch and get hit by a car, robbed, or get themselves into any other unthinkable situation, we CANNOT keep them safe.

The only real solutions are…
1) structuring the school day so campuses with 2000+ kids have A, B or C lunch
2) teaching your kids to respect adults and the importance of fiscal and health responsibility.

I want to know how parents are ok with funding $10+ lunches every day and accepting the health concerns that come with eating fast food for every meal. Parents need to teach their kids how to prepare food ahead of time — this is an important life skill.

Also. Parents need to hold the standard at home when it comes to listening to (gasp) authority. Americans are so afraid of holding people accountable. Literally had a 9th grader look me in the eyes and blow me off when I asked her why she was leaving school (in the middle of 2nd period). Rolled her eyes and walked right out the main doors.

Parents should be ashamed of the individuals they are raising.

Even if they did that, they still can't fit all of the students in one cafeteria. They spill all out into the hallways, extra classrooms, gym, etc.. Won't that be disruptive to the kids that are in class trying to learn?

The fact of the matter is MCPS built schools and then doubled the amount of kids that go to them. Packed like sardines in crappy old buildings. I mean even newer schools like RM have a ton of portables because they are so over crowded.

There are no SRO's, limited staffing, and kids that have no respect for authority. And honestly a terrible boring curriculum that most teens don't care about. There needs to be more tech and leave for work programs. More autonomy in the curriculum, more schools built ahead of the housing that is built to keep up with the over populated schools and LESS programs like immersion, IB, etc.... and better staffing for safety until school numbers are better.