Latin v. BASIS

[Anonymous]

Everyone who is complaining about work load and balance need only look at the good schools in MoCo. It is very normal for kids to take AP Calc A/B or even B/C during junior year. The course load BASIS is suggesting sounds nearly identical to Churchill, Wootton, TJ and Whitman feeder schools. Plus, those kids play sports, are active in clubs and have a social life, too. However, if you and your spouse were unable to complete a course load like this you might well have difficulty imagining that your child could do it. With a good system and excellent teachers they can.

[Anonymous]

I got top scores on AP exams that I took outside of class in HS. That's how my HS did it--we had honors classes and they taught us how to think; never 'taught to the test'. If we wanted to take the APs they offered a one afternoon tutorial to familiarize us with the format. HS was bliss. Our classes were interesting and exciting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:how is it possible that parents will decide a school schedule?

Ultimately, they won't. However, when the school is in a position to actively have to try to court families, it will make promises on which it later cannot deliver. Right now, they're still promising that kids who are coming from ES where some 50% can't even read at grade level are going to magically be doing HS level coursework.

You can promise anything you want when you don't have an actual track-record of achievement. (No, pointing to success with the children of UofA professors in Tucson does not count. I will believe it when I see success with the children from housing projects in Wards 7 & 8.)

[Anonymous]

Yes 1309. Even school like Latin (which seems to have a much more reasonable curriculum) isn't serving many children who are on a Free Lunch.

This school will likely be 80% or more affluent children of DC's highly educated elite and it's leaders and parents will prattle on endlessly about how they are serving "urban kids." I'm already sick of this one and it hasn't even opened yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes 1309. Even school like Latin (which seems to have a much more reasonable curriculum) isn't serving many children who are on a Free Lunch.

This school will likely be 80% or more affluent children of DC's highly educated elite and it's leaders and parents will prattle on endlessly about how they are serving "urban kids." I'm already sick of this one and it hasn't even opened yet.

Because middle class and lower middle class kids of all hues (like many at Latin) aren't entitled to a free and quality public education in their home city. Forgot.

[Anonymous]

Nope 14:16, they are entitled.

Let's just call these school for what they are. I'm sick of people pretending (Mark Lerner Latin BOD member for instance) that Latin deals with the population that most public schools take on.

These are the snowflake academies. Period.

[Anonymous]

15:26- though I don't necessarily know anything about Latin, I do love the term "snowflake academies". Public schools should be for all kids. Whether is is policies that weed out kids or curriculum that only a select few can do well with the undercurrent needs to stop. We need to stop endorsing the "private school on the public dime" mentality. Niche market schools are fine, but it should theoretically be possible for any type of child to get the support he or she needs to do well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope 14:16, they are entitled.

Let's just call these school for what they are. I'm sick of people pretending (Mark Lerner Latin BOD member for instance) that Latin deals with the population that most public schools take on.

These are the snowflake academies. Period.

NP here. And if they don't take on the typical DC public school population (you can't say most public schools because MD/VA has a different population pool)--so what? I read these posts and can't figure out what is your point/agenda or anyone on DCUM that gets upset certain schools in the district? Do you want the school to close? Should BASIS and Latin not exist? Are you upset about charters, the existence of Deal or other high performing schools? TJ exists in VA as a public institution--is it unfair that many kids can't get in or cut it? Is it the pretending part only? Please explain, I'm serious. I have casually conversed with parents on the playground about public education in DC and I am amazed how much of a mine field the topic is. Parents pissed because I send my child to a well-regard charter? WTF, when my family moved here I was happy that we had a choice via the lottery system. We came from NYC which is a whole other system and probably more unfair because your child has to live in a desired school district or test into good public schools. I didn't get pissed and rant on boards that the existence of Stuyvesant or any such public school was unfair, not serving the general population. I believe that all kids should get an education that is not sub-par, but there are kids (of all backgrounds) that would benefit from schools that are more challenging/prepare them for competitive colleges/universities.

[Anonymous]

Public schools should be for all kids. Whether is is policies that weed out kids or curriculum that only a select few can do well with the undercurrent needs to stop. We need to stop endorsing the "private school on the public dime" mentality. Niche market schools are fine, but it should theoretically be possible for any type of child to get the support he or she needs to do well.

I could not agree more!

Now, I am just trying to figure out where to send my milky white, Irish-American middle class offspring. There are so many Afro-centric choices to choose from (as stated right there in their mission), not to mention all the Preps and KIPPs and zips and whatever the hell institutions overtly dedicated to serving poor kids.

Which will be the best fit for little Caitlin Colleen O'Riordan? Wait, what, "none" ?!? Why, that's not fair! DC public schools should be for all kids, not just certain kids!

[Anonymous]

I believe that all kids should get an education that is not sub-par, but there are kids (of all backgrounds) that would benefit from schools that are more challenging/prepare them for competitive colleges/universities.

Dear former NYC mom,

If you are going to continue to live in Formerly Chocolate City, which is now Creme Caramel con Leche City, you are going to need to understand something. There is a sizable minority here that passionately believes if one boat is sinking, then all boats must sink.

Their numbers are inexorably dwindling, but they are definitely still around. If they are around, it's best to just apologize early and often and do not -- under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES -- admit that you like using either dog parks or bike lanes.

[Anonymous]

This is a good point. I was just reading about Roots Charter school that has an explicitly Afro centric curriculum. Of course it is open to everyone, but draws from a very specific pool of applicants. Does that also enrage the above posters? Or is that ok? I would argue that the classical curriculum at Latin actually serves a significantly larger interest pool than Roots. And for sure a more racially diverse population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:26- though I don't necessarily know anything about Latin, I do love the term "snowflake academies". Public schools should be for all kids. Whether is is policies that weed out kids or curriculum that only a select few can do well with the undercurrent needs to stop. We need to stop endorsing the "private school on the public dime" mentality. Niche market schools are fine, but it should theoretically be possible for any type of child to get the support he or she needs to do well.

I don't get it. The kids who work ridiculously hard to keep up with the rigorous curriculum at schools like Latin and even more at BASIS are being labeled frail "snowflakes" while lazy, do nothing, could care less kids who don't even try to do well at minimum standards are, what? More hardy and deserving in some way? Please change your labeling if not your attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:26- though I don't necessarily know anything about Latin, I do love the term "snowflake academies". Public schools should be for all kids. Whether is is policies that weed out kids or curriculum that only a select few can do well with the undercurrent needs to stop. We need to stop endorsing the "private school on the public dime" mentality. Niche market schools are fine, but it should theoretically be possible for any type of child to get the support he or she needs to do well.

I don't get it. The kids who work ridiculously hard to keep up with the rigorous curriculum at schools like Latin and even more at BASIS are being labeled frail "snowflakes" while lazy, do nothing, could care less kids who don't even try to do well at minimum standards are, what? More hardy and deserving in some way? Please change your labeling if not your attitude.

I don't get it either. What on earth is wrong with offering, at one or even a handful of DC schools, "a curriculum that only a select few can do well with?" Why is it so wrong for ANY school in the District to offer a challenging curriculum, just because not every kid in the District can do the curriculum?

Nor is it "policies to weed out kids." Obviously Latin operates by lottery, and all kids have identical chances of getting in. But more important, when my kid was at Latin we saw the school knocking itself out with counseling, tutoring etc. to retain kids who were struggling. Also they offer different tracks in some subjects, so kids who arrive less prepared can still do well on their particular track.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious, how can Latin only have 10% FARMS if they knock themselves out retaining struggling kids?

If the average Public Charter school is 70% FARMS why do the schools often mentioned on these boards have very, very different numbers of low income students?

Surely it has to be more than the luck of the lottery, give that the overall pool of public school students in the District are, by any definition, low income.

[Anonymous]

No- I think I missed the mark with what I was saying, or maybe my point is poorly developed. Roots is more "snowflake" than BASIS in my opinion. There would be no hope for my hard working white kid with ADHD there. A niche market in my mind is immersion or Montessori or something like that. But even those have to have plans in place to give all different kinds a chance at success.