Documentary on DC METROPOLITAN Airing Tonight on PBS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:09:02, you're drinking too early in the morning. Have you lost your internet/cable access. What made you think that DCMET was a charter school?

It was a documentary that was lacking documentation. I cringed at the school administrators and faculty, they came across as one step above inept.

I know that in life you are only playing with the cards that are dealt but enough already with the pity party.

PP, I could not disagree more with this takeaway. I thought the school administration and faculty came across as serious, capable, caring and dedicated to their students. What is heartbreaking is how limited their impact is when the tide of poverty, poor family structure and instability is running against them.

I agree. I think they were the best part of that school. They seemed to go above and beyond at every turn. And the way they all pitched in to literally create a prom for those kids by hand? The custodians, EVERYBODY put in the time and labor. That was a tear jerker.

I think PP is from Central office. That documentary could be considered an indictment of the ineptitude of the Chancellor and her minions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I cringed at the school administrators and faculty, they came across as one step above inept.

Really? We must not have been watching the same documentary. What is a H'S teacher supposed to do with students who arrive for 9th grade with barely functional literacy and math skills and who, in many cases, have no one capable of ensuring their attendance. These teachers are the front line for deep societal and socioeconomic issues. Parents using drugs, family members with HIV, friends and siblings being murdered, the fact that 30 of 33 were able to graduate and have the opportunity to attend college is nothing short of miraculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I cringed at the school administrators and faculty, they came across as one step above inept.

Really? We must not have been watching the same documentary. What is a H'S teacher supposed to do with students who arrive for 9th grade with barely functional literacy and math skills and who, in many cases, have no one capable of ensuring their attendance. These teachers are the front line for deep societal and socioeconomic issues. Parents using drugs, family members with HIV, friends and siblings being murdered, the fact that 30 of 33 were able to graduate and have the opportunity to attend college is nothing short of miraculous.

And, where did those 9th graders with barely functional literacy and math skills come from? A dysfunctional DCPS for K-8 that completely failed them.

[Anonymous]

And, where did those 9th graders with barely functional literacy and math skills come from? A dysfunctional DCPS for K-8 that completely failed them.


Do you not get that DC Met is the high school of last resort? These kids have been through many schools, possibly schools with okay to decent proficiency levels for a good swath of their populations. The reason these kids come into 9th barely functional is much more due to their out of school circumstances than the K-8 schools (and other high schools) they have churned through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I cringed at the school administrators and faculty, they came across as one step above inept.

Really? We must not have been watching the same documentary. What is a H'S teacher supposed to do with students who arrive for 9th grade with barely functional literacy and math skills and who, in many cases, have no one capable of ensuring their attendance. These teachers are the front line for deep societal and socioeconomic issues. Parents using drugs, family members with HIV, friends and siblings being murdered, the fact that 30 of 33 were able to graduate and have the opportunity to attend college is nothing short of miraculous.

And, where did those 9th graders with barely functional literacy and math skills come from? A dysfunctional DCPS for K-8 that completely failed them.

I agree. However, that's not an indictment of the capable, caring and hardworking professionals we saw in that documentary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I cringed at the school administrators and faculty, they came across as one step above inept.

Really? We must not have been watching the same documentary. What is a H'S teacher supposed to do with students who arrive for 9th grade with barely functional literacy and math skills and who, in many cases, have no one capable of ensuring their attendance. These teachers are the front line for deep societal and socioeconomic issues. Parents using drugs, family members with HIV, friends and siblings being murdered, the fact that 30 of 33 were able to graduate and have the opportunity to attend college is nothing short of miraculous.

I completely agree - this was absolutely inspiring. All 30 were actually accepted into college too, and while the reality is that most will not be able to complete college - it is a complete miracle that DC MET got them even thinking about it and I am sure that it has changed the paths of their lives for the better. These kids have a chance now, whereas before it was unsure whether or not they would even make it through high school. I was so disappointed that they let Minor go, but kudos to New York for picking up a good person - not everyone knows how to help students in inner city schools, her heart and skills are in the right place. I also found the funding structure unbelievably disheartening, this school clearly needs more funding than a school that does not struggle with truancy, yet their funds are taken away and students no longer benefit from smaller class sizes and a class that is good for the soul like music - these kids need something that is good for their souls. The kids that had lost their moms and were on their own...had me in tears...my family is so lucky to have what we do.

[Anonymous]

But is there anyone willing to stand up to Kaya and her twisted priorities on behalf of the thoudsands of DC students who continue to be failed by a dysfunctional system ravaged by budget cuts and NCLB? Just take a look at proficience rstes at failing elementary schools. Are those kids going to find themselves any better off in another seven to ten years? At least maybe a dialogue has been started.

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in knowing the test scores for 2012 for these high schoolers. Did the administrator and teachers' efforts produce the increases they targeted? If so, isn't it a shame that they pink-slipped Ms. Minor?!?!?!?!

[Anonymous]

What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

Thanks, Kaya.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

WOW! So you were able to determine this by watching an entire year's worth of work that was edited down to 4 hours? Much less than 4 if you consider the amount of time that was focused on other things besides the admin.

Ms. Minor may not be the cat's meow (although I disagree with that based on what I saw), but she was DAMN GOOD for that school and those kids! An entire year shrunk down into 4 hours allowed me to see that much. If she did nothing else all year but what was shown in the video, she was damned good. And I don't think her staff would've gone on the mat for her the way they did if that was not the case. They were speaking to the Superintendent of Instruction--TO HIS FACE!!!! This was not water cooler venting. Those people know better than anybody the obviously inept and spiteful leaders from Central office they're dealing with. Still, they BOLDLY argued his move, knowing full well he knew their names, could get their names, or even offered their names.

And who's to say they'll flunk out in the first semester? Tiara and Raven Q both seem like mature, promising young ladies who can make the cut. Furthermore, MET has been around for over a decade. They do a great job of tracking their graduates and have someone on staff to do just that. They can boast of Ivy grads. I know this FOR FACT. MET DC is relatively knew (as this was the 1st graduating class), but the MET as a charter org has a great track record with their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

Thanks, Kaya.

Exactly! I was thinking the same thing.

"Ms. Minor's not the cat meow" sounds just like the type of catty jealousy that would make a 500 pound manly girl decide to fire an obviously hardworking, well-loved school leader.

What was it? The fact that she was featured in a documentary, and although Rhee was followed by cameras no one seems interested in you, Kaya?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

Thanks, Kaya.

Exactly! I was thinking the same thing.

"Ms. Minor's not the cat meow" sounds just like the type of catty jealousy that would make a 500 pound manly girl decide to fire an obviously hardworking, well-loved school leader.

What was it? The fact that she was featured in a documentary, and although Rhee was followed by cameras no one seems interested in you, Kaya?

This made me LOL - but I don't envy Kaya's position either. There are a lot of failing teachers and administrators that should go, unfortunately she did a crappy job of finding staff that would accurately figure out who. I bet she didn't even really know who Minor was or what she did, if it weren't for this movie she probably wouldn't have been able to identify which DC school she worked for.

She's got a tough job...but she's doing a bad job at it too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

WOW! So you were able to determine this by watching an entire year's worth of work that was edited down to 4 hours? Much less than 4 if you consider the amount of time that was focused on other things besides the admin.

Ms. Minor may not be the cat's meow (although I disagree with that based on what I saw), but she was DAMN GOOD for that school and those kids! An entire year shrunk down into 4 hours allowed me to see that much. If she did nothing else all year but what was shown in the video, she was damned good. And I don't think her staff would've gone on the mat for her the way they did if that was not the case. They were speaking to the Superintendent of Instruction--TO HIS FACE!!!! This was not water cooler venting. Those people know better than anybody the obviously inept and spiteful leaders from Central office they're dealing with. Still, they BOLDLY argued his move, knowing full well he knew their names, could get their names, or even offered their names.

And who's to say they'll flunk out in the first semester? Tiara and Raven Q both seem like mature, promising young ladies who can make the cut. Furthermore, MET has been around for over a decade. They do a great job of tracking their graduates and have someone on staff to do just that. They can boast of Ivy grads. I know this FOR FACT. MET DC is relatively knew (as this was the 1st graduating class), but the MET as a charter org has a great track record with their kids.

[b]They were speaking to the Superintendent of Instruction--TO HIS FACE!!!! This was not water cooler venting.


That was so true. They knew that the Superintendent could have any of those teachers terminated for speaking out. There are always going to be people that have a high opinion of themselves or better yet, think their shit don't stink. Some parents are soooo concerned about their kids having a Algebra class with an OOB student in a trailer. While the kids at DC MET are worried about "making it" to school only a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And, where did those 9th graders with barely functional literacy and math skills come from? A dysfunctional DCPS for K-8 that completely failed them.


Do you not get that DC Met is the high school of last resort? These kids have been through many schools, possibly schools with okay to decent proficiency levels for a good swath of their populations. The reason these kids come into 9th barely functional is much more due to their out of school circumstances than the K-8 schools (and other high schools) they have churned through.

And somehow magically DC Metropolitan is going to overcome the problems outside the school? No, that's the same as it was k-8. And the problems existed all through k-8 but were never addressed, never dealt with - year after year going by with everyone just sweeping it under the carpet and nobody dealing with it. That's the huge failure of DCPS right there - that's precisely the thing that needs to be talked about, but all we hear here is the entrenched DCPS culture patting itself on the back and congratulating itself when in fact they failed those kids k-8. Unbelievable.