What's it really like at the Big 3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who said there are unqualified teacher coaches in the classroom?!

Quit slamming STA.

As another STA parent wrote, teachers are teachers first there. Some double up as coaches, and are very good (ie lacrosse, baseball, among others). Not all teachers coach, not all coaches teach. Some do both and I have yet to find an unqualified teacher at the school. There are some my son did not like, but not because they were unqualified!

Off the top of my head, it's laughable that the baseball coach is a Form C teacher.

Not a slam, it's the truth that STA has some coaches teaching who are unqualified. I suppose they go to admin and ask to teach.

If you don't like it don't send your kid to STA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It'll depend. How rich (or not), how powerful (or not), even how good looking (or not). That the Big 3 are populated mainly by "elite" families is an urban myth. But most are reasonably well off, reasonably powerful, and reasonably good looking. If you don't hit on 2 out of 3, you may be a "second-class" citizen. But the saving grace is that if your DC is well-liked and popular, you'll find DC, and by extension your family, will be among the "first-class," regardless of how poor, powerless, or ugly you may be.

You have got to be kidding. If you consider GDS and Sidwell in "your Big 3" you are so wrong. GDS, for one, has some really really unattractive (dare I say flat out ugly) kids and parents and some of Sidwell's aren't far behind. Ugh.

Have to agree with this based on attending HS sports games at nearly all the independent schools over the last couple of years.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the winner of the "Most Obvious Troll" Award for 2010 ....

No, I think this poster is correct. But, correct as to most kids in high school. The hormones are raging. Faces are pimpled. Hair is growing. They're butt ugly. All of them. The only ones who aren't are doped up on accutane, and they'll probably kill someone.

Yes there are some rather blah girls who do consider themselves quite appealing. Isn't that always the case where finances and status rule entrance to a group or event? Well these lovely "ladies" get access through the private school network to boys. There are girls who would be considered attractive in any venue--aka large public high schools. The fats and the crusties do have better social lives at privates than at a public.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any insight on how AA boys and other minority boys are treated at STA? I especially would appreciate insight from minority parents on this one as they would have the firsthand knowledge.

Anonymous wrote:Instead of all of this speculation about how the AA coach is being treated, why doesn't someone just ask him why he doesn't teach in the classroom? We have one side claiming that STA discriminates against the coach and won't let him teach. Then we have the other side claiming that racism couldn't possibly exist at an institution as fine as STA. However, no one will know the truth, unless someone simply asks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is utter bullcr$p. STA treats ALL faculty members well, including any AA ones. There is one 8th grade English AA man who is revered by his students. There is a 4th grade AA woman who is also greatly appreciated despite the disappointment of some to get a female teacher, since the other 2 home room 4th grade teachers are male. Those in her class love her. Plenty of other examples too.

Many other examples, but the head of the lower school would never stand for any mistreatment of faculty members. The whole previous posting about someone not getting to teach and "just" being a coach is not because the man is being mistreated. It must be like a PP said because he chose not to teach, doesn't like it, doesn't want to, does other things or some other reason. But a coach who has lasted there 20 years is unlikely to stay if he were mistreated.

So whomever wants to slam STA get lost. You do not know what you are talking about. I'd venture to guess you are unlikely to be a current family in the school as you are spouting nonsense.

The faculty diversity at STA is pretty good actually and it is a good thing to see.

There are three, AA teachers in the lower school. And, two AA teachers in the upper school and they all are highly regarded. Two of these teachers are male and neither are alumni. The ivy-league educated, AA alumni who has been employed as a coach there for over 20 years probably isn't interested in teaching at STA for good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who said there are unqualified teacher coaches in the classroom?!

Quit slamming STA.

As another STA parent wrote, teachers are teachers first there. Some double up as coaches, and are very good (ie lacrosse, baseball, among others). Not all teachers coach, not all coaches teach. Some do both and I have yet to find an unqualified teacher at the school. There are some my son did not like, but not because they were unqualified!

Off the top of my head, it's laughable that the baseball coach is a Form C teacher.

Not a slam, it's the truth that STA has some coaches teaching who are unqualified. I suppose they go to admin and ask to teach.

I beg to differ. My son had the very "coach" you slam and loved him. He was a fantastic teacher -- and only took over the 4th grade class after proving himself able as a sub. We went to Parent's Back to School Night and were initially skeptical but it was a fantastic year. He is a good teacher and has terrific rapport with the boys. My son learned math, engligh, geography (he can name every single country in the world thabks to this teacher by the way).

What makes you think it is laughable he is teaching? Because he did not go to an Ivy league college? Because he is a product of DCPS actually? Shame on you. Whatever reason you might have is dead wrong. We actually had him as a teacher. Have you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who said there are unqualified teacher coaches in the classroom?!

Quit slamming STA.

As another STA parent wrote, teachers are teachers first there. Some double up as coaches, and are very good (ie lacrosse, baseball, among others). Not all teachers coach, not all coaches teach. Some do both and I have yet to find an unqualified teacher at the school. There are some my son did not like, but not because they were unqualified!

Off the top of my head, it's laughable that the baseball coach is a Form C teacher.

Not a slam, it's the truth that STA has some coaches teaching who are unqualified. I suppose they go to admin and ask to teach.

I beg to differ. My son had the very "coach" you slam and loved him. He was a fantastic teacher -- and only took over the 4th grade class after proving himself able as a sub. We went to Parent's Back to School Night and were initially skeptical but it was a fantastic year. He is a good teacher and has terrific rapport with the boys. My son learned math, engligh, geography (he can name every single country in the world thabks to this teacher by the way).

What makes you think it is laughable he is teaching? Because he did not go to an Ivy league college? Because he is a product of DCPS actually? Shame on you. Whatever reason you might have is dead wrong. We actually had him as a teacher. Have you?

There are so many pretentious parents blabbering away on these boards and there are some similar creatures at all schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who said there are unqualified teacher coaches in the classroom?!

Quit slamming STA.

As another STA parent wrote, teachers are teachers first there. Some double up as coaches, and are very good (ie lacrosse, baseball, among others). Not all teachers coach, not all coaches teach. Some do both and I have yet to find an unqualified teacher at the school. There are some my son did not like, but not because they were unqualified!

Off the top of my head, it's laughable that the baseball coach is a Form C teacher.

Not a slam, it's the truth that STA has some coaches teaching who are unqualified. I suppose they go to admin and ask to teach.

I beg to differ. My son had the very "coach" you slam and loved him. He was a fantastic teacher -- and only took over the 4th grade class after proving himself able as a sub. We went to Parent's Back to School Night and were initially skeptical but it was a fantastic year. He is a good teacher and has terrific rapport with the boys. My son learned math, engligh, geography (he can name every single country in the world thabks to this teacher by the way).

What makes you think it is laughable he is teaching? Because he did not go to an Ivy league college? Because he is a product of DCPS actually? Shame on you. Whatever reason you might have is dead wrong. We actually had him as a teacher. Have you?

No, I don't have any problems with him being a product of DCPS or the University of Rochester. He's neither a fantastic or mediocre teacher. Shame on you for posting this bullshit.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to ask the Administrator to remove you from further posting if you don't stop claiming somehow this man is not a good teacher. Are you even a parent at STA? there is not one parent from last year from his class who wouldn't support him. FULLY. So it is not "bs" as you eloquently write. It is true. You may find it far fetched that he is a good teacher. But we at least go to the school and have had him. You are the only one posting BS and slamming a teacher who is loved!

Just because you know where he went to school doesn't mean you know anything more than that. I find your posts petty and smack of some insecurity -- what's wrong did STA reject your son? Did your son not make a baseball team where this man coaches? you definitely have a problem with him, that is totally unfair and in fact slanderous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is utter bullcr$p. STA treats ALL faculty members well, including any AA ones. There is one 8th grade English AA man who is revered by his students. There is a 4th grade AA woman who is also greatly appreciated despite the disappointment of some to get a female teacher, since the other 2 home room 4th grade teachers are male. Those in her class love her. Plenty of other examples too.

Many other examples, but the head of the lower school would never stand for any mistreatment of faculty members. The whole previous posting about someone not getting to teach and "just" being a coach is not because the man is being mistreated. It must be like a PP said because he chose not to teach, doesn't like it, doesn't want to, does other things or some other reason. But a coach who has lasted there 20 years is unlikely to stay if he were mistreated.

So whomever wants to slam STA get lost. You do not know what you are talking about. I'd venture to guess you are unlikely to be a current family in the school as you are spouting nonsense.

The faculty diversity at STA is pretty good actually and it is a good thing to see.

There are three, AA teachers in the lower school. And, two AA teachers in the upper school and they all are highly regarded. Two of these teachers are male and neither are alumni. The ivy-league educated, AA alumni who has been employed as a coach there for over 20 years probably isn't interested in teaching at STA for good reason.

...are more AA teachers in the upper school.

No, there are only two AA teachers in the upper school.

[Anonymous]

Yup, these posts just confirm how different the quote-unquote Big 3 are from each other. The StA debate that's raging here is totally alien to me as a GDS parent. (As I'm sure our internal controversies would seem equally foreign to many StA parents.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to ask the Administrator to remove you from further posting if you don't stop claiming somehow this man is not a good teacher. Are you even a parent at STA? there is not one parent from last year from his class who wouldn't support him. FULLY. So it is not "bs" as you eloquently write. It is true. You may find it far fetched that he is a good teacher. But we at least go to the school and have had him. You are the only one posting BS and slamming a teacher who is loved!

Just because you know where he went to school doesn't mean you know anything more than that. I find your posts petty and smack of some insecurity -- what's wrong did STA reject your son? Did your son not make a baseball team where this man coaches? you definitely have a problem with him, that is totally unfair and in fact slanderous.

This is a discussion board. I absolutely do not agree with you. You can attack my post all you want, but that's not going to change my opinion.

[Anonymous]

This is not an internal debate! This some outsider "laughing" at one of our STA teachers. This could easily happen at GDS or Sidwell too, where an outsider claims a teacher is unqualified...

[Anonymous]

OK then, well can you confirm that your son has ever had this teacher? If not, shut up!

[Anonymous]

Gee, I can't wait to get to our "Big 3" school in the fall!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gee, I can't wait to get to our "Big 3" school in the fall!

LOL. Stay away from the 13:41 wacko types who wants everyone to conform to her tastes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup, these posts just confirm how different the quote-unquote Big 3 are from each other. The StA debate that's raging here is totally alien to me as a GDS parent. (As I'm sure our internal controversies would seem equally foreign to many StA parents.)

I do not think this is an "internal" debate among STA parents. Someone who is not a STA parent is trying to stir the pot by maligning a STA teacher-coach in this forum, and others (perhaps STA parents?) are defending the teacher-coach in this forum. As a STA parent, I have not heard discussion on this topic at STA.