Hardy middle school .... question about the student racial make-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The point PP was making was that parents should be given a choice where language instruction goes in a country with one national language, English. In Canada, the government reasonably requires almost all the kids to study French in government schools.

If you want Spanish for your children in public school all the way up, fantastic! Go for it! If you prefer that your children focus on learning a different language also taught at the AP and International Baccalaureate levels, just as good!

WotP, in the JKLM schools and at Deal, Hardy and Wilson, parents are given a choice of language, or no language in elementary school. EotP, DCPS generally forces all the kids to study a single language, usually Spanish, all the way from PreS3.

One city, two sets of rules.

The US DOES NOT HAVE a "national language." PP, you keep posting that in threads that talk about Asian students, and it keeps being wrong.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States#Official_language_status

Note that Spanish is spoken by 35 million people in the US (approximately 12% of the population), making us the 5th largest Spanish-speaking country. In Canada, 7.2 million people speak French, or 20% of the population. You claim that the US case is different than Canada, apparently because at 20% requiring Spanish makes sense, but at 11% it doesn't. Curious where you think the line is --- 19%? 15%? 12%?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point PP was making was that parents should be given a choice where language instruction goes in a country with one national language, English. In Canada, the government reasonably requires almost all the kids to study French in government schools.

If you want Spanish for your children in public school all the way up, fantastic! Go for it! If you prefer that your children focus on learning a different language also taught at the AP and International Baccalaureate levels, just as good!

WotP, in the JKLM schools and at Deal, Hardy and Wilson, parents are given a choice of language, or no language in elementary school. EotP, DCPS generally forces all the kids to study a single language, usually Spanish, all the way from PreS3.

One city, two sets of rules.

The US DOES NOT HAVE a "national language." PP, you keep posting that in threads that talk about Asian students, and it keeps being wrong.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States#Official_language_status

Note that Spanish is spoken by 35 million people in the US (approximately 12% of the population), making us the 5th largest Spanish-speaking country. In Canada, 7.2 million people speak French, or 20% of the population. You claim that the US case is different than Canada, apparently because at 20% requiring Spanish makes sense, but at 11% it doesn't. Curious where you think the line is --- 19%? 15%? 12%?

That's actually no longer true. They all must do a language in ES now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point PP was making was that parents should be given a choice where language instruction goes in a country with one national language, English. In Canada, the government reasonably requires almost all the kids to study French in government schools.

If you want Spanish for your children in public school all the way up, fantastic! Go for it! If you prefer that your children focus on learning a different language also taught at the AP and International Baccalaureate levels, just as good!

WotP, in the JKLM schools and at Deal, Hardy and Wilson, parents are given a choice of language, or no language in elementary school. EotP, DCPS generally forces all the kids to study a single language, usually Spanish, all the way from PreS3.

One city, two sets of rules.

NP, there's a kernel of truth to this argument.

Our IB MS, Stuart Hobson, doesn't offer nearly the challenge or flexibility that Hardy and Deal do. We've checked into both for our 4th grader and can't see ourselves enrolling at SH. Waaay too much paternalism in the mix in that building.

From where I sit, DCPS intransigence is an SES and geography issue, not a race issue. They can't get away with it WotP like they can EotP. Anybody who's enrolled in schools in both swathes of the city probably know what I'm talking about.

There is a fundamental difference between academic differentiation ("challenge and flexibility") and free choice of curriculum (e.g. refusing instruction in a foreign language that is an essential part of American culture). It's really odd how these things get conflated by some people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point PP was making was that parents should be given a choice where language instruction goes in a country with one national language, English. In Canada, the government reasonably requires almost all the kids to study French in government schools.

If you want Spanish for your children in public school all the way up, fantastic! Go for it! If you prefer that your children focus on learning a different language also taught at the AP and International Baccalaureate levels, just as good!

WotP, in the JKLM schools and at Deal, Hardy and Wilson, parents are given a choice of language, or no language in elementary school. EotP, DCPS generally forces all the kids to study a single language, usually Spanish, all the way from PreS3.

One city, two sets of rules.

NP, there's a kernel of truth to this argument.

Our IB MS, Stuart Hobson, doesn't offer nearly the challenge or flexibility that Hardy and Deal do. We've checked into both for our 4th grader and can't see ourselves enrolling at SH. Waaay too much paternalism in the mix in that building.

From where I sit, DCPS intransigence is an SES and geography issue, not a race issue. They can't get away with it WotP like they can EotP. Anybody who's enrolled in schools in both swathes of the city probably know what I'm talking about.

There is a fundamental difference between academic differentiation ("challenge and flexibility") and free choice of curriculum (e.g. refusing instruction in a foreign language that is an essential part of American culture). It's really odd how these things get conflated by some people.

The "Spanish" taught in our JKLM elem is one semester and is little more than a joke. The school is excellent overall, but it's not really much real language instruction. How many schools across the whole country, even in affluent areas really offer such a broad range of languages even in high school, let alone middle school.

P.S. even in Montgomery County, the highest % of Asian heritage kids is around 12%, so Hardy's #s are pretty up there. The school's overall #s are going to also be very different next year and year after - the growing #s from the feeder schools and Eaton switch over are a real change at a small school.

[Anonymous]

I agree, Hardy is a stronger public MS program than any in MoCo, and Fairfax for that matter! Why even the test in program my sister sends her children to at Eastern MS in Silver Spring admitting in the single digits isn't half as good!

Really, we can do without all those selfish, entitled Asian parents who want their kids to focus on learning the tough Asian languages the US needs to bolster its economic competitiveness. Who needs bilingual Asian immigrants in our society anyway? They don't play by the rules so let's not let anymore in.

What's more, AA kids NEVER pick on Asian kids anywhere in the country, let alone in this Metro area. Shame on anybody who claims they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point PP was making was that parents should be given a choice where language instruction goes in a country with one national language, English. In Canada, the government reasonably requires almost all the kids to study French in government schools.

If you want Spanish for your children in public school all the way up, fantastic! Go for it! If you prefer that your children focus on learning a different language also taught at the AP and International Baccalaureate levels, just as good!

WotP, in the JKLM schools and at Deal, Hardy and Wilson, parents are given a choice of language, or no language in elementary school. EotP, DCPS generally forces all the kids to study a single language, usually Spanish, all the way from PreS3.

One city, two sets of rules.

NP, there's a kernel of truth to this argument.

Our IB MS, Stuart Hobson, doesn't offer nearly the challenge or flexibility that Hardy and Deal do. We've checked into both for our 4th grader and can't see ourselves enrolling at SH. Waaay too much paternalism in the mix in that building.

From where I sit, DCPS intransigence is an SES and geography issue, not a race issue. They can't get away with it WotP like they can EotP. Anybody who's enrolled in schools in both swathes of the city probably know what I'm talking about.

There is a fundamental difference between academic differentiation ("challenge and flexibility") and free choice of curriculum (e.g. refusing instruction in a foreign language that is an essential part of American culture). It's really odd how these things get conflated by some people.

The "Spanish" taught in our JKLM elem is one semester and is little more than a joke. The school is excellent overall, but it's not really much real language instruction. How many schools across the whole country, even in affluent areas really offer such a broad range of languages even in high school, let alone middle school.

P.S. even in Montgomery County, the highest % of Asian heritage kids is around 12%, so Hardy's #s are pretty up there. The school's overall #s are going to also be very different next year and year after - the growing #s from the feeder schools and Eaton switch over are a real change at a small school.

Fair point, but not offering a range of languages isn't a problem if the classes on offer are voluntary. DCPS recently made them mandatory all the way from preschool to 8th grade, which I consider nanny state BS.

In MoCo, public school students are no longer required to take language classes at any stage. What they're required to do is pass a proficiency test in a language taught at AP to earn a HS diploma. Smart, flexible, fair policy DCPS could learn from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree, Hardy is a stronger public MS program than any in MoCo, and Fairfax for that matter! Why even the test in program my sister sends her children to at Eastern MS in Silver Spring admitting in the single digits isn't half as good!

Really, we can do without all those selfish, entitled Asian parents who want their kids to focus on learning the tough Asian languages the US needs to bolster its economic competitiveness. Who needs bilingual Asian immigrants in our society anyway? They don't play by the rules so let's not let anymore in.

What's more, AA kids NEVER pick on Asian kids anywhere in the country, let alone in this Metro area. Shame on anybody who claims they do.

I hate it when people try to write satirical posts but are really terrible at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The point PP was making was that parents should be given a choice where language instruction goes in a country with one national language, English. In Canada, the government reasonably requires almost all the kids to study French in government schools.

If you want Spanish for your children in public school all the way up, fantastic! Go for it! If you prefer that your children focus on learning a different language also taught at the AP and International Baccalaureate levels, just as good!

WotP, in the JKLM schools and at Deal, Hardy and Wilson, parents are given a choice of language, or no language in elementary school. EotP, DCPS generally forces all the kids to study a single language, usually Spanish, all the way from PreS3.

One city, two sets of rules.

NP, there's a kernel of truth to this argument.

Our IB MS, Stuart Hobson, doesn't offer nearly the challenge or flexibility that Hardy and Deal do. We've checked into both for our 4th grader and can't see ourselves enrolling at SH. Waaay too much paternalism in the mix in that building.

From where I sit, DCPS intransigence is an SES and geography issue, not a race issue. They can't get away with it WotP like they can EotP. Anybody who's enrolled in schools in both swathes of the city probably know what I'm talking about.

There is a fundamental difference between academic differentiation ("challenge and flexibility") and free choice of curriculum (e.g. refusing instruction in a foreign language that is an essential part of American culture). It's really odd how these things get conflated by some people.

The "Spanish" taught in our JKLM elem is one semester and is little more than a joke. The school is excellent overall, but it's not really much real language instruction. How many schools across the whole country, even in affluent areas really offer such a broad range of languages even in high school, let alone middle school.

P.S. even in Montgomery County, the highest % of Asian heritage kids is around 12%, so Hardy's #s are pretty up there. The school's overall #s are going to also be very different next year and year after - the growing #s from the feeder schools and Eaton switch over are a real change at a small school.

Fair point, but not offering a range of languages isn't a problem if the classes on offer are voluntary. DCPS recently made them mandatory all the way from preschool to 8th grade, which I consider nanny state BS.

In MoCo, public school students are no longer required to take language classes at any stage. What they're required to do is pass a proficiency test in a language taught at AP to earn a HS diploma. Smart, flexible, fair policy DCPS could learn from.

OSSE is currently undergoing a process to revise DC's graduation requirements. They are the ones that require 2 credits of world language to graduate, not DCPS -- although DCPS does require schools to offer at least one of 7 languages (American Sign Language, Arabic, French, Italian, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish).

The PP who wants to emulate MoCo can get involved in that process and advocate for more flexibility / testing out / proving proficiency through testing. https://sboe.dc.gov/gradreqs

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this information and a constructive post.

Not getting my hopes up from the system that recently moved to force gimmicky, ineffectual language instruction on elementary school students across the board but worth a shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly, they don't want to hear it.

As an Asian immigrant who was often called "chink" growing up by tough AA kids in my urban public schools (and not by tough Latino or white kids), I believe it.

My kid reported the same dynamic towards Asians at out wotp school.