Time for a mutiny yet? MCPS = crummy math, no grammar, poor writing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So when shall we rise up and launch a mutiny? None of us were subjected to a subpar education, so why are we politely going along with the mcps crazy train to mediocrity instead of demanding change?

We shouldn't have to supplement. The schools should be able to equip students for success.

When you have this many poor illegal immigrants, you teach to the lowest common denominator.

Really naive, ignorant, uneducated, and hateful comment.

But..... the truth

Nope, not at all. There is absolutely no proof that MCPS is teaching to the "lowest common denominator" as you call it.
If your child is in a class with a bunch of non English speaking students and is not being given the education according to his or her abilities, then you need to march over to the Principal's office and demand something, not DCUM. THis has not been our experience at MCPS nor has it been the experience of many other parents that I personally know in the system.
Stop spreading false information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can't view education as being confined to school. You just can't. Or your kids will suffer. I get that there are things you want to improve in the County schools. But I think you need to let go of not supplementing.

Op here.

Here's the thing: I went to private school (Catholic), and I received an excellent education. My parents didn't supplement...because they didn't need to.

We all know that 2.0 is crummy. The thread on former mcps students being so far behind when they move to other districts is appalling. The 2.0 defenders say that moving slowly and forcing kids to jump through multiple steps is better for them, but that simply isn't true. When will they admit their investment in 2.0 was a mistake?

The fact that parents must supplement is proof positive that mcps is subpar.

How is your tutoring business these days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, that's the line they're feeding us. But is it true? Is the new way actually better?

Kids need to learn how to spell. They should not rely on spell check. Kids need to learn grammar. Grammar is the critical foundation for oral and written expression.

Yes. Definitely for math.

At work I deal with a situation where members of the public think they're correctly following the directions on how to calculate a number, but they end up with a mathematically nonsensical result. Probably most of them were taught math as I was -- you do steps 1, 2, and 3, you get the answer, you're done. In contrast, my C2.0 kid in elementary school got a lot of emphasis on "does this answer make sense?".

You never learned that in math class growing up? I'm 40 and this was part of the process. We also were encouraged to come up with creative ways to solve problems, in algebra / trig / calculus at least. This was in PA in the 90s.
A 'sanity check' is not novel or new.

[Anonymous]

I don't necessarily think 'supplementing' is new. My parents supplemented my education by sending us to a learning center, and we also had some creative games we were told to play. I remember those games, not much fun, but clearly focused on reinforcing certain concepts.

[Anonymous]

No. We need a parade. A big military parade to scare other countries who are doing better than us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, that's the line they're feeding us. But is it true? Is the new way actually better?

Kids need to learn how to spell. They should not rely on spell check. Kids need to learn grammar. Grammar is the critical foundation for oral and written expression.

Yes. Definitely for math.

At work I deal with a situation where members of the public think they're correctly following the directions on how to calculate a number, but they end up with a mathematically nonsensical result. Probably most of them were taught math as I was -- you do steps 1, 2, and 3, you get the answer, you're done. In contrast, my C2.0 kid in elementary school got a lot of emphasis on "does this answer make sense?".

You never learned that in math class growing up? I'm 40 and this was part of the process. We also were encouraged to come up with creative ways to solve problems, in algebra / trig / calculus at least. This was in PA in the 90s.
A 'sanity check' is not novel or new.

Good for you. I learned math in the 70s and 80s. It wasn't part of the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, that's the line they're feeding us. But is it true? Is the new way actually better?

Kids need to learn how to spell. They should not rely on spell check. Kids need to learn grammar. Grammar is the critical foundation for oral and written expression.

Yes. Definitely for math.

At work I deal with a situation where members of the public think they're correctly following the directions on how to calculate a number, but they end up with a mathematically nonsensical result. Probably most of them were taught math as I was -- you do steps 1, 2, and 3, you get the answer, you're done. In contrast, my C2.0 kid in elementary school got a lot of emphasis on "does this answer make sense?".

sanity check your work. BFD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So when shall we rise up and launch a mutiny? None of us were subjected to a subpar education, so why are we politely going along with the mcps crazy train to mediocrity instead of demanding change?

We shouldn't have to supplement. The schools should be able to equip students for success.

When you have this many poor illegal immigrants, you teach to the lowest common denominator.

Really naive, ignorant, uneducated, and hateful comment.

But..... the truth

Nope, not at all. There is absolutely no proof that MCPS is teaching to the "lowest common denominator" as you call it.
If your child is in a class with a bunch of non English speaking students and is not being given the education according to his or her abilities, then you need to march over to the Principal's office and demand something, not DCUM. THis has not been our experience at MCPS nor has it been the experience of many other parents that I personally know in the system.
Stop spreading false information.

yeah!

Get in line in the Principals office!

So s/he can tell you that her/his hands are tied because our gigantic county has a C2.0 that teaches to proficiency across the subpar, par and above par students. Proficiency is where it's at. If you want more, go test and signup and luck out for a magnet program that can maybe only serve 0.5% of the student population regardless of how many outperformers there are. Oh, and it's 60-90 minute sub ride away, One-way. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, that's the line they're feeding us. But is it true? Is the new way actually better?

Kids need to learn how to spell. They should not rely on spell check. Kids need to learn grammar. Grammar is the critical foundation for oral and written expression.

Yes. Definitely for math.

At work I deal with a situation where members of the public think they're correctly following the directions on how to calculate a number, but they end up with a mathematically nonsensical result. Probably most of them were taught math as I was -- you do steps 1, 2, and 3, you get the answer, you're done. In contrast, my C2.0 kid in elementary school got a lot of emphasis on "does this answer make sense?".

You never learned that in math class growing up? I'm 40 and this was part of the process. We also were encouraged to come up with creative ways to solve problems, in algebra / trig / calculus at least. This was in PA in the 90s.
A 'sanity check' is not novel or new.

Good for you. I learned math in the 70s and 80s. It wasn't part of the process.

NP. And yet, you can correct the public on this calculation. How did that come about? And the fact that your kid doesn't fall into this trap, why are you convinced it's the curriculum? Sounds like in your case the curriculum is preaching to the choir. Are you certain it's working for all the kids. Anyway, it sounds like you ES age kids, there's still a long way to go. -Another student of the 80s who has learned number sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NP. And yet, you can correct the public on this calculation. How did that come about? And the fact that your kid doesn't fall into this trap, why are you convinced it's the curriculum? Sounds like in your case the curriculum is preaching to the choir. Are you certain it's working for all the kids. Anyway, it sounds like you ES age kids, there's still a long way to go. -Another student of the 80s who has learned number sense.

PP, I offered my experience, and you pooh-poohed it. If you are determined to hate the curriculum and consider it a worsening rather than an improvement, I can't stop you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will mutiny on the "snow days"...

When MCPS closed after Hurricane Isabel, did you also complain because it's supposed to be a "snow day" but there wasn't any snow?

Yes we should have sent them to school's without electricity. Your example is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So when shall we rise up and launch a mutiny? None of us were subjected to a subpar education, so why are we politely going along with the mcps crazy train to mediocrity instead of demanding change?

We shouldn't have to supplement. The schools should be able to equip students for success.

When you have this many poor illegal immigrants, you teach to the lowest common denominator.

Really naive, ignorant, uneducated, and hateful comment.

But..... the truth

Nope, not at all. There is absolutely no proof that MCPS is teaching to the "lowest common denominator" as you call it.
If your child is in a class with a bunch of non English speaking students and is not being given the education according to his or her abilities, then you need to march over to the Principal's office and demand something, not DCUM. THis has not been our experience at MCPS nor has it been the experience of many other parents that I personally know in the system.
Stop spreading false information.

yeah!

Get in line in the Principals office!

So s/he can tell you that her/his hands are tied because our gigantic county has a C2.0 that teaches to proficiency across the subpar, par and above par students. Proficiency is where it's at. If you want more, go test and signup and luck out for a magnet program that can maybe only serve 0.5% of the student population regardless of how many outperformers there are. Oh, and it's 60-90 minute sub ride away, One-way. Enjoy!

Um.. so they don't differentiate in your school? Is your kid not in the appropriate reading group or math group? Or is everyone in the same group all day long reading at the "lowest common denominator" level? Name your school please.

[Anonymous]

Pyle. Did HGC for 4th and 5th grade in chevy chase. No differentiation, now prides itself on "the miracles of stratifying 1/3 subpar, 1/3 avg, and 1/3 top students into each class in order to maximize average outcome."

[Anonymous]

Just move to Fairfax County

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pyle. Did HGC for 4th and 5th grade in chevy chase. No differentiation, now prides itself on "the miracles of stratifying 1/3 subpar, 1/3 avg, and 1/3 top students into each class in order to maximize average outcome."

Oh my God. So your kids were at HGC, and now they go to Pyle...I hope you're not the poster that said, "When you have this many poor illegal immigrants, you teach to the lowest common denominator."