Blair Magnet Sexism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In one MCPS middle school there's a male teacher who has been reported for spending too much time alone with female students, talking to them on social media, and even hanging out with them when he sees them in town. Parents have complained too. The problem is that while there are reasons to be concerned, there's no evidence that he's crossed the line. (He was told to get off social media, but that's the only thing I know for sure he's doing differently.) To the person who's well-versed in this, what should we all be doing in cases like these to protect kids? I know to tell CPS/police, but what can they do over just a "creepiness" factor? And also it's not always the creepy teacher. Sometimes it's the well liked dude who parents know hangs out with school leaders and is considered a great teacher and "cool". There's a real unwillingness to deal with this bs, and I'm over it too.

Name the middle school. You don't need to name the teacher. It's the only way we can figure this stuff out. Vague comments helps the perpetrator and it's what he counts on

Yes. I was thinking the same. Is this a PE teacher? ONe was mentioned in a Blair Silverchips article but no mention of teacher or school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to say this is so infuriating and it' reminds me why I hate the HS stem magnet concept. This guy doesn't know genius he's an efeing HS teacher. Anyway, STEM doesn't require genius, it's just hard work that any sensible person could do. But so many people (Mostly boys) get into the math because of the outsized praise. Universities aren't just better at teaching the material they're also more clear eyed about what math ability actually is. There are issues everywhere but things improved for me after HS. Horrifying this happened so recently.

This is true. But somehow the young men that show up for these programs often label women as incompetent - might start with arsehole teachers in high school? Pathetic!

And the teacher was a product of the same, no doubt. I didn't experience anything this overt although I knew about letchy teachers (talking other side of the country now). But the attitude amongst male classmates was bad. As with so many problems getting out of HS was the answer for me. I'm just really horrified that this was going on in 2013, I knew it happened 30 years ago.

I'm not saying burn down the magnets. I'm just seeing the hyper-specialization is rife for abuse. Perhaps five years and a retirement solved the problem. I'm also concerned that my kids' principal is mixed up in this. I like her, I hope she did the right thing, but I'd like to know more.

I am pro-magnets. I've two kids in elementary and middle school magnets. All the experiences were absolutely critical to their emotional development, and either kid would have gone in a very negative direction absent the magnet opportunity. So, I'd be the last person to say get rid of magnets. But, I think that what the people are saying who are criticizing the magnet aspect of this is that, when a student feels like they've been given a golden ticket, they are very reluctant to pursue reporting to the point that they may damage their own career/academic aspirations. Blair magnet is absolutely perceived as a golden admission ticket to the top tier schools, and the WaPo article reinforces it by mentioning the many kids who go to Harvard, MIT, etc. Kids and parents report, but when administrators don't pursue complaints, parents and students are reluctant to go outside the school to the Superintendent or the Title IX supervisor, or file a civil rights complaint or follow up with an outside organization like the National Women's Law Center. If they do so, they risk being isolated in the program and not getting the kinds of recommendations and academic opportunities and support that a place like Blair uniquely provides. This is no joke. When I made complaints about a program (on a different civil rights issue, not sexual harassment, at a different MCPS magnet, not Blair), I was vaguely threatened that my child didn't belong at the magnet any more and would have to return to the home school. I am fortunate that I have a legal education and knew enough to stand my ground and how to fight the system, so I wasn't threatened by that, but it was still stressful to me and super stressful to my child.

In addition, when a program is perceived as being some kind of special golden halo on a school, administrators are very reluctant to criticize anyone teaching in such a program for fear of jeopardizing the status of the program and thus their own career success. And, students who criticize are also afraid of jeopardizing the program and thus earning the ire of their peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back to say this is so infuriating and it' reminds me why I hate the HS stem magnet concept. This guy doesn't know genius he's an efeing HS teacher. Anyway, STEM doesn't require genius, it's just hard work that any sensible person could do. But so many people (Mostly boys) get into the math because of the outsized praise. Universities aren't just better at teaching the material they're also more clear eyed about what math ability actually is. There are issues everywhere but things improved for me after HS. Horrifying this happened so recently.

This is true. But somehow the young men that show up for these programs often label women as incompetent - might start with arsehole teachers in high school? Pathetic!

And the teacher was a product of the same, no doubt. I didn't experience anything this overt although I knew about letchy teachers (talking other side of the country now). But the attitude amongst male classmates was bad. As with so many problems getting out of HS was the answer for me. I'm just really horrified that this was going on in 2013, I knew it happened 30 years ago.

I'm not saying burn down the magnets. I'm just seeing the hyper-specialization is rife for abuse. Perhaps five years and a retirement solved the problem. I'm also concerned that my kids' principal is mixed up in this. I like her, I hope she did the right thing, but I'd like to know more.

I am pro-magnets. I've two kids in elementary and middle school magnets. All the experiences were absolutely critical to their emotional development, and either kid would have gone in a very negative direction absent the magnet opportunity. So, I'd be the last person to say get rid of magnets. But, I think that what the people are saying who are criticizing the magnet aspect of this is that, when a student feels like they've been given a golden ticket, they are very reluctant to pursue reporting to the point that they may damage their own career/academic aspirations. Blair magnet is absolutely perceived as a golden admission ticket to the top tier schools, and the WaPo article reinforces it by mentioning the many kids who go to Harvard, MIT, etc. Kids and parents report, but when administrators don't pursue complaints, parents and students are reluctant to go outside the school to the Superintendent or the Title IX supervisor, or file a civil rights complaint or follow up with an outside organization like the National Women's Law Center. If they do so, they risk being isolated in the program and not getting the kinds of recommendations and academic opportunities and support that a place like Blair uniquely provides. This is no joke. When I made complaints about a program (on a different civil rights issue, not sexual harassment, at a different MCPS magnet, not Blair), I was vaguely threatened that my child didn't belong at the magnet any more and would have to return to the home school. I am fortunate that I have a legal education and knew enough to stand my ground and how to fight the system, so I wasn't threatened by that, but it was still stressful to me and super stressful to my child.

In addition, when a program is perceived as being some kind of special golden halo on a school, administrators are very reluctant to criticize anyone teaching in such a program for fear of jeopardizing the status of the program and thus their own career success. And, students who criticize are also afraid of jeopardizing the program and thus earning the ire of their peers.

Magnet ‘critical to their emotional development’. They would have gone on a negative direction without magnet...

What on Earth are you talking about??

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the insight 22:02. It is always about power and ambition, isn't it? Our system is structured so that you need good grades, you need the teacher recommendation, you need to be part of a great program, etc., for the next big step in life.

[Anonymous]

Churchill Outdoor Track = #metook12

[Anonymous]

Huh? Track?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is probably going to keep his nice pension no matter what.

That's the issue you're upset about?

No, of course not, but because he is retired, he will not face any real consequences for this, and it's galling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is probably going to keep his nice pension no matter what.

That's the issue you're upset about?

No, of course not, but because he is retired, he will not face any real consequences for this, and it's galling.

There is not much that can be done to him legally. There was no crime committed. It is his word against someone else's. He can be hung to dry in the court of public opinion and become a cautionary tale to other men, but that's about all.

[Anonymous]

That's why the MCPS Employee Code of Conduct is important. Teachers and staff can now be dismissed for the type of behavior in MCPS. MCPS should act quickly to remove adults who violate the standard so students don't have to suffer for decades in an environment described in the Washington Post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the insight 22:02. It is always about power and ambition, isn't it? Our system is structured so that you need good grades, you need the teacher recommendation, you need to be part of a great program, etc., for the next big step in life.

Whatever happened to educating all people?

in the words of Jefferson, "Preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish & improve the law for educating the common people."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walstein was sleazy due to his own issues. Yet, we are seeing a lot of overlap with kids not feeling adequate in high school, spilling decades later. Still inadequate, and still feeling bad about themselves, due to parenting or other issues, self image, etc, projecting onto Walstein, decades later. A lot of gray area.

BS, there are named accusers in the article, one of whom l know is extremely accomplished and still on the upward trajectory of her career.

Walstein is on TV now, thank you for feeding his ego.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Outdoor Track = #metook12

Is the coach still there or has he been removed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Outdoor Track = #metook12

Is the coach still there or has he been removed?

Same coaching staff for many years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Outdoor Track = #metook12

Is the coach still there or has he been removed?

Same coaching staff for many years.

On the field with students this morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Churchill Outdoor Track = #metook12

Is the coach still there or has he been removed?

Same coaching staff for many years.

On the field with students this morning.

Someone put this on the Churchill thread:

Words by a MCPS coach:

"Looking good" as I do stretches and he is staring at my butt.

"Run like a fast ass bitch".

"Is that a new sports bra?"

"Here, these might look good on you" and gives a girl running briefs. EWWW.


Really ??? I am not the only one who thinks this guy is creepy but school doesn't care.


PLEASE REPORT THIS MAN TO THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IF YOU KNOW WHO HE IS.