DCPS exodus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don’t think anyone is saying there is no learning loss. I think they are saying parcc isn’t a good use of time

Oh, I've seen it here and elsewhere, from teachers no less. It's a different issue from whether PARCC is a good use of time. Like, really, people are arguing that kids aren't falling behind because standards have never meant anything and kids are just learning "resiliency" or something and that's as important as reading so education is useless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enrollment had already fallen by about 1000 kids as of Oct. of last year. And it has only declined further. There will be another decline when they get enrollment figures overall - though of course in demand schools can always backfill their individual numbers through the waitlist.

Which is all to say, this is a real thing- though it make appear like a trickle instead of a flood. But even a trickle is a problem for a school system that spent decades on trying to boost confidence and buy in.

+1. This doesn't even account for those who enrolled but aren't logging on.

Or the thousands of kids who the school system has simply lost track of.

This is one of my biggest worries from the pandemic- kids who are truly losing a year of schooling who seem to have been lost in the system. Every time I want to scream in frustration with getting my kids to do distance learning and not getting a spot in person I think of kids whose parents work hourly jobs and cannot help them log on remotely etc or who don't have the resources to log on and keep up with learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enrollment had already fallen by about 1000 kids as of Oct. of last year. And it has only declined further. There will be another decline when they get enrollment figures overall - though of course in demand schools can always backfill their individual numbers through the waitlist.

Which is all to say, this is a real thing- though it make appear like a trickle instead of a flood. But even a trickle is a problem for a school system that spent decades on trying to boost confidence and buy in.

+1. This doesn't even account for those who enrolled but aren't logging on.

Or the thousands of kids who the school system has simply lost track of.

This is one of my biggest worries from the pandemic- kids who are truly losing a year of schooling who seem to have been lost in the system. Every time I want to scream in frustration with getting my kids to do distance learning and not getting a spot in person I think of kids whose parents work hourly jobs and cannot help them log on remotely etc or who don't have the resources to log on and keep up with learning.

Remember: If you are white, caring about these kids is disingenuous if you weren't an activist for them pre-pandemic.

[Anonymous]

I love it when the Ward 3 parents threaten to quit DCPS and think this is some sort of effective bargaining tool. I'm sure the reaction downtown is: Great! This solves our overcrowding problems and opens up seats for other families who want them.

I'm one of those Ward 3 parents and I really want schools to open for full instruction, but seems clear that the advocates leading this charge may be just shooting us all in the foot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enrollment had already fallen by about 1000 kids as of Oct. of last year. And it has only declined further. There will be another decline when they get enrollment figures overall - though of course in demand schools can always backfill their individual numbers through the waitlist.

Which is all to say, this is a real thing- though it make appear like a trickle instead of a flood. But even a trickle is a problem for a school system that spent decades on trying to boost confidence and buy in.

+1. This doesn't even account for those who enrolled but aren't logging on.

Or the thousands of kids who the school system has simply lost track of.

This is one of my biggest worries from the pandemic- kids who are truly losing a year of schooling who seem to have been lost in the system. Every time I want to scream in frustration with getting my kids to do distance learning and not getting a spot in person I think of kids whose parents work hourly jobs and cannot help them log on remotely etc or who don't have the resources to log on and keep up with learning.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/pandemic-schools-students-missing/2021/02/25/f0b27262-5ce8-11eb-a976-bad6431e03e2_story.html

[Anonymous]

It does seem like DC could give a shit about retaining families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love it when the Ward 3 parents threaten to quit DCPS and think this is some sort of effective bargaining tool. I'm sure the reaction downtown is: Great! This solves our overcrowding problems and opens up seats for other families who want them.

I'm one of those Ward 3 parents and I really want schools to open for full instruction, but seems clear that the advocates leading this charge may be just shooting us all in the foot.

This! I also left a Big 3 private because they could not differentiate learning enough for my kids. If you think DCPS doesn’t offer a G&T program, privates are worse. There weren’t enough kids to create a challenging class. Rich doesn’t always mean smart! By all means leave, you will be unhappy for different reasons.

[Anonymous]

It's unlikely schools won't be completely open this fall. Coronavirus rates, which are already low, are going to plummet once a large number of people are vaccinated.

Sorry, WTU trolls. Your extended vacation will be ending soon.

[Anonymous]

Ward 3 parent here: we are going nowhere. Glad to keep the kid at home for another year. Love that we can just roll out of bed and are 'at school' and have Wednesdays off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will homeschool next year if they do not open schools - I feel like I am already

This. I'm homeschooling on the teacher's schedule.

Seriously - THIS is the problem. They are inflexible with schedules and WE have to act as IT people, schedulers, teaching assistants, and enforcers. I understand that it could be complete chaos with NO schedule or deadlines, but why they can't be done on a weekly instead of daily basis, I do not understand.

I had to promise my 6th grader the other night that they WILL NOT have to do online school like this next year and I will keep that promise one way or the other. Really just hoping they open the schools!

[Anonymous]

DCPS is in fact looking for reopening, WTU is mirroring the views of its members and the parents of the bulk of the schools (not those of Ward 3) and the equilibrium is not rapid reopening. Most of us do engage in law, politics, rhetoric, communications, or logical thinking, right?

The huffy "do what I want or I'm taking my business elsewhere line" just doesn't seem inclined to win arguments or allies.

I can appreciate an anonymous rant but really, think about the way out of this. A lot of you seem like the lady screaming at the counter worker at the DMV, and have you seen that work?

[Anonymous]

and this is how the arguments goes

March 2020 - omg teachers are saints; how do teachers do this; this will be fun 2 weeks at home (although I heard a fair amount from people freaked out about the first weekend home with their kids)

April 2020 - this sucks, but wow I love our teachers; can't wait for this to be over; a few folks freaking out about being with their kids

May 2020 - OMG no, but I get it; things will be better soon

June 2020 - did we just do that; well we have the summer; OMG no camps

July and August 2020 - I HAVE TO GET AWAY; I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING - BEACH WEEKS; FLIGHTS; ETC.

September 2020 - Wait what about the poor BIPOC kids; they are losing the most (no one seemed to care a few months ago; no one making plans for just THEM to get extra help or back in the building) - then the data comes out that BIPOC parents don't want to send their kids back (wait what; that can't be right); private schools are open - i'm going to go private (doesn't realize privates have different rules and regulations and a business model built on having kids in seats; also getting into a private by snapping fingers doesn't happen)

October 2020 - This is insane; what about the poor BIPOC kids and when no one bought that argument anymore it became what about my SEP kids (don't hear about them anymore); you don't get how hard this is on my SEP kids; and what are these teachers doing (you literally can see what these teachers are doing but you keep saying they aren't doing anything); teachers are trash; paid too much; just want a paid vacation (apparently can't look at child's screen to see teacher so....); private schools are open; catholic schools are open

November 2020 - Teachers are trash; arguments about the poor BIPOC kids who are suffering so have ceases; teachers are having fun at bars and dance clubs mask less at 3 am and not doing lesson plans; don't need a break and they have made my life hard (insert many screams against WTU)

December 2020 - I MUST MUST MUST travel because this is hard; no mention of poor BIPOC people dying in droves; not getting access to healthcare; this is hurting women; not opening schools is hurting women (no mention of these delinquent fathers)

January 2020 - vaccines!!! WTU and teachers are trash; I had a lovely vacation; Teachers shouldn't get vaccines until they swear they will return to a classful of children (no mention that lots of families DON'T WANT to go back); no understanding that all DCPS schools aren't like yours; teachers are trash; DCPS gives vaccine to teachers but no time for it to take effect (could literally calm everyone down if we wait 2-3 weeks); learning loss - learning loss - learning loss (a term created by educational vendors, but yes keep screaming it)

Feb 2020 - my kid is back but its like a prison; teachers are trash (even the ones in person?); you are WTU troll if you make any argument for not going back in person; life is literally better anywhere but DCPS; I'm rich; I sent an email; I didn't get my way; where is PARCC - PARCC will save us all because it will show learning loss



Look, I want my kids back in school. DL is horrible and not as good as in person. DCPS could have made accommodations early (one day IPL outside; tented fields similar to privates). But they didn't. I don't see why we can't have more kids back in Term 4 or in March with more teachers vaccinated (outside of 11 person cohorts and space issues). I don't see why we can't have full school back in the fall without major cohorts etc (we need to vaccinate kids 12/16 and up).

But I'm not going to trash teachers as the reason these things aren't happening.

I grew up in upper NW (private 12 years - there was a time when people like me wouldn't walk near Wilson let alone think of it as a place to send our kids); I have a lot of family in upper NW; I live in Ward 4; my SIL teachers in an upper NW school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does seem like DC could give a shit about retaining families.

Its not their business model so yes they don't care about retaining you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 parent here: we are going nowhere. Glad to keep the kid at home for another year. Love that we can just roll out of bed and are 'at school' and have Wednesdays off.

And your kid is doing ok socially, emotionally, academically? While yes, it's easy not to have to "commute" to school, my first grader is struggling emotionally. Have also seen a return of his transient tic that had been gone for awhile, and unfortunately, is aggravated by stress, and worsened by looking at the light of an electronic screen... a virtual learning nightmare for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS is in fact looking for reopening, WTU is mirroring the views of its members and the parents of the bulk of the schools (not those of Ward 3) and the equilibrium is not rapid reopening. Most of us do engage in law, politics, rhetoric, communications, or logical thinking, right?

The huffy "do what I want or I'm taking my business elsewhere line" just doesn't seem inclined to win arguments or allies.

I can appreciate an anonymous rant but really, think about the way out of this. A lot of you seem like the lady screaming at the counter worker at the DMV, and have you seen that work?

+1 and nicely written.