Letter from Cancellor re moving schools - opps - I got caught moving my kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Well, earlier this fall when my husband and I thought our son was struggling with anxiety what did we do? We paid out-of-pocket for a neuropsych evaluation. It is what his pediatrician recommended. And trust me, we do not have the financial means the chancellor clearly has. But we did what we needed for our child. I agree with PP that he is trumping up the claims of social emotional issues because as DC’s supposed supreme educator why wouldn’t Wilson have arranged for an evaluation for his daughter.? Perhaps he did but you would think he would mention it. And my guess is he wouldn’t even have had to do it out of pocket. He could probably pick up the phone and have DCPS do the evaluation, which takes the rest of us kicking and screaming to get. He’s an embarrassing excuse maker.

+1 Furious at his excuses. The cruel irony is that I spent years as a very committed volunteer and advocate for education issues in DC, just as Chancellor Wilson has told people they should. It took me away from my kids multiple nights a week and was incredibly stressful. Unlike the Chancellor, I didn't get paid for it. I found that DCPS and DC elected officials expected too much of parents and started relying on me to do their jobs. Eventually I gave up and quit because I didn't see it helping my kids. A few years later, my child's persona, behavior and grades changed dramatically at the start of this school year. We have persevered for 6 months so far (not 3 weeks like Chancellor Wilson) working every day to help our child while fearing for the child's health and welfare. We have personally paid for a neuropsych evaluation and are paying for expensive therapy -- with far less income and resources than the Chancellor's. We know that there are no better options currently available in DCPS beyond our in-boundary school. If it comes to it, our only choice is to home school our child for the rest of the year or longer -- until we can move or get a spot in a private school (and figure out how to pay for either option).

Plus my husband would never throw me or our kids under the bus like that. Never.

This. x1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Well, earlier this fall when my husband and I thought our son was struggling with anxiety what did we do? We paid out-of-pocket for a neuropsych evaluation. It is what his pediatrician recommended. And trust me, we do not have the financial means the chancellor clearly has. But we did what we needed for our child. I agree with PP that he is trumping up the claims of social emotional issues because as DC’s supposed supreme educator why wouldn’t Wilson have arranged for an evaluation for his daughter.? Perhaps he did but you would think he would mention it. And my guess is he wouldn’t even have had to do it out of pocket. He could probably pick up the phone and have DCPS do the evaluation, which takes the rest of us kicking and screaming to get. He’s an embarrassing excuse maker.

+1 Furious at his excuses. The cruel irony is that I spent years as a very committed volunteer and advocate for education issues in DC, just as Chancellor Wilson has told people they should. It took me away from my kids multiple nights a week and was incredibly stressful. Unlike the Chancellor, I didn't get paid for it. I found that DCPS and DC elected officials expected too much of parents and started relying on me to do their jobs. Eventually I gave up and quit because I didn't see it helping my kids. A few years later, my child's persona, behavior and grades changed dramatically at the start of this school year. We have persevered for 6 months so far (not 3 weeks like Chancellor Wilson) working every day to help our child while fearing for the child's health and welfare. We have personally paid for a neuropsych evaluation and are paying for expensive therapy -- with far less income and resources than the Chancellor's. We know that there are no better options currently available in DCPS beyond our in-boundary school. If it comes to it, our only choice is to home school our child for the rest of the year or longer -- until we can move or get a spot in a private school (and figure out how to pay for either option).

Plus my husband would never throw me or our kids under the bus like that. Never.

I agree. There are hundreds if not thousands of us who have felt our kids were in real distress at one time or another who didn't have anyone to appeal to for 'options.'

We cobbled together solutions we've paid for or moved or spent hours at our kid's school trying to figure it out.

His talking points are so wrong on this -- he might (doubtful) be able to survive it if he simply said "I have so much more understanding of the reality of our system, where we don't have enough choices and quality solutions for everyone who needs them and I'm going to do XYZ to fix that."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:*dcum not scum

Easy enough mistake to make!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Well, earlier this fall when my husband and I thought our son was struggling with anxiety what did we do? We paid out-of-pocket for a neuropsych evaluation. It is what his pediatrician recommended. And trust me, we do not have the financial means the chancellor clearly has. But we did what we needed for our child. I agree with PP that he is trumping up the claims of social emotional issues because as DC’s supposed supreme educator why wouldn’t Wilson have arranged for an evaluation for his daughter.? Perhaps he did but you would think he would mention it. And my guess is he wouldn’t even have had to do it out of pocket. He could probably pick up the phone and have DCPS do the evaluation, which takes the rest of us kicking and screaming to get. He’s an embarrassing excuse maker.

+1 Furious at his excuses. The cruel irony is that I spent years as a very committed volunteer and advocate for education issues in DC, just as Chancellor Wilson has told people they should. It took me away from my kids multiple nights a week and was incredibly stressful. Unlike the Chancellor, I didn't get paid for it. I found that DCPS and DC elected officials expected too much of parents and started relying on me to do their jobs. Eventually I gave up and quit because I didn't see it helping my kids. A few years later, my child's persona, behavior and grades changed dramatically at the start of this school year. We have persevered for 6 months so far (not 3 weeks like Chancellor Wilson) working every day to help our child while fearing for the child's health and welfare. We have personally paid for a neuropsych evaluation and are paying for expensive therapy -- with far less income and resources than the Chancellor's. We know that there are no better options currently available in DCPS beyond our in-boundary school. If it comes to it, our only choice is to home school our child for the rest of the year or longer -- until we can move or get a spot in a private school (and figure out how to pay for either option).

Plus my husband would never throw me or our kids under the bus like that. Never.

I agree. There are hundreds if not thousands of us who have felt our kids were in real distress at one time or another who didn't have anyone to appeal to for 'options.'

We cobbled together solutions we've paid for or moved or spent hours at our kid's school trying to figure it out.

His talking points are so wrong on this -- he might (doubtful) be able to survive it if he simply said "I have so much more understanding of the reality of our system, where we don't have enough choices and quality solutions for everyone who needs them and I'm going to do XYZ to fix that."

DCPS parents should rally. We are rightly concerned with gun violence, but the educational environment you describe is deeply harmful to children's futures. I love charters and the lottery but in many way they have been the pressure valve that allows officials to brush these deeply failing schools under the rug. The chancellor actions were a total "but not for my child!" slap in the face. Frankly, I don't think anyone's child should have to go to a school where they are traumatized in their learning environs. Demand better! And as a teacher, I'll tell you that with her broom Michelle Rhee got rid of the people who couldn't enact systemic change, but actually cared about kids. Fixing these schools is big picture. As we've learned, teachers do as they're directed. Take it to the council!

[Anonymous]

Where are we today with this? Where is the Mayor or Chancellor? Any appearances?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OH my goodness. Just when I thought this could not get worse.
Last night the WTU sent out an email about how we should rally around Wilson- because our kids have had so many chancellors. As a WTU member I responded and said it was misguided. We do not tolerate fraud for continuity.

Then, this morning my UNION PRESIDENT responded to me and told me that I was 'disgusting' for having a zero tolerance policy. And that this same zero tolerance policy is what is sending many of our students to prison.

Now this is DC at its finest.

Way to go WTU. I am have tried to stand by you all in the past, but this- oh lord.

That makes me sick. So now the WTU is in the Mayor’s back pocket?

Thanks for standing up. Don’t understand that WTU is asking it’s members to support Wilson. Dunbar’s teachers have to be amazed.

Especially because part of the reason this was so gross under the last chancellor is that Henderson was super nasty to a teacher asking for a transfer at the exact same time she was making transfers for cronies! Teachers, thanks for doing what you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to hear another damn word about boundary cheaters or not going to your IB school anymore. If the chancellor thinks his excuses in that interview are good enough for him, they’re good enough for everybody.

It doesn't matter what the Chancellor thinks. As you can see, the overwhelming majority of people are condemning his actions, and they will rightfully condemn yours if you follow his example. Don't look to crooks for guidance on ethical behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the Mom looking to lottery next year - add janney to your list as well as Mann. They all have smaller class sizes in upper grades.

Not sure that is true about Janney. Maybe Mann because it feeds to Hardy and serves a richer population who might go private for middle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are we today with this? Where is the Mayor or Chancellor? Any appearances?

It’s clear the mayor and the chancellor were trying to ride out the long holiday weekend so that parents could be outraged but then by Tuesday let it go. We can’t do that. I encourage everyone to reach out to the mayor’s office and their councilmember’s office. If you think Wilson needs to go like I do, tell them. And frankly, for me this is not just about his recent personal failing. This is also about the way he handled the graduation and absenteeism scandals. The way he insisted again and again before the education committee but he would not investigate further was very troubling to me. It told me he really has no interest in addressing the deep-seated corruption that exists.

[Anonymous]

Saw on twitter Bowser, Mendelson and Grosso meeting today. I think he will be out by the end of the day. The only question I have- who will be interim Chancellor? Central office is in complete chaos today.

[Anonymous]

Today at 12:20 this will be the topic on Kojo Nnamdi.

https://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2018-02-20/with-dc-public-schools-embroiled-in-controversies-whats-the-state-of-education-in-the-district

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Today at 12:20 this will be the topic on Kojo Nnamdi.

https://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2018-02-20/with-dc-public-schools-embroiled-in-controversies-whats-the-state-of-education-in-the-district

Thanks for the heads up. Let's see if Kojo is just as unreasonably soft on Chantwan as he has been in the past....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Mom looking to lottery next year - add janney to your list as well as Mann. They all have smaller class sizes in upper grades.

Not sure that is true about Janney. Maybe Mann because it feeds to Hardy and serves a richer population who might go private for middle.

If you look at the lottery results, they offered OOB spots for a few grades - just not PreK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today at 12:20 this will be the topic on Kojo Nnamdi.

https://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2018-02-20/with-dc-public-schools-embroiled-in-controversies-whats-the-state-of-education-in-the-district

Thanks for the heads up. Let's see if Kojo is just as unreasonably soft on Chantwan as he has been in the past....

+1 I used to love Kojo But then I began to notice what is Schill he is for DC public schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the Mom looking to lottery next year - add janney to your list as well as Mann. They all have smaller class sizes in upper grades.

Not sure that is true about Janney. Maybe Mann because it feeds to Hardy and serves a richer population who might go private for middle.

If you look at the lottery results, they offered OOB spots for a few grades - just not PreK.

That's great, but I'm afraid they were very few and the waitlist was in the hundreds. Not saying she shouldn't add it to her list, but she'll have bigger chances at Hardy feeders.