Are Other Upper School Students at Potomac Not Getting Tests and Papers Back for Weeks at a Time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do not have an online grade book and have never gave a great explanation as to why not.

Our public has online grade book with every test graded and uploaded on time. It is truly the best for assessing improvement and trajectory.

It’s a public school tool, or lower end private. Potomac doesn’t use it and neither does “big 3” my other kids attend.

You have lost a lot of ways to keep teachers and the school accountable. No AP, no open grade books, no standardized testing.

[Anonymous]

Yes the yearly grade is all that appears on the transcript.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at another school but this is so clearly not OK. If it is a systemic issue, and not a one-off teacher, you do not leave it up to the students to deal with it. The parents and administration should handle it. This is unprofessional conduct and it amazes me that any teacher, much less multiple teachers, can get away with this behavior.

This is one of the potential downsides of independent schools. If you lose teacher roulette, you can end up with teachers(s) that are allowed to do very little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just for “low end” privates to use an online grade book. Several NYC and NJ well regarded privates have them also.

It’s pretty standard. Stanford Online High School has teachers updating theirs about once a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a systemic problem at Potomac. The parents need to step-up and talk to the admin asap. Why is this happening? Sounds like the admin is not doing a good job monitoring the teachers and/or not making the expectations clear. This is for adults to discuss and resolve, not the kids.

I have not known this to be a problem in the US at Potomac. So I would argue that it is not a "systemic problem."

T[b]rust me. It is[/b]!

No, it is not. It’s a very small number of teachers. Like 2-3.

Different poster here to say it has not been a problem for my two kids in the US, one of whom is a senior. So no, it is not a systemic problem in the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a systemic problem at Potomac. The parents need to step-up and talk to the admin asap. Why is this happening? Sounds like the admin is not doing a good job monitoring the teachers and/or not making the expectations clear. This is for adults to discuss and resolve, not the kids.

I have not known this to be a problem in the US at Potomac. So I would argue that it is not a "systemic problem."

T[b]rust me. It is[/b]!

No, it is not. It’s a very small number of teachers. Like 2-3.

Different poster here to say it has not been a problem for my two kids in the US, one of whom is a senior. So no, it is not a systemic problem in the US.

I'm on my third kid in US and I would say the issue has gotten worse over time. Grades are typically, while not quite a surprise, at least a slight mystery, when they come out mid-semester and at the end of the semester. Sometimes it's a good surprise, sometimes devastating. My kid has not had one single final paper returned in an English class in the last 4 semesters. My kid is an amazing self-advocate, but figures this is just the culture and goes with it. I don't think it's great and have always felt the school lacks any transparency at all. After all, if they published all the grades, then those who are put into the middle and low bucket might have a fighting chance of rising up to the top students. This is their way of keeping the "caste" system in place. They determine very early on who the top students are and make sure there's enough distinction to keep them high enough in front of the others to get them into the very top schools. Transparency would make this more difficult.

[Anonymous]

As someone whose child is applying to the upper school, this whole thread is disturbing, and if true, would be a deal-breaker. The politics around voicing displeasure or getting things changed, whether by the student or the parents, sound unduly complex.

[Anonymous]

The 17:24 poster nailed it-spot on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a systemic problem at Potomac. The parents need to step-up and talk to the admin asap. Why is this happening? Sounds like the admin is not doing a good job monitoring the teachers and/or not making the expectations clear. This is for adults to discuss and resolve, not the kids.

I have not known this to be a problem in the US at Potomac. So I would argue that it is not a "systemic problem."

T[b]rust me. It is[/b]!

No, it is not. It’s a very small number of teachers. Like 2-3.

Different poster here to say it has not been a problem for my two kids in the US, one of whom is a senior. So no, it is not a systemic problem in the US.

I'm on my third kid in US and I would say the issue has gotten worse over time. Grades are typically, while not quite a surprise, at least a slight mystery, when they come out mid-semester and at the end of the semester. Sometimes it's a good surprise, sometimes devastating. My kid has not had one single final paper returned in an English class in the last 4 semesters. My kid is an amazing self-advocate, but figures this is just the culture and goes with it. I don't think it's great and have always felt the school lacks any transparency at all. After all, if they published all the grades, then those who are put into the middle and low bucket might have a fighting chance of rising up to the top students. This is their way of keeping the "caste" system in place. They determine very early on who the top students are and make sure there's enough distinction to keep them high enough in front of the others to get them into the very top schools. Transparency would make this more difficult.

Choosing to believe the teachers are involved in a widespread conspiracy to propel a select group of students into Harvard while participating in unethical grading practices to keep the rest of the student body out, instead of considering that your child might actually be the lesser student, is just a stunning take. And no, my kid isn’t a top academic performer. But he sure respects his classmates who are, and has never once attributed their success to anything other than their being incredibly smart and hard working. And fwiw to anyone following this thread, we think the faculty is amazing. No grading issues or uncertainty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a systemic problem at Potomac. The parents need to step-up and talk to the admin asap. Why is this happening? Sounds like the admin is not doing a good job monitoring the teachers and/or not making the expectations clear. This is for adults to discuss and resolve, not the kids.

I have not known this to be a problem in the US at Potomac. So I would argue that it is not a "systemic problem."

Trust me. It is!

Source: “Dude, trust me!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do not have an online grade book and have never gave a great explanation as to why not.

Our public has online grade book with every test graded and uploaded on time. It is truly the best for assessing improvement and trajectory.

It’s a public school tool, or lower end private. Potomac doesn’t use it and neither does “big 3” my other kids attend.

You have lost a lot of ways to keep teachers and the school accountable. No AP, no open grade books, no standardized testing.

Loss of accountability on both students and teachers part, lack of checks and balances. Seems to me like some public school parents have their heads in the sand.

[Anonymous]

^ private school parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do not have an online grade book and have never gave a great explanation as to why not.

Our public has online grade book with every test graded and uploaded on time. It is truly the best for assessing improvement and trajectory.

It’s a public school tool, or lower end private. Potomac doesn’t use it and neither does “big 3” my other kids attend.

Lower end private? Wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a systemic problem at Potomac. The parents need to step-up and talk to the admin asap. Why is this happening? Sounds like the admin is not doing a good job monitoring the teachers and/or not making the expectations clear. This is for adults to discuss and resolve, not the kids.

I have not known this to be a problem in the US at Potomac. So I would argue that it is not a "systemic problem."

T[b]rust me. It is[/b]!

No, it is not. It’s a very small number of teachers. Like 2-3.

Different poster here to say it has not been a problem for my two kids in the US, one of whom is a senior. So no, it is not a systemic problem in the US.

I'm on my third kid in US and I would say the issue has gotten worse over time. Grades are typically, while not quite a surprise, at least a slight mystery, when they come out mid-semester and at the end of the semester. Sometimes it's a good surprise, sometimes devastating. My kid has not had one single final paper returned in an English class in the last 4 semesters. My kid is an amazing self-advocate, but figures this is just the culture and goes with it. I don't think it's great and have always felt the school lacks any transparency at all. After all, if they published all the grades, then those who are put into the middle and low bucket might have a fighting chance of rising up to the top students. This is their way of keeping the "caste" system in place. They determine very early on who the top students are and make sure there's enough distinction to keep them high enough in front of the others to get them into the very top schools. Transparency would make this more difficult.

+100. Where is the accountability for teachers? Do we just have to assume the teachers have no biases that may affect their grading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a systemic problem at Potomac. The parents need to step-up and talk to the admin asap. Why is this happening? Sounds like the admin is not doing a good job monitoring the teachers and/or not making the expectations clear. This is for adults to discuss and resolve, not the kids.

I have not known this to be a problem in the US at Potomac. So I would argue that it is not a "systemic problem."

T[b]rust me. It is[/b]!

No, it is not. It’s a very small number of teachers. Like 2-3.

Different poster here to say it has not been a problem for my two kids in the US, one of whom is a senior. So no, it is not a systemic problem in the US.

I'm on my third kid in US and I would say the issue has gotten worse over time. Grades are typically, while not quite a surprise, at least a slight mystery, when they come out mid-semester and at the end of the semester. Sometimes it's a good surprise, sometimes devastating. My kid has not had one single final paper returned in an English class in the last 4 semesters. My kid is an amazing self-advocate, but figures this is just the culture and goes with it. I don't think it's great and have always felt the school lacks any transparency at all. After all, if they published all the grades, then those who are put into the middle and low bucket might have a fighting chance of rising up to the top students. This is their way of keeping the "caste" system in place. They determine very early on who the top students are and make sure there's enough distinction to keep them high enough in front of the others to get them into the very top schools. Transparency would make this more difficult.

DP who has no dog in this game.

How does it benefit the school to highlight a select few? Would it not look better for them if all of them aimed higher?