New curriculum for FCPS - dumbing down school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve got a first grader in FCPS, was just talking with DW about how much time our DC will be missing over the next couple of weeks and we realized that she’ll learn a lot more at home with us during that time than she would in school.

Disappointing to hear it doesn’t sound much better in fifth grade. I wish they would focus on academics, not equity at the exclusion of all else.

What are you even talking about? How is "equity" being taught in 1st grade and taking away from academics? Seriously. Give specifics.

DP.

Elementary math in FCPS now follows the lower standards of the “E3” math curriculum. Yes, the “E” is for equity.

Language arts have also been dumbed-down, again, for racial equity reasons. Homework is discouraged because it is seen as racist / not equitable.

FCPS is desperate to “close the racial achievement gap.” The easiest way to do that is to dumb-down the whole curriculum, which is exactly what FCPS is doing.

There isn't LA homework because Benchmark doesn't have homework (yet), not because of equity or racism. Part of the idea is that classwork is done in class where teachers can see and assist (and make sure kids are the ones doing it, no cheating) - but also, kids these days don't do homework. This isn't an FCPS issue, it's across the board, all over the country. Something has happened to Gen Z, maybe it's the pandemic, maybe it's chromebooks/phones? But kids just don't do homework anymore, and some don't do classwork either. Wealthy kids, poor kids, neither of them do it.

To further the point you were making, Benchmark was picked from a list of possible LA options provided by VDOE. So if PP wants to blame Youngkin's people over there for Benchmark (guessing they don't), I guess go for it?

But while FCPS picked it - and they should have picked Wit & Wisdom or Amplify CKLA, but whatever - VDOE allowed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the English is hoarded at school, so parents don’t see it. There’s zero homework in English. On the flip side, the parent can’t tutor meaningfully to help child in this subject.

Don't bother. Stop worrying about elementary grades and just tutor what you want separate from the school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes OP, FCPS is intentionally dumbing-down the curriculum for racial equity reasons:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1066612.page

It is not your imagination. FCPS’s current leadership is intentionally lowering academic standards.

Have you seen or been exposed to the new LA curriculum? Because everyone I know is complaining about how challenging it is for their children. The new SS curriculum will be equally rigorous, I've reviewed all of the options.

*That said, I suspect this poster won't be coming back until the fall before the gubernatorial election to reinvigorate her stupid claims (which btw, Youngkin is responsible for the updates in LA curriculum, it's the one great thing "your guy" has done).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the English is hoarded at school, so parents don’t see it. There’s zero homework in English. On the flip side, the parent can’t tutor meaningfully to help child in this subject.

This is inaccurate. My 3rd grader brings home a stack of language arts paperwork every week and the teacher has sent home the Benchmark booklet when they complete the unit.