Documentary on DC METROPOLITAN Airing Tonight on PBS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

Thanks, Kaya.

Acceptance into college isn't any kind of universal validation. How about more fundamental things, like being able to fill out a job application on your own. DCPS cranks out hundreds of kids each year who aren't even capable of that. How about trying to get basic skills like literacy and numeracy in place first, college is a pipe dream for far too many DC kids already given the horrible circumstances presently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

Thanks, Kaya.

Acceptance into college isn't any kind of universal validation. How about more fundamental things, like being able to fill out a job application on your own. DCPS cranks out hundreds of kids each year who aren't even capable of that. How about trying to get basic skills like literacy and numeracy in place first, college is a pipe dream for far too many DC kids already given the horrible circumstances presently.

Did you even watch the documentary?

Did you see what that school and the students were working with? Deciding to apply to college is a big step; actually applying is a leap, and acceptance is indeed validation.

The biggest problem in these communities is the mindset people have. Putting those children in the mindset to do more than hang on the street corner or work at McDonalds is a HUGE first step. College may be a pipe dream for those kids, but so is making it in the NBA, becoming a rapper, making millions selling drugs. College is the best of all the options, wouldn't you say?

And if those kids can fill out a college application and write personal statements, what makes you think they don't have the basic skills to fill out a job app?

Why are you so angry DC Met got all of their graduates into college? What would you have preferred to see happen to those 30 young people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What being accepted into college is validation for DCPS teachers. So, when the child flunks out of college within the first semester do we go back and retool the IMPACT scores. Don't get it twisted DCMET is not a last resort and it's many first choice. It is not sad they pink-slipped Ms. Minor, she was not the cat's meow. She's a principal and accordingly there's other responsibilities that come with the job. You are as only good as your weakest link and the assistant principal was as weak as oodles of noodles.

Thanks, Kaya.

Exactly! I was thinking the same thing.

"Ms. Minor's not the cat meow" sounds just like the type of catty jealousy that would make a 500 pound manly girl decide to fire an obviously hardworking, well-loved school leader.

What was it? The fact that she was featured in a documentary, and although Rhee was followed by cameras no one seems interested in you, Kaya?

This made me LOL - but I don't envy Kaya's position either. There are a lot of failing teachers and administrators that should go, unfortunately she did a crappy job of finding staff that would accurately figure out who. I bet she didn't even really know who Minor was or what she did, if it weren't for this movie she probably wouldn't have been able to identify which DC school she worked for.

She's got a tough job...but she's doing a bad job at it too

This is just one reason TENURE is key.

The Instructional Superintendent would've been required to justify the reason(s) for not renewing Minor's contract via some sort of documentation or written report. Henderson would've been required to sign off on the decision--AFTER reading his documentation. Then, whether she knew Minor or not (which I doubt given all the meetings school leaders attend with the Chancellor), she would've be able to make an informed decision about whether or not to fire her. Absent the requirement of some type of justification, Minor's firing could've very well been the result of an "Who does she think she is? She's not the cat's meow and I'll show her that!" attitude.

Frankly, it seems that it comes down to black and white test scores for some people. In this situation, that clearly was not the case, as Minor pointed out DCAS scores had not even come out when the decision was made. And, she was only in her 2nd year. It's not as if she had a history of poor scores. Ergo, I suspect the reasoning was less than professionally-based.

[Anonymous]

What did I miss about Rufus' situation, when he was withdrawn from the MET by his aunt?

I thought he was growing and doing beautifully at the school but because he was screwing up at home, his aunt decided to transfer him to another school as punishment. Was that the case?

If so, why did they school let him go so easily? I've had a teacher or two advocate for my child when I was being a bit strict. So I can't help but wonder why not one adult sat the aunt down and explained that he'd grown so much, was doing so well and they didn't think the move would be good for him. Why didn't someone say, "Hey, it's your decision, but we'd really like for him to remain here. He's on the right track. I'll ask his advisor to talk to him and see if we can get him to respect your curfew and other house rules."

They said, "Oh well. See ya!" Then wanted to wax poetic about how much they cared, how much they'd done for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This should be required viewing before complaining about lazy, inept DCPS teachers. I am sure the Rheeites will swoop in and defend IMPACT, CAS and all of the Bs.

<----- This DCPS teacher won't. Passion for what we so and love for our students is not rewarded with IMPACT. I happen to be "highly effective" on the scale but that feel separate from what really motivates me. Loved this documentary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This should be required viewing before complaining about lazy, inept DCPS teachers. I am sure the Rheeites will swoop in and defend IMPACT, CAS and all of the Bs.

<----- This DCPS teacher won't. Passion for what we so and love for our students is not rewarded with IMPACT. I happen to be "highly effective" on the scale but that feel separate from what really motivates me. Loved this documentary.

This was a great documentary to show what many DCPS teachers are dealing with that don't work in the best DC high schools, every day is a struggle. The amount of money, hours, and attention we spend with most kids goes above and beyond what new contract is attempting to make us do.

[Anonymous]

I just finished watching and I have to say that it was really moving. While we know there is a lot that we don't see in a 4 hour film, there was so much that we did see! I thought the film overall was really well done and honest.

We need to give a standing ovation and kudos to the people who get up every morning and go to work for our children, especially the children of Washington Met and high schools like it. You are truly doing important work.

[Anonymous]

Has DCPS made any official comment about this documentary?

I've been watching too -- not with the shock that some of you have expressed, because I know this is going on in a lot of the schools in poor neighborhoods.

Keep in mind that Rhee/Henderson and their transformative change have been been here almost 6 years now, with free rein, so any kids in 6th grade who aren't doing well have been completely "failed" by the reformers themselves. This assumes school personnel are completely responsible for student achievement, and according to Rhee/Henderson, they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished watching and I have to say that it was really moving. While we know there is a lot that we don't see in a 4 hour film, there was so much that we did see! I thought the film overall was really well done and honest.

We need to give a standing ovation and kudos to the people who get up every morning and go to work for our children, especially the children of Washington Met and high schools like it. You are truly doing important work.

Agreed. They deserve our applause, not the scorn and disdain that's been heaped on them by these new age school "reformers".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This should be required viewing before complaining about lazy, inept DCPS teachers. I am sure the Rheeites will swoop in and defend IMPACT, CAS and all of the Bs.

I'm hoping this documentary will inspire some o the DCUM parents to take a stand against the system that's barely working for you and really screwing up kids who didn't win the lottery of good parents.

Think of all the money the hotshots at Central office are earning devising and operating IMPACT while kids are suffering and teachers are being treated like crap and being blamed for not doing the impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has DCPS made any official comment about this documentary?

I've been watching too -- not with the shock that some of you have expressed, because I know this is going on in a lot of the schools in poor neighborhoods.

Keep in mind that Rhee/Henderson and their transformative change have been been here almost 6 years now, with free rein, so any kids in 6th grade who aren't doing well have been completely "failed" by the reformers themselves. This assumes school personnel are completely responsible for student achievement, and according to Rhee/Henderson, they are.

In one of the articles posted in this thread (I believe it was the WAMU one), DCPS made a comment about how the filmmakers were given unprecedented access to the school and they were surprised, disheartened or something that they did not show more of what's happening in the classrooms.

So Rhee came in and get rid of all the deadweight. Now schools are stocked with awesome, highly qualified rockstar teachers!!!! WHOO HOOOO!!!

SO why is DC still struggling with issues of low test scores, truancy, etc?

Because good teachers are not enough to combat the million other issues these children are dealing with that's why. What's blaming teachers is easier than dealing with the real issues I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This should be required viewing before complaining about lazy, inept DCPS teachers. I am sure the Rheeites will swoop in and defend IMPACT, CAS and all of the Bs.

I'm hoping this documentary will inspire some o the DCUM parents to take a stand against the system that's barely working for you and really screwing up kids who didn't win the lottery of good parents.

Think of all the money the hotshots at Central office are earning devising and operating IMPACT while kids are suffering and teachers are being treated like crap and being blamed for not doing the impossible.

+1

I think it's insane that in our country of plenty, right here in the nation's capital, parents are playing the lottery to secure their child a decent education.

It's sickening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This should be required viewing before complaining about lazy, inept DCPS teachers. I am sure the Rheeites will swoop in and defend IMPACT, CAS and all of the Bs.

I'm hoping this documentary will inspire some o the DCUM parents to take a stand against the system that's barely working for you and really screwing up kids who didn't win the lottery of good parents.

Think of all the money the hotshots at Central office are earning devising and operating IMPACT while kids are suffering and teachers are being treated like crap and being blamed for not doing the impossible.

+1

I think it's insane that in our country of plenty, right here in the nation's capital, parents are playing the lottery to secure their child a decent education.

It's sickening.

Amen +1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This should be required viewing before complaining about lazy, inept DCPS teachers. I am sure the Rheeites will swoop in and defend IMPACT, CAS and all of the Bs.

I'm hoping this documentary will inspire some o the DCUM parents to take a stand against the system that's barely working for you and really screwing up kids who didn't win the lottery of good parents.

Think of all the money the hotshots at Central office are earning devising and operating IMPACT while kids are suffering and teachers are being treated like crap and being blamed for not doing the impossible.

+1

I think it's insane that in our country of plenty, right here in the nation's capital, parents are playing the lottery to secure their child a decent education.

It's sickening.

Amen +1

+2

By the way, both parts of the documentary can be found, in their entirety, on the PBS website.

[Anonymous]

What I found was interesting about the Rufus story was that Aunt said she was transferring him to a closer school to home. Now the closer school was Suitland, which is in PG County. Where is the residency???? Did Rufus attend DCMET while residing in PG???