99 percent FARM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last, academics for average or advanced kids. You can find these kids in the classroom by the fact they are silently reading to themselves while teachers work with other kids. These kids babysit themselves during the day with quiet reading or other busy worksheets. The teacher has no time for them.

Thank you for posting the truth. There is a reason why people tout FARM rates and test scores and the above proves their facts.

If this is true, why are you sending your kids to these schools? As an alternative to private school, won't it make more sense to move. Seems like home schooling is an option too.

Why is my child at a 50% FARMS rate school? Because like a few other posters on this thread, I too was disillusioned and believed that it would all be ok because I was an educated and involved parent. I can't compensate for the school environment. We stuck it out for 3 years now and we will move on after this.

[Anonymous]

Ditto this from another parent whose now-4th grader - in a class with 50% FARMS - is taunted by other children because he likes to read and has had no challenging instruction in reading or math ever. There is a reason why so many folks are flocking to BASIS and Latin, and one of the reasons is a curriculum and instructional setup that actually teaches to children who are above grade-level.

[Anonymous]

No experience with just FARMS.

Did not have a good experience with FARMS + ESOL

or FARMS + 1 or 2 racial groups only.

Usually I saw the Whites and Asians abandoning those schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the thing is, I was that kid. Reading by myself, doing SRAs (anyone else remember those?) and basically just following my own lead. I did fine! I'm a business owner making lots of money and employing plenty of people. I'm sure it is frustrating to hear about schools where the resources are directed towards nuturing and enriching the advanced kids, but I bet your kid will do fine too! I send my kids to public schools where there is a real nice mix of focus on all levels of academic achievement, but I bet as long as you provide solid enrichment and provide a great example at home, your kid will do just as well as mine, possibly exceed (I'm not as proficient at providing at home enrighment as I should be, I think).

I'm pretty sure it's not the same classroom that you were in as a kid. In many of these DCPS classrooms you wouldn't even be able to read by yourself, unless you brought earplugs to deal with the constant disruptive behavior and didn't mind routinely getting beat up, harrassed and bullied for being a bookworm and for being what they will surely figure to be teacher's special pet if you get any A's.

I'm curious, have you witnessed this behavior on a regular basis? I live in PG County. And I've read FREQUENTLY people describe where I live in a really derogatory way, as if there's constant crime, you can't walk around at night, et cetera, et cetera. But it isn't like that at all. And so I've really come to the conclusion that a lot of people posting on DCUM about *certain* areas or schools in those areas are really only parroting stereotypes they've heard and haven't actually witnessed those things happening on a regular basis. They might have one negative experience and then extrapolate from that, but it simply isn't accurate.

Are kids in DCPS (and PG for that matter) really "routinely getting beat up"? I really suspect this is a horrible exaggeration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next time you're near a 99% FARMS school in DC, take a look around and see if there's a CVS or other store nearby, and watch what happens there. You'll see things like policies where no unattended minors are allowed inside before 5PM. Or, you'll see the security guards stop them at the door and only allow one to go in at a time, with escort. Why, pray tell? Because these innocent sweetheart little darlings would otherwise be shoplifting, vandalizing and terrorizing those businesses. Whoever's denying that there's a problem is either a.) some kind of totally clueless and out of touch bleeding heart who is in denial or b.) is a pathological liar. Take your pick. There is no c.)

I've seen this in Montgomery County. I believe it's pretty much standard policy EVERYWHERE that groups of unattended minors are not welcome in establishments, and that includes large groups of preppy kids from a private school. The idea is that the store employees don't want to babysit/supervise pre-teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ditto this from another parent whose now-4th grader - in a class with 50% FARMS - is taunted by other children because he likes to read and has had no challenging instruction in reading or math ever. There is a reason why so many folks are flocking to BASIS and Latin, and one of the reasons is a curriculum and instructional setup that actually teaches to children who are above grade-level.

The truth is that run of the mill schools without a special program to address it ( like some charters have ) are not good for children of any background if there is a high concentration of families living in poverty. The trick is to get that percentage of FARMS families down as much as possible or else implement special programming meant to address the holistic needs of children living in poverty. It just doesn't work with percentages somewhere in the middle trying to meet everyone's needs. I challenge naysayers to point to one school where this works well above grade 2 or 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I personally would not place my child in a school that is 99% FARMS. The social atmosphere will be different. Usually kids from these types of backgrounds come to school with lots of social, cognitive,emotional, and behavoirial problems. I'm not saying that all FARM students fit this profile. However, in DC it's most likely that these children come from dysfunctional homes where there is child abuse, substance abuse issues, and a list of other problems. It could be a cultural shock listening to a four year verbalizing profanity and misogynistic words, but can't even recite the alphabet. It will be a cultural shock to witness how angry, maladjusted, and unstable these students are. Most of these students never been read to, never been told the words, "I love you", or their emotional needs were never met from the time they were infants. Teachers spend a great deal of time trying to diffuse negative social behavior that teaching sometimes take a backseat. Which means your child's needs aren't going to get met because the priorities of the FARM students are so much more important. The needs of the FARM students are a priority. The entire educational setting will be focus on assisting those students with the various issues that they bring to school. The fact of the matter is that many poor inner-city children in DC are born to parents who don't give a damn. So, when unstable parents bring children into the world, it is up to the schools to provide some form of stability, love, attention, and other unmet needs to these children. I think there are some phenomenal teachers and specialists out there who do an amazing job with these students. However, it's a difficult task. It's the reason why so many DCPS are problematic. We have a culture of children who are born from generations of poverty, child abuse, and other issues. Teachers are forced to take on the role of a parent in these classrooms.

Also, it will be extremely difficult for you to establish friendships with the parents. There is a provincial attitude and a strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity. So, you may encounter some negative attitudes and behaviors from the parents as well.

You have to ask yourself do you want to take a risk and make your child the sacrificial lamb?

PP, your portrayal of the nature of poverty in DC suggests great ethnographic insight. How, prey tell, did you acquire this level of nuanced understanding?

By being an AA inner city child growing up in DC. Also, by 20 plus years working in social services.

Has there been a change since DC introduced two years of preschool? Or are more 0-3 programs needed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the thing is, I was that kid. Reading by myself, doing SRAs (anyone else remember those?) and basically just following my own lead. I did fine! I'm a business owner making lots of money and employing plenty of people. I'm sure it is frustrating to hear about schools where the resources are directed towards nuturing and enriching the advanced kids, but I bet your kid will do fine too! I send my kids to public schools where there is a real nice mix of focus on all levels of academic achievement, but I bet as long as you provide solid enrichment and provide a great example at home, your kid will do just as well as mine, possibly exceed (I'm not as proficient at providing at home enrighment as I should be, I think).

How many other students in your classes turned out "fine"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the thing is, I was that kid. Reading by myself, doing SRAs (anyone else remember those?) and basically just following my own lead. I did fine! I'm a business owner making lots of money and employing plenty of people. I'm sure it is frustrating to hear about schools where the resources are directed towards nuturing and enriching the advanced kids, but I bet your kid will do fine too! I send my kids to public schools where there is a real nice mix of focus on all levels of academic achievement, but I bet as long as you provide solid enrichment and provide a great example at home, your kid will do just as well as mine, possibly exceed (I'm not as proficient at providing at home enrighment as I should be, I think).

Fully agreed. I'm from a rural area with a very high percentage of dropouts, etc. and have never lived with the kinds of differentiation and pro-education residential self-segregation many of you have seen and probably grown up with. Everything turned out fine. Now, if I had never learned to read by myself it could have been terrible, but things went fine. Top law school, good job.

How many other of your classmates when to a top law school and have a good job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next time you're near a 99% FARMS school in DC, take a look around and see if there's a CVS or other store nearby, and watch what happens there. You'll see things like policies where no unattended minors are allowed inside before 5PM. Or, you'll see the security guards stop them at the door and only allow one to go in at a time, with escort. Why, pray tell? Because these innocent sweetheart little darlings would otherwise be shoplifting, vandalizing and terrorizing those businesses. Whoever's denying that there's a problem is either a.) some kind of totally clueless and out of touch bleeding heart who is in denial or b.) is a pathological liar. Take your pick. There is no c.)

They do this to a certian extent at the CVS by Wilson, your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at Powell. First off, the earliest grades don't seem to reflect 99% FARMS, so I think those stats are bound to change.

On your primary question, there is a language and cultural cleavage between parents who speak English and don't but it is not an unfriendly environment in the slightest. Being friendly and getting to know people can overcome pretty much any of that. Even if your Spanish is terrible.

If you're one of those people who waves at older neighbors and tries to learn parents' names in class you'll be fine. If you're one of those urbanites who walks past the same people every day with iPhone earbuds in, you'll have to make a greater level of effort.

Again as has been said, if you are comfortable in your own neighborhood you'll probably be just fine at your neighborhood school.

Every child eats free at Powell. No one fills out a form. So how would you know what that percentage would be?

I would like to know how the poster knows as well and I'm a Powell parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at Powell. First off, the earliest grades don't seem to reflect 99% FARMS, so I think those stats are bound to change.

On your primary question, there is a language and cultural cleavage between parents who speak English and don't but it is not an unfriendly environment in the slightest. Being friendly and getting to know people can overcome pretty much any of that. Even if your Spanish is terrible.

If you're one of those people who waves at older neighbors and tries to learn parents' names in class you'll be fine. If you're one of those urbanites who walks past the same people every day with iPhone earbuds in, you'll have to make a greater level of effort.

Again as has been said, if you are comfortable in your own neighborhood you'll probably be just fine at your neighborhood school.

Every child eats free at Powell. No one fills out a form. So how would you know what that percentage would be?

I would like to know how the poster knows as well and I'm a Powell parent.

First Powell PP here. Hi! I just saw the DCPS profile for the school to get a reference point on free and reduced price meals-eligible students. http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Powell+Elementary+School. It says 99% free and reduced-price lunch. I have no independent sources.

My child is a PS student there, so I have seen my child's class and have the impression that more than 1 in 100 (for example - my child) are not (individually) eligible for free lunch programs based on income.

Hopefully I'm getting at what you're asking about. See you around the school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at Powell. First off, the earliest grades don't seem to reflect 99% FARMS, so I think those stats are bound to change.

On your primary question, there is a language and cultural cleavage between parents who speak English and don't but it is not an unfriendly environment in the slightest. Being friendly and getting to know people can overcome pretty much any of that. Even if your Spanish is terrible.

If you're one of those people who waves at older neighbors and tries to learn parents' names in class you'll be fine. If you're one of those urbanites who walks past the same people every day with iPhone earbuds in, you'll have to make a greater level of effort.

Again as has been said, if you are comfortable in your own neighborhood you'll probably be just fine at your neighborhood school.

Every child eats free at Powell. No one fills out a form. So how would you know what that percentage would be?

I would like to know how the poster knows as well and I'm a Powell parent.

It's really not that hard to know -- in a school of 300 kids, all it takes is 4 kids in the whole school who aren't eligible for FARMs to bring the rate below 99%. If you've been to someone's house and/or you know where the parents work, you can make an educated guess about their affluence. We're TERRIBLE about socializing and making playdates, and I can still say with reasonable confidence that at least four kids in my daughter's kindergarten class are not eligible for FARMs. Now as to who IS eligible for FARMs? I know one mom who received a Thanksgiving basket from the school, so I wouldn't be surprised if her kids are eligible for FARMs, but other than that, I couldn't say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the thing is, I was that kid. Reading by myself, doing SRAs (anyone else remember those?) and basically just following my own lead. I did fine! I'm a business owner making lots of money and employing plenty of people. I'm sure it is frustrating to hear about schools where the resources are directed towards nuturing and enriching the advanced kids, but I bet your kid will do fine too! I send my kids to public schools where there is a real nice mix of focus on all levels of academic achievement, but I bet as long as you provide solid enrichment and provide a great example at home, your kid will do just as well as mine, possibly exceed (I'm not as proficient at providing at home enrighment as I should be, I think).

Fully agreed. I'm from a rural area with a very high percentage of dropouts, etc. and have never lived with the kinds of differentiation and pro-education residential self-segregation many of you have seen and probably grown up with. Everything turned out fine. Now, if I had never learned to read by myself it could have been terrible, but things went fine. Top law school, good job.

How many other of your classmates when to a top law school and have a good job?

Not many others went to law school, but many others have good jobs. The point is that your child can do fine even if the other students in the school may struggle. Many parents here seem to have experiences of relatively uniform success among their peers in their educational background. I'm only piping up to express my view that while peer success/striving may seem to go hand in hand with a child's success in school my experience is that that isn't necessarily a precondition to an individual child's success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're at Powell. First off, the earliest grades don't seem to reflect 99% FARMS, so I think those stats are bound to change.

On your primary question, there is a language and cultural cleavage between parents who speak English and don't but it is not an unfriendly environment in the slightest. Being friendly and getting to know people can overcome pretty much any of that. Even if your Spanish is terrible.

If you're one of those people who waves at older neighbors and tries to learn parents' names in class you'll be fine. If you're one of those urbanites who walks past the same people every day with iPhone earbuds in, you'll have to make a greater level of effort.

Again as has been said, if you are comfortable in your own neighborhood you'll probably be just fine at your neighborhood school.

Every child eats free at Powell. No one fills out a form. So how would you know what that percentage would be?

I would like to know how the poster knows as well and I'm a Powell parent.

Another Powell parent here. What do you all feel the difference is in our school that we don't have the same nightmarish behavior issues that a lot of PPs say other high % FARM schools have?

First Powell PP here. Hi! I just saw the DCPS profile for the school to get a reference point on free and reduced price meals-eligible students. http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/Powell+Elementary+School. It says 99% free and reduced-price lunch. I have no independent sources.

My child is a PS student there, so I have seen my child's class and have the impression that more than 1 in 100 (for example - my child) are not (individually) eligible for free lunch programs based on income.

Hopefully I'm getting at what you're asking about. See you around the school!