Most down-to-earth schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is cracking me up.

I send my kid to an on-paper "bad" school in Silver Spring. But now that the wealthier families have caught on that it's not actually the seventh circle of hell and some send their kids there, it's become harder to dodge conversations about organic produce, screen time (specifically, how it is evil), and what teachers are doing wrong.

Maybe we are neighbors and our children classmates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is cracking me up.

I send my kid to an on-paper "bad" school in Silver Spring. But now that the wealthier families have caught on that it's not actually the seventh circle of hell and some send their kids there, it's become harder to dodge conversations about organic produce, screen time (specifically, how it is evil), and what teachers are doing wrong.

I can identify. My kids went to East Silver Spring years before there was a wellness committee bitching about sugar content in the cafeteria yogurt.

Ohh ... the infamous Trix yogurt scandal?

I'll admit I laughed at this, but I want to go to bat for any parents, anywhere, who are getting involved in their kids' schools. No, the amount of sugar in the MCPS lunch parfait is not the battle I would pick, personally. But I admire the parents who know what their priorities are, and work productively with their kids' school or even the county administration to effect small changes that benefit all of the kids in the school.

One thing I like about Takoma Park and Silver Spring is that so many families are involved in nonprofits or grassroots politics, and bring their (constructive) advocacy skills to their involvement with the schools. I see very few folks working on projects that benefit only their own kids, and a lot of parents advocating for projects that benefit the whole school, including kids whose parents don't have the English language or advocacy skills to get involved.

So, yeah, when OP asks about "down to earth schools," I do think of schools where parents take the time to get involved if they see something they want changed.

I agree with many of these sentiments, but parents who complain to administration about the sugar content of the yogurt are barking up the wrong tree. MCPS administrators have nothing to do with the food served in the building. If parents want to fight that fight, take it to the county and out of the schools.

[Anonymous]

I agree with many of these sentiments, but parents who complain to administration about the sugar content of the yogurt are barking up the wrong tree. MCPS administrators have nothing to do with the food served in the building. If parents want to fight that fight, take it to the county and out of the schools.

I'm the PP for whom the yogurt isn't a huge issue (since we pack lunches), but I do know what happened there and the folks who cared about this did take it to the county level. I believe they had a meeting with some muckity-muck in the nutrition department at MCPS, and then invited the biggest muckity-muck to the school for an event. It was actually totally appropriate advocacy, working up the chain of command.

I would also note that the same folks who worked on the Great Yogurt Debacle organized the school community to come shovel the blacktop after Snowmageddon so the kids could have outdoor recess as soon as MCPS went back to school since the district prioritized snow removal in parking lots but not playgrounds. These are parents who care a lot about nutrition and also making sure kids get outdoor activity as often as possible.

We all have things we are passionate about, and I'm pretty much happy any time parents invest in their local public school community.

[Anonymous]

Trix yogurt is totally useless junk food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This sounds like self-segregation at its finest. Better schools (private, and my kids are in public) are serving their kids healthy food while you snicker. We were at a nice private school over the weekend for an event, and I was shocked that there was no air freshener smell. I asked my kids if they noticed it, and one said, "Yeah, it smells real in here." My kids come home from MCPS public schools reeking of it.

I'd much rather my kids be in a healthy environment eating healthy food, but to each his own. Too bad we aren't wealthy enough for private.

Um. Yea. Let OP know what school you go to. Classic example of probably what OP is trying to avoid.

FWIW, my kids don't reek of air freshener when they come home from two different schools. They do reek of sweat and stinky feet, though. I can see why the teachers want air freshers is the classrooms, though I've never seen or smelled an air freshener in the classrooms.

What schools do your DC go to? I'll transfer mine there. We have been involved with 7 MCPS schools over the years and they all reek of air freshener. I think "down to earth" means teachers who are mature enough to smell sweaty kids after recess without reaching for the Fabreez. Grow up.

You're complaining about kids smelling like air freshener and that this is one of the reasons you want to send your kids to private, and you're telling me to grow up? Have you spent 4 hrs/day in a classroom of 28 kids who stink? I'm not saying I want my kids to smell like air freshener, but I can certainly understand if the teacher has a hard time with the smell. It's certainly not something I would point out as a reason to hate public school.

[Anonymous]

They have top quality air fresheners over at Ashburton, from what I hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Takoma Park. Great community, schools, and little downtown area. We love it!

No.....

No, what?

Takoma Park is in no way down to earth... and I like Takoma Park

100% agree. TPES is as uptight as they come. I really dislike that school/staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This sounds like self-segregation at its finest. Better schools (private, and my kids are in public) are serving their kids healthy food while you snicker. We were at a nice private school over the weekend for an event, and I was shocked that there was no air freshener smell. I asked my kids if they noticed it, and one said, "Yeah, it smells real in here." My kids come home from MCPS public schools reeking of it.

I'd much rather my kids be in a healthy environment eating healthy food, but to each his own. Too bad we aren't wealthy enough for private.

Um. Yea. Let OP know what school you go to. Classic example of probably what OP is trying to avoid.

FWIW, my kids don't reek of air freshener when they come home from two different schools. They do reek of sweat and stinky feet, though. I can see why the teachers want air freshers is the classrooms, though I've never seen or smelled an air freshener in the classrooms.

What schools do your DC go to? I'll transfer mine there. We have been involved with 7 MCPS schools over the years and they all reek of air freshener. I think "down to earth" means teachers who are mature enough to smell sweaty kids after recess without reaching for the Fabreez. Grow up.

You're complaining about kids smelling like air freshener and that this is one of the reasons you want to send your kids to private, and you're telling me to grow up? Have you spent 4 hrs/day in a classroom of 28 kids who stink? I'm not saying I want my kids to smell like air freshener, but I can certainly understand if the teacher has a hard time with the smell. It's certainly not something I would point out as a reason to hate public school.

If i had the money to send my kids to private, that is one of the MANY benefits of sending them there that I fantasize about. Air freshener stinks (and it's unhealthy and unnecessary; no, 28 kids in a room don't "stink" IMO) plus the food in the cafeteria is junk. Wish they were in a better place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have top quality air fresheners over at Ashburton, from what I hear.

Ha ha! Is it the "wish we had a real foyer instead of an entryway" scent or the "why clean when I can just spray febreez" scent?

[Anonymous]

I have yet to find a down-to-earth person in Maryland, let alone an entire school.

MoCo is the very definition of anally retentive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I agree with many of these sentiments, but parents who complain to administration about the sugar content of the yogurt are barking up the wrong tree. MCPS administrators have nothing to do with the food served in the building. If parents want to fight that fight, take it to the county and out of the schools.

I'm the PP for whom the yogurt isn't a huge issue (since we pack lunches), but I do know what happened there and the folks who cared about this did take it to the county level. I believe they had a meeting with some muckity-muck in the nutrition department at MCPS, and then invited the biggest muckity-muck to the school for an event. It was actually totally appropriate advocacy, working up the chain of command.

I would also note that the same folks who worked on the Great Yogurt Debacle organized the school community to come shovel the blacktop after Snowmageddon so the kids could have outdoor recess as soon as MCPS went back to school since the district prioritized snow removal in parking lots but not playgrounds. These are parents who care a lot about nutrition and also making sure kids get outdoor activity as often as possible.

We all have things we are passionate about, and I'm pretty much happy any time parents invest in their local public school community.

OP here ... so one of the things I define as "down to earth" is a community where parents don't feel that they have to "invest" in their school community unless something is really wrong (i.e., impose their somewhat arbitrary bugaboos on the school). Parents should be having better things to do, like planning neighborhood barbecues and working in their yards, or delivering research papers, or making oral arguments in court.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree with many of these sentiments, but parents who complain to administration about the sugar content of the yogurt are barking up the wrong tree. MCPS administrators have nothing to do with the food served in the building. If parents want to fight that fight, take it to the county and out of the schools.

I'm the PP for whom the yogurt isn't a huge issue (since we pack lunches), but I do know what happened there and the folks who cared about this did take it to the county level. I believe they had a meeting with some muckity-muck in the nutrition department at MCPS, and then invited the biggest muckity-muck to the school for an event. It was actually totally appropriate advocacy, working up the chain of command.

I would also note that the same folks who worked on the Great Yogurt Debacle organized the school community to come shovel the blacktop after Snowmageddon so the kids could have outdoor recess as soon as MCPS went back to school since the district prioritized snow removal in parking lots but not playgrounds. These are parents who care a lot about nutrition and also making sure kids get outdoor activity as often as possible.

We all have things we are passionate about, and I'm pretty much happy any time parents invest in their local public school community.

OP here ... so one of the things I define as "down to earth" is a community where parents don't feel that they have to "invest" in their school community unless something is really wrong (i.e., impose their somewhat arbitrary bugaboos on the school). Parents should be having better things to do, like planning neighborhood barbecues and working in their yards, or delivering research papers, or making oral arguments in court.

How is that down to earth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree with many of these sentiments, but parents who complain to administration about the sugar content of the yogurt are barking up the wrong tree. MCPS administrators have nothing to do with the food served in the building. If parents want to fight that fight, take it to the county and out of the schools.

I'm the PP for whom the yogurt isn't a huge issue (since we pack lunches), but I do know what happened there and the folks who cared about this did take it to the county level. I believe they had a meeting with some muckity-muck in the nutrition department at MCPS, and then invited the biggest muckity-muck to the school for an event. It was actually totally appropriate advocacy, working up the chain of command.

I would also note that the same folks who worked on the Great Yogurt Debacle organized the school community to come shovel the blacktop after Snowmageddon so the kids could have outdoor recess as soon as MCPS went back to school since the district prioritized snow removal in parking lots but not playgrounds. These are parents who care a lot about nutrition and also making sure kids get outdoor activity as often as possible.

We all have things we are passionate about, and I'm pretty much happy any time parents invest in their local public school community.

OP here ... so one of the things I define as "down to earth" is a community where parents don't feel that they have to "invest" in their school community unless something is really wrong (i.e., impose their somewhat arbitrary bugaboos on the school). Parents should be having better things to do, like planning neighborhood barbecues and working in their yards, or delivering research papers, or making oral arguments in court.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree with many of these sentiments, but parents who complain to administration about the sugar content of the yogurt are barking up the wrong tree. MCPS administrators have nothing to do with the food served in the building. If parents want to fight that fight, take it to the county and out of the schools.

I'm the PP for whom the yogurt isn't a huge issue (since we pack lunches), but I do know what happened there and the folks who cared about this did take it to the county level. I believe they had a meeting with some muckity-muck in the nutrition department at MCPS, and then invited the biggest muckity-muck to the school for an event. It was actually totally appropriate advocacy, working up the chain of command.

I would also note that the same folks who worked on the Great Yogurt Debacle organized the school community to come shovel the blacktop after Snowmageddon so the kids could have outdoor recess as soon as MCPS went back to school since the district prioritized snow removal in parking lots but not playgrounds. These are parents who care a lot about nutrition and also making sure kids get outdoor activity as often as possible.

We all have things we are passionate about, and I'm pretty much happy any time parents invest in their local public school community.

OP here ... so one of the things I define as "down to earth" is a community where parents don't feel that they have to "invest" in their school community unless something is really wrong (i.e., impose their somewhat arbitrary bugaboos on the school). Parents should be having better things to do, like planning neighborhood barbecues and working in their yards, or delivering research papers, or making oral arguments in court.

How is that down to earth?

A down-to-earth parent in a down-to-earth school doesn't have to worry about the yogurt or making sure everything about the school is perfect, basically. School is not a foci for perfection or exercising your advocacy skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I agree with many of these sentiments, but parents who complain to administration about the sugar content of the yogurt are barking up the wrong tree. MCPS administrators have nothing to do with the food served in the building. If parents want to fight that fight, take it to the county and out of the schools.

I'm the PP for whom the yogurt isn't a huge issue (since we pack lunches), but I do know what happened there and the folks who cared about this did take it to the county level. I believe they had a meeting with some muckity-muck in the nutrition department at MCPS, and then invited the biggest muckity-muck to the school for an event. It was actually totally appropriate advocacy, working up the chain of command.

I would also note that the same folks who worked on the Great Yogurt Debacle organized the school community to come shovel the blacktop after Snowmageddon so the kids could have outdoor recess as soon as MCPS went back to school since the district prioritized snow removal in parking lots but not playgrounds. These are parents who care a lot about nutrition and also making sure kids get outdoor activity as often as possible.

We all have things we are passionate about, and I'm pretty much happy any time parents invest in their local public school community.

OP here ... so one of the things I define as "down to earth" is a community where parents don't feel that they have to "invest" in their school community unless something is really wrong (i.e., impose their somewhat arbitrary bugaboos on the school). Parents should be having better things to do, like planning neighborhood barbecues and working in their yards, or delivering research papers, or making oral arguments in court.

How is that down to earth?

A down-to-earth parent in a down-to-earth school doesn't have to worry about the yogurt or making sure everything about the school is perfect, basically. School is not a foci for perfection or exercising your advocacy skills.

Then MCPS is not right for you.