I grew up hearing that the NoVA public schools were the best in the state

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank goodness for the internet. Our kids wouldn't know their educations were subpar if we didn't have a group of know-it-all complainers.

+1

This is not only true, but also a big reason why transplants from better areas do not stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank goodness for the internet. Our kids wouldn't know their educations were subpar if we didn't have a group of know-it-all complainers.

+1

This is not only true, but also a big reason why transplants from better areas do not stay.

You neither appreciate irony nor realize how many of the transplants from other areas decide to stay here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say you should have worked harder and would be able to afford the good schools.

Well paid people have easier jobs, who are you kidding?

[Anonymous]

I suspect that the view that NoVa public schools are spectacular developed many years ago, when (1) other VA publics were basically lousy, and (2) many transplants into the DC area were from rural jurisdictions and weren't used to having comprehensive college-prep public high schools. Neither of those two features is present today.

So today we have schools in Fairfax that are quite mixed in terms of quality; schools that are good but uneven in Arlington; and schools that are comprehensively terrible and somehow getting even worse in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that the view that NoVa public schools are spectacular developed many years ago, when (1) other VA publics were basically lousy, and (2) many transplants into the DC area were from rural jurisdictions and weren't used to having comprehensive college-prep public high schools. Neither of those two features is present today.

So today we have schools in Fairfax that are quite mixed in terms of quality; schools that are good but uneven in Arlington; and schools that are comprehensively terrible and somehow getting even worse in Alexandria.

Preach. It is like watching a train wreck in slo-mo.

I do think that FCPS is doing a better job recently. They were resting on their laurels for a while and they allowed a tremendous amount of deferred maintenance to pile up but it seems like there is an improvement underway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a transplant. In some ways, the schools here are better than where I came from but in some ways not.

The schools here ignore the basics. There are larger class sizes, not enough busing, too much overcrowding, crumbling old facilities, overuse of technology without anyone knowing what they're doing.

But the teachers here are better than what I had.

Also the parental culture of achievement/high expectations is completely different for better (smart is value) and for worse (stress, pressure and way too much homework)[b].

This is exactly what is happening at the “well regarded schools”. There’s too much pressure on young kids and the teachers don’t walk around the classroom to check on students (to provide feedback, to offer help, etc) while they are working on a certain assignment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say you should have worked harder and would be able to afford the good schools.

Good god. This is how we end up in this situation. When people convince themselves their success is based purely on hard work and nothing else. You know who works harder than all these rich lawyers? The dad making minimum wage in 3 jobs to provide for his family. Get off your goddamn high horse.

+1. PP should have worked harder to not become an asshole.