Please SOUND OFF if you think FCPS is in decline!

[Anonymous]

“The Becky’s are the ones they don’t mind catering to. You’d didn’t know?”

Looks like you were absent the day plurals vs possessives was taught.

And to the posters upthread who talked about worksheets, it’s because we no longer have textbooks or workbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“The Becky’s are the ones they don’t mind catering to. You’d didn’t know?”

Looks like you were absent the day plurals vs possessives was taught.

And contractions!

[Anonymous]

I have two kids in FCPS. I feel like they're just largely being "pushed through". My kids are bright, but bored. It feels like kids are locked into a lane at age 7 and they're never allowed to get out of it. It feels like all the resources are pushed toward the top 5% of students and the rest get the scraps.

I don't like it. We're looking at moving out of state to give our kids a better education.

[Anonymous]

We have no complaints. Our kids weren’t in the top 5% at their schools and they still received an excellent education that prepared them well for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hate FCPS. Had a horrible experience - DC pulled though but by Middle went to private. DC is pitching for return to public. I just can't breath thinking about heading back there.... ugh.[/

DC was in FCPS and is now pitching to return, but you’re the one complaining?

One of the biggest difference in FCPS over the years is the number of high-maintenance parents. The academics are actually much better and there’s far more diversity. Just more Becky’s getting bent out of shape when their kids aren’t the absolute center of the universe.[/quote]


x100000

Nailed it. I am sure (??) that the overbearing parents are well meaning (??), if not self serving - but in reality, they make their own DC's life hell, in the long run.

Oh come on. The poverty rate has increased by 75% over the last 15 years and it's wealthy high maintenance parents who are the systems biggest challenge? Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to FCPS as a kid and got a solid education, back in the late 70s and 80s. Then I have taught here for 30 years. Here is what has changed in elementary schools.

No textbooks or workbooks. Well, one for social studies that was riddled with errors and corrected. Every lesson has to be downloaded off the computer by a teacher. Every lesson has to show differentiation if a principal walks in. Did you notice the part about no books? I have to group the kids into reading groups and then go find multiple copies of a book to read with them while the rest of them work on something independently and then we switch. I have to keep anecdotal records on every kid in the reading groups, and I can’t help the kids who are working at their seats because I am in a reading group.

I’m supposed to do project based learning along with drilling for Ecart and SOLs. I have to think up projects and find supplies and manage all that while I am keeping data on how many times the three special ed kids get out of their seats and I am checking the kid with autism every ten minutes to give him a token if he has not hit anyone. I have no spelling or grammar books. I’m supposed to teach that as embedded in my writing lessons, as kids are ready. The ESL kid is writing a complete sentence. The AAP kid is writing a book.

For math we are drawing pictures of times tables instead of memorizing them, and I want the kids to do actual problems on paper I must download a worksheet and go copy it.

The behavior is out of control but the principal wants to show reduced statistics so there are no consequences and we are told to not send kids to the office. Kids punch a teacher and arexdight back in class after taking a calming walk with an adult, which is reinforcing to them.
Now we’re going to give every kid a computer so they can increase their screen time?

It breaks my heart, and I’m a teacher who has won teaching awards and honors. I’m sick about it.

This is why we put our kids in private. Our school is in a wealthy area and is not faced with language issues or low income. And it was still very mediocre. We are now in a school with workbooks and spelling and math and some home work. And kids are held accountable for their behavior. Our public school principal either didn’t see the weakness of the education or didn’t care. I had a great and rigor public school education without the need for tutors. Now, everyone tutors to master basic skills. I recall talking to someone from another country who seemed to think it silly that I would have such high expectations for public school. Her attitude was that it is free so of course it is inferior. She supplemented with tutors. Every day. Her child was in AAP. We just decided to go private. Happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.

Example: the little girl who died as a result of a fight with another schoolgirl in SC. The teachers had been told not to physically break up fights, because they might hurt a child.
All the videos of teachers trying to restrain children condemn the teacher. We never get the backstory. Example: the teacher dragging a kid down a hall--we are never told why. We just condemn the teacher--which may be justified, or there may be another reason. Having been there, a kid might be flailing around and kicking other kids--but, on the news, it is always the teachers' fault.

I'm not saying there are not egregious situations, but some of the stories I am hearing from a friend who teaches are pretty bad.

Don’t forget FCPS and how much they love ‘restorative justive’. If someone physically assaults your child, don’t worry! the administrators will take the abuser for a walk and give them ice cream to calm them down.

And make your kid have a play date with the assualter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does it seem like the education from FCPS is nowhere near as good as it was 20 years ago? Misused funds, children swept under the rug, principals who lie...

Sound off!

You’re not alone. United we march for the world level education our kids deserve. Let’s set the date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend a lot of time in different classrooms in different schools watching the system in action.

It's not that FCPS is in decline. It's that your kid has a cell phone, and you just cannot imagine how much that time and attention sink is hurting his/her education.

does

So why not have a no phone in classroom policy? If it is out, goes on teachers desk or sent to office. I never understood why it wasn’t a rule? We enforced from home by restricting as much as we could but as they got older we were told they also used in class. But once assignments over, rule should activate.

The over reliance on computers and cell phones in our schools needs to change. Phones should be banned. Assignments/assessments in elementary school be on paper. Elementary students should not have to use computers at home or in class to complete work/look up assignments etc.

I’m with ya. Electromagnetic radiation can penetrate almost straight through the entire brain of 5-9 y o children. A child’s skull is much thinner than an adult’s, so it provides less of a filter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids in FCPS. I feel like they're just largely being "pushed through". My kids are bright, but bored. It feels like kids are locked into a lane at age 7 and they're never allowed to get out of it. It feels like all the resources are pushed toward the top 5% of students and the rest get the scraps.

I don't like it. We're looking at moving out of state to give our kids a better education.

I could have written this word-for-word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.

Example: the little girl who died as a result of a fight with another schoolgirl in SC. The teachers had been told not to physically break up fights, because they might hurt a child.
All the videos of teachers trying to restrain children condemn the teacher. We never get the backstory. Example: the teacher dragging a kid down a hall--we are never told why. We just condemn the teacher--which may be justified, or there may be another reason. Having been there, a kid might be flailing around and kicking other kids--but, on the news, it is always the teachers' fault.

I'm not saying there are not egregious situations, but some of the stories I am hearing from a friend who teaches are pretty bad.

Don’t forget FCPS and how much they love ‘restorative justive’. If someone physically assaults your child, don’t worry! the administrators will take the abuser for a walk and give them ice cream to calm them down.

And make your kid have a play date with the assualter.

+1

Yeah, but God forbid you are given or part of a lesser accusation - then its the guillotine - so backwards. In fact, FCPS is well known to be backwards.

This is just one of many recent happenings - they tried to pin the sexual assault charge on the assault victim, so this tells you all you need to know about FCPS and how FCPS handles (ie: FAILS to handle) incidents. FCPS tries to make incidents "go away"; as a result, incidents are routinely mishandled: http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/lawsuit-fairfax-county-student-sexually-assaulted-on-band-trip

[Anonymous]

SOLs were the beginning of the end for FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SOLs were the beginning of the end for FCPS.

I think the testing has affected schools everywhere.

The motive was good: accountability.
The reality is a mess. Teaching to the test does not good education make.

The other issue is lack of personal responsibility. Blame the schools if your child cannot behave. Blame the school if a child comes to school without ever having seen a book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids in FCPS. I feel like they're just largely being "pushed through". My kids are bright, but bored. It feels like kids are locked into a lane at age 7 and they're never allowed to get out of it. It feels like all the resources are pushed toward the top 5% of students and the rest get the scraps.

I don't like it. We're looking at moving out of state to give our kids a better education.

I could have written this word-for-word.

West Virginia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have two kids in FCPS. I feel like they're just largely being "pushed through". My kids are bright, but bored. It feels like kids are locked into a lane at age 7 and they're never allowed to get out of it. It feels like all the resources are pushed toward the top 5% of students and the rest get the scraps.

I don't like it. We're looking at moving out of state to give our kids a better education.

I could have written this word-for-word.

West Virginia?

Nope. Fairfax County Public Schools sweetheart!