BASIS DC to open in 2012-2013
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Anonymous
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Where's the rule that you need to have a child in a particular school to post about it on DCUM, other than by asking questions?
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Anonymous
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My hypothesis: BASIS might well reflect a wave of charter school openings (perhaps initiated by Latin) that are doing an end-run around DCPS and will finally provide high-quality public middle and high school options for people who cannot afford to buy IB for Deal/Wilson (or perhaps do not want to for some other reason). These types of charter schools will accelerate the on-going gentrification of DC, and there any many people who feel threatened by that gentrification. If BASIS were just another charter school, why would anyone feel the need to invest so much time into bashing it. It won't have any impact on your life if you don't have any kids attending, right? Wrong. High-quality charter schools such as BASIS will cause middle class families (both AA and non-AA) to move into (or not move out of) DC. These families will bid up home prices and apartment rentals, making it more difficult for working class families and families dependent on social programs to stay in DC. Furthermore, since charter schools offer no IB preference, these families can bid up prices throughout the city. I think that the bashers recognize that BASIS might be just the tip of the iceberg and are thus heavily invested in its failure. Basis parent here. Your post is the type of post that brings out Basis bashers. All of these generalizations about what native Washingtonians may feel. Excuse me, we were here working to make the city better long before the gentrifiers came in. People have chosen to not "move out" of the city for reasons that have nothing to do with gentrifiers or schools. People have chosen to "move into" the city for reasons that have nothing to for gentrifiers or schools. The city did not just get "discovered" when you got here. BTW - where do you think all of these "working class families and families dependent on social programs" are going to go. Not to MoCo, PG, or Anne Arundel County where the social net is less expansive. A lot of the people that are going to get pushed out are the solid middle class. You sound like the person who is always "wishing the poor children will fail" out of Basis. Let me guess - AA maybe with an Ivy League education. |
Anonymous
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What counts as first-hand? Actually having a kid there is first hand.
Forming an opinion based on what you heard from someone else is at best second hand and is definitely superficial. I think I'm not alone in that I know and talk to plenty of parents who have kids at many other schools. But, like most NORMAL people, I'm not so arrogant to leap to strong opinions and presume that just because I know a little about their schools, that I should go around and act like I know more about their own school than they themselves do, just based on some superficial little tidbits of information. I'm not so arrogant as to argue with them and call them deceitful when in fact they have far more actual first-hand information than I do. Yet, here we have BASIS bashers who have no direct knowledge of BASIS and only a tiny bit of superficial information mixed with plenty of incorrect information and rumor going around doing that very thing. |
Anonymous
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(1) I don't see Washington Latin, Deal or Two Rivers in your mess BASIS DC.
(2) The fact is three Heads of School in one year. First Mary way before the beginning of school, then BASIS decided for Paul (who was a disaster) right before the start and then decided for Sean before the end of the year. (3) BASIS DC's excuse that blacks leave because they can't handle the "rigorous" curriculum is BS. It's called pretext for racism. If you want a kid to succeed you'll find the way. Remember they're the kid and your the adult. (4) The PSCB was explicit about BASIS DC. Want proof. Here it is: http://charteringquality.org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/04/2012-2013_Increase_Enrollment_Ceiling_Basis_PCS_04_05_13_nrd_nls_sdpII.pdf (5) Fact. Community meeting was a disaster. Complaints about Head of School dismissing emails, lack of stability ( 3 heads of school), highly unprofessional about Teacher departures ( parent learn through kids), complaints about no school counselor, complaints about no plans for athletics, complaints about lack of school culture. (6) The Head of School was one incompetent fellow. Need proof, read WP what he said to PSCB about wanting to expand. It's not bashing just the truth. |
Anonymous
You obviously have an ax to grind  You also grossly misrepresent the facts and make incorrect assumptions. You also fail to mention the many happy parents at the last meeting.
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Anonymous
What a strange analysis. Few here could possibly be "heavily invested" in BASIS' failure. The opposite. We're so short on appealing MS options for the most academic kids in this city that many of us would love to see a truly rigorous college prep program succeed. But if BASIS is the best we can do for our 11-18 year-old advanced learners in this city, at least outside Upper NW, I, for one, am feeling discouraged. The building, and set-up, just doesn't seem like a healthy place for bright adolescents, and the program doesn't seem terribly well thought through. Moreover, it doesn't sound like BASIS DC has nearly enough money, yet who's lobbying for charters to get the same generous per student outlays as DCPS schools? When I think about how I went to school with most of the same kids from 6th grade to 12th, and played varsity sports and performed in plays and orchestras with them, I can't get excited about sending my child to a school where two-thirds of his classmates will go by the wayside eventually, where high attrition is the goal, and where extra-curriculars aren't well resourced. Living in the city is fun, but at what price? So much controversy swirls around BASIS that it sounds tiring to get involved. I just want a normal, well-rounded public school education for my sharp, disciplined, high energy science and math-loving kid, so he has a decent shot of attending an elite college. |
Anonymous
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"When I think about how I went to school with most of the same kids from 6th grade to 12th, and played varsity sports and performed in plays and orchestras with them, I can't get excited about sending my child to a school where two-thirds of his classmates will go by the wayside eventually, where high attrition is the goal, and where extra-curriculars aren't well resourced." Isn't the logical conclusion not to send your kids there? Why do you care so much about the building, teachers, etc.? And why people who don't like BASIS post here? Make your choice and live with it! You don't like BASIS? Choose another school and move on..... |
Anonymous
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^+1
There isn't one public school option in DC with the school activities/culture AND strong academics AND being 6-12 grades anywhere in commuting distance from DC. Enjoy the outer suburbs or prepare to cough up $30k per year. |
Anonymous
That's just a ridiculous statement. You can provide the best environment and the best tools and the best teaching and still some kids will not succeed. The kids have to be willing to make the effort. It's not about race as much as it is SES. |
Anonymous
You're right but please don't lower the tone here. It's low enough. |
Anonymous
Seriously, PP, just stop trying to shut down discussion. People care about things like buildings and teachers when choosing schools. Everyone here has valuable input, whether positive or negative. Leave it alone and let people share their legitimate concerns and issues. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
I think the PP was just trying to differentiate between constructive criticisms and....whatever one calls what happens in these threads. People are certainly entitled to their opinion but they often feel pointless if not plain mean. |
Anonymous
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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]^+1
There isn't one public school option in DC with the school activities/culture AND strong academics AND being 6-12 grades anywhere in commuting distance from DC. Enjoy the outer suburbs or prepare to cough up $30k per year.[/quote] You're right but please don't lower the tone here. It's low enough. [/quote] Basis Parent responding here to raise the tone. My son just completed Algebra 2. The school has: team sports, including basketball, running, soccer, fencing and others; school dances for seemingly every holiday; a drama club that makes several community performances; music clubs, such as chorus and strings; academic clubs such as debate and science club; language clubs; student leadership; hobby clubs; social clubs, art clubs, including a digital media club that put together a bound year book in the school's first year of operation, etc., etc., etc. The students are so involved that they formed a Peer Tutoring Group to help motivate students who needed additional support. My son had more chances to socialize than I had at a local Catholic school at his age, plus much more demanding academics. If Basis is not what you are looking for in a middle school, I embrace that. My son has former classmates who go to DCPS, charter schools, private schools and Catholic schools. My younger child goes to DCPS. The difference is that their schools don't have thread after thread after thread filled with vitriol. Step back, everybody, and remember that many DC families have kids at Basis. We're a part of this board, too. |