Pyle or eastern Humanities/communication program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Suggest you see if Ms. Goldstein can reach out to families in each of the three grades to see if they can talk to you. She could send everyone in that cluster an email and whoever wants to talk could reply.

The current 8th grade is the only grade with a full year in person. The 7th grade has the most recent information about the full first year and they will still be around if your child goes there. The 6th grade would be important to talk to because they are a lottery class like this year which may impact the curriculum or the student body.

I can't help you with comparing the schools but in my opinion most of the posts are really exaggerated and I think many are probably by Silver Spring parents who are coming from a different place than you. The curriculum is fine but my child would have been fine at their regular school. The hallways and lunches are fine. The admin is great about some things and could improve on others. Some teachers are horrible while others are terrific which again is normal.

This poster is so dismissive, it must be the know-it-all back at it again. You think having your child spat upon, pushed and shoved, and their sweater ripped is "fine"? My kid is strong and moves past these things, but I wouldn't call it "fine" that this sort of stuff happens. Especially getting spat upon during a pandemic (which was very deliberately done).

Sorry this happened, PP, but those kinds of incidents happen at every middle school and your child got unlucky. My child has friends from an activity at two different W schools and they have also talked about bullying and fights at their schools. Were these three separate incidents? Why do you think this is happening to your child? DC has not experienced or seen or heard about anything like this.

You’re a total jerk for this response.

[Anonymous]

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Suggest you see if Ms. Goldstein can reach out to families in each of the three grades to see if they can talk to you. She could send everyone in that cluster an email and whoever wants to talk could reply.

The current 8th grade is the only grade with a full year in person. The 7th grade has the most recent information about the full first year and they will still be around if your child goes there. The 6th grade would be important to talk to because they are a lottery class like this year which may impact the curriculum or the student body.

I can't help you with comparing the schools but in my opinion most of the posts are really exaggerated and I think many are probably by Silver Spring parents who are coming from a different place than you. The curriculum is fine but my child would have been fine at their regular school. The hallways and lunches are fine. The admin is great about some things and could improve on others. Some teachers are horrible while others are terrific which again is normal.

This poster is so dismissive, it must be the know-it-all back at it again. You think having your child spat upon, pushed and shoved, and their sweater ripped is "fine"? My kid is strong and moves past these things, but I wouldn't call it "fine" that this sort of stuff happens. Especially getting spat upon during a pandemic (which was very deliberately done).

Sorry this happened, PP, but those kinds of incidents happen at every middle school and your child got unlucky. My child has friends from an activity at two different W schools and they have also talked about bullying and fights at their schools. Were these three separate incidents? Why do you think this is happening to your child? DC has not experienced or seen or heard about anything like this.

You’re a total jerk for this response.

Yes, we shouldn't play blame the victim, and we should be supporting another Eastern parent whose child obviously had a tough time at the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Suggest you see if Ms. Goldstein can reach out to families in each of the three grades to see if they can talk to you. She could send everyone in that cluster an email and whoever wants to talk could reply.

The current 8th grade is the only grade with a full year in person. The 7th grade has the most recent information about the full first year and they will still be around if your child goes there. The 6th grade would be important to talk to because they are a lottery class like this year which may impact the curriculum or the student body.

I can't help you with comparing the schools but in my opinion most of the posts are really exaggerated and I think many are probably by Silver Spring parents who are coming from a different place than you. The curriculum is fine but my child would have been fine at their regular school. The hallways and lunches are fine. The admin is great about some things and could improve on others. Some teachers are horrible while others are terrific which again is normal.

This poster is so dismissive, it must be the know-it-all back at it again. You think having your child spat upon, pushed and shoved, and their sweater ripped is "fine"? My kid is strong and moves past these things, but I wouldn't call it "fine" that this sort of stuff happens. Especially getting spat upon during a pandemic (which was very deliberately done).

Sorry this happened, PP, but those kinds of incidents happen at every middle school and your child got unlucky. My child has friends from an activity at two different W schools and they have also talked about bullying and fights at their schools. Were these three separate incidents? Why do you think this is happening to your child? DC has not experienced or seen or heard about anything like this.

You’re a total jerk for this response.

Yeah wow, just wow. There you go again with the child blaming. These were all individual incidents, different kids. I didn't even mention the bully in PE, which is more classic bullying. My child has a great peer group and friends, and the peer group has witnessed these sorts of things too. It's not just my child. My point in mentioning what were individual incidents was to show that these things happen. And no PP, my child didn't "ask for it." You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Anonymous]

I meant, fellow Eastern parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Suggest you see if Ms. Goldstein can reach out to families in each of the three grades to see if they can talk to you. She could send everyone in that cluster an email and whoever wants to talk could reply.

The current 8th grade is the only grade with a full year in person. The 7th grade has the most recent information about the full first year and they will still be around if your child goes there. The 6th grade would be important to talk to because they are a lottery class like this year which may impact the curriculum or the student body.

I can't help you with comparing the schools but in my opinion most of the posts are really exaggerated and I think many are probably by Silver Spring parents who are coming from a different place than you. The curriculum is fine but my child would have been fine at their regular school. The hallways and lunches are fine. The admin is great about some things and could improve on others. Some teachers are horrible while others are terrific which again is normal.

This poster is so dismissive, it must be the know-it-all back at it again. You think having your child spat upon, pushed and shoved, and their sweater ripped is "fine"? My kid is strong and moves past these things, but I wouldn't call it "fine" that this sort of stuff happens. Especially getting spat upon during a pandemic (which was very deliberately done).

Sorry this happened, PP, but those kinds of incidents happen at every middle school and your child got unlucky. My child has friends from an activity at two different W schools and they have also talked about bullying and fights at their schools. Were these three separate incidents? Why do you think this is happening to your child? DC has not experienced or seen or heard about anything like this.

You’re a total jerk for this response.

Yeah wow, just wow. There you go again with the child blaming. These were all individual incidents, different kids. I didn't even mention the bully in PE, which is more classic bullying. My child has a great peer group and friends, and the peer group has witnessed these sorts of things too. It's not just my child. My point in mentioning what were individual incidents was to show that these things happen. And no PP, my child didn't "ask for it." You should be ashamed of yourself.

NP. You sound very triggered PP. No one is blaming your child. If you think it's that bad why do you still have your child there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Suggest you see if Ms. Goldstein can reach out to families in each of the three grades to see if they can talk to you. She could send everyone in that cluster an email and whoever wants to talk could reply.

The current 8th grade is the only grade with a full year in person. The 7th grade has the most recent information about the full first year and they will still be around if your child goes there. The 6th grade would be important to talk to because they are a lottery class like this year which may impact the curriculum or the student body.

I can't help you with comparing the schools but in my opinion most of the posts are really exaggerated and I think many are probably by Silver Spring parents who are coming from a different place than you. The curriculum is fine but my child would have been fine at their regular school. The hallways and lunches are fine. The admin is great about some things and could improve on others. Some teachers are horrible while others are terrific which again is normal.

This poster is so dismissive, it must be the know-it-all back at it again. You think having your child spat upon, pushed and shoved, and their sweater ripped is "fine"? My kid is strong and moves past these things, but I wouldn't call it "fine" that this sort of stuff happens. Especially getting spat upon during a pandemic (which was very deliberately done).

Sorry this happened, PP, but those kinds of incidents happen at every middle school and your child got unlucky. My child has friends from an activity at two different W schools and they have also talked about bullying and fights at their schools. Were these three separate incidents? Why do you think this is happening to your child? DC has not experienced or seen or heard about anything like this.

You’re a total jerk for this response.

Yeah wow, just wow. There you go again with the child blaming. These were all individual incidents, different kids. I didn't even mention the bully in PE, which is more classic bullying. My child has a great peer group and friends, and the peer group has witnessed these sorts of things too. It's not just my child. My point in mentioning what were individual incidents was to show that these things happen. And no PP, my child didn't "ask for it." You should be ashamed of yourself.

NP. You sound very triggered PP. No one is blaming your child. If you think it's that bad why do you still have your child there?

"Triggered"? Nice try. You said "why do you think this is happening to your child?" And your child has not experienced this. You read between the lines of your not so subtle disparagement. Really I don't why you're so invested in discounting others' experiences. You should take a long look in the mirror at yourself.

[Anonymous]

For what it is worth (and I'm not any of the PPs above), my Eastern Humanities kid has experienced one bullying incident that was well-handled by the school. So, bullying happened, and was upsetting, but the schools' response was timely and proportional, which I appreciated.

I do think that knowing folks coming in makes a difference because you don't have to try to approach kids at lunch for a place to sit or whatever. PPs are also correct that there is a pretty big TP/SS contingent, but it's kids who know each other from soccer or theater, not necessarily kids who went to the same ES.

As for the magnet vs. comprehensive social dynamics, it's a mix. Comprehensive and magnet kids absolutely mix, but my casual observation as a parent is that comprehensive kids join magnet kid "cliques" based on shared interests, rather than magnet kids joining comprehensive "cliques."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

To the poster whose child was spat on, pushed and had their sweater ripped - I'm truly sorry that your child is having such a terrible experience at Eastern. As a parent, my heart goes out to you. I can only imagine how hard it must be to see your child go through it and feel like the administration isn't there to help. I would've been very upset and probably taken my child out of the program immediately. I think my child is learning lot at Eastern, but I would never let it happen at the cost of bullying, which is what it sounds like is happened to your child. If your child is still there, please consider pulling them out and putting them back in their home school for their own happiness and wellbeing.
My own child and friend group who are currently attending Eastern have not experienced anything close to this level of bad behavior, but I totally acknowledge that it could happen to someone else's child and we are just unaware.

Thank you. My kid is resilient, and likes Eastern for her peer group and the learning opportunities. But I do think parents should go into it with eyes wide open that the program isn't perfect, and they shouldn't rely on the magnet administration for help if there are issues (of many and assorted kinds).

If the kid runs into issues, there's a long commute, and the home school is a great option too, then yes, I agree that elsewhere would be a good choice. So parents should be aware there's not much support if there are issues, and make a backup plan to pull their kid if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

To the poster whose child was spat on, pushed and had their sweater ripped - I'm truly sorry that your child is having such a terrible experience at Eastern. As a parent, my heart goes out to you. I can only imagine how hard it must be to see your child go through it and feel like the administration isn't there to help. I would've been very upset and probably taken my child out of the program immediately. I think my child is learning lot at Eastern, but I would never let it happen at the cost of bullying, which is what it sounds like is happened to your child. If your child is still there, please consider pulling them out and putting them back in their home school for their own happiness and wellbeing.
My own child and friend group who are currently attending Eastern have not experienced anything close to this level of bad behavior, but I totally acknowledge that it could happen to someone else's child and we are just unaware.

Thank you. My kid is resilient, and likes Eastern for her peer group and the learning opportunities. But I do think parents should go into it with eyes wide open that the program isn't perfect, and they shouldn't rely on the magnet administration for help if there are issues (of many and assorted kinds).

If the kid runs into issues, there's a long commute, and the home school is a great option too, then yes, I agree that elsewhere would be a good choice. So parents should be aware there's not much support if there are issues, and make a backup plan to pull their kid if needed.

And my child has friends both in the magnet and the comprehensive program.

[Anonymous]

I want to offer my perspective because it’s different. Not discounting the experiences of others. Socially, my child has found Eastern really supportive and very anti-bullying. At my child’s past school people weren’t hostile to LGBTQ students but they were not welcoming either. At Eastern if there is a hint of negativity towards a student in this regard you can bet 10 other students will jump to their defense. It’s also very diverse in different ways so if my child says if don’t have the coolest clothes no one looks down at you and people don’t make ignorant or offensive comments about your race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to offer my perspective because it’s different. Not discounting the experiences of others. Socially, my child has found Eastern really supportive and very anti-bullying. At my child’s past school people weren’t hostile to LGBTQ students but they were not welcoming either. At Eastern if there is a hint of negativity towards a student in this regard you can bet 10 other students will jump to their defense. It’s also very diverse in different ways so if my child says if don’t have the coolest clothes no one looks down at you and people don’t make ignorant or offensive comments about your race.

PP here, of the child that was spat upon. I agree with this, the students are very supportive of one another. The peer group is one of the best parts of the program, in my child's opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Suggest you see if Ms. Goldstein can reach out to families in each of the three grades to see if they can talk to you. She could send everyone in that cluster an email and whoever wants to talk could reply.

The current 8th grade is the only grade with a full year in person. The 7th grade has the most recent information about the full first year and they will still be around if your child goes there. The 6th grade would be important to talk to because they are a lottery class like this year which may impact the curriculum or the student body.

I can't help you with comparing the schools but in my opinion most of the posts are really exaggerated and I think many are probably by Silver Spring parents who are coming from a different place than you. The curriculum is fine but my child would have been fine at their regular school. The hallways and lunches are fine. The admin is great about some things and could improve on others. Some teachers are horrible while others are terrific which again is normal.

This poster is so dismissive, it must be the know-it-all back at it again. You think having your child spat upon, pushed and shoved, and their sweater ripped is "fine"? My kid is strong and moves past these things, but I wouldn't call it "fine" that this sort of stuff happens. Especially getting spat upon during a pandemic (which was very deliberately done).

Sorry this happened, PP, but those kinds of incidents happen at every middle school and your child got unlucky. My child has friends from an activity at two different W schools and they have also talked about bullying and fights at their schools. Were these three separate incidents? Why do you think this is happening to your child? DC has not experienced or seen or heard about anything like this.

You’re a total jerk for this response.

Yeah wow, just wow. There you go again with the child blaming. These were all individual incidents, different kids. I didn't even mention the bully in PE, which is more classic bullying. My child has a great peer group and friends, and the peer group has witnessed these sorts of things too. It's not just my child. My point in mentioning what were individual incidents was to show that these things happen. And no PP, my child didn't "ask for it." You should be ashamed of yourself.

NP. You sound very triggered PP. No one is blaming your child. If you think it's that bad why do you still have your child there?

"Triggered"? Nice try. You said "why do you think this is happening to your child?" And your child has not experienced this. You read between the lines of your not so subtle disparagement. Really I don't why you're so invested in discounting others' experiences. You should take a long look in the mirror at yourself.

I'm the poster at 12:28. I do not at all discount the experiences of your child or your child's friend group. It's clear you feel very strongly about this. Even though my child hasn't experienced it, it doesn't mean it doesn't happen, and who knows, maybe we can both learn from each other. Would you like to go out for a cup of coffee or tea? Is this crazy to suggest on DCUM? We could leave our contact info with Ms. Goldstein so she could connect us. And just so you know, I'm nervous posting this but hope that it's clear that I am posting in good faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to offer my perspective because it’s different. Not discounting the experiences of others. Socially, my child has found Eastern really supportive and very anti-bullying. At my child’s past school people weren’t hostile to LGBTQ students but they were not welcoming either. At Eastern if there is a hint of negativity towards a student in this regard you can bet 10 other students will jump to their defense. It’s also very diverse in different ways so if my child says if don’t have the coolest clothes no one looks down at you and people don’t make ignorant or offensive comments about your race.

PP here, of the child that was spat upon. I agree with this, the students are very supportive of one another. The peer group is one of the best parts of the program, in my child's opinion.

+2 I'm the PP whose child was bullied and who appreciated the administration's resopnse. My child has a visible difference (along the lines of very short stature, but not that) and I was impressed by how their peers apparently jumped into the situation. I don't think I was that brave at the same age. So, while I'm not HAPPY that my child was bullied, I think they learned a good lesson - their friends and the relevant adults all mobilized to help, which is how it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, Suggest you see if Ms. Goldstein can reach out to families in each of the three grades to see if they can talk to you. She could send everyone in that cluster an email and whoever wants to talk could reply.

The current 8th grade is the only grade with a full year in person. The 7th grade has the most recent information about the full first year and they will still be around if your child goes there. The 6th grade would be important to talk to because they are a lottery class like this year which may impact the curriculum or the student body.

I can't help you with comparing the schools but in my opinion most of the posts are really exaggerated and I think many are probably by Silver Spring parents who are coming from a different place than you. The curriculum is fine but my child would have been fine at their regular school. The hallways and lunches are fine. The admin is great about some things and could improve on others. Some teachers are horrible while others are terrific which again is normal.

This poster is so dismissive, it must be the know-it-all back at it again. You think having your child spat upon, pushed and shoved, and their sweater ripped is "fine"? My kid is strong and moves past these things, but I wouldn't call it "fine" that this sort of stuff happens. Especially getting spat upon during a pandemic (which was very deliberately done).

Sorry this happened, PP, but those kinds of incidents happen at every middle school and your child got unlucky. My child has friends from an activity at two different W schools and they have also talked about bullying and fights at their schools. Were these three separate incidents? Why do you think this is happening to your child? DC has not experienced or seen or heard about anything like this.

You’re a total jerk for this response.

Yeah wow, just wow. There you go again with the child blaming. These were all individual incidents, different kids. I didn't even mention the bully in PE, which is more classic bullying. My child has a great peer group and friends, and the peer group has witnessed these sorts of things too. It's not just my child. My point in mentioning what were individual incidents was to show that these things happen. And no PP, my child didn't "ask for it." You should be ashamed of yourself.

NP. You sound very triggered PP. No one is blaming your child. If you think it's that bad why do you still have your child there?

"Triggered"? Nice try. You said "why do you think this is happening to your child?" And your child has not experienced this. You read between the lines of your not so subtle disparagement. Really I don't why you're so invested in discounting others' experiences. You should take a long look in the mirror at yourself.

I'm the poster at 12:28. I do not at all discount the experiences of your child or your child's friend group. It's clear you feel very strongly about this. Even though my child hasn't experienced it, it doesn't mean it doesn't happen, and who knows, maybe we can both learn from each other. Would you like to go out for a cup of coffee or tea? Is this crazy to suggest on DCUM? We could leave our contact info with Ms. Goldstein so she could connect us. And just so you know, I'm nervous posting this but hope that it's clear that I am posting in good faith.

Nowhere did I discount your own child's experience. The OP asked for feedback, I provided our experience, and then you have systematically (if you're the same poster, which I think you are) belittled that experience, blamed my child, to which yes I do object to when someone engages in that kind of gaslighting. I wouldn't say I have strong opinions about Eastern, I was simply giving my feedback, but I do have strong opinions about you. Maybe you have a warped sense of "good faith" and think you're posting in good faith, but it seems more like you're really invested in quashing any negative experiences or talk about Eastern. Again, my child is happy there because of the peer group and learning opportunities. But there are also issues with the program. It is possible to have a complex perspective on Eastern, and that was the feedback I was giving to OP.