MCPS Teachers - Do You Send Your Own Kids to Public School?

[Anonymous]

I'm in another large city. I'm near-ish to retirement. If my children have children, I'm going to offer to homeschool them if my kids want me to do that. And I don't believe in homeschooling. Public education is a train wreck (even though I'd never send my own kids to the private school I teach in for other reasons).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in another large city. I'm near-ish to retirement. If my children have children, I'm going to offer to homeschool them if my kids want me to do that. And I don't believe in homeschooling. Public education is a train wreck (even though I'd never send my own kids to the private school I teach in for other reasons).

Did this thread get taken over by anti-public education bots? You don’t believe in homeschooling, but you’d be willing to attempt to “educate” grandchildren? With what? Your public school education? Do you think your ideas out before your express your thoughts ever?

Public education is what the public makes of it. You are the public. It’s a reflection of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse and I both teach high school in MCPS and our youngest just graduated. The system has declined steadily over the past 25 years but has been in absolute free fall for the last few. We are thankful that our kids survived the system fairly unscathed, but we have often discussed the fact that, if we had young children now, we would move to put them in a preferable school system or make the necessary sacrifices to put them in private school. Run - don't walk -from this system. It is on fire!

Your kid is at least lucky that he has two teachers for parents - at least you can recognize and correct the deficiencies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mcps educator here- I've eyed private schools for both of my kids. Mcps has done a terrible job with the one who has an LD...an utterly abysmal job and I truly feel like he would be illiterate if I hadn’t done significan early intervention as soon as i recognized the problem. Unfortunately the LD privates cost way too much and a cheap nearby catholic school would be too rigorous and not supportive enough. The best I can do is throw money at private tutoring and provide a lot of support at home. I may need to send him to private down the road.

I'm also very concerned about the open drug use and distractions at the high school level. I will see how things shake out for my older child.

I dealt with a similar issue and ended up going private but it is costly. What did you do to intervene on your own? Or do you mean because you are a teacher, you were able to figure out what was wrong/missing and help fix?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ironic since I was just talking to my neighbor who is a teacher in MCPS. Her DS was put on academic probation after his first semester in college due to dismal grades. He didn't really attend class regularly (he didn't in HS either) and was pissed that none of his professors allowed retakes. He didn't improve enough in the second semester to go back next year. His mom is pissed but students are being passed along with these BS practices and some end up in college. It's educational fraud. Yes, I know all of the students of DCUM posters don't need retakes but there are kids being passed along who do end up in college. I remember reading an article years ago that something like 40% of a college students need to take remedial classes. So how can they be getting all of these As in HS but need remedial courses in college? Something doesn't add up.

So he didn't attend class regularly but an MCPS teacher is blaming the system for his inability to pass freshman college classes? Yeah sure, ok Jan

No she is saying he was still passed along and allowed to graduate, despite having this issues when he shouldn't have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sent mine to Catholic private for K-8; then public IB for high school.

If I little kids now, I would do ES bilingual ((I am zoned for Oakland Terrace). I missed the boat on that one. i would still do private for middle school, then IB program HS.

The problem is Catholic private involves indoctrination and the education part is kind of worse the only pro is they can kick all the behavioral problems to the curb which I guess counts for something.

Catholic education is different starting in HS. Any person of faith or no faith would benefit.

This. From some of the more competitive schools like Georgetown Visitation and Gonzaga to the easier ones (but still good), like Good Counsel, your child will get a solid education. Also, they will NOT pass you if you don't actually pass. They gate keep from day 1 any of the advanced/AP classes and take the math placement test/process very seriously when coming in as a freshman. You will work hard at these schools but you will be very prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in another large city. I'm near-ish to retirement. If my children have children, I'm going to offer to homeschool them if my kids want me to do that. And I don't believe in homeschooling. Public education is a train wreck (even though I'd never send my own kids to the private school I teach in for other reasons).

Did this thread get taken over by anti-public education bots? You don’t believe in homeschooling, but you’d be willing to attempt to “educate” grandchildren? With what? Your public school education? Do you think your ideas out before your express your thoughts ever?

Public education is what the public makes of it. You are the public. It’s a reflection of you.

The OP asked teachers if they send their own kids to public. Teachers are answering. You just don’t like that answer.

There are threads all over DCUM about the declining state of MCPS. Teachers are sending out tons of distress signals, so perhaps it’s time to accept there might be a few problems?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in another large city. I'm near-ish to retirement. If my children have children, I'm going to offer to homeschool them if my kids want me to do that. And I don't believe in homeschooling. Public education is a train wreck (even though I'd never send my own kids to the private school I teach in for other reasons).

Did this thread get taken over by anti-public education bots? You don’t believe in homeschooling, but you’d be willing to attempt to “educate” grandchildren? With what? Your public school education? Do you think your ideas out before your express your thoughts ever?

Public education is what the public makes of it. You are the public. It’s a reflection of you.

The OP asked teachers if they send their own kids to public. Teachers are answering. You just don’t like that answer.

There are threads all over DCUM about the declining state of MCPS. Teachers are sending out tons of distress signals, so perhaps it’s time to accept there might be a few problems?

No one is denying that. What people are denying is that this is not unique to MCPS. Districts across the country are struggling. The schools are affected by the current social climate. Parents pushing for things and then not realizing the repercussions down the road.
Many policies also from the state. Like social promotion. I am a teacher. MCPS is far from on fire. I just think your expectations are too high. Moco has changed - the demographics, the executives, the policies from the state, the increased federal and state requirements without an increase in the budget - all these decisions affect a publicly funded institution. Each district is going to have its issues. We weathered a pretty big storm and still graduated hundreds of students who received prestigious awards and scholarships.

There is a lot of good going in with kids in the schools. There are a lot of good programs and opportunities. There are a lot of great teachers who are still very dedicated. Many MCPS schools are still nationally recognized. I don’t know why people always seem to think the grass is greener. Maybe it is- but 99% of the population will still be going to MCPS and will turn out just fine. It takes the student and the family to help ensure a students’ future success. Read literature about it, and all will say, students with an involved family have the greater chance of success. It seems many of you responding about the unique needs of your children did what you needed to to help them. That is called parenting. The burden cannot all be on a school system. This is part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

My kid is an atheist and had a great education at a Catholic MS and HS. The teachers are just happy to have a lively debate and that’s what he gave them. He always got good grades in religion and even got a letter of rec for college from one of the brothers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in another large city. I'm near-ish to retirement. If my children have children, I'm going to offer to homeschool them if my kids want me to do that. And I don't believe in homeschooling. Public education is a train wreck (even though I'd never send my own kids to the private school I teach in for other reasons).

Did this thread get taken over by anti-public education bots? You don’t believe in homeschooling, but you’d be willing to attempt to “educate” grandchildren? With what? Your public school education? Do you think your ideas out before your express your thoughts ever?

Public education is what the public makes of it. You are the public. It’s a reflection of you.

The OP asked teachers if they send their own kids to public. Teachers are answering. You just don’t like that answer.

There are threads all over DCUM about the declining state of MCPS. Teachers are sending out tons of distress signals, so perhaps it’s time to accept there might be a few problems?

Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mcps educator here- I've eyed private schools for both of my kids. Mcps has done a terrible job with the one who has an LD...an utterly abysmal job and I truly feel like he would be illiterate if I hadn’t done significan early intervention as soon as i recognized the problem. Unfortunately the LD privates cost way too much and a cheap nearby catholic school would be too rigorous and not supportive enough. The best I can do is throw money at private tutoring and provide a lot of support at home. I may need to send him to private down the road.

I'm also very concerned about the open drug use and distractions at the high school level. I will see how things shake out for my older child.

I dealt with a similar issue and ended up going private but it is costly. What did you do to intervene on your own? Or do you mean because you are a teacher, you were able to figure out what was wrong/missing and help fix?

I was able to recognize the signs early on that he had an LD along with ither issues and knew that help would never come from the school system or would be minimal at best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mcps educator here- I've eyed private schools for both of my kids. Mcps has done a terrible job with the one who has an LD...an utterly abysmal job and I truly feel like he would be illiterate if I hadn’t done significan early intervention as soon as i recognized the problem. Unfortunately the LD privates cost way too much and a cheap nearby catholic school would be too rigorous and not supportive enough. The best I can do is throw money at private tutoring and provide a lot of support at home. I may need to send him to private down the road.

I'm also very concerned about the open drug use and distractions at the high school level. I will see how things shake out for my older child.

I dealt with a similar issue and ended up going private but it is costly. What did you do to intervene on your own? Or do you mean because you are a teacher, you were able to figure out what was wrong/missing and help fix?

Here’s a secret of private school, those with LDs in them who thrive are paying also “throwing money at private tutoring and provide a lot of support at home.” It’s not one or the other. Depending on school, the privately paid support may be able/or required to come on campus to help the student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is an atheist and had a great education at a Catholic MS and HS. The teachers are just happy to have a lively debate and that’s what he gave them. He always got good grades in religion and even got a letter of rec for college from one of the brothers.

Huh. So your kid's Catholic schools are actually not providing a Catholic education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in another large city. I'm near-ish to retirement. If my children have children, I'm going to offer to homeschool them if my kids want me to do that. And I don't believe in homeschooling. Public education is a train wreck (even though I'd never send my own kids to the private school I teach in for other reasons).

Did this thread get taken over by anti-public education bots? You don’t believe in homeschooling, but you’d be willing to attempt to “educate” grandchildren? With what? Your public school education? Do you think your ideas out before your express your thoughts ever?

Public education is what the public makes of it. You are the public. It’s a reflection of you.

The OP asked teachers if they send their own kids to public. Teachers are answering. You just don’t like that answer.

There are threads all over DCUM about the declining state of MCPS. Teachers are sending out tons of distress signals, so perhaps it’s time to accept there might be a few problems?

No one is denying that. What people are denying is that this is not unique to MCPS. Districts across the country are struggling. The schools are affected by the current social climate. Parents pushing for things and then not realizing the repercussions down the road.
Many policies also from the state. Like social promotion. I am a teacher. MCPS is far from on fire. I just think your expectations are too high. Moco has changed - the demographics, the executives, the policies from the state, the increased federal and state requirements without an increase in the budget - all these decisions affect a publicly funded institution. Each district is going to have its issues. We weathered a pretty big storm and still graduated hundreds of students who received prestigious awards and scholarships.

There is a lot of good going in with kids in the schools. There are a lot of good programs and opportunities. There are a lot of great teachers who are still very dedicated. Many MCPS schools are still nationally recognized. I don’t know why people always seem to think the grass is greener. Maybe it is- but 99% of the population will still be going to MCPS and will turn out just fine. It takes the student and the family to help ensure a students’ future success. Read literature about it, and all will say, students with an involved family have the greater chance of success. It seems many of you responding about the unique needs of your children did what you needed to to help them. That is called parenting. The burden cannot all be on a school system. This is part of the problem.

+1000. It’s like DCUM refuses to acknowledge the vast changes that have occurred in society over the last 25 years and somehow expects schools to be the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in another large city. I'm near-ish to retirement. If my children have children, I'm going to offer to homeschool them if my kids want me to do that. And I don't believe in homeschooling. Public education is a train wreck (even though I'd never send my own kids to the private school I teach in for other reasons).

Did this thread get taken over by anti-public education bots? You don’t believe in homeschooling, but you’d be willing to attempt to “educate” grandchildren? With what? Your public school education? Do you think your ideas out before your express your thoughts ever?

Public education is what the public makes of it. You are the public. It’s a reflection of you.

The OP asked teachers if they send their own kids to public. Teachers are answering. You just don’t like that answer.

There are threads all over DCUM about the declining state of MCPS. Teachers are sending out tons of distress signals, so perhaps it’s time to accept there might be a few problems?

This. I remember during the pandemic finding out our school counselor (who was fantastic) sent her son to private school. I alway thought that was interesting given the good school she was zoned for. Then of course during the pandemic lots of people tried to swarm the Catholic schools which were full by then.