Parents of former Basis students - where did you go, and why
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Anonymous
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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
Why doesn't Basis cover proofs? This seems to be a major lack.[/quote] I had heard this before, too so I looked into it a little bit. BASIS uses Saxon Math and from what I've researched about Saxon (aka Googled so I am NOT an expert by any stretch of the imagination), Saxon has geometry woven throughout the curriculum, but teaches proofs at the very end of the Algebra II book. If the class doesn't get to the very end of the book, they don't cover proofs as a true geometry class would. Continuing with the Saxon math sequence however, the student would revisit proofs the following year. [/quote] Actually, Saxon math covers proofs extensively in Advance Mathematics (Pre-calculus). Students cover the equivalent of a full year of high school geometry over the course of Algebra 1 and 2 and Pre-Calculus. By weaving geometry though out these course leads to better retention. Also, BASIS has a very good track record with AP Calculus test results by using Saxon math. [/quote] In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future. |
Anonymous
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So these students could not pass the placement test and had to be repeat algebra or geometry because of proofs?
Was the test on proofs only? Besides any proof before precalculus is quite simple -- proving two triangles are congruent by SSS, SAS, ASA AAS (HL) postulates. It takes most students a couple weeks to understand these concepts. I find it hard to imagine any placement test having more than 10% of the questions on proofs, and students not passing an overall placement test because they have not been exposed to it. |
Anonymous
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[quote=Anonymous]
[b]In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future.[/b][/quote] I find it unbelievable that you know all the details about how 13 students actually performed at BASIS in math seeing as that is info protected by law. Also, are you aware that BASIS offers Pre-calculus as a one or two year option so it is possible that if these 13 students exist as you say that they may not have finished Pre-calculus. Frankly, you seem very unhappy with BASIS and truly it might be better for you and your kid to find another school. I know I would not hesitate to move my kid to another school if I was mostly unhappy with it as you seem to be. in fact, I have moved my kid in the past from schools that I was unhappy with. Thankfully, we are happy with BASIS and plan on staying all the way through. I also know plenty of other parents who feel the same way. |
Anonymous
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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
[b]In the other BASIS thread about SWW, the poster states that only 2 of 13 students are in precallc at SWW, which they would have automatically been in had they stayed at BASIS. Saxon math is the reason why. If these 9th graders had been able to start BASIS at 5th grade, they may have already taken precalc in 8th grade, and would have definitely gotten to proofs. Will be interesting to see how BASIS students, if they jump ship, place in SWW math in the future.[/b][/quote] I find it unbelievable that you know all the details about how 13 students actually performed at BASIS in math seeing as that is info protected by law. Also, are you aware that BASIS offers Pre-calculus as a one or two year option so it is possible that if these 13 students exist as you say that they may not have finished Pre-calculus. Frankly, you seem very unhappy with BASIS and truly it might be better for you and your kid to find another school. I know I would not hesitate to move my kid to another school if I was mostly unhappy with it as you seem to be. in fact, I have moved my kid in the past from schools that I was unhappy with. Thankfully, we are happy with BASIS and plan on staying all the way through. I also know plenty of other parents who feel the same way.[/quote] PP here, and now understanding why people think we BASIS families are a little intense. I do not know how the students placed, I was quoting another poster from the SWW thread, as I noted in my post. Contrary to how you took it, my post was actually hopeful for the future. I empathize with the families on the leading edge of BASIS -- my DC started in fifth grade and still had quite a rude awakening. I can only imagine how hard it was for the first 7th graders to try to get up to speed. My family is very happy at BASIS and don't plan to go anywhere else. |
Anonymous
| Basis plans to have Pre Calc in the future for all 8th graders, but for students not starting at fifth grade in the first year, they made an exception. |
Anonymous
You are misinformed. Pre-Calc is only take in 8th grade if a student was accelerated based on diagnostic testing. Normally students take Algebra 1 in 7th and Algebra 2 in 8th grade. |
Anonymous
That's what I should have said. I was trying to correct a previous poster and should have checked the course schedule. |
Anonymous
insufferable elitism and blaming the victim (any child who did not pass their comps is lazy and/or stupid and their parents are both), too bad that every BASIS BOOSTER save one ignored the polite request that this be a thread about why parents left and why......... not about why those who stayed and have drunk the koolaid think everyone else should be silent and do not want us to attempt to conduct exit interviews to increase retention and improve the school would anyone want to go to a school where their children are exposed to children whose parents have the attitude that |
Anonymous
BTW, the "deranged mother" everyone is referring to has not posted once on this thread, I asked. Airing BASIS dirty laundry when it is not necessary does not help the school............. were you not on the list serve when a mother posted about the neutral scantron machine not working, about insisting to see her child's comp retakes, and about how they were incorrectly marked and the child was incorrectly retained until she herself corrected/insisted they acknowledge their own error? You will talk about parents crying "racism" until the cows come home, but BASIS according to the BOOSTERS acknowledged this incident, promoted the child, and "rechecked" every comp retake to insure this was not a widespread error. Not racism. Inaccuracy that almost resulted in a child repeating a year of school when by BASIS standards they did not have to....... |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
at least one "deranged mom" - me - defended I don't think churning is really the right word. It has such negative connotations after the financial collapse. But we do indeed have 25 open slots in 6th grade, and we do not admit in 7th, so there is less of a churning opportunity, no? In addition, in only our second year, our DC CAS scores were, I believe, second only to Deal's. That suggests that Basis is already attracting the "right kind of student," because as people were quick to point out last year, we cannot completely remediate an entire 5th grade. So that part is going well. And before I get flamed, Basis had over 40% of children who were entitled to free and reduced meals, unlike Deal (21% or so) and Washington Latin (18%) I do not believe that this much attrition was expected, either after 5th or in the upper grades, and the Boosters mailing state some of the "top" students left. I would just like to know where these kids went, why they left, and whether they are happy, or happier. My child was dimly aware of several students who were planning to leave who were already in 9th grade. My understanding is that their intention was to repeat 9th grade elsewhere. We have confirmed that they left, but do not know where they are - Walls? Banneker? I would like to know how that worked out for them. So if anyone has any relevant specific information they are willing to share, I would appreciate it. I do assume that the parents of the kids in high school are on DCUM............ Some private schools conduct exit interviews, and that is what I am trying to do - in order to predict what will happen in the next year or so. Maybe we are so new none of it matters in the long run. But right now it matters to me..... Some, like NCS (see the "hot topics" forum), have the attitude that if a child leaves, the problem was with the child not the school, so anything the child or parents might have to say is irrelevant. There are apparently parents of kids who have graduated from NCS who wish to address the board on the subject of how awful the experience was for their child, and apparently these children are now at good colleges and universities... So it is department of, you got my kid into Harvard, and I paid you $38k a year to do it, but now I want to tell you that you made my child miserable, or the other students did, or the competitive environment........ It is hard to identify what they are talking about since it is an "atmosphere." But several parents referred to it as "toxic." Thankfully, Basis does not seem to have these kinds of issues. We certaintly don't have any college admissions yet. have to retract the former statement, as present BASIS parents are creating a toxic environment, indeed radioactive, at least on DCUM that no parent in their right mind would want to get involved in based on these posts by parents who were the only ones who refused to go gently into that good night[b] t whose comments were not solicited. The Basis parents are...... "doin' it, doin' it for themselves," and hence are "doin it, doin it" to themselves......... |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
will do, signed, one of the "deranged moms" who made the mistake of trusting present Basis parents not to commit Hari Kari but who clearly stayed away from her computer too long to make sure that trust was warranted |
Anonymous
BASIS BOOSTER WROTE Any genuinely *positive and constructive* suggestions are always welcome - but I think we can all do without the accusations and attacks. Peace out. do you think the above when the parent had said "our child had a 4.0" and "our child excelled in history but decided not to take the AP is a positive and constructive suggestion or an accusation and attack on one of the parents whose answer was specifically solicited because they clearly had one of the "top students" who left? Honestly? and please "take a deep breath before you press the submit button" as all the BOOSTERS clearly have done on this thread........... way to represent folks. Not what this "deranged mom" was looking for or expected......... at all. I should have waited for the Thursday meeting to understand that the true colors were those of the mom who asserted that any attempt to stagger class dismissal and/or transfer times to reduce violence in the hallways was, in her esteemed opinion, an attempt to reduce the "academic rigor" at BASIS because she had "signed up" for all of this, including not having the option of using Aero as a time for other kids to decompress, maybe get some exercise. No, because offering such options in what is supposed to be "study hall" would reduce the academic rigor as well. Not going to argue with you........ but since you said (much to the dismay of many) that you had wanted to go back to another geographic area but could not because the school BASIS started there was private and has no financial aid to speak of, why don't you and your child(ren) apply to NCS. I am sure you all would love it there, and as all the "you just left because you cannot handle the academic rigor" parents here are giving themselves or perhaps their compadres "atta girls," I can safely say based on an unscientific exit poll that lacks academic rigor and thus would never be published in a peer reviewed journal, that... there are at least six parents who would love to be rid of you, because you take up unnecessary time at critical meetings just to point out that you think the school is perfect, exactly what you signed up for, torpedoes be damned because so far they have not been launched at your child. BOOSTERS would like me to shut up. Like minded parents who came to the meeting would like you to leave........... |
Anonymous
Well, I think the Boosters started by making assumptions about why people left, and they were wrong about the fact that the kids were academically struggling, and then they had nothing else substantive to say except mention "test anxiety" and their approval of silent lunches. Peace out. Please think before you pile on again. You did sound elitist, mean, and in denial about what goes on at the school. |
