Anonymous wrote:My kid who just turned 4 may say she lives in MD if you ask her. We live in upper NW near MD border, and do lots of activities in MD (sports, errands, etc.). I've told her we lives in Washington DC, but who knows, if someone asked I wouldn't be surprised if she said MD. Kids are not always a reliable source of info.

Anonymous wrote:I attended a field trip today as a chaperone and during the bus ride, one child asked if I knew where he lived. Just to be light-hearted, I pointed to a random house and said, "Right there?" The child laughed and said no and named his street in DC.

It dawned on me that even young kids, including my own, know what street and city they live in. I can just make conversation with the kids about where they live. If I find one who reports to live in Maryland, take their name and report to authorities. Boom.

Just imagine if we had groups of parents doing this for every field trip in every school across the city...

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Anonymous wrote:I would never ask a child where they live, not would I report a child who told me where they live. But I did actually have a PK3er tell me they lived in Maryland when we were on a field trip bus to Baltimore. I changed the subject quickly, but I feel bad for the kids who get caught up in the parents' lies.

Don't feel bad or assume parents are lying. You had a 3 year old tell you they live in Maryland. Maybe it was Maryland that day and tomorrow it's DC with mom.

A 3 yo. Are you kidding me? Maybe they used to live in MD. You have no idea.

I love the way folks rationalize fraud. Maybe because they are fraudsters themselves or have a family member or close friend who is doing it?

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Anonymous wrote:I would never ask a child where they live, not would I report a child who told me where they live. But I did actually have a PK3er tell me they lived in Maryland when we were on a field trip bus to Baltimore. I changed the subject quickly, but I feel bad for the kids who get caught up in the parents' lies.

Don't feel bad or assume parents are lying. You had a 3 year old tell you they live in Maryland. Maybe it was Maryland that day and tomorrow it's DC with mom.

A 3 yo. Are you kidding me? Maybe they used to live in MD. You have no idea.

I love the way folks rationalize fraud. Maybe because they are fraudsters themselves or have a family member or close friend who is doing it?

I think it's more likely this. They have a family member or a good friend in a tough school district and they can't afford to pay for private (maybe raised by a single mom? never had much money?). So they "do whatever it takes to give my child a good education" and the cheating ends up being viewed as a moral imperative. It's seen as rising above the challenges the family faces.

And yes, I'm sure the teachers know who the cheaters are. They probably hear so much crazy drama from the kids about their home lives and families.

I'd be more than happy if DCPS gave a $1000 cash bonus to any teacher that identified a cheating family and had them removed from the District schools.

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Anonymous wrote:I would never ask a child where they live, not would I report a child who told me where they live. But I did actually have a PK3er tell me they lived in Maryland when we were on a field trip bus to Baltimore. I changed the subject quickly, but I feel bad for the kids who get caught up in the parents' lies.

Don't feel bad or assume parents are lying. You had a 3 year old tell you they live in Maryland. Maybe it was Maryland that day and tomorrow it's DC with mom.

A 3 yo. Are you kidding me? Maybe they used to live in MD. You have no idea.

I love the way folks rationalize fraud. Maybe because they are fraudsters themselves or have a family member or close friend who is doing it?

I think it's more likely this. They have a family member or a good friend in a tough school district and they can't afford to pay for private (maybe raised by a single mom? never had much money?). So they "do whatever it takes to give my child a good education" and the cheating ends up being viewed as a moral imperative. It's seen as rising above the challenges the family faces.

And yes, I'm sure the teachers know who the cheaters are. They probably hear so much crazy drama from the kids about their home lives and families.

I'd be more than happy if DCPS gave a $1000 cash bonus to any teacher that identified a cheating family and had them removed from the District schools.

And you'd also be fine with a random adult interrogating your child about where he/she lives?

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Anonymous wrote:I would never ask a child where they live, not would I report a child who told me where they live. But I did actually have a PK3er tell me they lived in Maryland when we were on a field trip bus to Baltimore. I changed the subject quickly, but I feel bad for the kids who get caught up in the parents' lies.

Don't feel bad or assume parents are lying. You had a 3 year old tell you they live in Maryland. Maybe it was Maryland that day and tomorrow it's DC with mom.

A 3 yo. Are you kidding me? Maybe they used to live in MD. You have no idea.

I love the way folks rationalize fraud. Maybe because they are fraudsters themselves or have a family member or close friend who is doing it?

I think it's more likely this. They have a family member or a good friend in a tough school district and they can't afford to pay for private (maybe raised by a single mom? never had much money?). So they "do whatever it takes to give my child a good education" and the cheating ends up being viewed as a moral imperative. It's seen as rising above the challenges the family faces.

And yes, I'm sure the teachers know who the cheaters are. They probably hear so much crazy drama from the kids about their home lives and families.

I'd be more than happy if DCPS gave a $1000 cash bonus to any teacher that identified a cheating family and had them removed from the District schools.

And you'd also be fine with a random adult interrogating your child about where he/she lives?

How is asking a child where he or she lives an "interrogation?" The only people who are freaking out about this are those who have something to lose. We live in the District in a lovely neighborhood and I'm fine with our kid saying that, since it's the truth.

Anonymous wrote:My kid who just turned 4 may say she lives in MD if you ask her. We live in upper NW near MD border, and do lots of activities in MD (sports, errands, etc.). I've told her we lives in Washington DC, but who knows, if someone asked I wouldn't be surprised if she said MD. Kids are not always a reliable source of info.

libsterdc wrote:I do not know any boundary cheaters and nor am I a boundary cheater. I DO wonder if the MoCo boards are filled with people railing about the number of DC kids enrolled in their schools. I think it's a wash -- the number of Maryland boundary cheaters in DC is likely roughly equal to the number of boundary cheaters from DC enrolled in MD or VA schools.

Anonymous wrote:As I posted in the other thread - it bears repeating here, as well:

"Any legit District taxpayer with half a brain can tell you why the cheating is an issue - IT CAUSES MY TAXES TO STAY HIGH! I'm all for giving District kids - of any socioeconomic background - a great education. I'm happy to pay my taxes for that. But I don't want to foot the bill for MD and VA parents who want to leech off our decent charters and cheap after-care programs that are conveniently near their District offices."

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I would never ask a child where they live, not would I report a child who told me where they live. But I did actually have a PK3er tell me they lived in Maryland when we were on a field trip bus to Baltimore. I changed the subject quickly, but I feel bad for the kids who get caught up in the parents' lies.

Don't feel bad or assume parents are lying. You had a 3 year old tell you they live in Maryland. Maybe it was Maryland that day and tomorrow it's DC with mom.

A 3 yo. Are you kidding me? Maybe they used to live in MD. You have no idea.

I love the way folks rationalize fraud. Maybe because they are fraudsters themselves or have a family member or close friend who is doing it?

I think it's more likely this. They have a family member or a good friend in a tough school district and they can't afford to pay for private (maybe raised by a single mom? never had much money?). So they "do whatever it takes to give my child a good education" and the cheating ends up being viewed as a moral imperative. It's seen as rising above the challenges the family faces.

And yes, I'm sure the teachers know who the cheaters are. They probably hear so much crazy drama from the kids about their home lives and families.

I'd be more than happy if DCPS gave a $1000 cash bonus to any teacher that identified a cheating family and had them removed from the District schools.