Reply to McLean High School Leadership updates

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]At McLean High School, many excellent teachers have left recently. As I know two well-respected Math teachers and one AP English teacher. A lot of complains from students and parents. And Principal has decided to remove the Chinese Language program completely in Mclean High. [/quote]

Are these retirements or quitting to go elsewhere?  There is an excellent math teacher leaving Longfellow but that's not because of an administration issue; she's done her 30+ years of teaching and genuinely wants to retire.  I think it's important to note whether this is due to something Ms. Jones has done or is doing, or if it's just regular attrition.

The one issue I have with Ms. Jones is the downplay on the academic stress. I understand why she keeps harping on the issue as being unsustainable and a mental health issue for teenagers, but on multiple occasions my DD has pointed out that preaching about a bad system doesn't help the students manage their stress levels. That McLean should be putting in scaffolding to help the students. Real, serious scaffolding. You want to minimize impact, don't sit there and tell kids to jump off the train moving 100mph because that is the design.  Give them the tools to ride it safely. Acknowledgment without action is not leadership, it's just a speech that doesn't really sit well with discerning kids.

[b]The Chinese Language program elimination is also worth addressing separately. Removing a language program entirely is a significant academic and cultural loss, and it deserves a real explanation. Which students does this affect? Were families consulted? Were alternatives offered? These are the questions a principal should be answering proactively, not leaving parents to piece together from hallway conversations.[/b]
[/quote]

The Chinese program has been struggling with low enrollment for years. It is being consolidated with the programs from other schools with low enrollment and will be at Marshall HS I believe. The students can still continue to take Chinese, just as an Academy class basically. It is also my understanding that this was a Gatehouse decision, not one from Jones. Does it suck? Absolutely. But when a class doesn't have enough students sign up, that class doesn't happen. Electives generally need a minimum of 20 to run (25+ is better).  [/quote]

The reassignment of McLean kids to Langley probably contributed to the lower enrollment.

The recent history of McLean HS has been nothing but neglect, boundary changes to reassign kids, and disinvestment in academic resources.  If enrollment in FCPS continues to decline, parents can look forward to FCPS announcing in a few years that renovating McLean would be too expensive, and that the school will be shut down with the kids moved to Langley, Marshall, and Falls Church.

We regret moving to this county and enrolling our kids in FCPS.  [/quote]

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