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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]better than tracking and more accurate (I think) is, "some harder classes."[/quote]

But they go together. For instance, at one zoned middle school, they teach algebra and they have an accelerated math program on paper. But there are about 7 kids getting 5s on the math parcc as opposed to about 250 at Deal, so are they really teaching an algebra class that's comparable? Because if they're basically just taking the top 30 eighth graders, that's including a big chunk of kids who are not at grade level on math, and either the class is not an algebra class or those kids are massively struggling. [/quote]

That is a challenge. There is an element of "if you build it they will come" required to make this work, I think. And it cannot be a one year test case with no follow-through because parents will need to see a commitment over a number of years to feel comfortable that the program will remain in place if they send their kids to DCPS. That requires Central to have credibility. Which honestly isn't going to happen. Which means it would really take a Mayoral decree and accountability to make it stick. And that isn't going to happen. So I have no idea how this gets done.  [/quote]

Do you see that when you write about what “parents” need to see before they send their kids to DCPS, it comes off as crazy classist?  Thousands of parents send our kids to DCPS right now.   When you write as you did, it makes it seem like we are not people to you.

Also, can you explain why you think that having more parents like you in our schools is a good thing that DCPS should prioritize (particularly given the decades long track record of UMC parents in cities of making demands of schools systems based on a promise of sending their kids there only for those parents to opt out in the end)?[/quote]

Why are you assuming PP is UMC?  Are not parents of any class interested in advanced instruction if that is appropriate for their child? Talk about classist. [/quote]

I wasn't going to bother to respond because I thought their assumptions said more about them and their views of class than it did about me. I did find it pretty funny that they just assumed they knew who or what I was. The idea that only white people with trust funds care about sending their kids to quality schools or having access to legitimate advanced classes is precisely what I would expect from DC Urban moms.

They also glossed over the part that tells us that there is little demand for all but Wilson high School in the traditional high school track and very little demand for most middle schools. At least in my family the reason those are not options is because they do not offer classes at an advanced level. Minority parents understand their children need to be at the top of their class with the best possible credentials to overcome systemic racism. I guess it would surprise a lot of the people on this blog that black people are probably the first to opt out of a school without sufficient academic rigor.[/quote]

You are absolutely refusing to see that by saying “parents are not going to send kids to DCPS…” you negate the existence of the thousands of parents who DO send their kids to DCPS schools.  You can write about parents that choose charters and parents that send their kids to privates, but you are refusing to see the point.  There are currently thousands of kids in the high schools that you blithely dismiss.  You don’t seem to see them as people or their families as people.  You talk about DC schools like those kids don’t exist and/or aren’t important.  [/quote]

Please check your persecution complex at the door. You seem to be looking to be a martyr or to play the victim card where no one victimized you (or anyone). It should have been quite clear from the context of what I posted that the reference to "parents will need to see a commitment" was a reference to those "parents who at present are not willing to send their kids to these under enrolled or IB schools". There is no arguing that these schools do not yet have buy-in from the IB families and that a large portion of the highest performing cohorts are still choosing charters or a Deal/Wilson path. And that's the question we are all grappling with!

Your position seems to be that the schools are great the way they are; no formal advanced track and kids who are below grade level being put in AP classes to make them feel better (and to satisfy some perverse concept of "equity"). Further it seems like your position is that you don't think schools should give 2 seconds of thought about how to attract kids who are opting out. I think that's insane and short-sighted, but you are entitled to your opinion. But if that is your opinion then you ought not weigh in on how schools should or should not change, adapt or offer enhanced opportunities (because you think everything is "great"). Please stop with this BS martyr complex where you focus on the apparently offensive use of "families" to include all families (including those who do not currently choose IB) and not just those that are are OK with mediocre schools and academic offerings.

In answer to your question, "No, I don't think it negates the existence of those families because I think many of those families would love advanced classes and larger cohorts of high performing kids."

The difference between you and me is you see an entire population of victims for whom the status quo is ok because you think so very little of them. I see opportunity for all families (including those who are currently attending those schools) to get a better education than they receive today and for those kids who are advanced to be surrounded by other high performing kids. I see an opportunity for schools where people like you don't imply to my black kids that somehow wanting better or more is "white" or "selling out", which is what this faux victim complex actually is and does.

Go away and play on your cross, confident in your belief that everything is fine and advanced academics are somehow selling out our community. The adults will continue on with our discussion about how to improve public education. [/quote]

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