Reply to Is Real Change Even Possible?

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Reply to "Is Real Change Even Possible?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Well of course, because upper NW already has decent public schools.[/quote]

What you are focused on is schools having enough kids at or above grade level so classes can actually be taught at grade level.

What you are missing is that even if demographics are such that a school is not overwhelmed by non-academic needs, DCPS still sucks. DCPS does not do a good job of educating its students. It hires lame leaders, who then do a poor job of selecting and/or rewarding the best principals, who are the ones who can select and motivate the best teachers etc etc. DCPS picks crappy curricula and forces schools and teachers to use it. They require way too much testing and stupid Central-produced assignments like Required Curricular Tasks. They don't pay teachers for extra-duty so club and extracurricular offerings are lacking. They do a terrible job of providing sports at the MS and HS levels except for the smallest schools. And they hide rather than acknowledge and attempt to address these weaknesses. The school system runs like it is in perpetual poverty -- there is not enough money to have smaller classes, to have more class offerings, to pay athletic coaches the going rate, etc etc. -- but where is the advocacy of the Chancellor explaining how much money is needed and why and where is the good judgment in getting rid of stupid, wasteful programs aimed at instilling "pride" but that don't build the substance on which a real feeling of accomplishment rests.  Yada yada yada.

Sure, stuff changes as demographics change around the city.

But what about systematic change to the way the school system actually does its job?[/quote]

Bingo.  This in nutshell.

You don’t get it until you get out if DCPS altogether and experience much better run schools and school systems.[/quote]

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