Reply to Achievement gap continues to grow between high- and low-income schools

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]FARMS doesn't always need to equal 'bad' kids. Many immigrant kids are incredibly hard working and they and their parents have a strong work ethic and desire to make it in this country.[/quote]

Sorry, PP, but if you look at testing of local schools there is a very strong correlation between the percentage of FARMS students and school performance.

And please stop deflecting from the issue.  NO ONE is saying these kids are "bad".  But many of these kids have challenges such as learning English, spotty educational experiences in their countries of origin, poverty at home, parents who are working two-plus jobs each, parents who may / may not be involved in school work, that make it hard for them to excel in school.  The result is that teachers at high-FARM schools are often spending a disproportionate amount of time teaching to those who are struggling.  Those students who are average or high performing don't get much instruction.

It's getting really tiresome having to defend the fact that many of us in Silver Spring don't want to have to put up with crappy schools.  It doesn't make us racist.  It makes us concerned parents.  Moreover, better schools will improve education for EVERYONE, including kids from low SES.  [/quote]

But you are missing something.  The schools are called "low performing" because the FARMS kids aren't scoring as high (likely because of language).  It doesn't mean that your kid won't do well.  Over and over again, studies show that education level of the parents has the biggest effect on academic success of the child.

Most high FARMS schools actually get extra resources, not less.  Is your kid currently enrolled in a high FARMS school?  How did your kid score on tests?  I want to know how many people making this complaint about crappy schools due to FARMS kids actually have a kid in a school with a high FARMS rate.  Is your kid behind on reading, writing? Is your kid not testing well?

If your kid is testing well, is not behind on reading, writing, math, then what is the problem?[/quote]

When my kid spends 95% of his time in class doing busy work worksheets while the teacher (who told us the first time she met us that she aspires to teach at an up county school ASAP) bounces around the class assisting students who don't speak English, that's a problem.  Just because my child is hitting the bar (very low bar, I should add), doesn't mean he's being taught to meet his potential.  You hope that your child is being challenged and taught to meet the fullest of his abilities.  But that's not possible with the current model.  That's the problem.

And if you were honest with yourself, you'd agree that that's not what you'd want  - or anyone would want - for your kid.

But I guess us down county folks should just shut up and eat cake, right?  Take what you get and be happy.  Ohhhhhh kaaaaaaay.  [/quote]

+1000

I volunteer once a week in my daughter's class. It is insane how little time a core group of kids gets and how much time her teacher has to try to communicate with 1/3 of the class.  We are in Rockville and I thought the system was top notch but it is clear my kid is skating thru as an obvious average student.  The concern at every PTA meeting is communication for the Spanish speaking but yet there is never ever one person of Hispanic/Spanish origin at these meetings. We had Hispanic family coffees once a month and even a movie night in Spanish. No turn out at coffee even thoigh form and listserv reminders were in Spanish. Movie night brought in 12 families. Anyway, every PTA meeting us Americans keep talking about finding ways/money to help them and I am so over it. They don't want to be a part.  They are never involved. I want the time and effort to go to my kid sometimes.  In the class and activities. If that is racist then so be it.  [/quote]

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