Reply to Is Einstein getting totally screwed in the boundary and program study proposals?

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Reply to "Is Einstein getting totally screwed in the boundary and program study proposals?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]They should have the same strong offerings at every school.  Having speciality programs at different schools is silly if students don’t get school choose and each school doesn’t have equal strong offerings.  Taylor and the BOE clearly ditched equity and student needs.  How many kids want a teacher academy.  They reduced the current program a few years ago.  How about a poll asking parents, teachers and students what they want at these schools.  People are going to bail from Einstein if they can and either move or go private.  It and Kennedy will be the weak links.  [/quote]

The DCC is what keeps wealthier kids in public schools. DH and I have just discussed upping our 529 contributions so we can afford private if need be.[/quote]

Having a standardized base of strong offerings at all schools is part of the plan. Funny how most people are not asking questions or focused on that piece.[/quote]

We don't buy it because MCPS has caveated it with saying they will offer courses "if there is interest" which is a circular way of saying they won't actually offer that strong base or will have it be virtual in the lower income schools, which will lead wealthy families to flee public schools.[/quote]

The more comfortable families will leave Einstein and the FARM rate will likely rise. The school gained students for its VAPA program, but many academically strong students now choose magnets or lottery into Blair or Wheaton due to Einstein's limited advanced course offerings. The principal claims there's no demand for higher-level classes, but demand is low because the classes aren't offered. Students are often pushed through AB, BC, then Stats, with no alternatives. MCPS offers no virtual high school math options and has no plans to. Students are left with three choices: take what is available, drive their kids to another school, or to Montgomery College for the classes they need.  There is no excuse for MCPS not providing enough math to meet graduation requirements.  The minimum at each school should be MVC as then students can take Statistics after MVC if they need an extra math class.

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DP - I think you’re overstating how many families will leave Einstein (and how many inbounds kids currently choose Blair or Wheaton).  There are a lot of highly educated parents here (e.g., Feds and academics with PhDs) who don’t necessarily have the money to shell out for private nor to move.  And a lot of us who are willing to work to improve our school, inasmuch as it needs improving.  I don’t love the proposed changes, but they’re not untenable with some modifications along the lines of what people have proposed.

If MVC is the minimum, most high schools shouldn’t go much farther than that.  It’s *high school*.  We’d be better served by pushing the BOE hard on offering robust programs at all schools, i.e., increasing parity, than arguing for super advanced classes.[/quote]

Had Einstein ever offered AP calculus-based physics? That’s something I was able to take in HS 30 years ago![/quote]

I heard rumors that they did have more ap classes but they’ve been removed by the current principal.  [/quote]

This is true. I’ve addressed this in my letters to the BOE, Taylor and County Council. Secondary principals have too much power. They will flat out tell teachers and parents that Central Office policies are just recommendations and they can do whatever they want. If MCPS staffed secondary schools like they staff elementary than we wouldn’t be as worried about entire music programs disappear.

Remember, teacher allocations will go down at existing schools to staff the new buildings. It’s not like busses where they have to buy more busses to run simultaneously. If the Einstein principal has less teachers overall, he will absolutely combine even more courses into single class periods. Already Piano 1 and 2 are combined as is Guitar 1 and 2. The principal could cut the music department down 1 teacher to do it all like several MS principals have done. [/quote]

They are doing that with academic classes too.  [/quote]

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