Reply to Revised Boundary Recommendations to be released on or about June 13

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Well, I think when we see the DME's proposal we may very well see set-asides, so the OOB and feeder right stuff won't go away and I think it's foolish to continue fighting with abolishing the practice as a goal...that is UNTIL DCPS creates some genuinely viable options for people who don't live in Ward 3. And don't ask me to roll up my sleeves and build it. I will pay my taxes (I'll even pay a tax increase), I will volunteer (as I have my entire life)...but I will not play "education expert." I expect the experts that my tax dollars fund to develop a stellar plan (with my input! happy to provide input!) and figure out a way to create middle and high schools that higher SES families might actually consider. [/quote]

So you think it was DCPS that created the viable schools in Ward 3?  Oh, that's a good one.  [/quote]

While having high-SES families with advanced degrees certainly goes a long way to helping establish a school, I personally believe it's visionary leadership (i.e. the paid experts) who make schools viable...through their hiring, innovation, anticipating needs, being responsive, building programs that attract interest, and knowing when to plow ahead and ask for permission later. yes, yes, rich engaged parents mean a heck of a lot, but please don't overstate your role. 
[/quote]

Almost the entire experience of successful NWNW schools is a testament against what you presume. (Deal appears to be an exception.) It was not DCPS. It was not visionary leadership. It was parental involvement mainly, but coupled with enough hands-off from DCPS to not impede positive developments. (By the way, the past Lafayette principal was pretty well loathed. I don't think that even her supporters would call her visionary.)

Stop reading WTU press releases for talking points. [/quote]

Please offer some tangible examples....and I don't mean just a school name. Tell me "Janney" and then tell me what exactly parents did to make it the success it is despite unremarkable or incompetent staff. If you have such a fantastic historian's focus on the success of NWNW schools, help us all by writing the manual. And I mean that. I'm not trying to be cute.  [/quote]

Here's my guess -- schools are kept in decent condition because parents complain if not - and maybe do some week-end and playground clean up themselves, if needed.  Parents pay extra into a fund for supplies and aides in the classes to make it easier for teachers to handle the kids and thus for the kids  to learn.  "good" teachers get transferred there after a few years in less desirable schools because they want their lives to be a little easier.  These schools have a pick  of staff because they are desirable -- that is in a safe neighborhood with students prepared to learn with strong parental support.  There is a strong community feeling because most of the parents live in the neighborhood and are socially and financially invested in it.

Pretty simple stuff really.   You don't have to be high SES, but it helps to be middle class and ambitious for your children's education.[/quote]

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