Reply to New curriculum selection process delayed

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Reply to "New curriculum selection process delayed— new RFP must be issues now"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote]This was never the case in the past. Unfortunately, people entering admin are "Yes" men and women who don't think for themselves. It's become the norm to move up those with 
1) little teaching experience (big mistake) 
2) a limited view of the school system (e.g., having taught only in a "W" school), and 
3) no empathy.

Perhaps 3 should be #1. But really 1 and 2 help to shave away at empathy. The system is sick. I don't know how else to explain it. Whistleblowers are made out to be crazy when in fact many are unearthing the ugly truths. So some leave. Others retire early. Or, you have those, once very inspirational and creative, who shut down completely.

[b]Until kids and parents start pushing back, however, the system will continue to crumble. I've been saying this for the past few years, emphasizing that MCPS is heading toward implosion[/b]. But like abuse victims, sickness has become the norm, and because unethical practices (50% rule, guidelines in the Code of Conduct, re-teaching/re-assessing to the point of exhaustion) have insidiously been introduced to the system, teachers just accept more and more, as we're blamed for lacking compassion when we complain. "Think of the kids!" is what we're told!

Well, when Johnny Beebop thinks he can sleep through a test and still earn a 50%, we are thinking of the kids when we complain of these unethical practices that are killing academic stamina.

And it's even bigger than the classroom. When you have companies determining WHAT we should teach - companies like Discovery who think they can "do it better" - you have teachers who do indeed turn into robots. How can you fight a big (dysfunctional) machine that's in bed with corporate America? [/quote]

Its very hard for many parents tp push back. They are often shushed at the local school level and the central office just ignores them. There was tons of activity when 2.0 rolled out. Parents created a petition and an on-line survey. Starr dismissed it. Local principals were given pats on the back for hushing up parents. MCCPTA did nothing because Francis Frost was another kiss up type to MCPS. Everything about the system is play along or we will make your life more difficult.

I was always struck at the subtle gender-based bullying that goes on to keep parents quiet. The subtle eye roll/sneer face, a staff member alluding to a parent not to rock the boat, the playing dumb look, or the subtle threat tp assign your child to bad teachers. It was entirely laughable but many parents fear the passive aggressive approaches that MCPS staff love to use.  If you are AA you are looked at as part of the problem. If you are Latino they assume you didn't understand them. If you are white, you are looked at as whiny. If you are Asian, you are told you should let your kids play outside.[/quote]

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