Reply to Subjective capsule reviews of MD private elementary schools

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why is it helpful to read one person's subjective opinion of each of these schools? I would never make the decision on whether to visit a school based on this information. [/quote]
Then why have a private schools forum at all where people can give their subjective opinions on any school? No one should be making a decision whether to visit a school based on what they read on any DCUM thread?

If you don't like reading people's opinions on schools, then don't read this forum and just form your own opinion by visiting the school. Some people do like to hear other's opinions.[/quote]

When a poster asks for specific information about a particular school fine. The OP decided her to bless us with her wonderful opinions about all the schools she visited. Somehow she decided that we all wanted to know her thoughts.

In particular she decided that one school was unprofessional. Did she look at the backgrounds of administrators and teacher's? Teacher turnover? How is the curriculum developed? What is the turnover of families? No.

In particular, she denigrated Maddux, a school that has had considerable growth and popularity for families with kids with social and learning issue, The founder, Andrea Mullins, has grown the school from a preschool and pre k class to one that now goes through 2nd grade, all in 9 years.  They receive far more applications then they have space available every year.

The teacher's background and dedication is second to none. OP decided because they did not call her back, the school was not recommended by her. Had she actually taken the time to research the program where the teacher's come from and their success rate with kids, she might have seen why the school is so good for so many.

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OP here.  As I said in my original post, contrary impressions of these schools are more than welcome, and I'm glad your experience with Maddux was more positive.  And also, my original post stated clearly that it reflected our subjective experience, not a definitive opinion on which schools are best for everybody.

Just in the sake of clarity, we actually did research all those factors you mentioned.  It's one reason why it was so frustrating for us that Maddux was so unresponsive -- not once, but twice.  We wouldn't have looked into them if we hadn't thought there was something there worth investigating.

When parents are putting themselves and their child through a school search, it can be very stressful.  You are aware that your child is being judged in the process, and a good school should be sensitive to that and responsive to prospective parents who are putting their child out there.  We experienced a range of professionalism in visiting 14 schools (and we called even more than that).  Unfortunately Maddux handled our inquiries with the worst manners on both occasions.   We were truly appreciative whenever other schools gave us a warmer reception.

I don't allege that Maddux hasn't been able to offer good things to the children who attend; but in our experience (and apparently the experience of at least two others on this thread) this is in spite of the unresponsiveness of the school administrators, not because of it.  If Maddux is growing as fast as you say than they ought to be able to hire someone who makes sure that when parents are told that they will be contacted, that they actually will be, rather than being left hanging time and again.

And as others have pointed out, if you don't want to know of others' thoughts about schools, it might not make sense to read the DCUM message boards about schools.  And if Maddux doesn't want parents to denigrate them, they can return prospective parents' calls.  [/quote]

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