Reply to Time for a mutiny yet? MCPS = crummy math, no grammar, poor writing

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[quote=Anonymous]My two kids have been in MCPS from K-8th.  (not old enough for high school yet).

I attended a very rigorous, elite private school for my entire K-12 education.

This is how I would compare the education my kids are receiving:

- Teacher quality.  Honestly, not a great deal of difference.  On the whole, my kids have had excellent teachers in MCPS and a few duds.  My school was the same.

- Rigor of the bread& butter curriculum.  Math is quite rigorous in MCPS (my kids are on the advanced track).  This compares favorably with the school I went to.  I notice differences in other subjects, particularly English/Writing.  MCPS seems to downplay the importance of proper grammar, spelling, and written expression.  There seems to be gradual improving emphasis as you move up the grade levels but this really needs improvement.  There is a serious lack of challenge.  In general, science has been quite strong in MCPS, compares favorably. Social studies/history OK as well.  Foreign language in MCPS is very weak, and starts at a much later age than my private school.

- Rigor of the arts curriculum.  Instrumental music instruction in MCPS has been excellent (better than my private school).  But the fact that by middle school students have to choose between art, chorus, and orchestra/band is truly lame.  My private school (and I suspect most elites) provide more options.

- Class size.  Huge difference.  MCPS classes can be huge.  Whether your child can thrive in this environment really comes down to maturity and personality.

- Facilities.  Huge difference again.  MCPS facilities are invariably overcrowded and just adequate (barely).  There really is no comparison to private school facilities.

- Socio-economic atmosphere.  Huge difference.  I can't speak for the privates of today in DC, but at my private, where 1/3 of the class was on scholarship (which is what it was called then) and that 1/3 provided all of the racial/ethnic diversity, despite that "diversity" the atmosphere was very much a "1%"/conformist/elitist one - very divorced from real world/reality.  It was also hyper competitive/cutthroat.  All in all, not good.

When I started my kids in public school, it was both because of cost and primarily because I wanted them to be in a more "real" socio-economic atmosphere.  It's worked out well.  I was always prepared to pull my kids and put them in private if public education wasn't working for them, but that hasn't happened.  Would they be more challenged in private?  Probably.  But would it be worth the cost in terms of both funds and atmosphere?  I don't think so.

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