Reply to MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I might have the wrong type or unpopular type of view of these things.

But our kids didn't get into the GT or magnet programs.  There were a couple of years where they made it to the lottery but didn't get selected.  The same with some of their classmates and our neighbors.

Personally for our family we were okay with it.

The GT, IB and magnet programs are supposed to be for the academically elite, where only the top get in.  We were perfectly fine with our kids not making it and going to our local school and is one of the reasons why we chose to live where we do.

As others are trying to say, if you increase the number and seats of the programs, it dilutes the programs and isn't as rigorous or advanced like how the programs are now.  Which people are saying they are okay with because it suits the needs of the many instead of the very few.

But another way of looking at it, is that maybe MCPS should be focusing on improving the instruction and quality at their individual schools.  So those students who don't get in to the county wide programs (either by not quite qualifying or just not get selected by the lottery) will still get the class selection and level that that they need.  Instead of having some mediocre programs that might not be better than some of the local schools around here.  And the issue with the offering of the potentially mediocre is that it sounds like they're going to change the current countywide program which is considered top tier.

I had to stop myself from posting in this thread:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1287572.page

Because know that people will attack me as entitled.  But I think there's something very wrong if a school doesn't have a track for students to take Algebra I by seventh grade and they have to look to going to a different school just to get on that track.  But that just goes to show how there are different standards at different schools within the county and this is starting at elementary school.  By the time students get to high school and eligible for these magnet/regional programs, students from different schools won't be on the same level based on the math tracks offered by their elementary schools.[/quote]

What school doesn't have a track for kids to take Algebra I by 7th grade?  [/quote]

Nevermind what I said about that.  I just reread that original posters post and realized that both options will have their rising 5th graders in Algebra by grade 7.  I originally read it as the only way they could take Algebra I by 7th grade is by taking that math course at the local middle school.

But posting now (I didn't want to bombard this thread with random thoughts that popped into mind) gives me an opportunity to mention that there are also Innovative Schools, which are the yearround schools at MCPS.

So that's at least three things where MCPS spends extra money on and doesn't make available to all schools and groups:

Innovative Schools-the yearround schools.  I guess this year it's only Arcola ES: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/dtecps/title1/schools-innovative-school-calendar/

Title I-federal funds

Focus Schools-local funds

And I'm sure there are a lot more programs and initiatives.

So diverting/allocating funds to more high need schools/areas is nothing new and what should be done.

But again it shouldn't be done by lowering the ceiling or opportunities for others.  As much as I understand the best way to improve the county is to raise baseline of education that everyone has, [b]I'm not magnanimous enough to take one for the team at the cost of my kid's growth and development.[/b][/quote]

So...others should be magnanimous enough [i]not[/i] to use their franchise to allocate spending of the common wealth on a basis commensurate with individual ability/academic need, such that that need would be met reasonably equivalently across the system, so that [i]your[/i] DC can get what you expect from living in a community of relative wealth.  Got it :roll:[/quote]

Yeah.  Pretty much.  Sorry I'm selfish like that.  But I have my standards and expectations.

Like I said, I'm all for helping the disenfranchised, high risk and underserved communities.

But if I don't see the value in what I'm getting, I don't really have any strong connection or affinity to Montgomery County or MCPS to want to stick around or try to help it improve.

What does Montgomery County have that the other local counties don't?  It's not jobs because most people we know commute to DC or Virginia for jobs.  It WAS schools.  But honestly did MCPS really ever do much for their underserved population?  There were those times where various schools and the superintendent were caught encouraging schools to not test their lower performing students so they wouldn't bring down the numbers.  In some circles, MCPS has a reputation of only caring about the numbers and the people there have no clue on what's going on.

Some other school systems have special programs where they try to celebrate Black/African American excellence.  And piloting programs where they encourage parent involvement at schools by having them come in once a month throughout the school year.  I'm not saying MCPS isn't doing that.  I might just not be aware.  But I see MCPS running around trying to propose things that doesn't really address the issues and even worse taking away the good aspects of MCPS.  The countywide GT, magnet and IB programs were some things that MCPS had that other school systems didn't and was a factor for us living here.

So going back to what previous poster asked, am I okay if MCPS devotes more funds and resources to the underserved schools compared to other schools?  Yes, they definitely should.  But as mentioned, if they're going to make a big difference in allocations, then communities should be able to contribute and donate to schools.

Then the previous poster also asked if I'd be okay if it led to higher taxes. For that point it'd depend.  To a certain extent, higher taxes is just what's expected and a part of life.  But to have higher taxes AND taking away services and opportunities for growth?  That's where I'd need to reconsider if it's really worth it.[/quote]

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