Anonymous wrote:MCPS is an excellent school district overall, in terms of all the special programs they offer for gifted and special needs kids, the number of AP courses, athletics, clubs, and general academic level. It is by far the best public school system in MD, and one of the best *large* public school systems in the US. Emphasis on large, because there are many better *small* public school systems in the US, who do not have to struggle with the socio-economic and cultural heterogeneity of Montgomery County!
However it's still public school, it has to accept all students, even aggressive and violent ones, and because of this, there will always be disruptive events and assaults in schools, until we can push for taxpayer-funded alternative schools to contain these students and still get them to a high school degree (without which, they would go directly into the criminal pipeline and be burdens on society as we pay their jail time). Our current alternative school is insufficient and violent students are transferred to various schools endlessly, leaving a trail of destruction.
We should also do more to attract and retain a consistently-high quality of teachers. It's difficult these days to find such good people, since teaching in general does not attract the best and brightest, in part due to salaries, and also in part due to the profession being disrespected on a daily basis. Teaching is a labor of love. Top students generally want more glam jobs with better pay.
Well stated.