Anonymous wrote:I watched KIPP students fight and kill their classmate after school by the NOMA metro two years ago. All the energy that is stifled during the day goes somewhere, and it's not healthy.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Because the are not nice to children or their parents- especially Black children. Also their teachers are very young and lack empathy.

Yep, the lack of empathy and kindness toward the families they serve is definitely why my sons teacher called me at 10pm to make sure that my son was OK after getting stitches. Definitely a lack of empathy and concern.

In all seriousness, my son has been at KIPP from pk3-5th (so far) and every single teacher he’s had has been absolutely amazing. None have even been mediocre. They’re all wonderful and love their students.

Calling at 10 pm is also their job, they have to make a number of calls/connections etc and work around the clock, which they should't have to do hence they burn out empathetic mostly young low-paid teachers. Not doubting they have empathy or that it's worked well for your child, but overall the KIPP model does not serve most children well (do the research or read their own) and most teachers don't stay long.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because the are not nice to children or their parents- especially Black children. Also their teachers are very young and lack empathy.

Yep, the lack of empathy and kindness toward the families they serve is definitely why my sons teacher called me at 10pm to make sure that my son was OK after getting stitches. Definitely a lack of empathy and concern.

In all seriousness, my son has been at KIPP from pk3-5th (so far) and every single teacher he’s had has been absolutely amazing. None have even been mediocre. They’re all wonderful and love their students.

Anonymous wrote:Because the are not nice to children or their parents- especially Black children. Also their teachers are very young and lack empathy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are set up to compensate for not having the structure and resources that UMC parents have. UMC parents don't need school till 5 p.m., rigidity on how you move, walk and required family participation.

UMC don't THINK their kids need or would benefit from that kind of structure. Also there is absolutely a stigma surrounding schools like KIPP, deserved or not. In a different context, "required family participation" is seen as a wonderful thing -- for example, cooperative schools. But because it is an urban, minority school, that is seen as "too rigid."

Also I now laugh at people assuming that just because your kid is UMC they don't need structure that you'll find at places like KIPP (and in the classrooms of old-school DCPS teachers). My kid is absolutely thriving in such a structured environment. It REALLY made me rethink my prejudices about programs like KIPP. If I knew then what I know now, I absolutely would have considered KIPPs for PK, and I will keep an open mind for middle and high school.

I also get input from a broader range of people than UMC DCUMers ... my neighbors pulled their kids from our sought-after "flipped" DCPS and put them in KIPP. They report that the kids are loving it and can't wait to go back after vacations. These are bright, nice kids, hard-working parents, kids that I would have zero worries about having in class with mine.

Of course some of the stories about harshness and rigidity give me pause. But I feel like now I have a much better framework for how schools "work" and my particular child. If the classroom is overall warm and positives, the teachers good, the admins solid, and everyone is focused on learning ... then having to walk silently in the hallways is not the main thing.

Thanks for posting this pp. I'm a parent of a 3 year old and honestly didn't go to any of the KIPP open houses because we decided to go the parochial route based on what we were looking for. I will say, I wonder how many people who actually comment on KIPP schools have ever set foot in one/gone to an open house? I can't imagine many have - yet one consistently hears the same comments over and over about why UMC parents aren't interested in even exploring it. For the number of open houses many of us attended (myself included) it's a shame we don't at least visit a school in order to form our own opinions.

Anonymous wrote:So I have been researching for a while and trying to find reasons not to send my DS to KIPP GROW. I found this forum very interesting because many of the statements are so blanketed it was hard for me to read. One KIpps school does not speak for all KIPP schools. I would be considered UMC and I had to confront my own bias when I decided to send him to KIPP. What I have found so far is a warm, nurturing environment, engaged teachers, play-based learning.

Anonymous wrote:So I have been researching for a while and trying to find reasons not to send my DS to KIPP GROW. I found this forum very interesting because many of the statements are so blanketed it was hard for me to read. One KIpps school does not speak for all KIPP schools. I would be considered UMC and I had to confront my own bias when I decided to send him to KIPP. What I have found so far is a warm, nurturing environment, engaged teachers, play-based learning.

Anonymous wrote:Wasn’t a KIPP high school rated higher than Woodrow Wilson in the U.S. News national ranking of schools?