10:00 poster.. I heard about boob day quite a while back. When did the experiences that you describe occur?

Asking because given the transitional nature of the ACPS, current information is definitely more relevant.

I live in a neighborhood where many people have an income to have options when it comes to education in Alexandria, and all I have spoken to have been happy with the education their children received. Many sent multiple kids through the system, with some just graduating a couple of years ago, with no complaints. Same stands for those with kids at GW middle now. That is not to say there are no problems, but that they are problems that happen at many schools based on age. The histronics when it comes to people talking about ACPS on this board are over the top.

Well, here's the thing. No, I don't think that a child that goes to ACPS has no hope of getting a good education. But since Alexandria spends a very high amount per pupil (http://www.forbes.com/2007/07/05/schools-taxes-education-biz-beltway_cz_cs_0705schools.html), why aren't we getting more out of the school system? It is just a horribly dysfunctional school system. I cannot believe they are considering ending the IB program after all of the money that was spent and all of the spin that was employed to try to get parents in the JH district to buy in.

I think we need to ask ourselves, why can't we have schools that are as good as those in Fairfax and Arlington in our neighborhoods, and how can we hold the school system accountable for not providing them to us?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in a neighborhood where many people have an income to have options when it comes to education in Alexandria, and all I have spoken to have been happy with the education their children received. Many sent multiple kids through the system, with some just graduating a couple of years ago, with no complaints. Same stands for those with kids at GW middle now. That is not to say there are no problems, but that they are problems that happen at many schools based on age. The histronics when it comes to people talking about ACPS on this board are over the top.

I agree with you about the hysterics of some when speaking about ACPS. But I think GW middle school is a real problem. I had to go there a bunch of times as child find is located there and the place is just ridiculously run down and shabby. It really *looks* like a scary place. I don't know about the classroom instruction, but the environment itself isn't exactly arm-opening.

TC Williams though - I think is a pretty decent HS.

It's in the 5th percentile! One of the worst in the state!

Anonymous wrote:I live in a neighborhood where many people have an income to have options when it comes to education in Alexandria, and all I have spoken to have been happy with the education their children received. Many sent multiple kids through the system, with some just graduating a couple of years ago, with no complaints. Same stands for those with kids at GW middle now. That is not to say there are no problems, but that they are problems that happen at many schools based on age. The histronics when it comes to people talking about ACPS on this board are over the top.

I agree with you about the hysterics of some when speaking about ACPS. But I think GW middle school is a real problem. I had to go there a bunch of times as child find is located there and the place is just ridiculously run down and shabby. It really *looks* like a scary place. I don't know about the classroom instruction, but the environment itself isn't exactly arm-opening.

TC Williams though - I think is a pretty decent HS.

I live in a neighborhood where many people have an income to have options when it comes to education in Alexandria, and all I have spoken to have been happy with the education their children received. Many sent multiple kids through the system, with some just graduating a couple of years ago, with no complaints. Same stands for those with kids at GW middle now. That is not to say there are no problems, but that they are problems that happen at many schools based on age. The histronics when it comes to people talking about ACPS on this board are over the top.

Also this:

http://parkergray.blogspot.com/2012/02/credibility-gap.html

Again, a very pointed perspective, but illuminating.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions as to what parents can do to try to push for more language instruction or school improvement? Would one contact the school board? Are there any sort of improvement committees or board meetings that one could become involved in? I am not planning to use the middle or high schools, but would really like to try to use our local elementary school since it is literally 30 feet from our house.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you, PP! This is good information about the safety concerns. I'm surprised there isn't more outrage about this kind of thing during the public comments period of the School Board meetings. Parents of current middle/high school students, what kind of response do you get when you talk to the administration at these schools?

You may want to spend some time reading this blog:

http://acpsunderground.blogspot.com/

Caveat: Clearly written by a disgruntled teacher, but still illuminating, especially the comments on posts.

Thank you, PP! This is good information about the safety concerns. I'm surprised there isn't more outrage about this kind of thing during the public comments period of the School Board meetings. Parents of current middle/high school students, what kind of response do you get when you talk to the administration at these schools?

I left after watching a very bright girl from my neighborhood -- a top achiever -- come home frightened and dejected every day in 6th Grade. Her parents were beyond frustrated but had overimproved their house and couldn't afford privates or afford to move so they were kind of stuck. They were besides themselves.

I left after touring the middle school and having the principal admit that they can't seem to get a handle on things like "touch a boob day."

I left after touring TC and seeing not one but two fights break out.

I left after attending a school board meeting in which the superintendent wouldn't make eye contact with parents who were there to protest one of his idiotic policy shifts (the longer days/school year proposal, with no explanation for how the extra time would be used).

I left because I was told candidly that kids in GW middle school aren't safe using the restrooms on their own.

Huh. My West End Alexandria school has smart boards. They also have computers in the classrooms. (Not Ipads, but computers.) In high school, every kid is issued a laptop. I'm sure there are differences between the schools, but I'm not seeing a huge technology gap. Also, I tend to agree with some of the earlier comments that the technology bells and whistles in a classroom are not as important to me as quality instructors effectively delivering content to students in a way that is academically appropriate and challenging.
The foreign language component is interesting. I understand they are now offering Chinese at the ACPS middle schools, however, so it looks like they are trying to put some focus on that. Still sounds like Arlington has the edge on that, with more offerings in elementary schools.
I guess I'm just surprised to not hear more "horrible" things, based on the perception that if you don't flee from Alexandria you a basically condemning your child to a terrible education. This is making me think that this drive to leave Alexandria is based on perception and word of mouth more than reality. I'd still love to get more responses from
1. Folks that left, with specific reasons why
2. Folks that currently have kids in the Alexandria middle and high schools.

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure that the one things kids these days can teach themselves at home is how to use an ipod! Handwriting and stapling paper, however, is a lost skill they will have to learn in school

speling to u no?

Pretty sure that the one things kids these days can teach themselves at home is how to use an ipod! Handwriting and stapling paper, however, is a lost skill they will have to learn in school

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher, I have to agree with those who value the intelligence and passion of the instructor over technology. Sure, smartboards and iPads are great supplemental resources, and I scour the Internet to find the perfect lesson plans and materials. But give me a great teacher and stapled books any day over the fanciest technology.

No one is questioning the value of the instructor. But to dismiss the role of technology in the classroom the way the pp did is nonsensical. The point I make is I'd prefer a great teacher instructing child how to write a book on an iPad to a great teacher still doing stapled books. The false equivalency here is that somehow the schools that integrate technology don't have great teachers and there's some inherent virtue in the luddite schools. It may make pp feel better about her current circumstance to assert such nonsense, but it's simply not true. For purposes of this discussion we can have a baseline assumption of instructor quality.

As a teacher, I have to agree with those who value the intelligence and passion of the instructor over technology. Sure, smartboards and iPads are great supplemental resources, and I scour the Internet to find the perfect lesson plans and materials. But give me a great teacher and stapled books any day over the fanciest technology.