Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I , honestly, would rely on my experience and training as an educator and ignore all suggestions from parents.

Yes, now, THAT is an awesome idea. Parents with kids at the schools should have absolutely NO input. They can't possibly have a clue as to what the schools need.

Do you tell your doctor how to practice medicine?

Do you let your doctor make all your medical decisions? I come from a family of doctors, and they ALL would tell you that YOU have to advocate for your own healthcare. So, yes, I am an active participant in my health care decisions. Everyone should be. Your doctor actually wants it that way. They want your input. They want you to be involved in decision making. (or at least, if they're a good doctor, they do)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I , honestly, would rely on my experience and training as an educator and ignore all suggestions from parents.

Yes, now, THAT is an awesome idea. Parents with kids at the schools should have absolutely NO input. They can't possibly have a clue as to what the schools need.

Do you tell your doctor how to practice medicine?

They do. Hence the over prescribing of antibiotics and the under-vaccination.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I , honestly, would rely on my experience and training as an educator and ignore all suggestions from parents.

Yes, now, THAT is an awesome idea. Parents with kids at the schools should have absolutely NO input. They can't possibly have a clue as to what the schools need.

Do you tell your doctor how to practice medicine?

Anonymous wrote:I would fire the dead weight and dysfunctional core in the division of long range planning. The capacity problems have become virtually unfixable thanks to the outdated thinking that dept brings to the table. At least with curriculum we can adapt and try to improve when a good idea fails in application. The consequences of poor facilities planning is turning mcps into a joke.

I agree that there is a problem here but it's not necessarily with this department (though they do shoulder some blame for overcrowding). It's not even with the school system in general. The problem is the county board failed to plan properly to accomodate the growth that they wanted and knew was coming. I do think there needs to be an outside auditor brought in to evaluate the school system--long-range planning, curriculum development, etc.--and identify weak areas and recommendations for improvement. This person (or people) should be totally independent of the Superintendent's office, teachers union or parent groups. The only way you'll get an honest report is if everyone who has a stake in keeping the system the way it is now doesn't have their hands in the process.

I think if I just stop reading these treads I would be a much happier person... I could just focus on my own reality. While not perfect, it is not nearly as troubled as most of what is described here.

I think that's called denial and I hear you. Sometimes, I think it would be easier to just pretend everything is as perfect as MCPS wants you to believe. MCPS has huge problems and they're impacting our students education. Nothing will change if people don't care and pretend its fine.

I think if I just stop reading these treads I would be a much happier person... I could just focus on my own reality. While not perfect, it is not nearly as troubled as most of what is described here.

Anonymous wrote:

We pay a lot in taxes in Montgomery County. Half of our County budget goes to MCPS. Unions demand high wages.

So what? Teachers report to the principals. Principals report to area superintendents. The superintendent reports to the BOE. The BOE knows that no one bothers to pay attention who to vote for in local elections so they only need to keep the union happy. Its a circle of no accountability with no one really steering the ship and the status quo being always maintained.

I support the theory of public education but I'm beginning to accept that it can't work in practice because their is no direct accountability for performance or outcomes. The taxpayers have virtually no say in how MCPS is run and it shows in the hubris that MCPS displays.

This is so true. I came to accept this and moved on, literally (other than lurking sometimes on the MD School forum).

We pay a lot in taxes in Montgomery County. Half of our County budget goes to MCPS. Unions demand high wages.

So what? Teachers report to the principals. Principals report to area superintendents. The superintendent reports to the BOE. The BOE knows that no one bothers to pay attention who to vote for in local elections so they only need to keep the union happy. Its a circle of no accountability with no one really steering the ship and the status quo being always maintained.

I support the theory of public education but I'm beginning to accept that it can't work in practice because their is no direct accountability for performance or outcomes. The taxpayers have virtually no say in how MCPS is run and it shows in the hubris that MCPS displays.

Anonymous wrote:I think private schools have a much bigger incentive to keep parents and kids happy..the tuition. I have heard many stories of grade inflation, extra credit etc at private schools.

We pay a lot in taxes in Montgomery County. Half of our County budget goes to MCPS. Unions demand high wages.

I think private schools have a much bigger incentive to keep parents and kids happy..the tuition. I have heard many stories of grade inflation, extra credit etc at private schools.

MCPS should provide transcripts featuring any grade the parent deems appropriate.And hold a big fancy awards ceremony once every marking period to celebrate the stellar students and their dedicated parents.

You fool. Have you ever wondered why private schools have harder curriculums and require so much more work from the students? If parents only wanted an inflated grade, wouldn't it make sense that private schools would be far easier than public and just hand out the grades? Clearly, this is not what happens. Sadly, public schools are the ones lowering standards and passing kids through that should held back. Public schools fear rigorous testing because it reveals that they aren't teaching.

Parents who care about education want to see their child learn and reach their academic potential. This means getting top grades and doing the work it requires to get there. They expect teachers who push achievement not lazy civil servants sitting around letting kids skate by all day and then dinging their grades.

Let the parents educate their own children. They clearly know best in every single case and ALL teachers are only "C students who could only manage an education degree".

MCPS should provide transcripts featuring any grade the parent deems appropriate.And hold a big fancy awards ceremony once every marking period to celebrate the stellar students and their dedicated parents.

The parents in MC is a great resource instead of any liability. I would be totally shocked if parents' inputs are all ignored.

In fact, I would love to see that schools and parents join together to educate our young citizens. In this way, they will get the best from this great society.

Well, I am not a superintendent. So, you can be right. But, if so, it is a tragedy.

Anonymous wrote:I , honestly, would rely on my experience and training as an educator and ignore all suggestions from parents.

Get out of Dodge and head for the hills. You're in way over your head!

Anonymous wrote:I , honestly, would rely on my experience and training as an educator and ignore all suggestions from parents.

Yes, now, THAT is an awesome idea. Parents with kids at the schools should have absolutely NO input. They can't possibly have a clue as to what the schools need.