Anonymous
04/26/2016 22:33
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Let me guess... you're zoned for Eaton and got zoned out of Deal?
You clearly don't care about MacFarland, so why should I care what you think would be awesome?
Nope, I've got zero dog in this fight. I get no benefit either way. I just think DCPS's "build it and they will come" plan is a stupid one that's doomed to failure and a waste of money. I do want MacFarland to succeed because I'm watching DCPS dump a bunch of money down a bottomless hole right now.
What's your bias? Shepherd Park resident who needs to claim rights over Deal?
It is remarkable that someone with no dog in the fight would have such a strong and immovable opinion, not only that MacFarland should be improved, and not only that schools should be cut from Deal to achieve that, but also regarding the specific schools that should be removed from Deal and fed to MacFarland instead. The specificity of your viewpoint is as remarkable as the forcefulness with which you express it. Usually people with no dog in the fight are a bit more philosophical, open to different ideas......
I'm totally open to other ideas. Do you have any good ones? The current plan of just waiting and hoping for MacFarland to become an excellent school is a sure loser. PP's idea about eliminating OOB feeder rights is an ok one for reducing overcrowding at Deal, but I don't see how it helps to improve MacFarland.
Just as MacFarland needs an infusion of cash and know how, it needs an infusion of good students and committed families. I see no way that happens voluntarily. So the only option is to make it involuntary. The Shepherd people are always bragging about their strong school, so that's an obvious choice. Similar for Powell and Bancroft. All three are at least as close to MacFarland as they are to Deal, probably closer.
What good ideas do you have?
Anonymous
04/26/2016 22:18
Subject: Re:MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
ope, I've got zero dog in this fight. I get no benefit either way. I just think DCPS's "build it and they will come" plan is a stupid one that's doomed to failure and a waste of money. I do want MacFarland to succeed because I'm watching DCPS dump a bunch of money down a bottomless hole right now.
What's your bias? Shepherd Park resident who needs to claim rights over Deal?
It is remarkable that someone with no dog in the fight would have such a strong and immovable opinion, not only that MacFarland should be improved, and not only that schools should be cut from Deal to achieve that, but also regarding the specific schools that should be removed from Deal and fed to MacFarland instead. The specificity of your viewpoint is as remarkable as the forcefulness with which you express it. Usually people with no dog in the fight are a bit more philosophical, open to different ideas......
I live in SP and would be thrilled if our feeder changed to Macfarland. And if people actually sent their children there.
Anonymous
04/26/2016 22:09
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Let me guess... you're zoned for Eaton and got zoned out of Deal?
You clearly don't care about MacFarland, so why should I care what you think would be awesome?
Nope, I've got zero dog in this fight. I get no benefit either way. I just think DCPS's "build it and they will come" plan is a stupid one that's doomed to failure and a waste of money. I do want MacFarland to succeed because I'm watching DCPS dump a bunch of money down a bottomless hole right now.
What's your bias? Shepherd Park resident who needs to claim rights over Deal?
It is remarkable that someone with no dog in the fight would have such a strong and immovable opinion, not only that MacFarland should be improved, and not only that schools should be cut from Deal to achieve that, but also regarding the specific schools that should be removed from Deal and fed to MacFarland instead. The specificity of your viewpoint is as remarkable as the forcefulness with which you express it. Usually people with no dog in the fight are a bit more philosophical, open to different ideas......
Anonymous
04/26/2016 22:00
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Let me guess... you're zoned for Eaton and got zoned out of Deal?
You clearly don't care about MacFarland, so why should I care what you think would be awesome?
Nope, I've got zero dog in this fight. I get no benefit either way. I just think DCPS's "build it and they will come" plan is a stupid one that's doomed to failure and a waste of money. I do want MacFarland to succeed because I'm watching DCPS dump a bunch of money down a bottomless hole right now.
What's your bias? Shepherd Park resident who needs to claim rights over Deal?
Anonymous
04/26/2016 22:00
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The 50 kids that go to Deal each year from Shepherd (45 of which are OOB) are not going to build a middle school.
Don't let your fear about your Deal pipeline rob you of courage. Think about others in your community. 50 from Shepherd + 50 from Bancroft + 50 from Powell = lots of potential.
Besides, if 90% of Shepherd's students are OOB as you are claiming, why do you care? Sounds like this won't really matter to Shepherd Park residents. And if Shepherd Elementary is so powerful that it can boost the proficiency of all those OOB students, then it will do wonders for MacFarland! This is your chance to prove how great Shepherd Park and Shepherd Elementary really are!
Let me guess... you're zoned for Eaton and got zoned out of Deal?
You clearly don't care about MacFarland, so why should I care what you think would be awesome?
I thought the same thing but I'm not willing to disparage Cleveland Park residents without more proof. PP could just be a garden variety troll with time to kill.
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:57
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What are the schools that would be cut out of MacFarland under this plan?
Why would you feed Shepherd there and not Whittier, Brightwood or Takoma - all of which are closer.
They could all feed there. It would be the Alice Deal for that entire area. They key is that I'm crediting Shepherd Bancroft and Powell with being strong feeder schools based on their reputations. They are the ones that will ensure MacFarland has a good base to start, and isn't treated as a school of last resort. Those neighborhoods have strong spirit and bragging rights to activism and diversity, so I think they have the strength to pull it off. The question is whether they have the courage to do it.
Bancroft and Powell are both majority-poor (75% and 85% latino, respectively) and the test scores aren't good. Shepherd, less poor and I believe the test scores a bit better but no JKLM. You can check the DCPS school profiles online.
In your internet ramblings you are free to evaluate schools and define "strong feeders" based on their "reputations" (on DCUM), and use these to construct your own fantasy feeder patterns. Just like fantasy baseball or fantasy football or any other hobby. The DME and other policy-makers do this stuff for a living, in real life, and must concern themselves with the facts.
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:55
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:But that all goes over your heads because *gasp* there will be many poors there. For those of us who can get past that, maybe there will be something to the school. And maybe not, but I'm willing to hang around and see instead of poo pooing it because of the "awfulness" of the feeders.
It's the communities around Bancroft Powell and Shepherd who would be asked to go. They're not "afraid of poors," so they won't be concerned about the shift, right? Wouldn't those communities just jump at the chance to escape the terrible attitudes of Deal parents and instead build a righteous community of learners at MacFarland?
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:53
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The 50 kids that go to Deal each year from Shepherd (45 of which are OOB) are not going to build a middle school.
Don't let your fear about your Deal pipeline rob you of courage. Think about others in your community. 50 from Shepherd + 50 from Bancroft + 50 from Powell = lots of potential.
Besides, if 90% of Shepherd's students are OOB as you are claiming, why do you care? Sounds like this won't really matter to Shepherd Park residents. And if Shepherd Elementary is so powerful that it can boost the proficiency of all those OOB students, then it will do wonders for MacFarland! This is your chance to prove how great Shepherd Park and Shepherd Elementary really are!
Let me guess... you're zoned for Eaton and got zoned out of Deal?
You clearly don't care about MacFarland, so why should I care what you think would be awesome?
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:50
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:The 50 kids that go to Deal each year from Shepherd (45 of which are OOB) are not going to build a middle school.
Don't let your fear about your Deal pipeline rob you of courage. Think about others in your community. 50 from Shepherd + 50 from Bancroft + 50 from Powell = lots of potential.
Besides, if 90% of Shepherd's students are OOB as you are claiming, why do you care? Sounds like this won't really matter to Shepherd Park residents. And if Shepherd Elementary is so powerful that it can boost the proficiency of all those OOB students, then it will do wonders for MacFarland! This is your chance to prove how great Shepherd Park and Shepherd Elementary really are!
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:47
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
It'd be a lot more interesting to have this conversation with anyone who has skin in the game (other than people just looking to kick out EOTP from Deal).
The new principal at Roosevelt seems great. Perhaps she and the upcoming principal at MacFarland can make something great of the schools.
But that all goes over your heads because *gasp* there will be many poors there. For those of us who can get past that, maybe there will be something to the school. And maybe not, but I'm willing to hang around and see instead of poo pooing it because of the "awfulness" of the feeders.
The new principal at Roosevelt seems great. Perhaps she and the upcoming principal at MacFarland can make something great of the schools.
But that all goes over your heads because *gasp* there will be many poors there. For those of us who can get past that, maybe there will be something to the school. And maybe not, but I'm willing to hang around and see instead of poo pooing it because of the "awfulness" of the feeders.
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:36
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What are the schools that would be cut out of MacFarland under this plan?
Why would you feed Shepherd there and not Whittier, Brightwood or Takoma - all of which are closer.
They could all feed there. It would be the Alice Deal for that entire area. They key is that I'm crediting Shepherd Bancroft and Powell with being strong feeder schools based on their reputations. They are the ones that will ensure MacFarland has a good base to start, and isn't treated as a school of last resort. Those neighborhoods have strong spirit and bragging rights to activism and diversity, so I think they have the strength to pull it off. The question is whether they have the courage to do it.
Ain't gonna happen. No matter how much you want the Brown folk out of Deal. Sorry. Leave to deal with colored folks. You do live in DC you know.
Quit trying to make everything about race. Try focusing on building a school.
The 50 kids that go to Deal each year from Shepherd (45 of which are OOB) are not going to build a middle school.
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:25
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:DCPS is already planning a 'North Middle.'
And how can DCPS allow a majority white Deal.
DC is going to be majority white in another 10 years. AA are alread below 50% now.
No - unless you are saying Latinos and Hispanics are white.
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:19
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
agree that the build and they will come mentality of DCPS is a mess. Too many new schools, half capacity and still shitty scores and same bahviaorl issues. Hello Dunbar! Brookland Middle could still attract some Petworth and Park View families but just not enough. McFarland might have a chance if they carve out the dual language portion an turn it into an academy that requires some background in the language or a test in/magnent school within a school. We do not need another new middle in Ward 4.
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:16
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:DCPS is already planning a 'North Middle.'
And how can DCPS allow a majority white Deal.
DC is going to be majority white in another 10 years. AA are alread below 50% now.
Anonymous
04/26/2016 21:15
Subject: MacFarland Middle & Roosevelt High - Status?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What are the schools that would be cut out of MacFarland under this plan?
Why would you feed Shepherd there and not Whittier, Brightwood or Takoma - all of which are closer.
They could all feed there. It would be the Alice Deal for that entire area. They key is that I'm crediting Shepherd Bancroft and Powell with being strong feeder schools based on their reputations. They are the ones that will ensure MacFarland has a good base to start, and isn't treated as a school of last resort. Those neighborhoods have strong spirit and bragging rights to activism and diversity, so I think they have the strength to pull it off. The question is whether they have the courage to do it.
Ain't gonna happen. No matter how much you want the Brown folk out of Deal. Sorry. Leave to deal with colored folks. You do live in DC you know.
Quit trying to make everything about race. Try focusing on building a school.