Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Whittle said the structure of the new school — based in New York, incorporated in the Cayman Islands"


https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/private-school-with-global-ambition-to-open-in-dc-and-china-in-2019/2018/02/07/c101aaa2-0b4b-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html

That's incredibly sketchy. As is the fact that it's a for-profit school, and the fact that he's trying to scale up quickly. I wouldn't send my kid there.

I also have a teacher friend who is taking up a position there. I am pretty sceptical about some of their plans but, given the amount they have invested in the refurbishment, I can't imagine it would be allowed to fold quickly. I do believe that, as with all new ventures, they have presented a rosy picture of plans to potential employees and applicants and many things might be stalled or not happen. So you should ask yourself what it is about the school that attracts you and whether that is something that might not eventuate. For example, maybe you love the idea of your kid spending a term at their campus in Mumbai or wherever but that campus is delayed during the roll out or never happens. Or maybe you love the idea of a multicultural classroom with meaningful interaction with students from other countries but the large numbers of Chinese students mean that they are not truly integrated and end up staying to their own communities. I would also focus on very specific questions about the curriculum such as what math program they will follow, how will they ensure all areas of math knowledge will be systematically addressed given they are touting a multi-disciplinary project-based approach which would require different disciplines being integrated, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure whoch teachers from Big 3 jump ship but to go from a legacy school to a no name brand new school is a leap of faith, if you ask me! What happens if the school fails...take a look at BASIS McLean. There has been more turnover at that school than McDonalds!

No teacher would do this unless s/he was already being let go.

OP here. From what our friend says this is not true.... but maybe she is trying to sell the school a bit

"No teacher would do this unless s/he was already being let go " or not wanting to be stuck in a space of complacency...this whole forum seems like a safe space for people afraid of any kind of change....follow up comments will look something like this "must be someone from Whittle" etc.

Teachers may or may not believe in the school, but they won’t change schools unless they are offered more money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure whoch teachers from Big 3 jump ship but to go from a legacy school to a no name brand new school is a leap of faith, if you ask me! What happens if the school fails...take a look at BASIS McLean. There has been more turnover at that school than McDonalds!

No teacher would do this unless s/he was already being let go.

OP here. From what our friend says this is not true.... but maybe she is trying to sell the school a bit

"No teacher would do this unless s/he was already being let go " or not wanting to be stuck in a space of complacency...this whole forum seems like a safe space for people afraid of any kind of change....follow up comments will look something like this "must be someone from Whittle" etc.

Why would someone pull their kid out of Sidwell to send them to a first year school that may, or may not, be in business in two years?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been to a few informational sessions and events held at the school. I have to say the first two times I was left wondering what are they offering but after the educators started giving the talks I was thoroughly impressed with what they are offering in terms of curriculum etc. We are seriously considering this school for our 6th grader who currently attends Sidwell. I too had the same thoughts as some of the posters above but after doing my research I have to say it looks like this school is going to shake things up for the better in DC. Before you post negative comments about any school please make sure you visit and get information and then share it publicly.

You’re willing to give up a Sidwell spot for Whittle? Has to be a troll and fake post or employee of Whittle! I’m not buying it!

"Give up a Sidwell spot" it is just a name for goodness sake. Education is meant to be progressive --times have changed. We want our children to be resilient "no guinea pigs" just risk takers. How do you change the world if we only rely on "tradition?"

Anonymous wrote:"Whittle said the structure of the new school — based in New York, incorporated in the Cayman Islands"


https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/private-school-with-global-ambition-to-open-in-dc-and-china-in-2019/2018/02/07/c101aaa2-0b4b-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html

I'm always struck by the herd mentality on DCUM, especially the people who are really stuck on well-known prestige brands in education.

Not everyone is like that. The archives make for interesting reading, too, because schools panned as "why would you ever want to send to your kid to something without an ancient history" have turned out to be excellent. (There have been disasters, too, like BASIS McLean, so do be cautious.)

When I was a kid, my parents sent me to three different newly-established schools (in different areas of the state we lived in over time). One has since closed down, but two are now thriving and are the very best schools in that area. And being one of the very first students at those schools had its benefits and drawbacks, but I don't regret it at all.

Anonymous wrote:Before you post negative comments about any school please make sure you visit and get information and then share it publicly.

This is clearly a shill for Whittle – Which Sidwell family would take a chance like that? It’s not like the Whittle School is going to be free...

Anonymous wrote:I have been to a few informational sessions and events held at the school. I have to say the first two times I was left wondering what are they offering but after the educators started giving the talks I was thoroughly impressed with what they are offering in terms of curriculum etc. We are seriously considering this school for our 6th grader who currently attends Sidwell. I too had the same thoughts as some of the posters above but after doing my research I have to say it looks like this school is going to shake things up for the better in DC. Before you post negative comments about any school please make sure you visit and get information and then share it publicly.

You’re willing to give up a Sidwell spot for Whittle? Has to be a troll and fake post or employee of Whittle! I’m not buying it!

I have been to a few informational sessions and events held at the school. I have to say the first two times I was left wondering what are they offering but after the educators started giving the talks I was thoroughly impressed with what they are offering in terms of curriculum etc. We are seriously considering this school for our 6th grader who currently attends Sidwell. I too had the same thoughts as some of the posters above but after doing my research I have to say it looks like this school is going to shake things up for the better in DC. Before you post negative comments about any school please make sure you visit and get information and then share it publicly.

"Whittle said the structure of the new school — based in New York, incorporated in the Cayman Islands"


https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/private-school-with-global-ambition-to-open-in-dc-and-china-in-2019/2018/02/07/c101aaa2-0b4b-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html

He's raised $700 million before any school has opened it's doors. You decide who he's serving - students or investors.

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a22084801/chris-whittle-to-launch-global-academy-whittle-school-and-studios/

The school is not accredited. I would not send my kids there until it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure whoch teachers from Big 3 jump ship but to go from a legacy school to a no name brand new school is a leap of faith, if you ask me! What happens if the school fails...take a look at BASIS McLean. There has been more turnover at that school than McDonalds!

No teacher would do this unless s/he was already being let go.

OP here. From what our friend says this is not true.... but maybe she is trying to sell the school a bit

They were probably offered a lot more money.

That’s what they did in Hong Kong and Shenzhen when opening that branch. They raided the top schools for teachers and threw money at them.

Butvthis is a good thing, right? At the very minimum they attract good teachers