Anonymous wrote:

MCPS is TOO freakin' large. Impossible to run effectively and principals don't have true autonomy at all. Let alone teachers, who have been turned into widgets in an ineffective system.

true

This was never the case in the past. Unfortunately, people entering admin are "Yes" men and women who don't think for themselves. It's become the norm to move up those with
1) little teaching experience (big mistake)
2) a limited view of the school system (e.g., having taught only in a "W" school), and
3) no empathy.

Perhaps 3 should be #1. But really 1 and 2 help to shave away at empathy. The system is sick. I don't know how else to explain it. Whistleblowers are made out to be crazy when in fact many are unearthing the ugly truths. So some leave. Others retire early. Or, you have those, once very inspirational and creative, who shut down completely.

Until kids and parents start pushing back, however, the system will continue to crumble. I've been saying this for the past few years, emphasizing that MCPS is heading toward implosion. But like abuse victims, sickness has become the norm, and because unethical practices (50% rule, guidelines in the Code of Conduct, re-teaching/re-assessing to the point of exhaustion) have insidiously been introduced to the system, teachers just accept more and more, as we're blamed for lacking compassion when we complain. "Think of the kids!" is what we're told!

Well, when Johnny Beebop thinks he can sleep through a test and still earn a 50%, we are thinking of the kids when we complain of these unethical practices that are killing academic stamina.

And it's even bigger than the classroom. When you have companies determining WHAT we should teach - companies like Discovery who think they can "do it better" - you have teachers who do indeed turn into robots. How can you fight a big (dysfunctional) machine that's in bed with corporate America?

State testing? another joke

I wish people would wake up regarding this mess, too.

a 2014 WP article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/01/17/maryland-schools-need-100-million-for-online-common-core-tests-says-report/?utm_term=.76a2f9522503

A new report from Maryland’s Education Department to the legislature says that the vast majority of schools in many of the state’s counties are not technologically prepared to give new online Common Core-aligned standardized tests and that at least $100 million will have to be spent by 2015 to get ready.

In Montgomery County alone, it is estimated that necessary computer purchases will cost some $10 million, wireless enhancements to the infrastructure another $3 million and other technological improvements an additional $4 million.

Who benefits from these purchases? certainly not kids

Do some digging to find out how much PARCC costs states. Teachers are pawns in all of this, parents! It's bad.

I told my daughter, a rising freshman, this: Imagine if you could use social media in a positive way - as a communication vehicle to all HS students across the country- where you all plan a walkout during a PARCC test. Won't THAT move get attention! Waves of kids from East to West, stepping out!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just recd an ES PTA email about the PTA agenda in June and need for solutions to the poor curriculum and materials that work for the teachers.

Navarro is a do nothing. Young, did nothing in Baltimore schools, lifer Gov’t paper- pusher.

How incredibly inefficient is this that each school has to figure out a way around this ridiculous situation. MCPS needs to make someone accountable for this mess.

I thought that DCUM wanted more school autonomy. Well, now there's more school autonomy.

Yes well who is going to pay for materials to support this autonomy? Rich PTAs are already mobilizing but what about the Focus schools? They’re stuck for another year with the crappy 2.0 thanks to Erick Lang’s swampy job hopping.

Every curriculum provider offers free review copies for instructors...

Anonymous wrote:

MCPS is TOO freakin' large. Impossible to run effectively and principals don't have true autonomy at all. Let alone teachers, who have been turned into widgets in an ineffective system.

true

This was never the case in the past. Unfortunately, people entering admin are "Yes" men and women who don't think for themselves. It's become the norm to move up those with
1) little teaching experience (big mistake)
2) a limited view of the school system (e.g., having taught only in a "W" school), and
3) no empathy.

Perhaps 3 should be #1. But really 1 and 2 help to shave away at empathy. The system is sick. I don't know how else to explain it. Whistleblowers are made out to be crazy when in fact many are unearthing the ugly truths. So some leave. Others retire early. Or, you have those, once very inspirational and creative, who shut down completely.

Until kids and parents start pushing back, however, the system will continue to crumble. I've been saying this for the past few years, emphasizing that MCPS is heading toward implosion. But like abuse victims, sickness has become the norm, and because unethical practices (50% rule, guidelines in the Code of Conduct, re-teaching/re-assessing to the point of exhaustion) have insidiously been introduced to the system, teachers just accept more and more, as we're blamed for lacking compassion when we complain. "Think of the kids!" is what we're told!

Well, when Johnny Beebop thinks he can sleep through a test and still earn a 50%, we are thinking of the kids when we complain of these unethical practices that are killing academic stamina.

And it's even bigger than the classroom. When you have companies determining WHAT we should teach - companies like Discovery who think they can "do it better" - you have teachers who do indeed turn into robots. How can you fight a big (dysfunctional) machine that's in bed with corporate America?

State testing? another joke

I wish people would wake up regarding this mess, too.

a 2014 WP article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2014/01/17/maryland-schools-need-100-million-for-online-common-core-tests-says-report/?utm_term=.76a2f9522503

A new report from Maryland’s Education Department to the legislature says that the vast majority of schools in many of the state’s counties are not technologically prepared to give new online Common Core-aligned standardized tests and that at least $100 million will have to be spent by 2015 to get ready.

In Montgomery County alone, it is estimated that necessary computer purchases will cost some $10 million, wireless enhancements to the infrastructure another $3 million and other technological improvements an additional $4 million.

Who benefits from these purchases? certainly not kids

Do some digging to find out how much PARCC costs states. Teachers are pawns in all of this, parents! It's bad.

I told my daughter, a rising freshman, this: Imagine if you could use social media in a positive way - as a communication vehicle to all HS students across the country- where you all plan a walkout during a PARCC test. Won't THAT move get attention! Waves of kids from East to West, stepping out!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just recd an ES PTA email about the PTA agenda in June and need for solutions to the poor curriculum and materials that work for the teachers.

Navarro is a do nothing. Young, did nothing in Baltimore schools, lifer Gov’t paper- pusher.

How incredibly inefficient is this that each school has to figure out a way around this ridiculous situation. MCPS needs to make someone accountable for this mess.

I thought that DCUM wanted more school autonomy. Well, now there's more school autonomy.

Yes well who is going to pay for materials to support this autonomy? Rich PTAs are already mobilizing but what about the Focus schools? They’re stuck for another year with the crappy 2.0 thanks to Erick Lang’s swampy job hopping.

MCPS is TOO freakin' large. Impossible to run effectively and principals don't have true autonomy at all. Let alone teachers, who have been turned into widgets in an ineffective system.

A new report from Maryland’s Education Department to the legislature says that the vast majority of schools in many of the state’s counties are not technologically prepared to give new online Common Core-aligned standardized tests and that at least $100 million will have to be spent by 2015 to get ready.

In Montgomery County alone, it is estimated that necessary computer purchases will cost some $10 million, wireless enhancements to the infrastructure another $3 million and other technological improvements an additional $4 million.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Just recd an ES PTA email about the PTA agenda in June and need for solutions to the poor curriculum and materials that work for the teachers.

Navarro is a do nothing. Young, did nothing in Baltimore schools, lifer Gov’t paper- pusher.

How incredibly inefficient is this that each school has to figure out a way around this ridiculous situation. MCPS needs to make someone accountable for this mess.

Actually in smaller school systems with only 1-3 high schools, every process is much more efficient. When local principals and teachers are accountable to the community not incompetent central office staff there is much more engagement. When local principals and teachers have more autonomy and control to make changes they can be more responsive to issues and can be far more successful because they know their students, are vested in a solution actually working and live the consequences.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the policy above but teachers and principals should be exempted.

Anonymous wrote:Heads should roll for this. I'm not paying high ass taxes for people to glide by from one high salary to he next. There needs to be a requirement that one should live in the county in order to take a job here. I wish there was also requirement for certain BOE and MCPS central office positions one must have children in the school system. This would ensure people would work harder and be honest because they have a risk factor and skin in the game.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

How incredibly inefficient is this that each school has to figure out a way around this ridiculous situation. MCPS needs to make someone accountable for this mess.

Actually in smaller school systems with only 1-3 high schools, every process is much more efficient. When local principals and teachers are accountable to the community not incompetent central office staff there is much more engagement. When local principals and teachers have more autonomy and control to make changes they can be more responsive to issues and can be far more successful because they know their students, are vested in a solution actually working and live the consequences.

+100