Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not in the DC area, but its funny reading this thread. DC is way behind the times if you guys are discussing this. Major (and excellent) school systems around the US are using student-issued laptops and no longer have textbooks. And as an aside - because there are no textbooks, they fewer need for lockers. My high school kid doesn't use a locker and hardly any kid in the school does (except gym lockers).

No paper assignments are completed anymore - all assignments are uploaded to the teacher via google docs. Everything is posted online; students can choose to print study guides, worksheets, etc but it is not required.

Wow, I can't believe this is a new thing in DC.

And you just happen to be reading this forum... why?

Because nobody else that isn't from DC posts on DCUM? The thread came up in Recent Topics. Geez.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not in the DC area, but its funny reading this thread. DC is way behind the times if you guys are discussing this. Major (and excellent) school systems around the US are using student-issued laptops and no longer have textbooks. And as an aside - because there are no textbooks, they fewer need for lockers. My high school kid doesn't use a locker and hardly any kid in the school does (except gym lockers).

No paper assignments are completed anymore - all assignments are uploaded to the teacher via google docs. Everything is posted online; students can choose to print study guides, worksheets, etc but it is not required.

Wow, I can't believe this is a new thing in DC.

And you just happen to be reading this forum... why?

Anonymous wrote:To 12:11 and others -- if current parents haven't yet been able to get DCI to make change to this policy, and your questions about it weren't 'received well' at an open house ... I think it's fair to assume it is unlikely to change. Prospective parents should make decisions based on what the policy is now. Not what they hope it might evolve to in the future.

I do not believe that continuing to raise it and push it will have no impact. These concerns also will impact how these kids do on tests. It will effect performance, and how can that not matter if the school gets a rep for practices that might actually be impeding student progress with their model? Yes there may be way more wanting to feed than their minimum slots, but that will change if parents perceive the model and practice to have major flaws. I hear 2 so far: amount of time online (even just for instruction and homework), and way too lax a classroom and break environment where kids have way too much time on non-instructional material.

I'm not in the DC area, but its funny reading this thread. DC is way behind the times if you guys are discussing this. Major (and excellent) school systems around the US are using student-issued laptops and no longer have textbooks. And as an aside - because there are no textbooks, they fewer need for lockers. My high school kid doesn't use a locker and hardly any kid in the school does (except gym lockers).

No paper assignments are completed anymore - all assignments are uploaded to the teacher via google docs. Everything is posted online; students can choose to print study guides, worksheets, etc but it is not required.

Wow, I can't believe this is a new thing in DC.

DCI feeder parent here. I'm very disappointed with what's happened and will try for a Basis or Latin slot.

To 12:11 and others -- if current parents haven't yet been able to get DCI to make change to this policy, and your questions about it weren't 'received well' at an open house ... I think it's fair to assume it is unlikely to change. Prospective parents should make decisions based on what the policy is now. Not what they hope it might evolve to in the future.

With 166 eligible rising 6th graders from the feeders - well more than they need to keep their projections on track - I don't think the Administration sees the parents from the feeders as a group they need to cultivate or listen to either. We were on the fence re DCI but now planning on our 5th grader heading to Basis next year and supplementing foreign language outside of school.

Any suggestions about how to raise this discussion with the school? It sounds like current parents haven't had any luck. My questions at a recent open house were not well received- it seems like this topic is not up for discussion. Could any current parents or prospective parents chime in about answers/information they received at recent events?

Anonymous wrote:Wow! I can't believe the school thinks promoting video games is a good idea. It is a shame to hear the leadership is not open to parent feedback. Are any current parents considering leaving the school for next year because of this issue?

Where would we go? Have you seen what's out there???

What current parents need is for parents of feeders and anyone else interested in attending this otherwise decent MS is to put pressure in DCI. Don't let tell them you teachers "have a handle" on kids staying on task (because, you know those games are so important). Yes, teachers deal with the crappy environment they're forced to work in. But talk to them privately and they will tell you it's an added wasted distraction.

And every brunch and lunch time is Video Games!! My kid exceeds his game time for the week by Thursday. (And please don't say "just tell him he can't play... " he's still in the environment)

So, while I'd love to just move my kid to Latin, I'm stuck.

Anonymous wrote:Current DCI parent. YES! We have engaged with Admin on several occasions. Their response is video games are an important part of youth culture. What school allows kid to play video games at school?? Even encourages it claiming they are "breaking the digital divide."

That is... INSANE!! Someone in leadership at DCI really said video games during school are acceptable? And even a positive thing???

Wow! I can't believe the school thinks promoting video games is a good idea. It is a shame to hear the leadership is not open to parent feedback. Are any current parents considering leaving the school for next year because of this issue?

Current DCI parent. YES! We have engaged with Admin on several occasions. Their response is video games are an important part of youth culture. What school allows kid to play video games at school?? Even encourages it claiming they are "breaking the digital divide."

Anonymous wrote:Have any prospective parents or current parents decided not to enroll their kids at DCI because of the tech use? Have any current parents had this discussion with principal and what has the response been?

My impression - but any current parents should weigh in - is that most prospective and many current parents, didn't actually understand the model was what it was, and the level at which kids would be attached to their tablets and that almost all work would be on the tablets. So I doubt anyone didn't enroll because of it, or rather haven't heard of anyone so far. But I know many parents at feeders and even for some not on DCUM word about this is spreading and the concern is spreading. I do hope parents (current and feeder) are talking to the Admins.

Have any prospective parents or current parents decided not to enroll their kids at DCI because of the tech use? Have any current parents had this discussion with principal and what has the response been?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a normal part of all teens' days.

Name a DC public middle or high school where this is the norm.

Still waiting for an answer "It is a normal part of all teens' days" poster. To say that means it's a normal part of all teens during the school day. Name one or two DC public schools (DCPS or charter) where this is the norm.

Actually, for it to be "normal", you'd have to name several schools. It is absolutely not normal, but go for it, which schools in DC is this normal in?