Anonymous
Post 11/08/2025 17:05     Subject: Re:TPES
Specific question to TPES, what opportunities exist for parents to engage and help at the school? I’m jumping off the other thread saying that investing in public school is good for all, which I agree with, but want to know more about what that looks like here.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 21:03     Subject: Re:TPES
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Is anyone already organizing against screens in MCPS? Someone said this is coming from the district rather than the individual schools, so wondering what this looks like.


And I'll add, I'm not talking about no screens since that doesn't seem possible, but minimizing screen use to at least get back to pre-pandemic standards.



Many people want this- but we need to band together to push. Consider working with your school PTA or MCCPTA to get some movement.


Pre-pandemic, there were just as many screens, if not more. Your kids must be younger.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 16:50     Subject: Re:TPES
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Is anyone already organizing against screens in MCPS? Someone said this is coming from the district rather than the individual schools, so wondering what this looks like.


And I'll add, I'm not talking about no screens since that doesn't seem possible, but minimizing screen use to at least get back to pre-pandemic standards.



Many people want this- but we need to band together to push. Consider working with your school PTA or MCCPTA to get some movement.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 15:54     Subject: Re:TPES
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Is anyone already organizing against screens in MCPS? Someone said this is coming from the district rather than the individual schools, so wondering what this looks like.


The district will not be swayed on this. The only thing that matters to them is test scores. Tests are administered on Chromebooks. That’s that.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 15:24     Subject: Re:TPES
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Is anyone already organizing against screens in MCPS? Someone said this is coming from the district rather than the individual schools, so wondering what this looks like.


And I'll add, I'm not talking about no screens since that doesn't seem possible, but minimizing screen use to at least get back to pre-pandemic standards.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 15:23     Subject: Re:TPES
OP here. Is anyone already organizing against screens in MCPS? Someone said this is coming from the district rather than the individual schools, so wondering what this looks like.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 11:48     Subject: TPES
Anonymous wrote:A waldorf private sound like a fit for you as well. I think you may find that the crunchy pace of Takoma Park of years gone past is evolving as it moved into a faux-yuppie of very highly educated but middle income (think small firm lawyers, non-profits, teachers, pure feds). These parents will place a similar emphasis/drive on education with things like metrics & test scores esp when coupled to the area's perceived 2nd fiddle status to the western county's school offerings and how they feel that reflects on them. The like minded communities that don't embrace the rat race have migrated east of TP these days partially because they can't afford it. The ones with money do the private route often in more expensive areas. There is some still in TP that got in earlier or bought into the hype but I don't think they are the defining demographic anymore. Just look at the main street, the days of used book stores and bead shops is long gone.


OMG this
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 10:15     Subject: TPES
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wanted to get some perspective. We are a no-screens family hoping our child can receive a low pressure but meaningful education. We aren’t fans of testing, grades, or homework. We prioritize outdoor time. Both parents went to public school and did well but feel we sacrificed our childhoods for school and want to avoid that for our kids.

How crazy is MCPS going to make us feel? Is there anything we can do to have a better experience? Zoned to Takoma ES for kindergarten next year.
\

Get parenting classes.

Move your kids to a small religious private they don't value education just like you.

There is seriously something wrong with you or you are a troll.


This is OP. I’m an Ivy grad and my husband also went to a prestigious college. We value education, but done in a healthy manner.

To others providing helpful responses and clarification, thank you!!



This is us too- unfortunately MCPS doesn’t really care. They are committed to max screens. Kids on screens are docile and compliant. It’s a control thing. Academic results are not the priority at all. They seem to want to kids dumb and compliant.
Anonymous
Post 11/03/2025 10:12     Subject: TPES
One thing that happens a lot at our school- if the kids have a substitute teacher- they often just get given a chrome book and get a full day of watching whatever they want on the internet.

MCPS doesnt care about screen time- they would be happy to hook kids up to 8 hours a day on a chrome book- as it’s just preparing them to be screen addicts later!
Anonymous
Post 11/02/2025 07:19     Subject: Re:TPES
The screen attraction comes from other kids and their devices, IME, not so much the school Chromebook or the promethean board. My kids still don't really have HW in MS. I wish they took testing more seriously, in fact, because DCs would benefit from some strategy lessons and some sense of standardized test importance as they move towards HS. And the remedy for limited outdoor time is sports with carpools (lots of low-cost opportunities in this area). Don't let the desire for perfection make you stress too much about the good enough, OP: provide good, strong guidance to your kids kn the things that matter, and try it. You can always leave the public system later if you need to and can figure out the finances.
Anonymous
Post 11/01/2025 21:13     Subject: TPES
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can’t tell if this is a serious post or not. You want to send your kid to public school but don’t like or approve of everything that happens in a public school?


OP here. This is a serious post. We can’t homeschool and can’t afford most private schools. So this is what we have.

I realize my views are outside of the norm but also feel that being on screens, testing, being given homework, and being graded this young are all detrimental to the experience of childhood and unnecessary.

If any other parents hold similar views, how have you coped? I think you can opt out of homework? We would stay screen-free at home.


We lived in DC and sent our kids to a charter Montessori. Which everyone else in this thread send to not understand is also public school. Then we moved to MCPS when they were older and sadly everything is on screens


OP here. I truly wish there were public Montessori options. I think PG County also has a public Montessori.

Can you relocate to a rural area, smaller city, or different part of the country? You will not find that sort of healthy environment in the DC area.

Or just going farther out, you may find a healthier environment. There is a low-cost private that fits your description but it is near Baltimore.

Starting in MS, it is screens all the time at MCPS.


Which is the low cost Baltimore private?
Anonymous
Post 11/01/2025 18:27     Subject: TPES
^now, not not!
Anonymous
Post 11/01/2025 18:26     Subject: TPES
The screen stuff and testing stuff is largely state and county controlled, not school. MCPS/Maryland have LOTS of testing, and LOTS of screens. We have been very happy in MCPS and our child attended TPES, PBES, and TPMS and is not in 11th grade across the county. But our child actually likes testing and we never banned screens.

If you feel very strongly about this you will run into issues in public school because so so so much of what they do is on the computer, even in early grades. You can opt out of testing, but I would discourage that because it eliminates gifted screening and things like that. It'll also peg your kid as "other" when they are constantly removed and their content/delivery won't change.

You probably just need to get used to it.

It sounds like you're more anti rat race. If that's the case, you're in the wrong county!!!!!
Anonymous
Post 11/01/2025 18:24     Subject: TPES
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can’t tell if this is a serious post or not. You want to send your kid to public school but don’t like or approve of everything that happens in a public school?


OP here. This is a serious post. We can’t homeschool and can’t afford most private schools. So this is what we have.

I realize my views are outside of the norm but also feel that being on screens, testing, being given homework, and being graded this young are all detrimental to the experience of childhood and unnecessary.

If any other parents hold similar views, how have you coped? I think you can opt out of homework? We would stay screen-free at home.


We lived in DC and sent our kids to a charter Montessori. Which everyone else in this thread send to not understand is also public school. Then we moved to MCPS when they were older and sadly everything is on screens


OP here. I truly wish there were public Montessori options. I think PG County also has a public Montessori.


You are both professionals, with degrees for Ivy's or strong schools, as you brag. Change jobs and find a way to pay for private. How do you pay for child care now? Or, homeschool.


Where’s the brag? I literally said in the first post that we sacrificed our childhoods for academics.

Hearing mixed responses, it sounds like MCPS might be better than I feared in the early years and that looking into alternatives isn’t a bad idea.


You aren't sacrificing your children's childhoods by having them engage in academics. Thats bizzare to say that. The earlier you start, the stronger foundation they get and the better off they are.