Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 21:21     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Anonymous wrote:I am opposed of the waiver and all the crappy parents who use the excuse that kids are "checked out". Our own parents and grandparents valued an education and encouraged kids, worked with teachers and made us do the work. Summer camps were NEVER a priority.

Parents these days coddle, complain in front of their kids, side with their whiny kids and choose camps over school. It is really sad. You all say it is just daycare and they don't learn anything anyway? Wow, then homeschool your kids. I like my kids teachers. They have missed a lot since Christmas and it is a year they will never get back again. I can see the difference it has made in their attitude and I clearly see my younger one has missed a lot of what her brother 2yrs older learned. I want to show them that blowing off school isn't the norm. Hard workers finish the job.
Totally agree with all of the above
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 21:13     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
The message being sent is that...sometimes things happen that are out of our control and we need to be flexible. That being said, in the future. That being said, and hindsight is 20/20, the calendar should have been written with Friday, June 13th as the first make-up day, Easter Monday as 2nd and the March teacher planning day at 3rd. Going into the following week could have been 4th and beyond.

I actually do support the waiver because MCPS typically does NOT use all the allotted days so students are there for additional days. It all balances out. This hasn't been a great year because of weather and that's unfortunate.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 21:07     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
I agree that adding days at the end of the year doesn't do much service to the kids. I also think getting waivers means the contingency plan isn't something they really intend to implement.

I like the way Fairfax handles things by removing President's Day and teacher workdays.

But MCPS's contingency plan isn't to use that approach. The contingency says "add days."

Want to change it? Tell the Board of Education. Get your friends to go to the board of education. Go to a meeting and speak. Get something started - and keep the momentum going.

Only complaining about it here won't do any good.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 20:19     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Anonymous wrote:

For the record, I'm a WOHM (since the PP mentioned that). It is ridiculous that they're even asking for a waiver. There have been too many missed days, and the time needs to be made up. Sends a terrible message that the days don't matter. Agree that it makes MCPS seem like a joke. You can miss two weeks, and it doesn't even matter. Pathetic.


It doesn't send the message that the days don't matter. It sends the message that the days can't be made up. Which, realistically, they can't.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 20:12     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Anonymous wrote:My DS in compacted Math too and since he goes to Middle School for it, he gets none on 2 hour delays as well. He would NOT be checked out the extra week and I don't believe his excellent teacher would be either.

IMO many parents have missed the point that teaching the kids that school doesn't matter and even though the schedule has been decided if too many snow days are used that the calendar needs to be extended -- Oh well -- let just change it because some teachers don't want to work longer and it is inconvenient for some parents--- is the absolutely the WRONG message. I am writing in opposition of waiver. It is pathetic to not enforce the extra days, MCPS just becomes a joke.


Agree with all of this.

For the record, I'm a WOHM (since the PP mentioned that). It is ridiculous that they're even asking for a waiver. There have been too many missed days, and the time needs to be made up. Sends a terrible message that the days don't matter. Agree that it makes MCPS seem like a joke. You can miss two weeks, and it doesn't even matter. Pathetic.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 20:08     Subject: Re:Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Anonymous wrote:
Please be sure to post back and report how much homework your kid gets each night beginning the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Also note the volume of papers coming home in their folders. Last year, the data notebooks came home that week...which meant they were done. This isn't a new, snow related thing, folks. This is how it's always been.[code]

There is no homework now in elementary school and very few papers ever come home. In 2.0, the focus is all about learning in the classroom only. If this is true then they need the extra week. In reality, they just repeat the same thing over and over again. Its boring. They could end the school year tomorrow and most kids would be no worse off.


For both these posters....

At my child's ES (in 4th grade), he's had HW every year. This year averages 30 minutes a night plus an additional 30 minutes of reading with writing a paragraph about what he's read.

In K, the HW mostly stopped at Memorial Day. In 1st and 2nd, it went Memorial Day week + another 1-2 assignments.

Last year (3rd) it continued until the very last full week of school.

Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 19:55     Subject: Re:Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Please be sure to post back and report how much homework your kid gets each night beginning the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Also note the volume of papers coming home in their folders. Last year, the data notebooks came home that week...which meant they were done. This isn't a new, snow related thing, folks. This is how it's always been.[code]

There is no homework now in elementary school and very few papers ever come home. In 2.0, the focus is all about learning in the classroom only. If this is true then they need the extra week. In reality, they just repeat the same thing over and over again. Its boring. They could end the school year tomorrow and most kids would be no worse off.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 19:02     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

IMO many parents have missed the point that teaching the kids that school doesn't matter and even though the schedule has been decided if too many snow days are used that the calendar needs to be extended -- Oh well -- let just change it because some teachers don't want to work longer and it is inconvenient for some parents--- is the absolutely the WRONG message. I am writing in opposition of waiver. It is pathetic to not enforce the extra days, MCPS just becomes a joke.


I don't understand how ending school on Friday, June 13, instead of on Thursday, June 12, teaches kids that school doesn't matter.


After today, it should be extended to the 20th.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 18:59     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Anonymous wrote:Not the teachers, and not the parents (mostly)....rather, it's the fiscal reality of mcps.

Please be sure to post back and report how much homework your kid gets each night beginning the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Also note the volume of papers coming home in their folders. Last year, the data notebooks came home that week...which meant they were done. This isn't a new, snow related thing, folks. This is how it's always been.


Well the dumb asses that post the fucking schedule every year should have to cover the fiscal if it happens. It is about being prepared. And for the smart ass comment above, the only ones that don't want the waiver are working moms who already paid for camps and are now whining. As a SAHM, I would love an extra week with my kids but school is more important. That is the MCPS policy and it should be upheld. If they sit here and say our kids need to be accountable, then they should be too. If FCPS can make up the days on Presidents Day, professional days, Easter Monday, and STILL extend the year for all the days, we can too.

Why have the extension as even as an option if the parents don't plan for it. Seriously how dumb do you have to be to complain about when it is literally written on every handbook, calendar and website. No sympathy for anyone who paid for camps or vacations.

I would like the extension to add to the 3rd quarter but they can't handle it. Too much thought involved for MCPS Even if they reach the end of the curriculum by rushing, use that last week to do science experiments, critical thinking games, spelling bees, read fun books and act them out as plays. Give the teachers a chance to step out of the curriculum and enjoy teaching. Older kids can do projects, study skills, current events, debates, geography bees. There is so much that teachers can't do with a rushed curriculum and everyone complains. Here is a perfect chance to do it.

I agree it is sad how many kids see that their parents don't give two craps about their education Kids lead by example.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 18:33     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
I think parents of es kids don't see it the same way as the older kids families. The grades and quarters are less structured. They don't see the number of points and grades as specifically.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 18:01     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Sorry all you Bethesda Bettys, your free child are is closing on June 13th for the summer. Line up your nanny now so you can avoid spending any quality time with your own child.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 17:53     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Anonymous wrote:

IMO many parents have missed the point that teaching the kids that school doesn't matter and even though the schedule has been decided if too many snow days are used that the calendar needs to be extended -- Oh well -- let just change it because some teachers don't want to work longer and it is inconvenient for some parents--- is the absolutely the WRONG message. I am writing in opposition of waiver. It is pathetic to not enforce the extra days, MCPS just becomes a joke.


I don't understand how ending school on Friday, June 13, instead of on Thursday, June 12, teaches kids that school doesn't matter.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 17:24     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Teachers have been told to finish 3rd quarter material, even if it means going into 4th quarter. Some grades will not be reported on the report card, but the material will be taught.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 17:21     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
Not the teachers, and not the parents (mostly)....rather, it's the fiscal reality of mcps.

Please be sure to post back and report how much homework your kid gets each night beginning the Tuesday after Memorial Day. Also note the volume of papers coming home in their folders. Last year, the data notebooks came home that week...which meant they were done. This isn't a new, snow related thing, folks. This is how it's always been.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2014 17:00     Subject: Write a letter to oppose the waiver
My DS in compacted Math too and since he goes to Middle School for it, he gets none on 2 hour delays as well. He would NOT be checked out the extra week and I don't believe his excellent teacher would be either.

IMO many parents have missed the point that teaching the kids that school doesn't matter and even though the schedule has been decided if too many snow days are used that the calendar needs to be extended -- Oh well -- let just change it because some teachers don't want to work longer and it is inconvenient for some parents--- is the absolutely the WRONG message. I am writing in opposition of waiver. It is pathetic to not enforce the extra days, MCPS just becomes a joke.