Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 20:22     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I thought it was BMPV because the only boosters I know for that school do not have children there.


I'm pretty sure there are several DCPSs with the same booster "demographics".


Powell being one of them, but I don't think they are struggling like BMPV.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 20:05     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
There was one woman who was super enthusiastic and pressured us about enrolling in our local school (in Baltimore, not DC). I ran into her after school-enrollment season and she asked what we were doing. I told her that we'd gotten a lot of financial aid for private, and were going that route.

Well, she crumpled. Seriously, it was like all the air came out of her. Then the whole story came rushing out -- how she's got all these plans to get her kid away from our local school, and she's going to try and enroll him in the town where she works etc etc. And I'm thinking "Eff you. You tried to convince us to enroll when you don't even want it for your kid."

So yeah, listen to people who actually have kids enrolled in the school in question...
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 19:47     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
I don't know about peer pressure, but we (DCPS) want you to enroll in our schools. And we put a lot of time and effort into communicating this to our schools and they know that the more kids they get the more funding they get, so it's in their best interests to get as many kids as possible. And this is a good thing because it often results in schools being willing to make thoughtful accommodations--and improve--because of parent pressure, pressure to compete for "market share" with charters, etc.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 17:44     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

+1. For example I consider the lack of second language programming a real problem. Others do not. I am also comfortable with a high FARMS rate and don't see that as an issue to bring up.


Doesn't every DCPS have foreign language class? Not immersion, but my kids started Spanish in PK4. I'm very up front about our school not being immersion, although I don't see that as a problem. (cue immersion boosters...)


Yes, but there is a lot of school discretion over how much actual time the kids get, and I don't think the teacher is particularly good.


no, not eveyr school does. our DCPS has a world geography class instead of foreing language classes
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 17:17     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh, booster drama. Do you want to hear a story? My IB's 2 biggest boosters were matched this round and have enrolled their respective DCs for next year. One told the other, in a nutshell, "you shouldn't send your kid to our IB school, because you have too high expectations and standards, and I worry you will get mad if things don't go your way, trash our school on DCUM, and leave." Somehow the recipient of that sweet tirade didn't get pissed off and stayed calm and kind and logical and the other started crying and apologized. That was fun. I was that recipient. I have never trashed a school on DCUM. The author of that tirade has.


I really cannot follow this post at all. What exactly happened? (I genuinely want to know.) 2 boosters whose children currently attend yor IB school were matched elsewhere but decided to stay? One of them is you?

This. The post is incoherent. It sounded like it was getting snarky at one point as well, but because it's altogether nonsensical I'm not sure if I should smirk, smile or what.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 17:11     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not trying to be dense here, but I am honestly wondering-- does boosterism help? Our IB school is one with a lot of boosters. Before having kids I naively didn't understand there was so much "boosterism" and trusted that when people I had gotten to know relatively well and trust would tell me how wonderful the IB school was, I took what they said at face value. When they said there were no major problems I took that at face value. Then I arrived at the school and realized reality didn't match what I'd heard. The experience caused me to distrust my friends and neighbors and made me feel uncomfortable raising legitimate issues that affected the safety of my child. If I'd heard the pros and cons about the school before enrolling, I probably still would have enrolled but would have felt comfortable that there were other parents who shared my views of the problems and we could work to address them together. To me, if a school has problems and there are people willing to recognize and address them, I'm happy to be part of that. If no one will admit there is a problem where one obviously exists, that makes me want to flee. The boosterism is incredibly icky, but is there as school in DC that doesn't suffer from it?


I think there is a huge difference between the HRCS boosters who claim that nothing is wrong ever (even when the school is closed for 2 days for mysterious reasons, for example...), and local DCPS boosters who promote the qualities of a school all the while sharing what they hope to see changed, and if you talk with them long enough, what they've done so far to push for those changes, sometimes before they even enroll their kids.

I don't think "boosterism", in the context of DCPS, equates lies or hiding of negative traits. Because the boosters want the school to do the right thing as much or more than they want their neighbor's kids to attend it. There is strength in numbers to ask for the changes that are needed.


I think it comes down to the old axiom- watch what people do, not what they say. That tells you everything you need to know about their true priorities and beliefs.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:57     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

+1. For example I consider the lack of second language programming a real problem. Others do not. I am also comfortable with a high FARMS rate and don't see that as an issue to bring up.


Doesn't every DCPS have foreign language class? Not immersion, but my kids started Spanish in PK4. I'm very up front about our school not being immersion, although I don't see that as a problem. (cue immersion boosters...)


Yes, but there is a lot of school discretion over how much actual time the kids get, and I don't think the teacher is particularly good.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:53     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not trying to be dense here, but I am honestly wondering-- does boosterism help? Our IB school is one with a lot of boosters. Before having kids I naively didn't understand there was so much "boosterism" and trusted that when people I had gotten to know relatively well and trust would tell me how wonderful the IB school was, I took what they said at face value. When they said there were no major problems I took that at face value. Then I arrived at the school and realized reality didn't match what I'd heard. The experience caused me to distrust my friends and neighbors and made me feel uncomfortable raising legitimate issues that affected the safety of my child. If I'd heard the pros and cons about the school before enrolling, I probably still would have enrolled but would have felt comfortable that there were other parents who shared my views of the problems and we could work to address them together. To me, if a school has problems and there are people willing to recognize and address them, I'm happy to be part of that. If no one will admit there is a problem where one obviously exists, that makes me want to flee. The boosterism is incredibly icky, but is there as school in DC that doesn't suffer from it?


I hear you, but sometimes people don't see eye to eye on what constitutes a problem. For example, some parents see "the demographics" as an issue. I'm more interested in how much our kids are learning. I'd feel really weird talking about "the demographics" if someone didn't specifically ask.


+1. For example I consider the lack of second language programming a real problem. Others do not. I am also comfortable with a high FARMS rate and don't see that as an issue to bring up.


Doesn't every DCPS have foreign language class? Not immersion, but my kids started Spanish in PK4. I'm very up front about our school not being immersion, although I don't see that as a problem. (cue immersion boosters...)
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:43     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Not trying to be dense here, but I am honestly wondering-- does boosterism help? Our IB school is one with a lot of boosters. Before having kids I naively didn't understand there was so much "boosterism" and trusted that when people I had gotten to know relatively well and trust would tell me how wonderful the IB school was, I took what they said at face value. When they said there were no major problems I took that at face value. Then I arrived at the school and realized reality didn't match what I'd heard. The experience caused me to distrust my friends and neighbors and made me feel uncomfortable raising legitimate issues that affected the safety of my child. If I'd heard the pros and cons about the school before enrolling, I probably still would have enrolled but would have felt comfortable that there were other parents who shared my views of the problems and we could work to address them together. To me, if a school has problems and there are people willing to recognize and address them, I'm happy to be part of that. If no one will admit there is a problem where one obviously exists, that makes me want to flee. The boosterism is incredibly icky, but is there as school in DC that doesn't suffer from it?


I hear you, but sometimes people don't see eye to eye on what constitutes a problem. For example, some parents see "the demographics" as an issue. I'm more interested in how much our kids are learning. I'd feel really weird talking about "the demographics" if someone didn't specifically ask.


+1. For example I consider the lack of second language programming a real problem. Others do not. I am also comfortable with a high FARMS rate and don't see that as an issue to bring up.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:40     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:Not trying to be dense here, but I am honestly wondering-- does boosterism help? Our IB school is one with a lot of boosters. Before having kids I naively didn't understand there was so much "boosterism" and trusted that when people I had gotten to know relatively well and trust would tell me how wonderful the IB school was, I took what they said at face value. When they said there were no major problems I took that at face value. Then I arrived at the school and realized reality didn't match what I'd heard. The experience caused me to distrust my friends and neighbors and made me feel uncomfortable raising legitimate issues that affected the safety of my child. If I'd heard the pros and cons about the school before enrolling, I probably still would have enrolled but would have felt comfortable that there were other parents who shared my views of the problems and we could work to address them together. To me, if a school has problems and there are people willing to recognize and address them, I'm happy to be part of that. If no one will admit there is a problem where one obviously exists, that makes me want to flee. The boosterism is incredibly icky, but is there as school in DC that doesn't suffer from it?


I think there is a huge difference between the HRCS boosters who claim that nothing is wrong ever (even when the school is closed for 2 days for mysterious reasons, for example...), and local DCPS boosters who promote the qualities of a school all the while sharing what they hope to see changed, and if you talk with them long enough, what they've done so far to push for those changes, sometimes before they even enroll their kids.

I don't think "boosterism", in the context of DCPS, equates lies or hiding of negative traits. Because the boosters want the school to do the right thing as much or more than they want their neighbor's kids to attend it. There is strength in numbers to ask for the changes that are needed.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:40     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:Not trying to be dense here, but I am honestly wondering-- does boosterism help? Our IB school is one with a lot of boosters. Before having kids I naively didn't understand there was so much "boosterism" and trusted that when people I had gotten to know relatively well and trust would tell me how wonderful the IB school was, I took what they said at face value. When they said there were no major problems I took that at face value. Then I arrived at the school and realized reality didn't match what I'd heard. The experience caused me to distrust my friends and neighbors and made me feel uncomfortable raising legitimate issues that affected the safety of my child. If I'd heard the pros and cons about the school before enrolling, I probably still would have enrolled but would have felt comfortable that there were other parents who shared my views of the problems and we could work to address them together. To me, if a school has problems and there are people willing to recognize and address them, I'm happy to be part of that. If no one will admit there is a problem where one obviously exists, that makes me want to flee. The boosterism is incredibly icky, but is there as school in DC that doesn't suffer from it?


I hear you, but sometimes people don't see eye to eye on what constitutes a problem. For example, some parents see "the demographics" as an issue. I'm more interested in how much our kids are learning. I'd feel really weird talking about "the demographics" if someone didn't specifically ask.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:35     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:Not trying to be dense here, but I am honestly wondering-- does boosterism help? Our IB school is one with a lot of boosters. Before having kids I naively didn't understand there was so much "boosterism" and trusted that when people I had gotten to know relatively well and trust would tell me how wonderful the IB school was, I took what they said at face value. When they said there were no major problems I took that at face value. Then I arrived at the school and realized reality didn't match what I'd heard. The experience caused me to distrust my friends and neighbors and made me feel uncomfortable raising legitimate issues that affected the safety of my child. If I'd heard the pros and cons about the school before enrolling, I probably still would have enrolled but would have felt comfortable that there were other parents who shared my views of the problems and we could work to address them together. To me, if a school has problems and there are people willing to recognize and address them, I'm happy to be part of that. If no one will admit there is a problem where one obviously exists, that makes me want to flee. The boosterism is incredibly icky, but is there as school in DC that doesn't suffer from it?


There's boosterism and then there's boosterism, if you know what I mean. Personally, I think our IB is not as bad as its reputation-- mainly because it has a new principal and some problem teachers have moved on. I certainly don't claim to anyone that it is wonderful, but I think it is nowhere near as bad as the out-of-date rumors that go around. I guess you could call that boosterism, but I don't think it's misleading anyone. I think that in the long run, presenting an unrealistically positive view and discounting legitimate issues will backfire. I'm comfortable talking about what's not so great as well as what's great.
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:31     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Not trying to be dense here, but I am honestly wondering-- does boosterism help? Our IB school is one with a lot of boosters. Before having kids I naively didn't understand there was so much "boosterism" and trusted that when people I had gotten to know relatively well and trust would tell me how wonderful the IB school was, I took what they said at face value. When they said there were no major problems I took that at face value. Then I arrived at the school and realized reality didn't match what I'd heard. The experience caused me to distrust my friends and neighbors and made me feel uncomfortable raising legitimate issues that affected the safety of my child. If I'd heard the pros and cons about the school before enrolling, I probably still would have enrolled but would have felt comfortable that there were other parents who shared my views of the problems and we could work to address them together. To me, if a school has problems and there are people willing to recognize and address them, I'm happy to be part of that. If no one will admit there is a problem where one obviously exists, that makes me want to flee. The boosterism is incredibly icky, but is there as school in DC that doesn't suffer from it?
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:25     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Oh, booster drama. Do you want to hear a story? My IB's 2 biggest boosters were matched this round and have enrolled their respective DCs for next year. One told the other, in a nutshell, "you shouldn't send your kid to our IB school, because you have too high expectations and standards, and I worry you will get mad if things don't go your way, trash our school on DCUM, and leave." Somehow the recipient of that sweet tirade didn't get pissed off and stayed calm and kind and logical and the other started crying and apologized. That was fun. I was that recipient. I have never trashed a school on DCUM. The author of that tirade has.


I really cannot follow this post at all. What exactly happened? (I genuinely want to know.) 2 boosters whose children currently attend yor IB school were matched elsewhere but decided to stay? One of them is you?


Oops, sorry. Neither booster of their IB DCPS currently has kids there. Both were matched this round with the IB DCPS they boost. One of them is me.


Got it! I'm glad you will be going. DCPS will only improve when parents demand more, so having high standards is a good thing. This year in my school (unpopular on DCUM), but we have had a good year and seen some big changes relative to last year. Having parents who care and also volunteer to help has been critical to this change. Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 04/15/2015 16:20     Subject: Peer Pressure to enroll in your IB?
Anonymous wrote:I thought it was BMPV because the only boosters I know for that school do not have children there.


I'm pretty sure there are several DCPSs with the same booster "demographics".