Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And after you have observed kids enjoying a bus ride and helped keep them safe, go in and observe every class you can. You would come out with a different view point.

So what you're saying is that travelling on a bus with parent volunteers is more valuable than having arts educators on-site who can collaborate in person with PE and academic educators to create a holistic learning environment?

Fillmore was created because of the absence of arts education back in the bad old days during the drug wars when few IB people sent their kids to Deal voluntarily. DCPS did not have staffing models and budget allocations to ensure arts, PE, and library "specials" for all kids. There was no lottery or HRCS or triple digit waitlists. Few if any kids attended their IB school and sucking up to the Oyster-Adams principal could get a gringo into pre-K. (Or you could sleep out in front of the school like a new iPhone release.)

Fillmore briefly added an East campus (i.e. low income, non-white families) to the West campus (white parents from Wards 2 and 3). But Michelle Rhee, darling of the WotP set, put in place mandatory staffing of "specials" and providing high quality educators at schools across the city.

Highly-effective elementary arts instructors will tell you that dedicated classrooms and performing space are just icing on the cake. First, you need supportive administrators and patient parents.

You're not saying anything on-point here, although history can be interesting. So, DCPS decides to kill Fillmore, and replace it with what? From your perspective - because I'd like to understand what you are getting at -- please assess the replacement "what" and let us know whether you think it would compare remotely to what Fillmore currently provides to students; heck, even whether it would compare similarly to what every other DCPS school currently has.

DCPS is not replacing it. They are taking arts and music away from these schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And after you have observed kids enjoying a bus ride and helped keep them safe, go in and observe every class you can. You would come out with a different view point.

So what you're saying is that travelling on a bus with parent volunteers is more valuable than having arts educators on-site who can collaborate in person with PE and academic educators to create a holistic learning environment?

Fillmore was created because of the absence of arts education back in the bad old days during the drug wars when few IB people sent their kids to Deal voluntarily. DCPS did not have staffing models and budget allocations to ensure arts, PE, and library "specials" for all kids. There was no lottery or HRCS or triple digit waitlists. Few if any kids attended their IB school and sucking up to the Oyster-Adams principal could get a gringo into pre-K. (Or you could sleep out in front of the school like a new iPhone release.)

Fillmore briefly added an East campus (i.e. low income, non-white families) to the West campus (white parents from Wards 2 and 3). But Michelle Rhee, darling of the WotP set, put in place mandatory staffing of "specials" and providing high quality educators at schools across the city.

Highly-effective elementary arts instructors will tell you that dedicated classrooms and performing space are just icing on the cake. First, you need supportive administrators and patient parents.

You're not saying anything on-point here, although history can be interesting. So, DCPS decides to kill Fillmore, and replace it with what? From your perspective - because I'd like to understand what you are getting at -- please assess the replacement "what" and let us know whether you think it would compare remotely to what Fillmore currently provides to students; heck, even whether it would compare similarly to what every other DCPS school currently has.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And after you have observed kids enjoying a bus ride and helped keep them safe, go in and observe every class you can. You would come out with a different view point.

So what you're saying is that travelling on a bus with parent volunteers is more valuable than having arts educators on-site who can collaborate in person with PE and academic educators to create a holistic learning environment?

Fillmore was created because of the absence of arts education back in the bad old days during the drug wars when few IB people sent their kids to Deal voluntarily. DCPS did not have staffing models and budget allocations to ensure arts, PE, and library "specials" for all kids. There was no lottery or HRCS or triple digit waitlists. Few if any kids attended their IB school and sucking up to the Oyster-Adams principal could get a gringo into pre-K. (Or you could sleep out in front of the school like a new iPhone release.)

Fillmore briefly added an East campus (i.e. low income, non-white families) to the West campus (white parents from Wards 2 and 3). But Michelle Rhee, darling of the WotP set, put in place mandatory staffing of "specials" and providing high quality educators at schools across the city.

Highly-effective elementary arts instructors will tell you that dedicated classrooms and performing space are just icing on the cake. First, you need supportive administrators and patient parents.

Anonymous wrote:And after you have observed kids enjoying a bus ride and helped keep them safe, go in and observe every class you can. You would come out with a different view point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why people send their children to public school in the district.

I continually ask myself this same question. Let's see: the school district has a decades-long, constantly award-winning, arts organization that serves kids throughout the city all 12 months of the year, universally loved (well, 99% universally loved) by alums and current parents alike, and DCPS wants to...kill it. Squash this shiny gold success-story that stands out in a sea of otherwise miserable outcomes. Management should see a shrink, really. Go on meds. I dunno.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why people send their children to public school in the district.

Anonymous wrote:I hope this does not translates into a larger Hardy MS. Not now that the school is becoming more of a feeder school destination.

Anonymous wrote:PP you are totally ignorant. sorry. Fillmore coming to tiny schools to squeeze into small spaces (like cafeterias, classrooms teachers need to be prepared for other lessons) is not nearly the enriching experience it is for kids to:
a) take a bus across town (EXCITING!! like a field trip every week!)
b) go to their differently distinguished art classes, because art is just not a GIANT GRAB BAG OF CRAP -- there are ceramics, music, acting, drawing, painting, etc.
c) the budget is LESS to attend Fillmore because they COVER more than a DCPS little ES can cover with less money for more experience -- DO THE MATH

My kids are in HS and college now, but we brought Fillmore to Ross ES in early 2000's and it was one of the greatest addition to their curriculum, freeing up planning time for teachers and exposure to true artists by students. Prior to Fillmore they all, grades K through 6, had limited opportunities with a single stressed out art teacher. Don't re-create history, learn from it! Us older parents didn't fight that fight to have it trashed now, kids need a variety of arts to escape their little school houses and constant focus on testing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It isn't just the money.

It is that to leave for Fillmore, do the class and return takes nearly 3 hours. That's a nearly half of the instructional day.

Maybe that isn't a problem for the kids at the higher SES schools but those aren't the only ones at Fillmore.

You think 3 hours, once a week, for arts & music education, in elementary school, is a problem? Most Fillmore families would disagree, IMO...whatever their "SES" might be.

Anonymous wrote:PP you are totally ignorant. sorry. Fillmore coming to tiny schools to squeeze into small spaces (like cafeterias, classrooms teachers need to be prepared for other lessons) is not nearly the enriching experience it is for kids to:
a) take a bus across town (EXCITING!! like a field trip every week!)
b) go to their differently distinguished art classes, because art is just not a GIANT GRAB BAG OF CRAP -- there are ceramics, music, acting, drawing, painting, etc.
c) the budget is LESS to attend Fillmore because they COVER more than a DCPS little ES can cover with less money for more experience -- DO THE MATH

My kids are in HS and college now, but we brought Fillmore to Ross ES in early 2000's and it was one of the greatest addition to their curriculum, freeing up planning time for teachers and exposure to true artists by students. Prior to Fillmore they all, grades K through 6, had limited opportunities with a single stressed out art teacher. Don't re-create history, learn from it! Us older parents didn't fight that fight to have it trashed now, kids need a variety of arts to escape their little school houses and constant focus on testing.

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget to add the salary for the art teacher; about $90K.