DCUM Forum

Anonymous

11/20/2015 17:25 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:

Please read the articles posted at the bottom in their entirety for the sake of your children

Please do not listen to the idiot who says that the idea that homework and a high courseload could only lead to depression but never suicide.... and please recognize that some in these stories were the high flying kids, the "ones you would never expect," and very few were the failing kids- the pressure to get into college is horrendous and the pressure that Basis starts in 5th and 6th grade can be just as horrendous for a kid who is not even thinking about college - whether they are high flying or failing. If your kids are at Basis, TAKE THEIR PULSE, try to talk to them more than you would were they at a regular school - peer pressure is strong

And the sarcastic advice immediately below is sound, because if your kids sense you are gung ho on BASIS they are not likely to want to raise issues with you. We had that problem. Wish we had addressed it much much sooner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, advice from DCUM for BASIS parents is to watch your children like a hawk so that they don't go into a depressive spiral, and even if they aren't spiraling in a way you can tell, they are probably just holding it in until they crack and wither under the pressure

Feel free to post sarcastic responses. Nevertheless, my BASIS student has reported multiple instances of suicidal ideation among classmates in the past year.

Is it the age, or is it the environment?

These kids are not seriously thinking about committing suicide, you are all overreacting incredibly.

I really hope that if your child tries to engage you on this topic, you will keep an open mind and a closed mouth until you figure out the key issues - does your child have a plan etc............

When you son at BASIS talks about walking out onto a highway so that he can be hit by a car, come back and talk to me seriously.....

I don't see how homework and a high course load causes thoughts of suicide. Depression, maybe, but not suicide.

You are wrong. Do you have teenagers? They are NOT FULLY developed adults, with adult reasoning and ideation.

http://www.npr.org/2015/05/10/405694832/in-palo-altos-high-pressure-schools-suicides-lead-to-soul-searching
[url]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/after-woodson-high-suicides-a-search-for-solace-and-answers/2014/04/11/8dd2a3b4-7f1d-11e5-b575-d8dcfedb4ea1_story.html[/url]
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/05/04/teen-suicides-palo-alto-south-dakota-pressure

Basis doesn't determine your entire future. Also, the suicides were due to other factors as well.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 16:41 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, advice from DCUM for BASIS parents is to watch your children like a hawk so that they don't go into a depressive spiral, and even if they aren't spiraling in a way you can tell, they are probably just holding it in until they crack and wither under the pressure

Feel free to post sarcastic responses. Nevertheless, my BASIS student has reported multiple instances of suicidal ideation among classmates in the past year.

Is it the age, or is it the environment?

These kids are not seriously thinking about committing suicide, you are all overreacting incredibly.

I really hope that if your child tries to engage you on this topic, you will keep an open mind and a closed mouth until you figure out the key issues - does your child have a plan etc............

When you son at BASIS talks about walking out onto a highway so that he can be hit by a car, come back and talk to me seriously.....

I don't see how homework and a high course load causes thoughts of suicide. Depression, maybe, but not suicide.

You are wrong. Do you have teenagers? They are NOT FULLY developed adults, with adult reasoning and ideation.

http://www.npr.org/2015/05/10/405694832/in-palo-altos-high-pressure-schools-suicides-lead-to-soul-searching
[url]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/after-woodson-high-suicides-a-search-for-solace-and-answers/2014/04/11/8dd2a3b4-7f1d-11e5-b575-d8dcfedb4ea1_story.html[/url]
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/05/04/teen-suicides-palo-alto-south-dakota-pressure

Anonymous

11/20/2015 14:56 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:Crossing my fingers and hoping this thread turns to important topics like 1970s sitcoms and internet memes

You ask and you shall receive. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jump+the+shark

Anonymous

11/20/2015 14:53 Subject: Basis PCS

Crossing my fingers and hoping this thread turns to important topics like 1970s sitcoms and internet memes

Anonymous

11/20/2015 14:39 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread has jumped the shark.

You are just realizing this? It jumped the shark back on page 3.

Ok since you all are so clearly familiar with DCUM-isms
(Makos have been known to jump into boats, but I don't get a thread jumping a shark)

please explain above and please explain who Chipotle Mom is?
Many thanks,
Basis parent clearly out of several DCUM loops

Jump the shark is not a DCUM phrase but comes from the sitcom Happy Days when Fonzi was on waterskis and jumped over a shark. It represents situations where things are so off the rails that there's no turning back. Don't know who Chipotle Mom is.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 14:33 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread has jumped the shark.

You are just realizing this? It jumped the shark back on page 3.

Ok since you all are so clearly familiar with DCUM-isms
(Makos have been known to jump into boats, but I don't get a thread jumping a shark)

please explain above and please explain who Chipotle Mom is?
Many thanks,
Basis parent clearly out of several DCUM loops

Anonymous

11/20/2015 13:15 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:This thread has jumped the shark.

You are just realizing this? It jumped the shark back on page 3.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 12:36 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about what's happening in Arizona but BASIS DC forces teachers and students into the BED OF PROCRUSTES, otherwise they are forced out. It's not so bad at the middle school level, but at the high school level, the way facts are being manipulated is terrible. If you are truly interested, just talk to any of the fine and beloved former teachers who were let go.

Ok I'll admit I had to look that up. Translation: teachers and students are being forced to fit into a certain mold (literally having their legs or arms cut off until they fit into an iron bed) or being forced out. I tend to agree with that assessment. I think that is why so many of the LEAP kids left. The writing was already on the wall. The founder wants BASIS automatons to teach and graduate from every school. The joy of middle school is gone. Good luck with that here. Washington DC by definition is not full of conformists. You want high quality you have to keep the free thinkers and keep the joy and love of learning. High school program is so restrictive it is stifling. Thought it might get better with more students, and then realized that there aren't ever going to be more students in the high school. So if you started out thinking high school was going to be the reward, you end up completely disillusioned.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 12:25 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agre that this is not a fight for Eyerman, since it would be better for him to have students stay on, not have an easy way to transfer out.
........

The BASIS MODEL IS PREDICATED UPON ATTRITION.
Basis DC 2012-6th grade started out with 175 kids
2015-9th grade and there are 40-50 kids left. Extrapolate out further using the following information.

Basis Scottsdale ranked #2 in the country by US News & World Report- the attrition continues all the way through senior year.
9th Grade 91 Students
10th Grade 47 Students
11th Grade 40 Students
12th Grade 32 Students

To be fair, from 11th to 12th, those 8 students probably decided to graduate early and not do senior projects. But the rest of the attrition is part of the plan. Basis schools are the best because the end up only with the best kids. I do think this is a fight for Eyerman, on behalf of the 30-40% of his students expected to leave after 8th. It is a pyramid model predicated on the departure of the vast majority of the students before 9th or 10th grade, and I do think Basis owes it to those students (most of whom will have completed precalculus by 8th) to get them out of Geometry and World History if they took the AP in 8th and got a certain score, whatever score you want to set. They may not have liked that so many of the top kids left last year after 8th grade in DC - that, according to the founder, is not part of the plan, but maybe they can turn that around. But according to Saxon they will have completed Geometry. And an AP exam?

In the lower grades, they don't seem to care who stays or leaves because they start out here with a pool of 150 or so 5th graders (now we are up to 11th grade, which has about 25). And I am sure the way students feel about leaving depends on when they leave, why they leave, and whether they choose to leave - if they are forced out or if they flunk out. I doubt any other school in this country but Basis schools have such a high attrition rate accomplished in this manner, which is quite likely to stress some kids out both at the top and the bottom - fear of failure or fear of not succeeding sufficiently, losing friends.

There are public awards ceremonies for grades at the end of each period, so everyone in your class knows if you are in the top 5%, top 15%, had a GPA of 90 or above, or not. Just to explain why, especially in the space it is in, without a drama program or school newspaper or other normal student activities that most schools offer that kids can be good at, including sports, it can be an academic pressure cooker. More competitive in 5th than normal among the top kids and it obviously gets worse the closer college gets. When people say "Basis is not for everyone" I hope they are talking about the entire atmosphere. Because otherwise they deserve everything that gets thrown at them. And it is an adjustment even if you love it.

But for many of us there is no better middle school in DC, the kids learn so much that most of them can get into Walls if they want to, where they then have to take Geometry and World History all over again! Mr. Eyerman expects that number of kids to leave. It is part of the Basis model. He should help them land well if they have stuck it out until 8th grade and go to DCPS after. It might improve our reputation as well.
Yes the Saxon system does actually teach the kids Geometry by the end of Precalculus. Yes 8th graders can get 5s on AP World History exams and you should not be able to force them to take the class over.

Just keep in mind the current 11th grade did NOT start with a class of 150. They were the year 1 8th graders, and were always a very small cohort.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 12:12 Subject: Basis PCS

I don't know much about what's happening in Arizona but BASIS DC forces teachers and students into the BED OF PROCRUSTES, otherwise they are forced out. It's not so bad at the middle school level, but at the high school level, the way facts are being manipulated is terrible. If you are truly interested, just talk to any of the fine and beloved former teachers who were let go.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 11:53 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agre that this is not a fight for Eyerman, since it would be better for him to have students stay on, not have an easy way to transfer out.
........

The BASIS MODEL IS PREDICATED UPON ATTRITION.
Basis DC 2012-6th grade started out with 175 kids
2015-9th grade and there are 40-50 kids left. Extrapolate out further using the following information.

Basis Scottsdale ranked #2 in the country by US News & World Report- the attrition continues all the way through senior year.
9th Grade 91 Students
10th Grade 47 Students
11th Grade 40 Students
12th Grade 32 Students

To be fair, from 11th to 12th, those 8 students probably decided to graduate early and not do senior projects. But the rest of the attrition is part of the plan. Basis schools are the best because the end up only with the best kids. I do think this is a fight for Eyerman, on behalf of the 30-40% of his students expected to leave after 8th. It is a pyramid model predicated on the departure of the vast majority of the students before 9th or 10th grade, and I do think Basis owes it to those students (most of whom will have completed precalculus by 8th) to get them out of Geometry and World History if they took the AP in 8th and got a certain score, whatever score you want to set. They may not have liked that so many of the top kids left last year after 8th grade in DC - that, according to the founder, is not part of the plan, but maybe they can turn that around. But according to Saxon they will have completed Geometry. And an AP exam?

In the lower grades, they don't seem to care who stays or leaves because they start out here with a pool of 150 or so 5th graders (now we are up to 11th grade, which has about 25). And I am sure the way students feel about leaving depends on when they leave, why they leave, and whether they choose to leave - if they are forced out or if they flunk out. I doubt any other school in this country but Basis schools have such a high attrition rate accomplished in this manner, which is quite likely to stress some kids out both at the top and the bottom - fear of failure or fear of not succeeding sufficiently, losing friends.

There are public awards ceremonies for grades at the end of each period, so everyone in your class knows if you are in the top 5%, top 15%, had a GPA of 90 or above, or not. Just to explain why, especially in the space it is in, without a drama program or school newspaper or other normal student activities that most schools offer that kids can be good at, including sports, it can be an academic pressure cooker. More competitive in 5th than normal among the top kids and it obviously gets worse the closer college gets. When people say "Basis is not for everyone" I hope they are talking about the entire atmosphere. Because otherwise they deserve everything that gets thrown at them. And it is an adjustment even if you love it.

But for many of us there is no better middle school in DC, the kids learn so much that most of them can get into Walls if they want to, where they then have to take Geometry and World History all over again! Mr. Eyerman expects that number of kids to leave. It is part of the Basis model. He should help them land well if they have stuck it out until 8th grade and go to DCPS after. It might improve our reputation as well.
Yes the Saxon system does actually teach the kids Geometry by the end of Precalculus. Yes 8th graders can get 5s on AP World History exams and you should not be able to force them to take the class over.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 10:00 Subject: Basis PCS

I remember going to one of the early Basis info nights before they ever opened four years ago. I don't even know if I can put my finger on exactly what gave me the chills. But I do remember the very harsh look shot from the founder woman to the new principal at something (apparently wrong) that he said. So harsh and so angry and public ally degrading, i couldn't believe it. Right then and there I knew I couldn't send my child into a school started by someone with this that approach and with that level of pressure on children. I'm glad it's worked out so well for so many, however. And I genuinely do hope it continues to be a good option for some families.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 09:41 Subject: Basis PCS

This thread has jumped the shark.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 08:52 Subject: Re:Basis PCS

I went to an Ivy, from an ordinary small town public school, as did my spouse and both of my siblings. Two of a sibling's children are at Harvard. None of us suffers from an anxiety disorder. To my knowledge, all of us had a whale of a time in high school. BASIS DC doesn't look like a great time for most of the students. It's a claustrophobic cram school with many fine teachers and a few decent nerdy extra curriculars. At least its a small enough school for teachers and staff to get to know high school students well.

Anonymous

11/20/2015 08:28 Subject: Basis PCS

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, advice from DCUM for BASIS parents is to watch your children like a hawk so that they don't go into a depressive spiral, and even if they aren't spiraling in a way you can tell, they are probably just holding it in until they crack and wither under the pressure

Feel free to post sarcastic responses. Nevertheless, my BASIS student has reported multiple instances of suicidal ideation among classmates in the past year.

Is it the age, or is it the environment?

These kids are not seriously thinking about committing suicide, you are all overreacting incredibly.

I really hope that if your child tries to engage you on this topic, you will keep an open mind and a closed mouth until you figure out the key issues - does your child have a plan etc............

When you son at BASIS talks about walking out onto a highway so that he can be hit by a car, come back and talk to me seriously.....

I don't see how homework and a high course load causes thoughts of suicide. Depression, maybe, but not suicide.

You are wrong. Do you have teenagers? They are NOT FULLY developed adults, with adult reasoning and ideation.

http://www.npr.org/2015/05/10/405694832/in-palo-altos-high-pressure-schools-suicides-lead-to-soul-searching
[url]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/after-woodson-high-suicides-a-search-for-solace-and-answers/2014/04/11/8dd2a3b4-7f1d-11e5-b575-d8dcfedb4ea1_story.html[/url]
http://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/05/04/teen-suicides-palo-alto-south-dakota-pressure