Anonymous wrote:I was actually just reflecting on this. My last child is also finishing this year, but I truly don't feel this way. Both of my kids have had so many wonderful teachers- way outnumbering the bad ones. They enjoy school, don't see a lot of fights, have nice and driven friends, and overall have had good experiences. My daughter is in her first year of college and feels well prepared and states that her essays are stronger than many friends (out of state flagship public). I also think their principal has been wonderful and so approachable.

Yet, I know that my experience is not the norm in MCPS and that is so sad. I am sorry that your experience has not been as positive and hate the direction the county is going in. Although I hate just about everything Trump, education reform is one thing I would happily jump on board for.

PP here who loves Blake. My third child is a senior. We feel the same - so many great teachers. Communication has gotten so much better over the years both about major incidents and individual needs of your kids.

I spent a lot of time there because two of my kids have special needs - one eventually transferred to a non mainstream program. Also I go to sports events (even the ones my kids aren’t in), school shows, BTSN, special programs, etc, and I volunteer. The time, effort and compassion I’ve seen from staff, counselors and teachers has been amazing. The number of special programs offered by MCPS is exceptional. Whether your kid struggles or is brilliant or has special interests or is just typical. Each of mine had a completely different path - honors/APs/sports for one, vo tech for another and special ed for the third - with amazingly committed staff who managed to see him through to a diploma despite all odds.

I mean look at the programs - IB, aviation . . . And the signature schools.

I agree there are problems and I think it’s great that so many are taking them on. I am especially concerned with the increased violence and think we need to hold onto our hats given the election results.

But you can’t deny the incredible resource we have and the commitment to finding a way to make kids successful. Not all will be but that isn’t necessarily due to lack of resources or commitment.

And now I will again be accused of being a MCPS lawyer. But that I am not. Just a parent who is thankful for the experience we’ve had and sorry that others have had less than satisfactory years in HS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we mention which East County HS this is? Is it PB?

And what incident exactly. We could give you a multiple choice list.

I just called my daughter. She has no idea there was an incident.

NP here with a kid at Blake. My kid was aware of some incidents last week, but more importantly she told me that the principal had a special announcement period this week where she addressed it, said that 15 kids were suspended, some kids were recommended for expulsion, and others had criminal charges filed against them. So while I’m not happy about the incidents, I am pleased with the administration’s response and transparency.

PP here. Those I know about. It was a pretty awful day and it was handled. Someone mentioned something happening on Friday. That’s what I hadn’t heard about and neither did my daughter. She’s usually pretty aware and it was the first time I had heard something on DCUM that she hadn’t shared first.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we mention which East County HS this is? Is it PB?

And what incident exactly. We could give you a multiple choice list.

I just called my daughter. She has no idea there was an incident.

NP here with a kid at Blake. My kid was aware of some incidents last week, but more importantly she told me that the principal had a special announcement period this week where she addressed it, said that 15 kids were suspended, some kids were recommended for expulsion, and others had criminal charges filed against them. So while I’m not happy about the incidents, I am pleased with the administration’s response and transparency.

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so excited and my child can't wait!
No more dodging fights in the hallway.
No more dodging crazy parents in the student parking lot.
No more weekly fluff updates from an out-of-touch, weak principal.
No more trips back at home at lunch to use the bathroom because the school bathrooms are full of obnoxious weed smokers.
No more equity being shoved down our throats.
No more tutoring to learn the basics.
No more unruly scary kids to avoid in the classrooms.
And so much more!
If we had the money, we would have moved years ago but like many of us...we are trapped in east County hell.
Yes - I am looking forward to the door hitting us on the back as we walk out forever on graduation day!
After yet another scary incident that happened today and was ignored, I just have to remember that it will be over soon.

Our kids are at a W school and I could have written this post as well. If things are this bad at most/all MCPS high schools, the system is doomed. As much as I hate Trump, I'd like to think his disruptions to the system might cause positive change in the end (after some rough water). But the lunatics in charge of MCPS will only double down on far left things that won't work.

I mean, we literally got an email yesterday talking about how MCPS plans to do all it can to make sure undocumented students feel embraced and welcome in our school system. The sheer numbers of new arrivals to this county from all over the world has put immense pressure on teachers and admin. Not to mention the affect it has had on the budget.

I really think that email sent by Taylor was not a good idea. I'm sure he was pressured by Casa and Identity to make the statement but it was a real liability to make the claims he was making in that email.

And why do it for one group, Hispanics, but not others? This is exactly the hot water MCPS got into when it put out statements about antisemitism but said nothing about anit-Muslim bias. Taylor claimed he wouldn't make those same mistakes and yet here he is, doing exactly the things that got McKnight in trouble.

Taylor did not single out Hispanics in that email. He says that MCPS welcomes undocumented immigrants from any and all countries.

Quoted from the email:

“MCPS does not ask about immigration status or report family information to immigration authorities. Additionally, Montgomery County police do not enforce federal immigration laws. These practices help create a welcoming environment for all families.”

Just imagine…if MoCo police enforced federal immigration laws;
- MoCo would be a less attractive destination for those entering the country illegally;
- schools would be less crowded;
- teachers would be more relaxed with fewer students;
- there would be a narrower range of learning abilities / styles in the classroom;
- MoCo school budget would decrease with fewer high need students and a contraction in size of school population;
- gang violence issues would decrease;
- our taxes might even go down or maybe we would get some services we can benefit from;
- there would be less demand on the non-profits in the area.

Who would fill the jobs that they take that you aren't willing to?

Nonsense. Employers need to pay more for the jobs. As it stands, the unlimited source of undocumented immigrants means that employers can hire people for cheap and not offer benefits. Because we the taxpayers make up the difference (taxpayers pay for free health insurance for undocumented children, taxpayers pay for school and daycare for undocumented children, taxpayers pay for dental care for undocumented children, etc).

Shut down the cheap labor and employers will need pay more for these jobs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was actually just reflecting on this. My last child is also finishing this year, but I truly don't feel this way. Both of my kids have had so many wonderful teachers- way outnumbering the bad ones. They enjoy school, don't see a lot of fights, have nice and driven friends, and overall have had good experiences. My daughter is in her first year of college and feels well prepared and states that her essays are stronger than many friends (out of state flagship public). I also think their principal has been wonderful and so approachable.

Yet, I know that my experience is not the norm in MCPS and that is so sad. I am sorry that your experience has not been as positive and hate the direction the county is going in. Although I hate just about everything Trump, education reform is one thing I would happily jump on board for.

But your experience by far is what many and families and students experience. And when folks call for education reform what exactly is it that you want reformed, what do you think are the root causes of the problems, and reasons why they are not already resolved?

Most of what I want to see changed is at the county level. I want enforced discipline. I want grades to match ability. I want final exams. Kids who cannot read/study/keep up should fail. Kids who do the bare minimum can get D’s. I want attendance expectations- 5 unexcused absences is a loss of credit. I want students who are unable to safely be in classrooms to not be in those classrooms. I want students with no English to learn some English before being fully mainstreamed. I want undocumented students to not put a strain on our county budget.

Basically, I want a return to when academics and learning were more important than equity.

I agree with all but your last part, because lack of equity didn't allow minorities in the AP classes or in the magnets, and worse. As for Trump knocking any sense into public schools, all he'll do is promote vouchers for privates, starving the public school of funds and making them worse (education was supposed to be the great equalizer, and was for many decades)

Vouchers are primarily a way to scam public funds and allow the rich to abdicate any responsibility further.

Anonymous wrote:I want onerous requirements falling on teachers to be replaced by lighter requirements, possibly with additional requirements for teachers to demonstrate that the lighter requirements are working. Take a page from DOGE and Elon/Vivek and reduce regulations that add paperwork with no value.

Yes please!!

I work in healthcare and we deal with the same nonsense of regulations and (electronic) paperwork that has no value. Would love to see some changes in both education and healthcare to fix this.

Anonymous wrote:I am so excited and my child can't wait!
No more dodging fights in the hallway.
No more dodging crazy parents in the student parking lot.
No more weekly fluff updates from an out-of-touch, weak principal.
No more trips back at home at lunch to use the bathroom because the school bathrooms are full of obnoxious weed smokers.
No more equity being shoved down our throats.
No more tutoring to learn the basics.
No more unruly scary kids to avoid in the classrooms.
And so much more!
If we had the money, we would have moved years ago but like many of us...we are trapped in east County hell.
Yes - I am looking forward to the door hitting us on the back as we walk out forever on graduation day!
After yet another scary incident that happened today and was ignored, I just have to remember that it will be over soon.

You are the problem.

Anonymous wrote:I am so excited and my child can't wait!
No more dodging fights in the hallway.
No more dodging crazy parents in the student parking lot.
No more weekly fluff updates from an out-of-touch, weak principal.
No more trips back at home at lunch to use the bathroom because the school bathrooms are full of obnoxious weed smokers.
No more equity being shoved down our throats.
No more tutoring to learn the basics.
No more unruly scary kids to avoid in the classrooms.
And so much more!
If we had the money, we would have moved years ago but like many of us...we are trapped in east County hell.
Yes - I am looking forward to the door hitting us on the back as we walk out forever on graduation day!
After yet another scary incident that happened today and was ignored, I just have to remember that it will be over soon.

Lucky you that you will be done

I want onerous requirements falling on teachers to be replaced by lighter requirements, possibly with additional requirements for teachers to demonstrate that the lighter requirements are working. Take a page from DOGE and Elon/Vivek and reduce regulations that add paperwork with no value.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was actually just reflecting on this. My last child is also finishing this year, but I truly don't feel this way. Both of my kids have had so many wonderful teachers- way outnumbering the bad ones. They enjoy school, don't see a lot of fights, have nice and driven friends, and overall have had good experiences. My daughter is in her first year of college and feels well prepared and states that her essays are stronger than many friends (out of state flagship public). I also think their principal has been wonderful and so approachable.

Yet, I know that my experience is not the norm in MCPS and that is so sad. I am sorry that your experience has not been as positive and hate the direction the county is going in. Although I hate just about everything Trump, education reform is one thing I would happily jump on board for.

But your experience by far is what many and families and students experience. And when folks call for education reform what exactly is it that you want reformed, what do you think are the root causes of the problems, and reasons why they are not already resolved?

DP and a teacher.

I want school-based admin to teach at least one class. (Trust me: a lot of them have time.) They should have to feel the impact of their decisions. A lot would be fixed simply because they wouldn’t want to follow their own mandates, or they would realize how unsuccessful and unsustainable so many of them are.

But as it is, we have a system in which mediocre teachers can escape the classroom into admin. That has to change.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was actually just reflecting on this. My last child is also finishing this year, but I truly don't feel this way. Both of my kids have had so many wonderful teachers- way outnumbering the bad ones. They enjoy school, don't see a lot of fights, have nice and driven friends, and overall have had good experiences. My daughter is in her first year of college and feels well prepared and states that her essays are stronger than many friends (out of state flagship public). I also think their principal has been wonderful and so approachable.

Yet, I know that my experience is not the norm in MCPS and that is so sad. I am sorry that your experience has not been as positive and hate the direction the county is going in. Although I hate just about everything Trump, education reform is one thing I would happily jump on board for.

But your experience by far is what many and families and students experience. And when folks call for education reform what exactly is it that you want reformed, what do you think are the root causes of the problems, and reasons why they are not already resolved?

Most of what I want to see changed is at the county level. I want enforced discipline. I want grades to match ability. I want final exams. Kids who cannot read/study/keep up should fail. Kids who do the bare minimum can get D’s. I want attendance expectations- 5 unexcused absences is a loss of credit. I want students who are unable to safely be in classrooms to not be in those classrooms. I want students with no English to learn some English before being fully mainstreamed. I want undocumented students to not put a strain on our county budget.

Basically, I want a return to when academics and learning were more important than equity.

I agree with all but your last part, because lack of equity didn't allow minorities in the AP classes or in the magnets, and worse. As for Trump knocking any sense into public schools, all he'll do is promote vouchers for privates, starving the public school of funds and making them worse (education was supposed to be the great equalizer, was for some people for many decades. Many Minorities were and still are fighting for it to be the equalizer for the them

There fixed it for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was actually just reflecting on this. My last child is also finishing this year, but I truly don't feel this way. Both of my kids have had so many wonderful teachers- way outnumbering the bad ones. They enjoy school, don't see a lot of fights, have nice and driven friends, and overall have had good experiences. My daughter is in her first year of college and feels well prepared and states that her essays are stronger than many friends (out of state flagship public). I also think their principal has been wonderful and so approachable.

Yet, I know that my experience is not the norm in MCPS and that is so sad. I am sorry that your experience has not been as positive and hate the direction the county is going in. Although I hate just about everything Trump, education reform is one thing I would happily jump on board for.

But your experience by far is what many and families and students experience. And when folks call for education reform what exactly is it that you want reformed, what do you think are the root causes of the problems, and reasons why they are not already resolved?

In MCPS, wokeness is the roadblock keeping MCPS from greatness. Like alcoholics who refuse to admit they have a problem, progressives are unable to say what they problems are because it goes against woke doctrine. Therefore they are unable to solve any of the problems the schools have. We need a return to actual liberalism, perhaps even with a pinch of conservatism.

We noticed how you didn’t list any specific problems or solutions

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was actually just reflecting on this. My last child is also finishing this year, but I truly don't feel this way. Both of my kids have had so many wonderful teachers- way outnumbering the bad ones. They enjoy school, don't see a lot of fights, have nice and driven friends, and overall have had good experiences. My daughter is in her first year of college and feels well prepared and states that her essays are stronger than many friends (out of state flagship public). I also think their principal has been wonderful and so approachable.

Yet, I know that my experience is not the norm in MCPS and that is so sad. I am sorry that your experience has not been as positive and hate the direction the county is going in. Although I hate just about everything Trump, education reform is one thing I would happily jump on board for.

But your experience by far is what many and families and students experience. And when folks call for education reform what exactly is it that you want reformed, what do you think are the root causes of the problems, and reasons why they are not already resolved?

Most of what I want to see changed is at the county level. I want enforced discipline. I want grades to match ability. I want final exams. Kids who cannot read/study/keep up should fail. Kids who do the bare minimum can get D’s. I want attendance expectations- 5 unexcused absences is a loss of credit. I want students who are unable to safely be in classrooms to not be in those classrooms. I want students with no English to learn some English before being fully mainstreamed. I want undocumented students to not put a strain on our county budget.

Basically, I want a return to when academics and learning were more important than equity.

How will this make white progressive women feel good about themselves?

-I want grades to match ability. : This is school level
-I want final exams. : Funny folks was pretty up in arms about the Biology and Government end of course exams. There was also LOTS of complaints about the class test also.
-Kids who cannot read/study/keep up should fail. : Or be given the support to learn to read and study.
- Kids who do the bare minimum can get D’s.: Again school level
- I want attendance expectations- 5 unexcused absences is a loss of credit. : I guess but frankly I don’t care about the attendance. You’re not here you will get the understanding and grade you deserve. If you’re not present in college but still manage to turn in assignments and score well on exams and pass then you pass. If not then you don’t.
- I want students who are unable to safely be in classrooms to not be in those classrooms. : And go where? They are required by law to be educated and in school until 18. And other school placements are both short and costly. Yes MCPS has to pay for those private placements.
- students with no English to learn some English before being fully mainstreamed. : [i/]Bring on the extra funds to out these kids in a separate class.[/i]
- I want undocumented students to not put a strain on our county budget. : Talk to the county not MCPS.

I’m a MCPS HS teacher and MCPS parent of 3. My perspective is that expectations were dropped to the floor during COVID and everyone is afraid to put them back in place. The fear is that students won’t rise to these new expectations and then *gasp* our numbers will plummet further. There are so many problems in MCPS, but this is one that we see every single day.

I want a return to a standard kind of teaching with textbooks and some lecturing supplemented by in-class practice and regular homework to reinforce ideas. My kid did not learn well from PowerPoint slides with random clip art. She never knew where to find her homework and could not review the material easily. It was awful.