Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think its lovely to think that parents can simply "get involved" and things will change for the better, but honestly not realistic and frankly a little naive. The system needs a complete overall starting at the city level. Not going to roll the dice on my child's future so that I can be accepted by the liberal lefties in the city of Alexandria.

As somebody who also moved from the City of Alexandria (only partly b/c of space issues), I really don't get your need to crap on the school system so much. I hate being that poster, but you sound really quite insecure.

I personally think the middle schools (namely, GW) are a real problem for the city in terms of keeping affluent/middle class families invested in the public schools, but also acknowledge don't think it is a death sentence to a kid's future if you send your child there. The whole "I'm better than you b/c I moved to Arlington b/c my children deserve better" mentality is getting a bit old. We all understand the city's problems with GW. Stop being such a mommy martyr.

You do understand that there are multiple people commenting on ACPS here?

Do you also understand that they're not all mommies?

And you misused the word "Martyr." Those would be the ACPS defenders calling those who've left racist.

Anonymous wrote:I think its lovely to think that parents can simply "get involved" and things will change for the better, but honestly not realistic and frankly a little naive. The system needs a complete overall starting at the city level. Not going to roll the dice on my child's future so that I can be accepted by the liberal lefties in the city of Alexandria.

As somebody who also moved from the City of Alexandria (only partly b/c of space issues), I really don't get your need to crap on the school system so much. I hate being that poster, but you sound really quite insecure.

I personally think the middle schools (namely, GW) are a real problem for the city in terms of keeping affluent/middle class families invested in the public schools, but also acknowledge don't think it is a death sentence to a kid's future if you send your child there. The whole "I'm better than you b/c I moved to Arlington b/c my children deserve better" mentality is getting a bit old. We all understand the city's problems with GW. Stop being such a mommy martyr.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think its lovely to think that parents can simply "get involved" and things will change for the better, but honestly not realistic and frankly a little naive. The system needs a complete overall starting at the city level. Not going to roll the dice on my child's future so that I can be accepted by the liberal lefties in the city of Alexandria.

Wow, that really burns coming from someone who shits her pants thinking about mommy's little monster not going to a school that is "White Like Me." Good luck living your life in a conserva-coma.

Mayor Euille? Is that you?

That was a joke. To the pair of people defending ACPS here (but not the PTA person): You lose the debate when you call people who've left racist. Well, you lost the argument previously already several times with similar name-calling ad hominem attacks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

So, suffice it to say the disdain is mutual. The only difference between us, it would appear, is I am comfortable with my choices. You two, on the other hand, clearly have a lot of anxiety.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

*golf clap*

feel better?

Is everyone in North Arlington such an asshole?

Perhaps only the ones who moved from the City of Alexandria...

I admit, this poster makes me glad she is no longer my neighbor...

Anonymous wrote:I think its lovely to think that parents can simply "get involved" and things will change for the better, but honestly not realistic and frankly a little naive. The system needs a complete overall starting at the city level. Not going to roll the dice on my child's future so that I can be accepted by the liberal lefties in the city of Alexandria.

Wow, that really burns coming from someone who shits her pants thinking about mommy's little monster not going to a school that is "White Like Me." Good luck living your life in a conserva-coma.

Anonymous wrote:I think its lovely to think that parents can simply "get involved" and things will change for the better, but honestly not realistic and frankly a little naive. The system needs a complete overall starting at the city level. Not going to roll the dice on my child's future so that I can be accepted by the liberal lefties in the city of Alexandria.

And you hardly turn in your liberal credentials if you recognize ACPS for what it is and leave.

I think its lovely to think that parents can simply "get involved" and things will change for the better, but honestly not realistic and frankly a little naive. The system needs a complete overall starting at the city level. Not going to roll the dice on my child's future so that I can be accepted by the liberal lefties in the city of Alexandria.

My view is that the elementary school PTA parents should focus more of their energy/resources/volunteer efforts on the middle schools instead of the schools where their kids attend. Perhaps even have each elementary PTA form a "future GW/Hammond parents" committee that is focused on helping impove the middle schools. The committees can lend support to the Middle School with fundraising, volunteering, tutoring, mentoring, etc. They can also interface with middle school administrators, so that the middle school leaders can better understand what our concerns/apprehensions are about school quality/safety, and they can better communicate with us about the reality of what it's like in the middle schools.

All the energy/ideas/enthusiasm of new parents is unfortunately wasted on elementary schools--which are already in good shape. By the time our kids reach middle school, the parents are burnt out and the kids are reaching the age where they don't want their parents around anymore. So the middle schools don't have as much parental support.

ACPS parent and teacher here. Instead of complaining about how awful the system is, why don't you get involved and try to change things?

Do you have suggestions as to what would be the best way to do this? I would be interested in trying, but don't have any great ideas as to where to start.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

*golf clap*

feel better?

Is everyone in North Arlington such an asshole?

Just responding in kind. But thanks for the pottymouth.

Anonymous wrote:

*golf clap*

feel better?

Is everyone in North Arlington such an asshole?

Anonymous wrote:Let's see, a woman who claims that working for change is a "waste of time," but somehow finds the time to author countless anonymous venomous posts on the internet. Why don't you just enjoy your new educational nirvana? You made the right choice for you and your kids. Wonderful. Can't that be enough for you?

Or do we all have to agree that your choice was the right choice for EVERY family? Fine. You are wiser than we are. Only now, in the light of your brilliance, do we see the error of our ways. On behalf of all middle class and affluent families in Alexandria City, I hereby promise that we will all leave ACPS tomorrow and credit you for helping us see the error of our ways. Thank you, oh brilliant and insightful one. We will erect statues of you at our new private/Arlington/Fairfax County schools as the pioneer who led us out of educational bondage. Now, will you please shut up and move on with your life?

*golf clap*

feel better?

Let's see, a woman who claims that working for change is a "waste of time," but somehow finds the time to author countless anonymous venomous posts on the internet. Why don't you just enjoy your new educational nirvana? You made the right choice for you and your kids. Wonderful. Can't that be enough for you?

Or do we all have to agree that your choice was the right choice for EVERY family? Fine. You are wiser than we are. Only now, in the light of your brilliance, do we see the error of our ways. On behalf of all middle class and affluent families in Alexandria City, I hereby promise that we will all leave ACPS tomorrow and credit you for helping us see the error of our ways. Thank you, oh brilliant and insightful one. We will erect statues of you at our new private/Arlington/Fairfax County schools as the pioneer who led us out of educational bondage. Now, will you please shut up and move on with your life?

Anonymous wrote:ACPS parent and teacher here. Instead of complaining about how awful the system is, why don't you get involved and try to change things? Sure, you can be an uninvolved parent that sticks to the rumors or you can get your hands dirty and help us work on this school system. For what it's worth, I graduated from TC, went to an ivy league school, and have come back to give to a school system that gave to me.

PP here. I was very involved. But dealing with ACPS was like trying to teach a pig to sing: It is a waste of time and only frustrates the pig. Not that Morton Sherman didn't pay off a bunch of would be vocal coaches in recent years.

Anonymous wrote:ACPS parent and teacher here. Instead of complaining about how awful the system is, why don't you get involved and try to change things? Sure, you can be an uninvolved parent that sticks to the rumors or you can get your hands dirty and help us work on this school system. For what it's worth, I graduated from TC, went to an ivy league school, and have come back to give to a school system that gave to me.

Meh, I used to think this way but honestly, there is only so far a small group of committed parents can go and how much they can improve. The vast majority of the student body at most City schools come to school with problems that the school simply can't fix and those problems don't go away during school hours.