Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 20:26     Subject: Re:Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:
Please understand that most teachers would love to do the things you've listed above but we answer to a higher power and my principal would have none of the above. Our school has no PTA and our playground was burned to the ground the week before school started. I doubt it will ever be rebuilt so the classes have to rotate recess on the blacktop. We had recess 1-2 times per week last year and we weren't allowed to take the kids for walks around the school (I tried). If you don't like something, stop blaming the teachers. They are probably just as frustrated as you are.


What school is this?



A Baltimore City school. Not every school district has the money for the things that are expected in wealthier districts.
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 19:35     Subject: Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:again, small worlds

so many people who have NO CLUE how other systems function

glad not to have friends who are as dreadful as most of you are


Actually, very big world here. Lived many places, and deeply unimpressed here. But go ahead and name-call when you can't actually defend the system on its merits.
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 18:46     Subject: Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:again, small worlds

so many people who have NO CLUE how other systems function

glad not to have friends who are as dreadful as most of you are


+1
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 18:40     Subject: Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
again, small worlds

so many people who have NO CLUE how other systems function

glad not to have friends who are as dreadful as most of you are
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 15:38     Subject: Re:Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:
Parents are the primary teachers of their children. Schools are there to help. If you find the experience lackluster, you need to step up your parenting game.


This would be fine if they weren't there for 6 hours a day plus the long bus rides. What is the point of spending 2 billion a year and forcing kids to be bored all day if you have to teach them everything at home anyway? If MCPS wants to admit that they provide nothing beyond free babysitting service then OK but they could do that much cheaper.


This. Since when did it become received wisdom that parents are the primary teacher of their children? Character, sure. Academic, never in history. It is because of this line of thinking, SES became the deterministic factor in student achievement. Sure, there are some kids who really come from a unstable environment with illiterate parents, I can imagine teaching these kids require more effort than a child coming in knowing much of the curriculum. But this cannot be the whole truth. Bad curriculum and bad teaching need to be part of the discussion as well. It is even more important for the low SES students who may depend entirely on school for their education.
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 14:42     Subject: Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Dreading the traffic.


+1


+2
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 14:36     Subject: Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Looking forward to it - mostly the routine.
We are all very tired and easily frustrated with each other at our house.

Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 11:28     Subject: Re:Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Please understand that most teachers would love to do the things you've listed above but we answer to a higher power and my principal would have none of the above. Our school has no PTA and our playground was burned to the ground the week before school started. I doubt it will ever be rebuilt so the classes have to rotate recess on the blacktop. We had recess 1-2 times per week last year and we weren't allowed to take the kids for walks around the school (I tried). If you don't like something, stop blaming the teachers. They are probably just as frustrated as you are.


What school is this?
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 10:35     Subject: Re:Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?

Do you think the best teachers are picked at MCPS? lol

I am glad you like it better here but for people that have been here for years the system is failing. Like another OP said. Joyless. I will add robotic, lackluster, straight narrow line. The fact that public school teachers can't just think outside of the box sucks. We came from a small district in NC where PE was daily, parents were involved, each class had a website with updates, PTA was strong and teachers sende more interested. My daughters last teacher would bring blankets on nice days and they would do reading groups/free reading outside. Math games on the blacktop, times table four square, etc... Not all on the same day but spread out. They don't seem to ever take the kids away from the desk. I hope I am more impressed with high school.



Please understand that most teachers would love to do the things you've listed above but we answer to a higher power and my principal would have none of the above. Our school has no PTA and our playground was burned to the ground the week before school started. I doubt it will ever be rebuilt so the classes have to rotate recess on the blacktop. We had recess 1-2 times per week last year and we weren't allowed to take the kids for walks around the school (I tried). If you don't like something, stop blaming the teachers. They are probably just as frustrated as you are.
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 09:31     Subject: Re:Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
This has gotten silly. There are 150,000 students in MCPS, and just as many opinionated parents. You might as well ask 150,000 people if they are having a nice day today. Some will be happy, many will complain. If it's anything like elsewhere on the web, the complainers will shout louder.
Anonymous
Post 08/04/2014 02:37     Subject: Re:Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Do you expect dog and pony shows? Is that what you do at work? dance around and sing for your boss each time s/he enters your office?

Of course there are some teachers who don't inspire their students. But for fuck's sake, folks, do you HONESTLY think any other system out there is better?

Such small worlds you have! Expand your horizons. Travel around and see what the other systems have to offer. fewer resources, teachers w/o training, old school thinking, insular communities

I could go on and on.

And guess what? The majority of the states are using Common Core! So don't think it's just MCPS.

What a bunch of whiners - and with nothing - other than an uninspiring teacher - to back you up!

I'd hate to see how your children handle difficult situations.

oh wait - They won't . . . b/c mommy and daddy shelter them from the ugly parts of life.


You clearly work for MCPS and this hit a nerve for you but wake up. We moved from New England and school was far more interesting for kids. You can't keep blaming Common Core for your lack of performance and saying trust me everywhere else is worse than this is just plain false.

MCPS is a joyless see of worksheets, uninspired teaching, and a terrible curriculum. When young kids hate going to school, Houston you have a problem. A big problem.


I also moved from New England and my kids are so much happier here. We've been very pleased with the academic challenge. While small town school districts up north have some pros, the cons were huge. Teachers were given jobs not because they were the most qualified but because they were the mayor's niece. Getting into honors/AP classes was very political and often depended on parents's pull in the community or whether a teacher liked you.



Do you think the best teachers are picked at MCPS? lol

I am glad you like it better here but for people that have been here for years the system is failing. Like another OP said. Joyless. I will add robotic, lackluster, straight narrow line. The fact that public school teachers can't just think outside of the box sucks. We came from a small district in NC where PE was daily, parents were involved, each class had a website with updates, PTA was strong and teachers sende more interested. My daughters last teacher would bring blankets on nice days and they would do reading groups/free reading outside. Math games on the blacktop, times table four square, etc... Not all on the same day but spread out. They don't seem to ever take the kids away from the desk. I hope I am more impressed with high school.
Anonymous
Post 08/03/2014 20:30     Subject: Re:Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:
And dreading the ridiculous math homework. You know: if Sara has 30 yellow cats and 25 brown cats, then how many dogs live in London? Draw the six steps involved in your strategy, and write a paragraph explaining how you feel this strategy improved MCPS assessments.


LOL! +1000

My kids did a week of math camp between sports camps. I wonder if MCPS will find out and put them in a decontamination unit when they return for doing above grade level math. The horror, kids should not learn math ever!


OT, but where did they do a Math Camp?
Would love to sign DD up next year. She actually enjoys math, but doesn't get challenged much at school.
Anonymous
Post 08/03/2014 17:59     Subject: Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:Yes dreading. I find MCPS generally unpleasant and joyless.


This.
Anonymous
Post 08/03/2014 17:09     Subject: Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:No, I wish we had another two months of summer. It's gone so quick, and I hate the early morning hassle and drives.


+1 It has been such a mild summer; I was expecting a long, hot summer.
Anonymous
Post 08/03/2014 17:04     Subject: Re:Anyone else dreading school starting in 3 weeks?
Anonymous wrote:
Do you expect dog and pony shows? Is that what you do at work? dance around and sing for your boss each time s/he enters your office?

Of course there are some teachers who don't inspire their students. But for fuck's sake, folks, do you HONESTLY think any other system out there is better?

Such small worlds you have! Expand your horizons. Travel around and see what the other systems have to offer. fewer resources, teachers w/o training, old school thinking, insular communities

I could go on and on.

And guess what? The majority of the states are using Common Core! So don't think it's just MCPS.

What a bunch of whiners - and with nothing - other than an uninspiring teacher - to back you up!

I'd hate to see how your children handle difficult situations.

oh wait - They won't . . . b/c mommy and daddy shelter them from the ugly parts of life.


You clearly work for MCPS and this hit a nerve for you but wake up. We moved from New England and school was far more interesting for kids. You can't keep blaming Common Core for your lack of performance and saying trust me everywhere else is worse than this is just plain false.

MCPS is a joyless see of worksheets, uninspired teaching, and a terrible curriculum. When young kids hate going to school, Houston you have a problem. A big problem.


+1

Moved here from Mass. Very disappointing, and yes, joyless.