Anonymous
Post 12/31/2024 15:45     Subject: Re:Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know kids today have access to technology that obviously we didn't 35 years ago so more should be expected of them.
I graduated top 10 in my class in FCPS in an AP program and what I've seen my senior do in IB is so far superior. Really impressed at the level of thinking and response that he is required to do.


I see what you did there but IB is an expensive waste of money. Getting rid of it would be a great idea and align with FCPS’s purported goal of providing students with equitable access to programs.


What has your direct experience been with IB that makes you think that way?


We were at an IB school. Lots of hype for the "IB diploma programme" (fancy IBO spelling for global citizens) but small fraction of students getting the diploma. Non-diploma track students were treated as second class, including at graduation. And this was at one of the supposedly better IB programs in FCPS. Younger kids went to an AP school and had a much better experience. The tracking in FCPS is bad enough in ES and MS. IB results in a different type of tracking in HS as well.

Also, it's a matter of public record that it costs more per student and that some schools have but a handful of IB diploma graduates.

When was the last time FCPS made a HS w/AP convert to IB? Answer - over 20 years ago. They know it hasn't panned out as hoped, but they don't want to admit mistakes so they don't revisit their past bad decisions.


As I suspected -- you don't actually have personal experience of what IB classes are like -- just as an outsider looking in.
I think the reason there are not more IB schools is it goes to the OPs orignial thought -- schools aren't great. Teachers need special certs to teach IB and the curriculum is much harder.


I guess you missed the part where I noted "We were at an IB school."

And, no, the curriculum is not much harder. It is more structured, more time-consuming, and more pretentious.


YES - Totally missed the part where you said and my child/children earned an IB diploma." There are literally hundreds of kids who are/"were at an IB school" and still know little to nothing about the program.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2024 15:13     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:LOL. I love how people think that deadlines in high school somehow affect people's ability to meet deadlines in college or work.

Unless your kid is a total dumba$$ they will figure it out.


Thank you!!!!
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2024 14:46     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
LOL. I love how people think that deadlines in high school somehow affect people's ability to meet deadlines in college or work.

Unless your kid is a total dumba$$ they will figure it out.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2024 14:38     Subject: Re:Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know kids today have access to technology that obviously we didn't 35 years ago so more should be expected of them.
I graduated top 10 in my class in FCPS in an AP program and what I've seen my senior do in IB is so far superior. Really impressed at the level of thinking and response that he is required to do.


I see what you did there but IB is an expensive waste of money. Getting rid of it would be a great idea and align with FCPS’s purported goal of providing students with equitable access to programs.


What has your direct experience been with IB that makes you think that way?


We were at an IB school. Lots of hype for the "IB diploma programme" (fancy IBO spelling for global citizens) but small fraction of students getting the diploma. Non-diploma track students were treated as second class, including at graduation. And this was at one of the supposedly better IB programs in FCPS. Younger kids went to an AP school and had a much better experience. The tracking in FCPS is bad enough in ES and MS. IB results in a different type of tracking in HS as well.

Also, it's a matter of public record that it costs more per student and that some schools have but a handful of IB diploma graduates.

When was the last time FCPS made a HS w/AP convert to IB? Answer - over 20 years ago. They know it hasn't panned out as hoped, but they don't want to admit mistakes so they don't revisit their past bad decisions.


As I suspected -- you don't actually have personal experience of what IB classes are like -- just as an outsider looking in.
I think the reason there are not more IB schools is it goes to the OPs orignial thought -- schools aren't great. Teachers need special certs to teach IB and the curriculum is much harder.


I guess you missed the part where I noted "We were at an IB school."

And, no, the curriculum is not much harder. It is more structured, more time-consuming, and more pretentious.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2024 14:23     Subject: Re:Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know kids today have access to technology that obviously we didn't 35 years ago so more should be expected of them.
I graduated top 10 in my class in FCPS in an AP program and what I've seen my senior do in IB is so far superior. Really impressed at the level of thinking and response that he is required to do.


I see what you did there but IB is an expensive waste of money. Getting rid of it would be a great idea and align with FCPS’s purported goal of providing students with equitable access to programs.


What has your direct experience been with IB that makes you think that way?


We were at an IB school. Lots of hype for the "IB diploma programme" (fancy IBO spelling for global citizens) but small fraction of students getting the diploma. Non-diploma track students were treated as second class, including at graduation. And this was at one of the supposedly better IB programs in FCPS. Younger kids went to an AP school and had a much better experience. The tracking in FCPS is bad enough in ES and MS. IB results in a different type of tracking in HS as well.

Also, it's a matter of public record that it costs more per student and that some schools have but a handful of IB diploma graduates.

When was the last time FCPS made a HS w/AP convert to IB? Answer - over 20 years ago. They know it hasn't panned out as hoped, but they don't want to admit mistakes so they don't revisit their past bad decisions.


As I suspected -- you don't actually have personal experience of what IB classes are like -- just as an outsider looking in.
I think the reason there are not more IB schools is it goes to the OPs orignial thought -- schools aren't great. Teachers need special certs to teach IB and the curriculum is much harder.
Anonymous
Post 12/30/2024 20:25     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in college, they’d better act like it is training for a real job. I’m trying to imagine them handing in work late there. It doesn’t matter if the work is “important” or not. If you can’t handle deadlines, you aren’t employable.


This is such a SAHM take from someone who has never had a white collar job


WTF? The PP is absolutely correct. YOU sound like the person who's never had a job - white collar or otherwise.
DP
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2024 09:55     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Plenty of jobs have deadlines that matter. Maybe just not jobs that people on this website have since they spend so much time on it during working hours.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2024 09:32     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in college, they’d better act like it is training for a real job. I’m trying to imagine them handing in work late there. It doesn’t matter if the work is “important” or not. If you can’t handle deadlines, you aren’t employable.


This is such a SAHM take from someone who has never had a white collar job
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2024 09:22     Subject: Re:Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:I think we are missing the decline of parenting. Parents stopped helping kids with HW, the school system stopped giving homework… parents stopped buying the needed school supplies, parents are the real problem in the decline of public schooling. Parents buy kids cell phones, video games…. And don’t discipline their kids when they are in the wrong and blame the schools, teachers… really parenting in the key and I hope there is a positive discussion about this. Parents ask for books to be banned, they are not making their kids read anyway…


Many of these changes in education have occurred because of poor parenting.
Anonymous
Post 12/29/2024 09:09     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
I work for the US government. Every deadline has been pushed back days, weeks, or months. For some of us, it is the norm.


You didn’t need to tell us your employer was the government. We know because nobody gives a crap who works for a bureaucracy.

+1 I Voted to solve to solve this issue and expect to get banned from this website for commenting.
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2024 22:25     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in college, they’d better act like it is training for a real job. I’m trying to imagine them handing in work late there. It doesn’t matter if the work is “important” or not. If you can’t handle deadlines, you aren’t employable.


I highly doubt that every single work task you do is a major document with a hard deadline. Sometimes work tasks are things like getting back to someone with some information. Those are the things that have a bit more flexibility as long as you communicate. I’m sure you were able to figure out the difference between major tasks with hard deadlines and more minor tasks with slightly flexible deadlines What is so hard to understand about this? It seems like you are being purposely obtuse because you like to argue. I bet you’re a lawyer.


Lol. I wish I earned what a lawyer does! I’m a teacher and plenty of colleagues have been put on PIPs for not making deadlines. Last year a teacher forgot to test a student by the deadline for a state test. Not good. She was out on a PIP and now wishes she quit at the end of last year because she’s miserable jumping through all of the hoops. I’m not sure why you would want your kids to learn that it’s no big deal to turn in work late but then again, you work for the government and can give everyone else the middle finger and nothing will ever happen. The rest of us have consequences for missed deadlines.


I’m not a government worker. That’s a different poster. That teacher sounds not very smart. Administering a state test is obviously something that has to happen by a certain date, much like a college student taking a final exam. K-12 teachers are micromanaged to a greater extent than a lot of other professions.
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2024 17:32     Subject: Re:Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
I think we are missing the decline of parenting. Parents stopped helping kids with HW, the school system stopped giving homework… parents stopped buying the needed school supplies, parents are the real problem in the decline of public schooling. Parents buy kids cell phones, video games…. And don’t discipline their kids when they are in the wrong and blame the schools, teachers… really parenting in the key and I hope there is a positive discussion about this. Parents ask for books to be banned, they are not making their kids read anyway…
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2024 14:02     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The quality of the education I received 25 years ago was far superior to what is being offered now. Anyone else notice this?


Hi OP, Google search's AI here with an answer to your question.

Every generation often perceives a decline in education because of a natural tendency to compare the current educational landscape to their own experiences as students, which are often viewed through rose-colored glasses, coupled with the fact that societal changes and technological advancements can make it seem like the current generation is not being adequately prepared for the future, leading to a perception of a decline in educational standards; this is often amplified by a generational gap in understanding and perspective.

Key points explaining this phenomenon
Nostalgia Bias: People tend to remember the positive aspects of their childhood experiences more vividly, leading to an idealized view of their education compared to what they see in the current system.
Rapid Change: As technology and societal norms evolve quickly, older generations may struggle to keep up with the changing educational needs and perceive the current system as lacking in certain areas.
Focus on perceived issues: Each generation tends to focus on the issues they see most prominent in the current educational system, like technology dependence, standardized testing, or curriculum changes, without considering potential improvements.
Misinformation and Media Influence: Media often sensationalizes stories about educational decline, further reinforcing the perception of a downward trend.
Different priorities: Each generation may have different priorities regarding education, with older generations potentially valuing traditional academic skills more than current generations who might prioritize critical thinking and adaptability.


Sad that an AI is providing the most accurate response in this thread.
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2024 13:10     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in college, they’d better act like it is training for a real job. I’m trying to imagine them handing in work late there. It doesn’t matter if the work is “important” or not. If you can’t handle deadlines, you aren’t employable.


I highly doubt that every single work task you do is a major document with a hard deadline. Sometimes work tasks are things like getting back to someone with some information. Those are the things that have a bit more flexibility as long as you communicate. I’m sure you were able to figure out the difference between major tasks with hard deadlines and more minor tasks with slightly flexible deadlines What is so hard to understand about this? It seems like you are being purposely obtuse because you like to argue. I bet you’re a lawyer.


Lol. I wish I earned what a lawyer does! I’m a teacher and plenty of colleagues have been put on PIPs for not making deadlines. Last year a teacher forgot to test a student by the deadline for a state test. Not good. She was out on a PIP and now wishes she quit at the end of last year because she’s miserable jumping through all of the hoops. I’m not sure why you would want your kids to learn that it’s no big deal to turn in work late but then again, you work for the government and can give everyone else the middle finger and nothing will ever happen. The rest of us have consequences for missed deadlines.
Anonymous
Post 12/28/2024 13:07     Subject: Anyone else educated by FCPS and sees the decline?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If your kid is in college, they’d better act like it is training for a real job. I’m trying to imagine them handing in work late there. It doesn’t matter if the work is “important” or not. If you can’t handle deadlines, you aren’t employable.


I work for the US government. Every deadline has been pushed back days, weeks, or months. For some of us, it is the norm.


You didn’t need to tell us your employer was the government. We know because nobody gives a crap who works for a bureaucracy.