This is the beginning of the year. Why are things already so off?

Anonymous wrote:I was in shock as well. And the class was close to 30 last year for 1st too but at least with more experienced teachers. To me, it feels like class size is out of control at some of these AAP center and upper income schools.

At one time 32 was the magic number that would force another teacher/class. Don't know it that's still that case, but maybe there's still hope? We just left a FCPS to go to our parish school where they have 2 second grade classes of 16 kids each (and a shared aide).

Anonymous wrote:I just find it shocking that $55 million pays for one additional teacher or aide in every elementary classroom within FCPS, yet they can't seem to figure out how to reduce the size of our school's classroom with 33 children in it and no aide.

It's because people keep moving into the FCPS district for the schools. Rent, buy, use a relative's address, whatever - those numbers keep rising every single year.

I was in shock as well. And the class was close to 30 last year for 1st too but at least with more experienced teachers. To me, it feels like class size is out of control at some of these AAP center and upper income schools.

Anonymous wrote:So this year our school's 2nd grade has 30 children with a brand new teacher. How is this good for the new teacher or for the students?

I find this hard to believe.

So this year our school's 2nd grade has 30 children with a brand new teacher. How is this good for the new teacher or for the students?

I haven't read the whole thread, but I've taught third grade in FCPS for nine years. My largest class was eight years ago, and it had 29 students. Since then I've usually had 19-25 students (not a title 1 school, by the way). However, even with a larger class, there likely is support for students that need it such as pull outs for struggling readers or math students, AAP, SPED, etc. That gives teachers a chance to devote some quality time to middle-of-the-road students. It's certainly not ideal, but it's a challenge to "be all things to all people" even with a smaller class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$25K? No. But I am going to send my child to private K at his current preschool to the tune of $8k. He will then move on to our neighborhood elementary FCPS.

Our plan.

I'm curious as to how you think he will benefit from a private K class? I am really curious and not trying to be snarky or sarcastic....At the end of the year and after $8,000 has been spent, how will your child differ from a child who went to public K when they are sitting side by side in first grade?

It could be that OP's preschool just happens to have a K. Ours did. Many stayed for that. We didn't because the "opening year" for most privates came before K. But you make a great point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know in college they have large lecture halls

Comparing apples to oranges.
Teaching a classroom full of elementary school aged kids is much different than a lecture hall of tuition-paying adults (so, in theory, every single person in attendance is wants to be there, you can't always say the same thing about lower elem. school kids as OP states) and don't have the behavior problems that, for example, a class clown 2nd grader.

Behavior problems are more prevalent in schools with lower income where the parents don't have the time to correct the behavior. In dcps this would be the case for many students regardless of class size.

^^^ completely agree with 1:26. I had no idea how much time education would take when hubby and I decided to have children. When I went to school (violins warming up) it was so simple. Public all the way. homework was reasonable and I did it on my own. Did all my college apps on my own. Drove myself to all my college tours and interviews. I'm sure my essay sucked big time. Today it's fights between public vs. private, alphabet syndromes unheard of just a few years ago; kids going to therapy; too much homework; college applications. Well, you know. Worth it in the end, but, wow, so much time expended. If I ever hear the word "school auction" again I am going to slug someone. (Can't ANYONE come up with a new fundraising idea? I bet I've gone to over 40 auctions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Throwing money at your kids education does not always work. Parents involvement with their kids education is always better especially in elementary school. We taught our kids at home as much as we can and use public school as social life and reinforce what we taught at home. Results, both of them went to TJ and went on to top universities.

As a former teacher I agree with this 100%. Forget Kumon. Forget paying for private. Buy a homeschooling curriculum and spend 30 minutes a day teaching them on your own. We've been doing this with our kids and they are both several grade levels above the norm in reading and math.

Anybody who has ever taught in a public school knows that school alone, whether it is public or private, cannot teach a child what s/he needs know. There are just too
Many factors in today's classrooms: curriculum, class size, funding, administration, etc. this is why parents, if they are interested, must step in and take an active part in their children's education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$25K? No. But I am going to send my child to private K at his current preschool to the tune of $8k. He will then move on to our neighborhood elementary FCPS.

Our plan.

I'm curious as to how you think he will benefit from a private K class? I am really curious and not trying to be snarky or sarcastic....At the end of the year and after $8,000 has been spent, how will your child differ from a child who went to public K when they are sitting side by side in first grade?

Apologies for typos ^^. I must have fat thumbs.

Re Homeschooling: OP had asked about kids testing limits and control My husband was very much for homeschooling. i, however, don't have the patience. We were, however, VERY involved making sure the homework got done (by the kids, not us). A good friend tried it with three kids. It lastest one school year. But she did say they had so much more free time because the morning was lessons, then the afternoons were free to go to museums, etc. Frankly, I just don't have it in me. OP you have to decide if it's right for you and your family. If so, bravo to you.

Re FCPS and overcrowding. One friend felt that Churchill was too crowded at 33+ for her first grader and found a private home for him. Others flourish. We did private for the younger years, then shifted to public for FCPS high school. Someone had told me that if you are going to invest in private school and have to decide whether it's the earlier or high school years, that the early years count. Unfortunately, our pick of a private wasn't so hot. FCPS would have been better and free.

R3: Stats. Once again I see that someone has refreshed an old post. But I think your figure of $25K is too low for most privates. Catholic parochials and Catholic High Schools, yes, but not other privates. And what is rarely mentioned but needs to be addressed by your family is that that $30-40K comes out of after-tax dollars. In our bracket, for two kids paying full freight at $37-40K, that means making $150K to pay the tuition and cover all the other fees like bus, capital campaign, auction, etc. etc. etc. I was pleased when we got out of private, but, again, we only did public for high school and that worked well for our child. Good luck

Anonymous wrote:I just find it shocking that $55 million pays for one additional teacher or aide in every elementary classroom within FCPS, yet they can't seem to figure out how to reduce the size of our school's classroom with 33 children in it and no aide.

Probably b/c they are too busy funding the turf field project