Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 20:56     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Next time you're near a 99% FARMS school in DC, take a look around and see if there's a CVS or other store nearby, and watch what happens there. You'll see things like policies where no unattended minors are allowed inside before 5PM. Or, you'll see the security guards stop them at the door and only allow one to go in at a time, with escort. Why, pray tell? Because these innocent sweetheart little darlings would otherwise be shoplifting, vandalizing and terrorizing those businesses. Whoever's denying that there's a problem is either a.) some kind of totally clueless and out of touch bleeding heart who is in denial or b.) is a pathological liar. Take your pick. There is no c.)
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 20:35     Subject: Re:99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:Yes 15:18, why don't we just sterilize poor working women. That's a great solution to society's problems. You are a piece of work.


What do you mean by "poor working women", PP? Women who cannot afford to have children without the help of social programs? In that case, I tend to agree with 15:18.

Our society has come to view reproduction as a right rather than a privilege. I disagree with that view. If you cannot afford to raise children, then you should not have children. Women who are receiving welfare benefits (or whose children are receiving welfare benefits) should be required to use effective birth control in order to continue receiving benefits.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 19:59     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the thing is, I was that kid. Reading by myself, doing SRAs (anyone else remember those?) and basically just following my own lead. I did fine! I'm a business owner making lots of money and employing plenty of people. I'm sure it is frustrating to hear about schools where the resources are directed towards nuturing and enriching the advanced kids, but I bet your kid will do fine too! I send my kids to public schools where there is a real nice mix of focus on all levels of academic achievement, but I bet as long as you provide solid enrichment and provide a great example at home, your kid will do just as well as mine, possibly exceed (I'm not as proficient at providing at home enrighment as I should be, I think).


I'm pretty sure it's not the same classroom that you were in as a kid. In many of these DCPS classrooms you wouldn't even be able to read by yourself, unless you brought earplugs to deal with the constant disruptive behavior and didn't mind routinely getting beat up, harrassed and bullied for being a bookworm and for being what they will surely figure to be teacher's special pet if you get any A's.


Those were some of the reasons why my mother took me out of DCPS years ago. I had to endure this type of behavior from pre-kindergarten until 8th grade. The last straw for my liberal mom was when I witnessed what they call a jump (a group of students beating on one student) in the 7th grade. I actually didn't tell my mother about the other jumps because I was afraid of retaliation. When I entered Catholic school I couldn't believe how respectful the students were towards the teachers, how much the other students valued education, how it was okay for white students to be friends with black students, the nurturing that I received from my teachers, and just the overall atmosphere was just great for learning. Honestly, it felt so weird at first because it was my first experience with being around students who cared about their future. Coming from an environment where students were disruptive, mean-spirited, and down right uncivilized into an environment where the students where the total opposite felt like a dream. I always think what would've happened to me if my mom didn't make the decision to get me the Hell out DCPS.

It's really a sad state of affairs when a child can't even learn because they fear the negative reaction of other students.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 18:53     Subject: Re:99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Last, academics for average or advanced kids. You can find these kids in the classroom by the fact they are silently reading to themselves while teachers work with other kids. These kids babysit themselves during the day with quiet reading or other busy worksheets. The teacher has no time for them.


Thank you for posting the truth. There is a reason why people tout FARM rates and test scores and the above proves their facts.


If this is true, why are you sending your kids to these schools? As an alternative to private school, won't it make more sense to move. Seems like home schooling is an option too.


Why? Because, hard to believe, there are still some bleeding hearts out there who have a steadfast ideological belief in public schools, no matter how much they suck. So what they do is hold their noses, hold their mouths, put one hand over their eyes and send their kids on into those sucky public schools anyways. And then that sucky public school system the takes their attendance for granted. As for the rest of us, we demand change (though it's like talking to a wall) and eventually give up and take our kids elsewhere (if we can). There. That sum it up?
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 17:22     Subject: Re:99 percent FARM
Last, academics for average or advanced kids. You can find these kids in the classroom by the fact they are silently reading to themselves while teachers work with other kids. These kids babysit themselves during the day with quiet reading or other busy worksheets. The teacher has no time for them.


Thank you for posting the truth. There is a reason why people tout FARM rates and test scores and the above proves their facts.


If this is true, why are you sending your kids to these schools? As an alternative to private school, won't it make more sense to move. Seems like home schooling is an option too.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 17:12     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the thing is, I was that kid. Reading by myself, doing SRAs (anyone else remember those?) and basically just following my own lead. I did fine! I'm a business owner making lots of money and employing plenty of people. I'm sure it is frustrating to hear about schools where the resources are directed towards nuturing and enriching the advanced kids, but I bet your kid will do fine too! I send my kids to public schools where there is a real nice mix of focus on all levels of academic achievement, but I bet as long as you provide solid enrichment and provide a great example at home, your kid will do just as well as mine, possibly exceed (I'm not as proficient at providing at home enrighment as I should be, I think).


I'm pretty sure it's not the same classroom that you were in as a kid. In many of these DCPS classrooms you wouldn't even be able to read by yourself, unless you brought earplugs to deal with the constant disruptive behavior and didn't mind routinely getting beat up, harrassed and bullied for being a bookworm and for being what they will surely figure to be teacher's special pet if you get any A's.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 17:06     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:I will tell you this if there was a sudden withdraw of FARM students from DCPS it would shut-down they system as we know it. This getting to know the FARM parents is two-fold as some feel it is necessary to have this bonfire type of friendship. We can all send our children to the same school but it is not a prerequisite to have the parents to get-along. PTA and HSA are volunteered based and if those who are of the FARM persuasion are not inclined to participate then stay calm. Is there a parent out there in DC-land who wouldn't send their precious little Hansel or Gretel to a 99% SES school where the FARM student who's black is the 1%? The sacrificial black lamb is a possibility too.


I'll bite. First of all, nobody is talking about getting rid of FARMS students from DCPS, so chill out.

Second of all, I can tell you there are plenty of AA families in DC (or who fled to PG or elsewhere in the burbs) who wouldn't dream of sending their precious little darling to a 99% FARMS DCPS school either.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 11:40     Subject: Re:99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, I personally would not place my child in a school that is 99% FARMS. The social atmosphere will be different. Usually kids from these types of backgrounds come to school with lots of social, cognitive,emotional, and behavoirial problems. I'm not saying that all FARM students fit this profile. However, in DC it's most likely that these children come from dysfunctional homes where there is child abuse, substance abuse issues, and a list of other problems. It could be a cultural shock listening to a four year verbalizing profanity and misogynistic words, but can't even recite the alphabet. It will be a cultural shock to witness how angry, maladjusted, and unstable these students are. Most of these students never been read to, never been told the words, "I love you", or their emotional needs were never met from the time they were infants. Teachers spend a great deal of time trying to diffuse negative social behavior that teaching sometimes take a backseat. Which means your child's needs aren't going to get met because the priorities of the FARM students are so much more important. The needs of the FARM students are a priority. The entire educational setting will be focus on assisting those students with the various issues that they bring to school. The fact of the matter is that many poor inner-city children in DC are born to parents who don't give a damn. So, when unstable parents bring children into the world, it is up to the schools to provide some form of stability, love, attention, and other unmet needs to these children. I think there are some phenomenal teachers and specialists out there who do an amazing job with these students. However, it's a difficult task. It's the reason why so many DCPS are problematic. We have a culture of children who are born from generations of poverty, child abuse, and other issues. Teachers are forced to take on the role of a parent in these classrooms.

Also, it will be extremely difficult for you to establish friendships with the parents. There is a provincial attitude and a strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity. So, you may encounter some negative attitudes and behaviors from the parents as well.

You have to ask yourself do you want to take a risk and make your child the sacrificial lamb?


Agree with all of this and we are in a 50% FARMS school in NOVA.

The school focuses first on social services and providing those type of services to kids - making sure the parents get their kids to school on time, making sure they kids eat breakfast, that they have the school supplies they need, that they have winter coats, etc.

Second, the spend an enormous effort on behavior programs and ensuring good behavior. The positive behavior program is talked about more during the school day then academics.

Third, and finally, is academics for the masses. And these are academics that are taught to just below average because that's about where the majority of the kids fall. They leave for the summer and loose a few months of learning. They come back in the fall and the first 4 months are all review. Then at this time of year, they try and tackle new subjects.

Fourth, if any resources are left and they have not all been spent, academics for those with special needs or ELL.

Last, academics for average or advanced kids. You can find these kids in the classroom by the fact they are silently reading to themselves while teachers work with other kids. These kids babysit themselves during the day with quiet reading or other busy worksheets. The teacher has no time for them.


Thank you for posting the truth. There is a reason why people tout FARM rates and test scores and the above proves their facts.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 11:36     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the thing is, I was that kid. Reading by myself, doing SRAs (anyone else remember those?) and basically just following my own lead. I did fine! I'm a business owner making lots of money and employing plenty of people. I'm sure it is frustrating to hear about schools where the resources are directed towards nuturing and enriching the advanced kids, but I bet your kid will do fine too! I send my kids to public schools where there is a real nice mix of focus on all levels of academic achievement, but I bet as long as you provide solid enrichment and provide a great example at home, your kid will do just as well as mine, possibly exceed (I'm not as proficient at providing at home enrighment as I should be, I think).


Fully agreed. I'm from a rural area with a very high percentage of dropouts, etc. and have never lived with the kinds of differentiation and pro-education residential self-segregation many of you have seen and probably grown up with. Everything turned out fine. Now, if I had never learned to read by myself it could have been terrible, but things went fine. Top law school, good job.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 11:16     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Yeah, the thing is, I was that kid. Reading by myself, doing SRAs (anyone else remember those?) and basically just following my own lead. I did fine! I'm a business owner making lots of money and employing plenty of people. I'm sure it is frustrating to hear about schools where the resources are directed towards nuturing and enriching the advanced kids, but I bet your kid will do fine too! I send my kids to public schools where there is a real nice mix of focus on all levels of academic achievement, but I bet as long as you provide solid enrichment and provide a great example at home, your kid will do just as well as mine, possibly exceed (I'm not as proficient at providing at home enrighment as I should be, I think).
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 10:36     Subject: Re:99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:OP, I personally would not place my child in a school that is 99% FARMS. The social atmosphere will be different. Usually kids from these types of backgrounds come to school with lots of social, cognitive,emotional, and behavoirial problems. I'm not saying that all FARM students fit this profile. However, in DC it's most likely that these children come from dysfunctional homes where there is child abuse, substance abuse issues, and a list of other problems. It could be a cultural shock listening to a four year verbalizing profanity and misogynistic words, but can't even recite the alphabet. It will be a cultural shock to witness how angry, maladjusted, and unstable these students are. Most of these students never been read to, never been told the words, "I love you", or their emotional needs were never met from the time they were infants. Teachers spend a great deal of time trying to diffuse negative social behavior that teaching sometimes take a backseat. Which means your child's needs aren't going to get met because the priorities of the FARM students are so much more important. The needs of the FARM students are a priority. The entire educational setting will be focus on assisting those students with the various issues that they bring to school. The fact of the matter is that many poor inner-city children in DC are born to parents who don't give a damn. So, when unstable parents bring children into the world, it is up to the schools to provide some form of stability, love, attention, and other unmet needs to these children. I think there are some phenomenal teachers and specialists out there who do an amazing job with these students. However, it's a difficult task. It's the reason why so many DCPS are problematic. We have a culture of children who are born from generations of poverty, child abuse, and other issues. Teachers are forced to take on the role of a parent in these classrooms.

Also, it will be extremely difficult for you to establish friendships with the parents. There is a provincial attitude and a strong level of resistance with some DC residents (especially those from the lower class black communities) against integration and diversity. So, you may encounter some negative attitudes and behaviors from the parents as well.

You have to ask yourself do you want to take a risk and make your child the sacrificial lamb?


Agree with all of this and we are in a 50% FARMS school in NOVA.

The school focuses first on social services and providing those type of services to kids - making sure the parents get their kids to school on time, making sure they kids eat breakfast, that they have the school supplies they need, that they have winter coats, etc.

Second, the spend an enormous effort on behavior programs and ensuring good behavior. The positive behavior program is talked about more during the school day then academics.

Third, and finally, is academics for the masses. And these are academics that are taught to just below average because that's about where the majority of the kids fall. They leave for the summer and loose a few months of learning. They come back in the fall and the first 4 months are all review. Then at this time of year, they try and tackle new subjects.

Fourth, if any resources are left and they have not all been spent, academics for those with special needs or ELL.

Last, academics for average or advanced kids. You can find these kids in the classroom by the fact they are silently reading to themselves while teachers work with other kids. These kids babysit themselves during the day with quiet reading or other busy worksheets. The teacher has no time for them.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 10:33     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:I will tell you this if there was a sudden withdraw of FARM students from DCPS it would shut-down they system as we know it. This getting to know the FARM parents is two-fold as some feel it is necessary to have this bonfire type of friendship. We can all send our children to the same school but it is not a prerequisite to have the parents to get-along. PTA and HSA are volunteered based and if those who are of the FARM persuasion are not inclined to participate then stay calm. Is there a parent out there in DC-land who wouldn't send their precious little Hansel or Gretel to a 99% SES school where the FARM student who's black is the 1%? The sacrificial black lamb is a possibility too.

Anonymous wrote:You need to work on your sentence structure.

Oh, come on, don't you like a little Word Salad in the morning? It helps get the day off to a great start!
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 10:31     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I will tell you this if there was a sudden withdraw of FARM students from DCPS it would shut-down they system as we know it. This getting to know the FARM parents is two-fold as some feel it is necessary to have this bonfire type of friendship. We can all send our children to the same school but it is not a prerequisite to have the parents to get-along. PTA and HSA are volunteered based and if those who are of the FARM persuasion are not inclined to participate then stay calm. Is there a parent out there in DC-land who wouldn't send their precious little Hansel or Gretel to a 99% SES school where the FARM student who's black is the 1%? The sacrificial black lamb is a possibility too.


You need to work on your sentence structure.


Yes.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 10:25     Subject: 99 percent FARM
Anonymous wrote:I will tell you this if there was a sudden withdraw of FARM students from DCPS it would shut-down they system as we know it. This getting to know the FARM parents is two-fold as some feel it is necessary to have this bonfire type of friendship. We can all send our children to the same school but it is not a prerequisite to have the parents to get-along. PTA and HSA are volunteered based and if those who are of the FARM persuasion are not inclined to participate then stay calm. Is there a parent out there in DC-land who wouldn't send their precious little Hansel or Gretel to a 99% SES school where the FARM student who's black is the 1%? The sacrificial black lamb is a possibility too.


You need to work on your sentence structure.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2014 10:02     Subject: 99 percent FARM
I will tell you this if there was a sudden withdraw of FARM students from DCPS it would shut-down they system as we know it. This getting to know the FARM parents is two-fold as some feel it is necessary to have this bonfire type of friendship. We can all send our children to the same school but it is not a prerequisite to have the parents to get-along. PTA and HSA are volunteered based and if those who are of the FARM persuasion are not inclined to participate then stay calm. Is there a parent out there in DC-land who wouldn't send their precious little Hansel or Gretel to a 99% SES school where the FARM student who's black is the 1%? The sacrificial black lamb is a possibility too.