Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it will change as my DD gets older but the thought of sending her to a school with drugs, no bathroom use, and all of it is beyond worrisome. Anyone else? Is Whiteman less crazy? Or are all the publics the same. I know this is ripe for snark but I imagine many parents read this and feel sheer worry.

No. I have a kid in MCPS and know other families at other schools in the area (MCPS, Fairfax, Loudoun, Frederick). Drugs are everywhere, unfortunately; and private school won't be any different (private schools just know how to keep things hush hush). You must teach your kid to make the right decisions and to surround themselves with kids who will do the same. The reality is, the public high schools in this are are large enough that your child will find many peer groups who are a good influence. The news that kids are doing drugs in the bathrooms is a bit overinflated because that's all you hear on social media and the news. No one is talking about the majority of the kids who don't participate in this behavior. If you feel like your child will have the tendency to hang out with the "wrong" crowd and is easily influenced, then yes you should probably worry.

I went to a private high school. I never saw drugs on campus once. Never once was I afraid to go in the bathroom. My teenage boys refused to use the bathroom to school because they find them too scary. I hate that I can’t afford to send my kids to school with feel comfortable going to the bathroom. They literally don’t urinate all day long

I went to an MCPS high school and never saw them either but I guess that doesn't matter.

Me too, but I'm sure there were some. It just wasn't my jam so stayed blissfully ignorant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it will change as my DD gets older but the thought of sending her to a school with drugs, no bathroom use, and all of it is beyond worrisome. Anyone else? Is Whiteman less crazy? Or are all the publics the same. I know this is ripe for snark but I imagine many parents read this and feel sheer worry.

No. I have a kid in MCPS and know other families at other schools in the area (MCPS, Fairfax, Loudoun, Frederick). Drugs are everywhere, unfortunately; and private school won't be any different (private schools just know how to keep things hush hush). You must teach your kid to make the right decisions and to surround themselves with kids who will do the same. The reality is, the public high schools in this are are large enough that your child will find many peer groups who are a good influence. The news that kids are doing drugs in the bathrooms is a bit overinflated because that's all you hear on social media and the news. No one is talking about the majority of the kids who don't participate in this behavior. If you feel like your child will have the tendency to hang out with the "wrong" crowd and is easily influenced, then yes you should probably worry.

I went to a private high school. I never saw drugs on campus once. Never once was I afraid to go in the bathroom. My teenage boys refused to use the bathroom to school because they find them too scary. I hate that I can’t afford to send my kids to school with feel comfortable going to the bathroom. They literally don’t urinate all day long

Well, for you, private school would probably be a better option for your boys, or you can teach them not to worry. My freshman is barely 5 ft. and goes into the bathrooms with no worry. Yes, from time to time, she sees kids vaping and isn't scared. She goes in, uses the bathroom, goes out. No need to act scared.

What, exactly, do you think you're teaching your child about life and society with this response?

Furthermore, what if the next time she walks in the bathroom, she walks in on a robbery or an overdose, both things that have happened recently in MCPS bathrooms?

Will you expect her to just "ignore that" and be nonchalant?

And you think it's better to tell your child not to use the bathroom because of the 2% chance that a robbery or overdose might happen there? Larla- it's better to get a UTI than to go to the bathroom at school in case there's a robbery. Good grief! You might as well live in a bubble. And of course if a robbery or an overdose occurs while they're in there, you would tell them to do what they probably already know to do! Leave and tell staff and call 911. Are your kids six yrs old?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it will change as my DD gets older but the thought of sending her to a school with drugs, no bathroom use, and all of it is beyond worrisome. Anyone else? Is Whiteman less crazy? Or are all the publics the same. I know this is ripe for snark but I imagine many parents read this and feel sheer worry.

No. I have a kid in MCPS and know other families at other schools in the area (MCPS, Fairfax, Loudoun, Frederick). Drugs are everywhere, unfortunately; and private school won't be any different (private schools just know how to keep things hush hush). You must teach your kid to make the right decisions and to surround themselves with kids who will do the same. The reality is, the public high schools in this are are large enough that your child will find many peer groups who are a good influence. The news that kids are doing drugs in the bathrooms is a bit overinflated because that's all you hear on social media and the news. No one is talking about the majority of the kids who don't participate in this behavior. If you feel like your child will have the tendency to hang out with the "wrong" crowd and is easily influenced, then yes you should probably worry.

I went to a private high school. I never saw drugs on campus once. Never once was I afraid to go in the bathroom. My teenage boys refused to use the bathroom to school because they find them too scary. I hate that I can’t afford to send my kids to school with feel comfortable going to the bathroom. They literally don’t urinate all day long

I never saw drugs at my private high school in the 90s. Not once. A vape pen was found in our school’s bathroom and my freshman thought it was a huge deal. If there are drugs at my kid’s’ school, it’s not obvious. My kids don’t fear going to the bathroom. Our school expelled a billionaire’s son a few years ago because he had drugs on campus. The kids still talk about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it will change as my DD gets older but the thought of sending her to a school with drugs, no bathroom use, and all of it is beyond worrisome. Anyone else? Is Whiteman less crazy? Or are all the publics the same. I know this is ripe for snark but I imagine many parents read this and feel sheer worry.

No. I have a kid in MCPS and know other families at other schools in the area (MCPS, Fairfax, Loudoun, Frederick). Drugs are everywhere, unfortunately; and private school won't be any different (private schools just know how to keep things hush hush). You must teach your kid to make the right decisions and to surround themselves with kids who will do the same. The reality is, the public high schools in this are are large enough that your child will find many peer groups who are a good influence. The news that kids are doing drugs in the bathrooms is a bit overinflated because that's all you hear on social media and the news. No one is talking about the majority of the kids who don't participate in this behavior. If you feel like your child will have the tendency to hang out with the "wrong" crowd and is easily influenced, then yes you should probably worry.

I went to a private high school. I never saw drugs on campus once. Never once was I afraid to go in the bathroom. My teenage boys refused to use the bathroom to school because they find them too scary. I hate that I can’t afford to send my kids to school with feel comfortable going to the bathroom. They literally don’t urinate all day long

Well, for you, private school would probably be a better option for your boys, or you can teach them not to worry. My freshman is barely 5 ft. and goes into the bathrooms with no worry. Yes, from time to time, she sees kids vaping and isn't scared. She goes in, uses the bathroom, goes out. No need to act scared.

What, exactly, do you think you're teaching your child about life and society with this response?

Furthermore, what if the next time she walks in the bathroom, she walks in on a robbery or an overdose, both things that have happened recently in MCPS bathrooms?

Will you expect her to just "ignore that" and be nonchalant?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it will change as my DD gets older but the thought of sending her to a school with drugs, no bathroom use, and all of it is beyond worrisome. Anyone else? Is Whiteman less crazy? Or are all the publics the same. I know this is ripe for snark but I imagine many parents read this and feel sheer worry.

No. I have a kid in MCPS and know other families at other schools in the area (MCPS, Fairfax, Loudoun, Frederick). Drugs are everywhere, unfortunately; and private school won't be any different (private schools just know how to keep things hush hush). You must teach your kid to make the right decisions and to surround themselves with kids who will do the same. The reality is, the public high schools in this are are large enough that your child will find many peer groups who are a good influence. The news that kids are doing drugs in the bathrooms is a bit overinflated because that's all you hear on social media and the news. No one is talking about the majority of the kids who don't participate in this behavior. If you feel like your child will have the tendency to hang out with the "wrong" crowd and is easily influenced, then yes you should probably worry.

I went to a private high school. I never saw drugs on campus once. Never once was I afraid to go in the bathroom. My teenage boys refused to use the bathroom to school because they find them too scary. I hate that I can’t afford to send my kids to school with feel comfortable going to the bathroom. They literally don’t urinate all day long

Well, for you, private school would probably be a better option for your boys, or you can teach them not to worry. My freshman is barely 5 ft. and goes into the bathrooms with no worry. Yes, from time to time, she sees kids vaping and isn't scared. She goes in, uses the bathroom, goes out. No need to act scared.

My older DC told me those vaping kids largely ignore you unless you make a big deal out of seeing them. As a PP said, just go do your business, don't make eye contact. Ignore them.

I will say, though, that the younger DC has anxiety and doesn't like going to the bathroom by themself. Maybe they will feel less anxious as they get older, but I do agree that it's awful that some kids feel this way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it will change as my DD gets older but the thought of sending her to a school with drugs, no bathroom use, and all of it is beyond worrisome. Anyone else? Is Whiteman less crazy? Or are all the publics the same. I know this is ripe for snark but I imagine many parents read this and feel sheer worry.

No. I have a kid in MCPS and know other families at other schools in the area (MCPS, Fairfax, Loudoun, Frederick). Drugs are everywhere, unfortunately; and private school won't be any different (private schools just know how to keep things hush hush). You must teach your kid to make the right decisions and to surround themselves with kids who will do the same. The reality is, the public high schools in this are are large enough that your child will find many peer groups who are a good influence. The news that kids are doing drugs in the bathrooms is a bit overinflated because that's all you hear on social media and the news. No one is talking about the majority of the kids who don't participate in this behavior. If you feel like your child will have the tendency to hang out with the "wrong" crowd and is easily influenced, then yes you should probably worry.

I went to a private high school. I never saw drugs on campus once. Never once was I afraid to go in the bathroom. My teenage boys refused to use the bathroom to school because they find them too scary. I hate that I can’t afford to send my kids to school with feel comfortable going to the bathroom. They literally don’t urinate all day long

Well, for you, private school would probably be a better option for your boys, or you can teach them not to worry. My freshman is barely 5 ft. and goes into the bathrooms with no worry. Yes, from time to time, she sees kids vaping and isn't scared. She goes in, uses the bathroom, goes out. No need to act scared.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it will change as my DD gets older but the thought of sending her to a school with drugs, no bathroom use, and all of it is beyond worrisome. Anyone else? Is Whiteman less crazy? Or are all the publics the same. I know this is ripe for snark but I imagine many parents read this and feel sheer worry.

No. I have a kid in MCPS and know other families at other schools in the area (MCPS, Fairfax, Loudoun, Frederick). Drugs are everywhere, unfortunately; and private school won't be any different (private schools just know how to keep things hush hush). You must teach your kid to make the right decisions and to surround themselves with kids who will do the same. The reality is, the public high schools in this are are large enough that your child will find many peer groups who are a good influence. The news that kids are doing drugs in the bathrooms is a bit overinflated because that's all you hear on social media and the news. No one is talking about the majority of the kids who don't participate in this behavior. If you feel like your child will have the tendency to hang out with the "wrong" crowd and is easily influenced, then yes you should probably worry.

I went to a private high school. I never saw drugs on campus once. Never once was I afraid to go in the bathroom. My teenage boys refused to use the bathroom to school because they find them too scary. I hate that I can’t afford to send my kids to school with feel comfortable going to the bathroom. They literally don’t urinate all day long

I went to an MCPS high school and never saw them either but I guess that doesn't matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in BCC and one in s private high school. The BCC thing is way overblown. But there are drugs in every high school, and the privates are as bad as the publics.

As a mom with kids in both, that is not true. Private school bathrooms are safe. Maybe a vape or pill exchange here or there but halls don’t reek of weed, kids aren’t bullied in bathrooms, no guns on campus, no assaults under stairwells, and kids are in classes instead of skipping.

Which school is this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it will change as my DD gets older but the thought of sending her to a school with drugs, no bathroom use, and all of it is beyond worrisome. Anyone else? Is Whiteman less crazy? Or are all the publics the same. I know this is ripe for snark but I imagine many parents read this and feel sheer worry.

No. I have a kid in MCPS and know other families at other schools in the area (MCPS, Fairfax, Loudoun, Frederick). Drugs are everywhere, unfortunately; and private school won't be any different (private schools just know how to keep things hush hush). You must teach your kid to make the right decisions and to surround themselves with kids who will do the same. The reality is, the public high schools in this are are large enough that your child will find many peer groups who are a good influence. The news that kids are doing drugs in the bathrooms is a bit overinflated because that's all you hear on social media and the news. No one is talking about the majority of the kids who don't participate in this behavior. If you feel like your child will have the tendency to hang out with the "wrong" crowd and is easily influenced, then yes you should probably worry.

I went to a private high school. I never saw drugs on campus once. Never once was I afraid to go in the bathroom. My teenage boys refused to use the bathroom to school because they find them too scary. I hate that I can’t afford to send my kids to school with feel comfortable going to the bathroom. They literally don’t urinate all day long

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in BCC and one in s private high school. The BCC thing is way overblown. But there are drugs in every high school, and the privates are as bad as the publics.

Bullshit. The privates have spotless bathrooms that are not closed during school days! Kids don’t sell or use on school grounds unless they don’t care about being expelled.

Ok you must be right. Despite several private school parents, former staff, and former students confirming for you that drugs and drugs deal do in fact inhabit the buildings of the top DMV private schools and those all over the world. You must be right that drugs are not in private school. We’ll let you to continue in your naivety.

Anonymous wrote:NP here - I am a single mom and have a 5th grader boy. We are about to move and have a choice which schools to pick in MoCo. Is one "safer" from drugs than the other? I am considering Whitman, BCC and Walter Johnson clusters. Thank you for any feedback.

No, and you can’t predict how things may change from year to year.

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in BCC and one in s private high school. The BCC thing is way overblown. But there are drugs in every high school, and the privates are as bad as the publics.

Bullshit. The privates have spotless bathrooms that are not closed during school days! Kids don’t sell or use on school grounds unless they don’t care about being expelled.

Anonymous wrote:

As a mom with kids in both, that is not true. Private school bathrooms are safe. Maybe a vape or pill exchange here or there but halls don’t reek of weed, kids aren’t bullied in bathrooms, no guns on campus, no assaults under stairwells, and kids are in classes instead of skipping.

And at the private I know, the kid who recently got caught smoking on campus was suspended for multiple days.

Crazy shit happens at private schools too, but it's not going to be reported to the local newspaper or any newspaper because administration will keep it very tightly under wrap & dealt with in house.

I taught a private JK-12 school in DC for several years and vaping was a big issue back in 2015-2018 as was pot smoking on campus. We had a meeting about it because kids were vaping during class (with those little sticks that look like USB) and also in teh bathrooms. I now teach in MCPS.

During my years teaching at the private, there was a girl who showed up to a school dance so drugged up that she fell in parking lot on cement, breaking several of her teeth.

I would also like to add that private schools are less likely to expel and more likely to try to help the kid get help for their addiction. Obviously rules need to be upheld, but when it comes to addiction, doesn't the addiction & problems tied to the addiction need to addressed? If you are a child of a major donor, it's VERY very hard to be expelled.

Drug & alcohol abuse are not limited to public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. The drug problem is getting bigger in MCPS high schools and is extremely hard to fight.
It is still a minority of students though but it has become a public nuisance. The bigger problem with MCPS right now is that there is no student accountability for anything. It has become a permissive culture where students realize they are almost untouchable. Cell phone use is a bigger issue than drugs at the moment and it negatively affects way more kids but MCPS would rather not deal with it.

Then you should be glad to know that possession or distribution of a controlled substance is a criminal offense, and law enforcement, not MCPS, is charged with doling out consequences for these activities. Further, I don't think we need to establish a law enforcement division of MCPS when the police will suffice.

You did not address the teacher's concern which is that the biggest issue by far in schools today is that there's no accountability for anything. I agree and think restorative justice is the biggest culprit.

I did address their concern completely. The law already holds them accountable. It isn't the job of MCPS to dispense justice. These are matters for law enforcement and the courts and there are serious consequences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. The drug problem is getting bigger in MCPS high schools and is extremely hard to fight.
It is still a minority of students though but it has become a public nuisance. The bigger problem with MCPS right now is that there is no student accountability for anything. It has become a permissive culture where students realize they are almost untouchable. Cell phone use is a bigger issue than drugs at the moment and it negatively affects way more kids but MCPS would rather not deal with it.

Then you should be glad to know that possession or distribution of a controlled substance is a criminal offense, and law enforcement, not MCPS, is charged with doling out consequences for these activities. Further, I don't think we need to establish a law enforcement division of MCPS when the police will suffice.

You did not address the teacher's concern which is that the biggest issue by far in schools today is that there's no accountability for anything. I agree and think restorative justice is the biggest culprit.