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Children In Loudoun Schools

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by gryphon, Oct 3, 2007.

  1. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Thanks Cindyb! I for one am very appreciative for all the hard work I see being done by my daughter's teachers and the staff at her school, Hillside Elementary. The same goes for all the other teachers we know around our neighborhood. Rest assured that the hard work you all do day in, day out is not going unnoticed, at least by our family.
     
  2. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    my son has been in both the public and private Loudoun schools- and I can honestly say I have been pleased with both. Hillside has been a fantastic experience for my son and I think the teachers have done a wonderful job. as for homeschooling- can't see it working for ME personally- time apart from each other, interaction with other authority figures, and the team building exercises my son gets at school are all VERY important for well rounded development, and i don't think i could provide ANY of that by home schooling.

    plus, my algebra sucks... and i HATE chemistry...
     
  3. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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  4. gryphon

    gryphon Banned User

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    Thanks for sharing, Lee. I wonder why we have heard all of the pollyanna-style platitudes about the government school system, but nobody cared to share the stories about what these poor special ed children are forced to endure.

    I would not trust the government to take care of my worst enemy, much less my beloved offpsring.
     
  5. Pats_fan

    Pats_fan Former Resident

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    Yeah, gryphon, and home schoolers are much more equipped to deal with special education issues. Right.

    Seriously, gryphon, no one else seems to have told you this, so I will--something has happened to your body such that your "internal dialogue" is not properly functioning (think of the "pee scene" in Austin Powers). That's the only explanation I can come up with for how you can so callously insult the parenting skills, judgment and who-knows-what-else of the 90+% of your neighbors who send their children to public schools, and the large number of them who also work for the public school system which you so effortlessly denigrate.

    It's no wonder you didn't show up to the happy hour (I believe you said you were interested in doing so)--your spineless self would rather hide behind the anonymity of these boards rather than say these things to your neighbors' faces.
     
    1 person likes this.
  6. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Lee, how VERY Gryphon of you to post something of this nature deriding the special ed program in LoCo.
    Is there ONE word in the article that says the program is failing? All it says it that special ed needs to be expanded to meet the needs of a smaller sub-set of special-ed children.

    I would imagine that the children bused to Fairfax were due to a numbers game. I bet that Loudoun did not have enough students years ago to justify adding the additional services, but now that we have grown significantly in the past few years, it is time to re-examine busing.

    You do understand supply-and-demand in your business don't you? ;)
     
  7. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Lee.. did you miss the title of the article 'EXPANDED'. This is about expanding the services they already do offer. Notice how they are willing to spend 60+k PER CHILD to meet their needs now. I think that alone shows the distance the county is willing to go to ensure a child has the help they need. Is it ideal? Not currently according to this article for this specific group of kids, but its certainly more then they would be getting WITHOUT LC Schools.

    As someone who has had to pay for private therapists and did have to fight for the coverage we do get with LCS (the wife gets that credit) I can tell you I'm more then happy to get the 'inept government's' help providing for my child's needs.
     
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  8. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Seriously, why don't you move to the northwest or California and form your own commune where you can ahh, ummm, preach, (yeah, thats the word I can use without you crying to the Admins) your unique slant on life.

    For as much as you complain about the "right-wing extremists", what you spout makes you so far left, it makes birkenstock wearers wanna switch to Prada's and trade in their granola for a beefsteak!
     
  9. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Lee and Gryphon seem to be able to read only certain words to justify their rants. Funny what happens when one reads the WHOLE article.
     
  10. cindyb

    cindyb New Member

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    Lee, that population is a VERY small portion of the population of children with special needs that receive services from Loudoun County. Is it not wise for a company to continually evaluate their services to decide if what they are offering is in the best intrest of their clients? That's pretty much what the school district is doing.
     
  11. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Loudoun County Public Schools are nationally recognized for their special needs programs. I know of a family here in Broadlands that moved here specifically for that reason. I'm guessing that there are many more that do the same. Hence the difficulty in expanding the program.

    Gryphon-
    Why haven't you parsed my post? I'm feeling left out!
    Would you like me to share some of my private school and home school horror stories? By your terms, I will then be qualified to condemn both everywhere.
    Would you like me to list all of your direct NEIGHBORS, on your street and the one next, that I know work for, are involved in, and support our public schools? Or I guess you are referring to your "other" neighbors that tell you all the "horror" stories.
     
  12. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    Oh brother I knew this thread should of been closed and eliminated.

    Lee j
     
  13. Baywatch68

    Baywatch68 New Member

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    Actually I think this is the type of thread that needs to be kept open. It shows people for who they really are.
     
  14. tiff78

    tiff78 Broadlands Resident

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    I think that if homeschooling works for you and your child, go for it. However, I do not see a problem with public schools (I've even heard some wonderful things about LC public schools, a main reason for not moving). There are so many wonderful aspects to both. Our children's education should be a combined effort of both the teachers and the parents. When the kids come home, it is my responsibility to help them with homework (whether that means checking their work, helping them with problems, reinforcing what they learned that day, even checking the quality of their work). If I see a problem with my child's education, it is my responsibility to speak with the school or teacher.

    That being said, not all teachers are the same... some teachers shouldn't be teaching, while others are so wonderful you wish they could teach every grade! Many thanks to all those hard working teachers!

    Also not every parent is cut out for homeschooling. I know my sisters are not... they barely made it through high school themselves.
     
  15. foodie

    foodie New Member

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    Each family does what is right for their particular circumstances--be it private, public, religious, or homeschooling their children. Yes, our quads goes to private school. For our own family, that is what we chose. Also, our twins will attend the same school as well any other children if we have any more children in the future.

    Loudoun County Schools are good and well-renowned for their "high marks" in educational circles. Homeschooling does not "fracture" a child's educational needs, social circles, or any other educational goals. The parents that homeschool that we know provides an excellent education as does LCPS and other private institutions. There are so many opportunities that homeschooling parents can offer their kids.

    The homeschooling movement has empowered parents and kids (be it for religious or other reasons) to enable their kids to have the freedom to learn at their own pace and advance academically as well as take AP courses. There have been numerous examples of excellent private and homeschool studies that shows that students have success in all areas. Public schools work as good as the administration, teachers, parents, and students themselves are involved.

    As far as Special Needs, there are ways for homeschool, private school students, religious students, and public school students to get an excellent education no matter what their needs may be. If you care to research--check out what an IEP (Individual Education Program) and an ISP (Individual Special Program) are about. There are ways to circumvent the "establishment" if needed for your kids. Be it for Special Needs or other educational needs.

    So it is up to the parents, students, and teachers to make a team effort to do what is best for the student themselves. Sometimes parents will homeschool if their child is not receiving what they need (be it for Special Needs or other educational reasons). In this area (metro DC, VA, and MD) there are great support groups for homeschoolers and other educational resources.

    Have a good night--:)

    Foodie
     
  16. Dkukrer

    Dkukrer New Member

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    CindyB - Thank you for your post, and like Linux I would like to thank you. I have a child in the special needs education in LoCo and I have been very happy with how things have been so far. I have seen improvement in my child since he has started with the school.

    I do agree that instead of bashing our school system, we should try to improve it, especially if we see faults by including positive ideas and feedback.. providing solutions, not just constant negative criticism.
     
  17. jdhauer

    jdhauer Active Member

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    Mrs. Smith gave public comment about this issue at the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) meeting this past Monday night. It was noted that these services are paid for under the Comprehensive Services Act and not Loudoun County Public Schools. It was also noted that every student placed outside of the county has been placed with parental consent.

    If anyone is interested in learning more about special education in the county, I highly recommend attending a SEAC meeting. The next meeting will be on Monday, November 5 at 7 pm in room 102 at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building right here in Broadlands. The topic for next month's meeting will be inclusion. These meetings are open to the public and I highly encourage parents of special needs children and interested members of the community to attend.
     
  18. Twriter

    Twriter Get a Mac!

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    Gryphon...
    In several posts you mentioned your reason for not putting your kids in public school was because of "government indoctrination". Can you explain what you mean by this? What specific indoctrination is occuring and how are you aware of it?

    My three kids are in LCPS (grades 8 through 12) and my wife works in an LCPS elementary school. I am not aware of any indoctrination.

    I know a major reason some people homeschool is because the schools do not incorporate religion into their education. Is that your real reason?

    --- John B.
     
  19. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Of course you aren't.. because you are one of them!!! <sarcasm off> ;)
     
  20. Baywatch68

    Baywatch68 New Member

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    :clap::happylaugh:
     

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