We left Ottoson with our 8th grader (and incoming 6th grader) for an online public school because the size and layout of the building was not a good fit for my child. Her experience was directly related to the building and the sheer number of children, despite the staff's best efforts to minimize the effects. Sensitive children do not do well in this chaotic environment, and we voted with our feet. I hope something better can be designed for the future students in Arlington.
C
Claudia Donnet
10 years ago
This plan is shortsighted, likely unfeasible and, most importantly, not in the best interest of our students, for the reasons exposed above.
-Parent of a third grader attending Thompson school
K
Karen Haglund
10 years ago
I'm curious, how could they even create a schedule that works for a building this size? (Even if the building had space as a resource!) Do you know if there is a proposed schedule?
C
Carolyn Schneyer
10 years ago
Giving us the largest middle school in the state is not in the best interest of our students, especially a school that *still* would not have sufficient common spaces to fit its student body.
Whatever choice is made should be based on best educational practices. Talk to the middle school teachers and faculty. They, more than anyone, know what 6-8th graders need, and what *they* need as educators in order to provide that for our kids.
A
Andrea Pejrolo
10 years ago
It is time to start looking long term and stop just putting patches here and there in the education system. The current plan is shortsighted and will have a negative impact not only on the learning experience of our students but o the town of Arlington as a whole.
M
Mark and Rachel Marino
10 years ago
District 3, child attending Thompson elementary school
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Ari Marcovski
10 years ago
Dear comittee,
With all due respect, the best interest of our children was not effectively taken into account when Thompson was rebuilt, and it seems not enough consideration to students well-being and common sense is being used currently with plans for making our middle school fit for proper, whole-child learning. Overcrowding means reduced quality of learning, but even more importantly, compromised social-emotional well-being and development. Why is the choice to reduce green play space such a quick and welcome choice authorities are willing to make when so much research shows the utmost importance PLAY has in learning, relating, and developing in a healthy manner. I strongly object to the mindset of solving a problem with actions that not only don't solve the actual problems, but indeed exacerbate the current challanges placed on our students' proper development. WE are the customers here and we will not buy this faulty product! Our state, and country perform poorly in education despite leading the charge in funds funneled into education - clearly we are not putting our money in the right place to support real learning, and assure that our children grow up equipped to manage the complexities of our world, our relationships, and our failing environment.
I respectfully insist that progressive learning, and education experts be consulted as to the proper course of action rather than throw money at a problem without proper attention and thought. Is this the mindset we want to instill in our kids when they think about money use ? We must model proper investment in our future (i.e. our kids) by showing our kids what a true learning and well-being center looks like and feels like and means. Let's stop failing our children by cutting Gym, Art, and recess, while cramming them into cubes of poor excuses for education. Enough is enough, and I promise this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of instituting a wide-spread course-correction for the state of education
We left Ottoson with our 8th grader (and incoming 6th grader) for an online public school because the size and layout of the building was not a good fit for my child. Her experience was directly related to the building and the sheer number of children, despite the staff's best efforts to minimize the effects. Sensitive children do not do well in this chaotic environment, and we voted with our feet. I hope something better can be designed for the future students in Arlington.
This plan is shortsighted, likely unfeasible and, most importantly, not in the best interest of our students, for the reasons exposed above. -Parent of a third grader attending Thompson school
I'm curious, how could they even create a schedule that works for a building this size? (Even if the building had space as a resource!) Do you know if there is a proposed schedule?
Giving us the largest middle school in the state is not in the best interest of our students, especially a school that *still* would not have sufficient common spaces to fit its student body. Whatever choice is made should be based on best educational practices. Talk to the middle school teachers and faculty. They, more than anyone, know what 6-8th graders need, and what *they* need as educators in order to provide that for our kids.
It is time to start looking long term and stop just putting patches here and there in the education system. The current plan is shortsighted and will have a negative impact not only on the learning experience of our students but o the town of Arlington as a whole.
District 3, child attending Thompson elementary school
Dear comittee, With all due respect, the best interest of our children was not effectively taken into account when Thompson was rebuilt, and it seems not enough consideration to students well-being and common sense is being used currently with plans for making our middle school fit for proper, whole-child learning. Overcrowding means reduced quality of learning, but even more importantly, compromised social-emotional well-being and development. Why is the choice to reduce green play space such a quick and welcome choice authorities are willing to make when so much research shows the utmost importance PLAY has in learning, relating, and developing in a healthy manner. I strongly object to the mindset of solving a problem with actions that not only don't solve the actual problems, but indeed exacerbate the current challanges placed on our students' proper development. WE are the customers here and we will not buy this faulty product! Our state, and country perform poorly in education despite leading the charge in funds funneled into education - clearly we are not putting our money in the right place to support real learning, and assure that our children grow up equipped to manage the complexities of our world, our relationships, and our failing environment. I respectfully insist that progressive learning, and education experts be consulted as to the proper course of action rather than throw money at a problem without proper attention and thought. Is this the mindset we want to instill in our kids when they think about money use ? We must model proper investment in our future (i.e. our kids) by showing our kids what a true learning and well-being center looks like and feels like and means. Let's stop failing our children by cutting Gym, Art, and recess, while cramming them into cubes of poor excuses for education. Enough is enough, and I promise this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of instituting a wide-spread course-correction for the state of education
Our town can do better than this option!