John Hanson Middle School

[chrissyhh]

I have a friend that is moving to the area this summer, and she has a child that will go to John Hanson in Waldorf, if she does not put him in private school. Does anyone have any comments on the school good or bad? Thanks for all input.

[CMC122]

Originally Posted by TWL's wife

I went there for middle school. It was a very good school. Great teacher that love to teach there & care about their students.

I think she wants a more current update on the school

[RoseRed (Premo)]

Originally Posted by TWL's wife

I went there for middle school. It was a very good school. Great teacher that love to teach there & care about their students.

Perhaps than a one teacher review would be good too.

[Dymphna]

Ok, I can't really give a current assessment either, but...

When the school was built, it was designed as an "open school" which is a liberal hippy way of doing things, where the idea is the kids are in small groups in a big open room. The idea was that kids could be easily moved from one group to another, in order to let the kids move up at their own rate. But as soon as they built it, they realized that the noise level was too destracting for students, so they put up partitions and cabinetry to break the space up into more traditional classrooms. But last I knew (15 years ago) there were no doors, there were "pods" of four classrooms open onto a central hallway.

I used to be a substitute teacher in both "open" "closed" and open schools that they tried to close off (including Hanson) My observation was that the more open, the more destractions and the more behavior problems. No matter how wonderful the teachers are. So unless they've renovated (I'm sure a little tour can be arranged) I wouldn't send a child there who is easily distracted, if there is another choice.

[Elle]

Originally Posted by TWL's wife

Ms. Peningtion - gym Is was a cool teacher.

There you go, it must be a great school, we all know gym is the most improtant subject

[crabcake]

Originally Posted by Elle

There you go, it must be a great school, we all know gym is the most improtant subject

it was the only "class" where I could easily duck out and go grab a smoke.

[chrissyhh]

I appreciate all of your responese. Does anyone have a child currently enrolled there? Also are there a lot if disipline problems, drugs, violence, that sort of stuff.

[Blondie76]

Originally Posted by chrissyhh

I appreciate all of your responese. Does anyone have a child currently enrolled there? Also are there a lot if disipline problems, drugs, violence, that sort of stuff.

My mom substitutes there...she has told me some stories that would make me want to pull my hair out if I was working there. Most of the kids are extremely disrespectful to the teachers, but there are a few kids that want to be there to learn. I don't think it really matters what school your child is in...it's probably the same in every school. I think the classrooms are probably over crowded (but what school isn't) so there isn't much individual attention for each student. I'm sure your friend can go and have a tour of the school...hopefully during classes and maybe she could decide for herself.

[FastCarsSpeed]

Originally Posted by Blondie76

My mom substitutes there...she has told me some stories that would make me want to pull my hair out if I was working there. Most of the kids are extremely disrespectful to the teachers, but there are a few kids that want to be there to learn. I don't think it really matters what school your child is in...it's probably the same in every school. I think the classrooms are probably over crowded (but what school isn't) so there isn't much individual attention for each student. I'm sure your friend can go and have a tour of the school...hopefully during classes and maybe she could decide for herself.

My 3 nephews have gone there with the youngest currently there now. It is a pretty decent school.. All of my nephews are honors students and very good students. But as with anything its how much the parents are involved with the kids.