Berkeley Parents Network: About Piedmont Schools

Berkeley Parents Network

About Piedmont Schools

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Piedmont Public Schools > About Piedmont Schools

Instruction in Piedmont Schools
General comments about various schools
Moving to Piedmont for the schools

Instruction in Piedmont Schools

Feb 2007

We're considering a move to Piedmont for the schools. Can any current Piedmont parent or teacher give me a sense of the instruction there--how textbook-based? how test-driven? how creative are the teachers in their instruction? do students sit in rows or have a chance to work in groups? do students do projects or primarily pencil-and-paper tasks (or both)? how much pressure is there to excel/acheive?
Prospective Kindergarten parent

I have 2 daughters, one graduated from PHS in '05, the other will be a '08 grad. We moved from Oakland when they were going into 2nd and 5th grades, so I don't have first-hand experience with K&1, but I think K-3 are much better at collaborative, creative teaching and learning than the later grades. PUSD has a pretty traditional, college-oriented educational philosophy. Our experience is that, while there is variation throughout the district, there is a strong texbook-based, traditional teaching style. Students generally sit in rows. There is ample opportunity for students to work in groups. The district did modify its grade-by-grade teaching plan to accommodate STAR expectations. There is a fair amount of pressure for students to excel and achieve, but it doesn't mean all students buy into the game. slm

I'm pretty relieved about the curriculum for my Kindergartener at Beach School in Piedmont this year. I've volunteered in the classroom a bit, so I've had a chance to watch. The kids sit in groups, have circle time, and have centers where they play games that also teach something. They do not sit in rows. There are parent volunteers in our class (at least one, often two or three)for about 45 minutes to an hour each day. My son has homework every day - not an inordinate amount - and not rigidly enforced, but enthusiastically encouraged. We've had several projects to do at home (i.e. decorate a book box, group 100 items by 5s or 10s, write the names of their classmates on their valentines and know how to read them, etc.). There is more work this year than I've heard was required last year - I guess the result of new state curriculum (''no child left behind'' requirements?). I think the two Kindergarten teachers at Beach are amazing. The kids are having a blast while they are learning. The teachers integrate several subjects at the same time - so while they are doing a cooking project, they teach a bit of math, a bit of reading, a bit of science. Circle time is an amazing demonstration of virtuosity and fluidity - teaching new concepts from several disciplines at the same time they are going over simple reading lessons. The kids seem engaged - they don't look bored. The teachers sure don't have the discipline problems I imagined they'd have with these little ones having to pay attention.

I don't know if the upper grades are just as good. I've not seen those teachers first hand, but I've been hearing positive reviews from the parents I know. Concerning whether they sit in rows? From what I can see as I walk down the halls, it looks like the kids in other grades work in groups sometimes, and sit at desks other times. I'll be interested to see what replies you get. kimberly Moses

I notice a recurring theme on this list--many people want the inside scoop on Piedmont (and other) schools. I understand people's anxiety about school and their own children, however, many of these questions are not truly answerable. (I also get the feeling that people really want their move to an expensive, privileged, exclusive community or private school validated.) However, since I have direct experience with Piedmont schools, here is what I have to say in response to your questions.

How textbook-based? IT DEPENDS.
How test-driven? IT DEPENDS.
How creative are the teachers in their instruction? IT DEPENDS.
Do students sit in rows or have a chance to work in groups? IT DEPENDS.
Do students do projects or primarily pencil-and-paper tasks (or both)?
IT DEPENDS.
How much pressure is there to excel/acheive? IT DEPENDS.

You see, your child will be in 13 different grades if you move there for K-12. From 6th grade on, your child will have about 6-7 different teachers a year. Your child will be mostly safe (from a crime standpoint), your child will be surrounded by many children with fantastic advantages, and your child will be lucky enough to be in a system where parents generously supplement a budget that is not adequately funded by the state. However, your child will still be in school. Think back to when you were in school. There were probably good teachers and bad, good years and bad, interesting and not-so-interesting projects, nice kids and ones you'd rather not be around. Did you survive? My guess is yes. If your child goes to school in Piedmont, or anywhere, and goes on to college, your child will go to school with a new group of kids who all managed to make it there whether they were from even ''better''' places than Piedmont (!), or, more incredibly...places that are not thought of as highly. Kids have good and bad experiences in all kinds of schools. Sometimes you just have to wait and actually experience something to find out how it's all going to go. Some kids love Piedmont, and some hate it, and, this same phenomenon happens all over, in many, many schools and districts. -sick of the school panic

The level of instruction at Piedmont schools is varying, just like any other school system. The principals of each school strongly influence who gets hired/not hired for that specific school's teaching staff. Some principals are more intelligent than others. We moved to Piedmont when both our children were toddlers, and they went through the PUSD from K through high school. The younger one left to attend a private school after 9th grade. The type of student your child develops into is not the outcome of the level of instruction. I loved the fact that the PUSD retained their kindergartens as developmentally oriented, not academic. There were ''academic'' type of activities, but it was sugar-coated and very nice for the children. The school system is very supportive of their students. The child's family is the biggest influence of how well they do in school, not the level of instruction. Our kids would've done well at any school----they have parents who are actively involved in their school, interested in their lives and welfare, and provide a strong support system at home. Piedmont families are traditionally of that type. The child that opted out after 9th grade (he's very academic, but a non- pressure-seeker) attends Maybeck in Berkeley and is very content. He gets more personal attention, more teacher time/support, more hours of homework and is more qualified for college work now, as a junior, than his elder sibling was at graduation. We also pay a private school tuition. The level of instruction at Piedmont is generally very good, but people who go into teaching anywhere are dedicated. It's very hard work. Parents are people; teachers are people. There were teachers who drove me up the wall who were regarded as splendid by other parents, and vice versa. Piedmont schools have more parental support than other communities. Other schools' parents claim they have to work and that's why they're not more active. That's not true. In Piedmont, the parents who are taking time off work to help in their kids' schools often have very demanding careers----executives , doctors , lawyers , professors, etc---moms as well as dads. Their children learn about time management and success from their home, not from school instruction. Piedmont parents provide a broad suport network (monetary and with their own labor) to fill the enormous gap between state funding and the costs of running a decent school system. Piedmont has parents that are truly dedicated to their children and back it up with actions, not words. Piedmont resident

General comments about various schools

Sept 2006

My three kids (all boys) have gone to Piedmont schools for about ten years; our 8th grader has spent his middle school years at Black Pine Circle,one has just left Havens Elem for the middle school, and one is a sophmore at the high school. While Piedmont isn't as diverse as other surrounding areas, it works hard to ensure that all folks are very comfortable. I won't repeat anything said here by GLBT folks or people of color, but when I ran the Cub Scout program in town (we were the first Council in the country to renounce the national org's membership policy), I remember doing a head-count of the demographics of the pack at Havens Elem--the school that covers many of the more expensive homes in town. 27% were non-white--admittedly, mostly Asian-American or bi-racial/bi-ethnic. And as is the case with huge portions of the East Bay's high schoolers, it's impossible to tell the ethnic background of many of the students, if you thought that was a good use of time. My son who looks like his dark-skinned German grandfather is sometimes asked by kids at school if he's part Latino--perfectly plausible in this town, and he gets a chuckle out of it.
Maureen

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