LOVERS Ln
Westover, MD 21871

They put my kid in a headlock and said that they had to control the situation but like that never again

I am not happy as a parent. I was excited about this school and strategically picked a place to live so that my child could enroll at Forwood. However, it has not been a positive experience. The first day of school, he told me that he hated it because the children were mean to him. He has been bullied on punched on by kids who ride his bus. My son didn't have a teacher for the first two months of school. They just got a permanent teacher. So, in short, the children were running amuck and there appears to be a lack of control in the classroom. My son also is in 5th grade and has developed a whole new vocabulary of disgusting words and concepts that he has learned from this school (e.g., sexual gestures, words and concepts). It is very disturbing to say the least. I regret my decision to move in this school district. Now, I am researching switching schools because of the experience. It's not welcoming at all from a diversity, inclusion and belonging point-of-view. Furthermore, there is no support structures in place for children who need it. I didn't have this experience at Mount Pleasant Elementary. They had support in place when my son attended that school -- and it helped him to transition. I guess that Brandywine schools are going downhill because they are losing a lot of good students to charter school programs. Thankfully my son only has one more year -- I'm going to try to choice him into Newark Charter, Conrad or Odyssey. But again, this has been a terrible experience. I wonder if Talley Middle School reads these reviews? I received paperwork from them to consider enrolling, but I'm not trying to have my son follow these students into that school. Also, my son comments that the students are behind. Like, they are struggling with basic information. Even worse, he gets bullied and reports that his work gets stolen away from him, copied and the teachers don't do anything about it. How are children learning by not doing the work? I'm telling you that if you care about your child's academic progress and their social/emotional well being, evaluate your options and reconsider sending them to this school. Because had I read a review such as this, I might have moved somewhere else. I guess that, on the bright side, you can always roll the dice and choice your child into Claymont. But do I really have to do this? Shouldn't they just get it right? ***Nothing further follows***

Talley is a great school. It’s just sometimes I feel like most staff doesn’t give us students a break. I think the rules are ridiculous. Not being able to eat in class is pretty dumb. If I kid hasn’t ate anything all day, You’re saying they aren’t allowed to eat? That’s just a dumb rule. The cursing rule is dumb. My parents let me curse but only around my friends. I NEVER curse around any staff in the building. I respect the staff for what they do and treat with the most of respect. Now if you curse AT an adult, Then yeah you should be suspended. But if you’re cursing around your FRIENDS then you shouldn’t be suspended. Everyone curses at this school and you can’t punish just one kid for it. The cell phone rule is dumb. I mean we can have our chromebooks but we can’t have any other electronics? Other than that, the school seems fine. I’m in 8th grade and about to finish my years at this middle school. It’s really sad because i’ve made so many friends and so many memories at this school. And it’s almost time to say goodbye for now to all those friends and memories.