APS School Board candidates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chen is right on phones and has a reasonable position. Teachers want them out of classrooms. Fairfax has a policy about it now. Most major media outlets talking about it now too.

+100
These people just don't like him, don't want to like him, and are just harassing him at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a third graders and a preK but he thinks he's some sort of expert on middle school kids with phones!!! hahahahahah

Why are you just tearing people down? Chen's at least making constructive suggestions, especially on this topic where everyone is either on the ban all phones side or the allow all phones anytime side.
If you're so much of an expert, what is your suggestion?

I didn't even hear about this election, but now I'm going to vote for Chen. He's at least willing to put his real name here, provide new ideas, and calmly respond to everyone.

Uh no. How old are your kids? Are they even in school yet?

DP who agrees with PP. And my kids are graduated from APS and a junior in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a third graders and a preK but he thinks he's some sort of expert on middle school kids with phones!!! hahahahahah

Why are you just tearing people down? Chen's at least making constructive suggestions, especially on this topic where everyone is either on the ban all phones side or the allow all phones anytime side.
If you're so much of an expert, what is your suggestion?

I didn't even hear about this election, but now I'm going to vote for Chen. He's at least willing to put his real name here, provide new ideas, and calmly respond to everyone.

Chen is on the ban all phones side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ChenLing wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chen Ling is commenting on Facebook now. His comments are very naive.

Commenting where? Please give an example of how he's naive.

Although his kids appear to be preschool/early elementary, he said, on a thread about cell phones, that when his kids are teenagers they won't be addicted to screens because he will make sure they only have flip phones

A parent of young kids telling parents of teenagers how to parent teenagers is second only to non-parents telling parents how to parent in terms of naivete--or maybe its worse, because if you are a parent, you should know what you don't know

Only naivete there, if he's a strong parent who actually adheres to his values and rules instead of caving like most, is assuming flip phones will still be available when his kids are teens. One can only hope that limited-capability phones do indeed become more popular over the next several years !

OK--I still think its a red flag. As a parent of boys, I would never give a girl mom advice on raising girls based on what I think I would do. I know how far I can apply my own experience and when I should listen to others. And since we're talking about someone who wants to be a politician, it matters that he's weighing in on things he hasn't experienced and doesn't have the awareness to recognize that he's not going to be able to dictate what his own kids do, let alone the actions of an entire school system.

My comments were based on the following:
1. Phones in schools have been causing problems.
2. This includes interruptions based on the high number of notifications: https://www.edweek.org/technology/students-get-hundreds-of-notifications-on-their-phones-every-day-even-at-school/2023/09)
3. Research is showing more and more that social media use seems to be harmful to early teens: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
4. Some kids need to be able to contact their parent or caregiver

#1-3 has generated a lot of no-phone-whatsoever-in-schools.
I was trying to recommend a compromise (flip phones or the Light Phone) that can accommodate #4.
There are some inexpensive phones and plans for non-smartphones. The kids can use whatever outside of school, subject to what their parents want.

Chen is just digging in. This makes me like him even less. He doesn't get it at all. Who does he think he is to make a recommendation when he has not even gone through this himself with his own kids? Chen, get back to us when you have some lived experience when your own children actually get to this age.

+1

Or at least have some humility to admit you don’t really know.

Right, I want someone who will actually listen to parents who live this, not think they have all the answers and make policies based on their own ego.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ChenLing wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chen Ling is commenting on Facebook now. His comments are very naive.

Commenting where? Please give an example of how he's naive.

Although his kids appear to be preschool/early elementary, he said, on a thread about cell phones, that when his kids are teenagers they won't be addicted to screens because he will make sure they only have flip phones

A parent of young kids telling parents of teenagers how to parent teenagers is second only to non-parents telling parents how to parent in terms of naivete--or maybe its worse, because if you are a parent, you should know what you don't know

Only naivete there, if he's a strong parent who actually adheres to his values and rules instead of caving like most, is assuming flip phones will still be available when his kids are teens. One can only hope that limited-capability phones do indeed become more popular over the next several years !

OK--I still think its a red flag. As a parent of boys, I would never give a girl mom advice on raising girls based on what I think I would do. I know how far I can apply my own experience and when I should listen to others. And since we're talking about someone who wants to be a politician, it matters that he's weighing in on things he hasn't experienced and doesn't have the awareness to recognize that he's not going to be able to dictate what his own kids do, let alone the actions of an entire school system.

My comments were based on the following:
1. Phones in schools have been causing problems.
2. This includes interruptions based on the high number of notifications: https://www.edweek.org/technology/students-get-hundreds-of-notifications-on-their-phones-every-day-even-at-school/2023/09)
3. Research is showing more and more that social media use seems to be harmful to early teens: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
4. Some kids need to be able to contact their parent or caregiver

#1-3 has generated a lot of no-phone-whatsoever-in-schools.
I was trying to recommend a compromise (flip phones or the Light Phone) that can accommodate #4.
There are some inexpensive phones and plans for non-smartphones. The kids can use whatever outside of school, subject to what their parents want.

Chen is just digging in. This makes me like him even less. He doesn't get it at all. Who does he think he is to make a recommendation when he has not even gone through this himself with his own kids? Chen, get back to us when you have some lived experience when your own children actually get to this age.

+1

Or at least have some humility to admit you don’t really know.

Right, I want someone who will actually listen to parents who live this, not think they have all the answers and make policies based on their own ego.

I’m pretty sure we have heard time and time again from TEACHERS on this subject …and they all say they need the phones out of the classroom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a third graders and a preK but he thinks he's some sort of expert on middle school kids with phones!!! hahahahahah

Why are you just tearing people down? Chen's at least making constructive suggestions, especially on this topic where everyone is either on the ban all phones side or the allow all phones anytime side.
If you're so much of an expert, what is your suggestion?

I didn't even hear about this election, but now I'm going to vote for Chen. He's at least willing to put his real name here, provide new ideas, and calmly respond to everyone.

Chen is on the ban all phones side.

He literally says above he wants a compromise because some parents need to be able to contact their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a third graders and a preK but he thinks he's some sort of expert on middle school kids with phones!!! hahahahahah

Why are you just tearing people down? Chen's at least making constructive suggestions, especially on this topic where everyone is either on the ban all phones side or the allow all phones anytime side.
If you're so much of an expert, what is your suggestion?

I didn't even hear about this election, but now I'm going to vote for Chen. He's at least willing to put his real name here, provide new ideas, and calmly respond to everyone.

Uh no. How old are your kids? Are they even in school yet?

DP who agrees with PP. And my kids are graduated from APS and a junior in high school.

You think those are the only two options or positions?

[ChenLing]

Video from last night's candidate forum, hosted by Arlington Young Democrats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-aR5tOiyw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ChenLing wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chen Ling is commenting on Facebook now. His comments are very naive.

Commenting where? Please give an example of how he's naive.

Although his kids appear to be preschool/early elementary, he said, on a thread about cell phones, that when his kids are teenagers they won't be addicted to screens because he will make sure they only have flip phones

A parent of young kids telling parents of teenagers how to parent teenagers is second only to non-parents telling parents how to parent in terms of naivete--or maybe its worse, because if you are a parent, you should know what you don't know

Only naivete there, if he's a strong parent who actually adheres to his values and rules instead of caving like most, is assuming flip phones will still be available when his kids are teens. One can only hope that limited-capability phones do indeed become more popular over the next several years !

OK--I still think its a red flag. As a parent of boys, I would never give a girl mom advice on raising girls based on what I think I would do. I know how far I can apply my own experience and when I should listen to others. And since we're talking about someone who wants to be a politician, it matters that he's weighing in on things he hasn't experienced and doesn't have the awareness to recognize that he's not going to be able to dictate what his own kids do, let alone the actions of an entire school system.

My comments were based on the following:
1. Phones in schools have been causing problems.
2. This includes interruptions based on the high number of notifications: https://www.edweek.org/technology/students-get-hundreds-of-notifications-on-their-phones-every-day-even-at-school/2023/09)
3. Research is showing more and more that social media use seems to be harmful to early teens: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
4. Some kids need to be able to contact their parent or caregiver

#1-3 has generated a lot of no-phone-whatsoever-in-schools.
I was trying to recommend a compromise (flip phones or the Light Phone) that can accommodate #4.
There are some inexpensive phones and plans for non-smartphones. The kids can use whatever outside of school, subject to what their parents want.

Chen is just digging in. This makes me like him even less. He doesn't get it at all. Who does he think he is to make a recommendation when he has not even gone through this himself with his own kids? Chen, get back to us when you have some lived experience when your own children actually get to this age.

+1

Or at least have some humility to admit you don’t really know.

Right, I want someone who will actually listen to parents who live this, not think they have all the answers and make policies based on their own ego.

I’m pretty sure we have heard time and time again from TEACHERS on this subject …and they all say they need the phones out of the classroom!

+100!!
Parents give kip service to teacher needs and teacher support; but when it's inconvenient for them personally (ie, I can't text johnny anytime I want), it doesn't matter what teachers say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has a third graders and a preK but he thinks he's some sort of expert on middle school kids with phones!!! hahahahahah

Why are you just tearing people down? Chen's at least making constructive suggestions, especially on this topic where everyone is either on the ban all phones side or the allow all phones anytime side.
If you're so much of an expert, what is your suggestion?

I didn't even hear about this election, but now I'm going to vote for Chen. He's at least willing to put his real name here, provide new ideas, and calmly respond to everyone.

Uh no. How old are your kids? Are they even in school yet?

DP who agrees with PP. And my kids are graduated from APS and a junior in high school.

You think those are the only two options or positions?

No - and Chen's position seems to reflect that as well, stating kids can use their phones outside of class.
Personally, I think they should be banned during school hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ChenLing wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chen Ling is commenting on Facebook now. His comments are very naive.

Commenting where? Please give an example of how he's naive.

Although his kids appear to be preschool/early elementary, he said, on a thread about cell phones, that when his kids are teenagers they won't be addicted to screens because he will make sure they only have flip phones

A parent of young kids telling parents of teenagers how to parent teenagers is second only to non-parents telling parents how to parent in terms of naivete--or maybe its worse, because if you are a parent, you should know what you don't know

Only naivete there, if he's a strong parent who actually adheres to his values and rules instead of caving like most, is assuming flip phones will still be available when his kids are teens. One can only hope that limited-capability phones do indeed become more popular over the next several years !

OK--I still think its a red flag. As a parent of boys, I would never give a girl mom advice on raising girls based on what I think I would do. I know how far I can apply my own experience and when I should listen to others. And since we're talking about someone who wants to be a politician, it matters that he's weighing in on things he hasn't experienced and doesn't have the awareness to recognize that he's not going to be able to dictate what his own kids do, let alone the actions of an entire school system.

My comments were based on the following:
1. Phones in schools have been causing problems.
2. This includes interruptions based on the high number of notifications: https://www.edweek.org/technology/students-get-hundreds-of-notifications-on-their-phones-every-day-even-at-school/2023/09)
3. Research is showing more and more that social media use seems to be harmful to early teens: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
4. Some kids need to be able to contact their parent or caregiver

#1-3 has generated a lot of no-phone-whatsoever-in-schools.
I was trying to recommend a compromise (flip phones or the Light Phone) that can accommodate #4.
There are some inexpensive phones and plans for non-smartphones. The kids can use whatever outside of school, subject to what their parents want.

Chen is just digging in. This makes me like him even less. He doesn't get it at all. Who does he think he is to make a recommendation when he has not even gone through this himself with his own kids? Chen, get back to us when you have some lived experience when your own children actually get to this age.

+1

Or at least have some humility to admit you don’t really know.

Right, I want someone who will actually listen to parents who live this, not think they have all the answers and make policies based on their own ego.

I’m pretty sure we have heard time and time again from TEACHERS on this subject …and they all say they need the phones out of the classroom!

+100!!
Parents give kip service to teacher needs and teacher support; but when it's inconvenient for them personally (ie, I can't text johnny anytime I want), it doesn't matter what teachers say.

Larry Fishtahler had an interesting note about this: In the NAACP forum he shared that in his Science classes (I forget if it was physics or environmental science), he had students take pictures of the agenda on the board so they could reference it and share it with their parents. He also said that some of his fellow teachers straight up banned them. I think he was cautioning a "one size fits all" policy but he did specifically say that teachers who want to ban phones in the classroom should be given full support by the admin. Does Kathleen Clark have an opinion on this? I feel like she could go either way on cell phones.

[Anonymous]

ChenLing wrote:Video from last night's candidate forum, hosted by Arlington Young Democrats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-aR5tOiyw

I appreciate speaking about not having enough SPED support and expecting teachers to figure it out. My child went 6 months without a SPED teacher. It was awful...awful for the teacher who tried their best to help our child while supporting 25 kids in a class and terrible for our child who was lost in a class of 25 kids without support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

ChenLing wrote:Video from last night's candidate forum, hosted by Arlington Young Democrats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-aR5tOiyw

I appreciate speaking about not having enough SPED support and expecting teachers to figure it out. My child went 6 months without a SPED teacher. It was awful...awful for the teacher who tried their best to help our child while supporting 25 kids in a class and terrible for our child who was lost in a class of 25 kids without support.

Terrible.

Both Kathleen and Larry were talking about how when they were in special education classrooms the resources they were promised or that were said to have been delivered were not actually there. There is definitely a disconnect between the classroom and the administration and its so tough on the teachers and the students. What makes me mad is that teachers understand that students learn differently and want to provide that tailored learning relationship but with rising class sizes it becomes less about teaching and more about management.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ChenLing wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chen Ling is commenting on Facebook now. His comments are very naive.

Commenting where? Please give an example of how he's naive.

Although his kids appear to be preschool/early elementary, he said, on a thread about cell phones, that when his kids are teenagers they won't be addicted to screens because he will make sure they only have flip phones

A parent of young kids telling parents of teenagers how to parent teenagers is second only to non-parents telling parents how to parent in terms of naivete--or maybe its worse, because if you are a parent, you should know what you don't know

Only naivete there, if he's a strong parent who actually adheres to his values and rules instead of caving like most, is assuming flip phones will still be available when his kids are teens. One can only hope that limited-capability phones do indeed become more popular over the next several years !

OK--I still think its a red flag. As a parent of boys, I would never give a girl mom advice on raising girls based on what I think I would do. I know how far I can apply my own experience and when I should listen to others. And since we're talking about someone who wants to be a politician, it matters that he's weighing in on things he hasn't experienced and doesn't have the awareness to recognize that he's not going to be able to dictate what his own kids do, let alone the actions of an entire school system.

My comments were based on the following:
1. Phones in schools have been causing problems.
2. This includes interruptions based on the high number of notifications: https://www.edweek.org/technology/students-get-hundreds-of-notifications-on-their-phones-every-day-even-at-school/2023/09)
3. Research is showing more and more that social media use seems to be harmful to early teens: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
4. Some kids need to be able to contact their parent or caregiver

#1-3 has generated a lot of no-phone-whatsoever-in-schools.
I was trying to recommend a compromise (flip phones or the Light Phone) that can accommodate #4.
There are some inexpensive phones and plans for non-smartphones. The kids can use whatever outside of school, subject to what their parents want.

Chen is just digging in. This makes me like him even less. He doesn't get it at all. Who does he think he is to make a recommendation when he has not even gone through this himself with his own kids? Chen, get back to us when you have some lived experience when your own children actually get to this age.

+1

Or at least have some humility to admit you don’t really know.

Right, I want someone who will actually listen to parents who live this, not think they have all the answers and make policies based on their own ego.

I’m pretty sure we have heard time and time again from TEACHERS on this subject …and they all say they need the phones out of the classroom!

+100!!
Parents give kip service to teacher needs and teacher support; but when it's inconvenient for them personally (ie, I can't text johnny anytime I want), it doesn't matter what teachers say.

This. Teachers need APS to back them up on phones. No one is trying to ban them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

ChenLing wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chen Ling is commenting on Facebook now. His comments are very naive.

Commenting where? Please give an example of how he's naive.

Although his kids appear to be preschool/early elementary, he said, on a thread about cell phones, that when his kids are teenagers they won't be addicted to screens because he will make sure they only have flip phones

A parent of young kids telling parents of teenagers how to parent teenagers is second only to non-parents telling parents how to parent in terms of naivete--or maybe its worse, because if you are a parent, you should know what you don't know

Only naivete there, if he's a strong parent who actually adheres to his values and rules instead of caving like most, is assuming flip phones will still be available when his kids are teens. One can only hope that limited-capability phones do indeed become more popular over the next several years !

OK--I still think its a red flag. As a parent of boys, I would never give a girl mom advice on raising girls based on what I think I would do. I know how far I can apply my own experience and when I should listen to others. And since we're talking about someone who wants to be a politician, it matters that he's weighing in on things he hasn't experienced and doesn't have the awareness to recognize that he's not going to be able to dictate what his own kids do, let alone the actions of an entire school system.

My comments were based on the following:
1. Phones in schools have been causing problems.
2. This includes interruptions based on the high number of notifications: https://www.edweek.org/technology/students-get-hundreds-of-notifications-on-their-phones-every-day-even-at-school/2023/09)
3. Research is showing more and more that social media use seems to be harmful to early teens: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/teen-childhood-smartphone-use-mental-health-effects/677722/
4. Some kids need to be able to contact their parent or caregiver

#1-3 has generated a lot of no-phone-whatsoever-in-schools.
I was trying to recommend a compromise (flip phones or the Light Phone) that can accommodate #4.
There are some inexpensive phones and plans for non-smartphones. The kids can use whatever outside of school, subject to what their parents want.

Chen is just digging in. This makes me like him even less. He doesn't get it at all. Who does he think he is to make a recommendation when he has not even gone through this himself with his own kids? Chen, get back to us when you have some lived experience when your own children actually get to this age.

+1

Or at least have some humility to admit you don’t really know.

Right, I want someone who will actually listen to parents who live this, not think they have all the answers and make policies based on their own ego.

I’m pretty sure we have heard time and time again from TEACHERS on this subject …and they all say they need the phones out of the classroom!

+100!!
Parents give kip service to teacher needs and teacher support; but when it's inconvenient for them personally (ie, I can't text johnny anytime I want), it doesn't matter what teachers say.

This. Teachers need APS to back them up on phones. No one is trying to ban them.

Yes some parents are trying to ban them completely.