Question on APE (or other APS related groups)
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Anonymous
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I’m new to APS and just kind of joined every education group I could to get up to speed on WTF is going on with the district. (Best district in the area? Failing district going downhill? It’s so hard to tell based on who you talk to!)
If you are part of APE, in particular— do you align with some of the more strident conservative voices? I’m in favor of keeping kids in schools. I think a meaningful equity strategy can’t be predicated on changing grading practices. I want textbooks. I agree, in principle, with many of the things they have pushed for publicly— but their online presence makes me VERY uncomfortable. I can’t tell if a couple people post ridiculous things and no one else engages with them bc it’s not worth it, or because everyone agrees. I don’t really feel at home on AEM, though, either. It feels like there’s a lot of history or other tensions percolating that I don’t have historical context on — and where, for example, questioning the approach to the APS equity proposal wouldn’t be welcomed. But maybe I’m wrong on that. Is there a middle ground somewhere? Is that the Smart Restart group? Or just like… the school PTA? I need like the remedial education breakdown of the social dynamics of these groups. I’m clearly terrible at parsing it myself. |
Anonymous
| I would never align myself with one of these groups personally. Stay informed through your own following of events, form your own opinions, advocate as you see fit as an individual. That is my advice. |
Anonymous
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APE is a political (nonprofit 504 registered) organization, filed as such. Yes, most leaned toward Trump, which is unlike most of Arlington. There are some outliers so they call themselves bipartisan. It came together during the OPEN SCHOOLS NOW COVID time.
AEM Is just a Facebook group, not an organization. It’s been around for years. Sometimes there’s good info, most the time it’s where the crazies discuss APS issues. Smart restart is not an organization like APE, but they do “lobby” for what they think are necessary safety precautions in schools due to Covid. They have good intentions and were able to make some changes last year, but they use fear tactics which don’t sit well with most educated parents in Arlington. So… take your pick? |
Anonymous
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All three groups (AEM, APE, and Smart Restart) have crazies. The venm diagram of overlap is also quite big, so many crazies in APE are also crazy in AEM. Many Smart Restart crazies are also in AEM.
And then there is a giant group of us in the middle that realize that both “sides” have good points, but the drama and tactics from both groups are over the top and insane. |
Anonymous
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I am a member of AEM and APE. I am not a member of Smart Restart because I was not comfortable with how secretive and locked-down they were at the same time their members were joining APE for the purpose of reposting APE comments elsewhere (often out of context) to trash individual members. Seemed very hypocritical.
I do not align with the extreme wing of APE. They have some good discussions and I have learned some helpful information there, but like anywhere you need to think critically about what you read. Same goes for AEM. I used to participate in AEM (I basically never participate in APE, just read), but AEM tends to be just as extreme in a different direction, with less tolerance for differing views than I see in APE. So again, interesting to read, but do so with a critical eye. If you want information specific to your school, the PTA is probably your best bet. With most (all?) schools now holding meetings online, it’s much easier to attend. It’s also helpful to listen to the school board meetings, which are both live-streamed and recorded (you can find recordings of past meetings on the APS website. There is also good information posted here at times, but you really have to examine what you read here with a critical eye. If you cannot verify something you read here against a different source, view it with a very heavy dose of skepticism. |
Anonymous
| Honestly I wish all these groups would direct energy to the elephant in the room problem:!the desperate need for a 4th comprehensive high school. If you are new to APS, that is what you should be paying attention to. |
Anonymous
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Yes, get involved in your school. Volunteer, PTA.
The online parent groups don’t do much except complain. |
Anonymous
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I'm a member of all three groups, AEM, APE and Smart Restart. I agree with bits of each, but all of none. I want schools open but with strong evidence-based safety measures. That aligns with no one.
I don't think teacher or principals should be allowed or expected to come up with their own Covid safety policies. Long ago APS should have hired a respected consultant with the appropriate background to make fact based recommendations. Instead, APS puts half baked measures in place, then lets teachers be scared silly by Smart Restart that APS's plans are insufficient, and then tries to close because people have no confidence that APS will keep teachers or students safe. It's ridiculous. I also think all of the above was so distracting last year that APS dropped the ball on actually teaching students. It's like the administration (both central and my kids' principals) don't actually care if kids are on grade level or learning. Many teachers did their best. Some took cues from APS administrators that they didn't need to really teach last year because we were in a pandemic and we could just catch kids up later. It's a mixed bag and people's opinion of APS varies wildly on whether your kid won the teacher lotto and/or adapted well to online learning. |
Anonymous
APS tried that but it was scuttled by the parents whose kids would actually attend. What alternative proposal do you have for a fourth comprehensive high school? |
Anonymous
No they planned a half-baked school, in “central arl” without pool or football field. So 2nd class school compared to other 3. They have NEVER put forth a full comprehensive school, and the Kenmore site is the place to do it. |
Anonymous
AEM is a Facebook group. A core group of 50 constant posters, many of whom are pretty ideologically extreme (and from Smart Restart - see below). There's a ton of lurkers though on that site. APE is a lobbying organization with 1,000 members. They were like President Biden and U.S Secretary Cardona and wanted schools open last school year. Now they lobby on other education issues too. Smart Restart is around 10 to 20 people (very affluent and white), and pushes COVID Zero policies that no serious scientist thinks is possible and only hurt underprivileged kids the most. They're for masks forever and were for shutting down sports in January (only 1 of 133 school districts in VA to do so), with non-masking breaks when cases hit a minute level only to snap back as soon as soon as they go back to any small amount. They often act as a front for the teachers union (one of their leaders is also the leader of the teachers union). If you want your kindergartner in masks until they graduate high school, this is your organization. |
Anonymous
A third school on the same site using that same tiny driveway? You’re joking, right? |
Anonymous
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One PP pointed out differences, I wouldn't compare these three entities as being similar other than they all involve very loud and opinionated APS parents.
APE started as an affiliation of parents focused on an Open Schools Now approach during 2020-2021. Detractors would have said they were of the "damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead. Open schools at all costs" approach. They have registered as a political organization. I have not joined their FB page so can tell you nothing more first-hand. Smart Restart also started as an affiliation of parents that leaned towards not reopening schools until certain things happened. Detractors would have stated they were covid fear-mongers wanting to keep schools closed forever. I don't know if they have their own FB page, the participants actively lobby and engage APS but it isn't a political organization. Both of the above started as a result of Covid. AEM is a Facebook page devoted to all things APS-related. It is officially a private page, moderated by the founder (K.A.) and a few others, but does have a lot of APS staff (including teachers, administrators, and SB members) who are also on the page and therefore it probably does carry more weight than it should as a basic chatroom. It has been around for years and years. There are some very regular participants and strong voices but it is not a consensus or an organization. I rarely participate but it's useful to keep up with it since it's obvious that APS staff pay attention to it. |
Anonymous
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I am in both groups.
I find there is more actual discussion on education issues on APE then AEM. The posts and threads that get lots of responses on AEM are about masks, going virtual, and gofundme for teachers; but when any posts about education issues get posted they just get a few likes and maybe a comment or two. I view AEM is just a vent group for a small group of people rather than an actual group of people wanting to discuss education. It's kind of a like a gossip group. APE is more focused on education policies and changes and I wouldn't expect to find gossipy posts there. AEM is entertainment. APE is purposeful. Both serve a purpose. |
Anonymous
This. AEM and Smart Restart are more on the conservative side in terms of accepting risk for COVID, APE is more of the mindset that COVID is endemic at this point and shouldn't disrupt education further. I kind of lean towards the APE side in terms of COVID -- I don't care either way towards masks, everyone in my family wears them when out of the house, but we still do indoor sports and I let my kids play woodwind instruments because everyone in my family is vaccinated and boosted. I kind of am pro-voucher since I think it would have forced schools to stay open last year, and I think competition in anything is generally a good thing. I'm a member of all three sites, but just use them as a way to stay informed. |