“Stuff Some Adults Don’t Want You to Read” at Langley

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: the inclusion of this paragraph:

“To withdraw your child(ren) from FCPS, please notify your school directly to remove your contact information and ensure you will not receive FCPS emails in the future.”

This is hilarious. Love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Incidents such as these will have a chilling effect on what teachers teach in our local schools and how librarians and others do their jobs--and it will no doubt push some school professionals to leave their jobs. But perhaps that is the point...

If you have a few minutes, read this insightful article in WP into how teachers around the country are altering their teaching plans to accommodate this sudden parental interest in what is taught in schools.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/02/14/critical-race-theory-teachers-fear-laws/

I am the 8:39 PP, but this is the point. It is the "othering" of parents by teachers and adults in schools. It is the us versus them mentality that is problematic, especially when teachers have zero responsibility for our children.

Okay Moms for Liberty parent. Were your parents so involved in micromanaging your public school experience? I’m guessing they weren’t.

This!

DP here. My parents never had to worry that my school was exposing me to sexual content because frankly that was unimaginable a couple of decades ago. Boundaries have shifted greatly and parents were simply unaware. You say this is a ginned-up effort by the republicans, but from my perspective schools snuck inappropriate content in without informing parents, and what you think is the Republicans striking first is really a reaction to what could be considered an unannounced move by the left first.

LOL. You are uninformed. This has been happening for - oh - forever. When I was a kid it was Judy Blume FFS.

[Anonymous]

I think it's dumb - but there are extremists on both sides, and I don't like either.
I don't like censorship on either side - and the liberals engage in censorship too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line--the parental-control-over-public-schools movement is a successful Republican tactic to fire up voters. It worked for Youngkin, and it will work for other politicians in future elections. While we all sit here exercising our 1st amendment rights by having spirited discussions about what is or isn't taught in public schools, Republican strategists are laughing all the way to the polls.

It will backfire in NoVa if it becomes 100% associated with crazy Trumpkins looking to pick silly fights, and it makes it harder to attract talented staff to Langley. There are already disincentives to work there given how expensive housing is near the school and its reputation for meddling parents. The parents who run with these things live in a bubble and think that what gets people excited in Alabama, or even Purcellville, is going to resonate in Fairfax, and generally it doesn't.

+1

It's going to turn off the good teachers and the vast majority of reasonable parents who don't have an issue with these books.

Take your crazy back to Loudon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line--the parental-control-over-public-schools movement is a successful Republican tactic to fire up voters. It worked for Youngkin, and it will work for other politicians in future elections. While we all sit here exercising our 1st amendment rights by having spirited discussions about what is or isn't taught in public schools, Republican strategists are laughing all the way to the polls.

It will backfire in NoVa if it becomes 100% associated with crazy Trumpkins looking to pick silly fights, and it makes it harder to attract talented staff to Langley. There are already disincentives to work there given how expensive housing is near the school and its reputation for meddling parents. The parents who run with these things live in a bubble and think that what gets people excited in Alabama, or even Purcellville, is going to resonate in Fairfax, and generally it doesn't.

DP. You must be joking. Do you have any idea just how many moderates are sick to death of these stunts? Sorry, to disappoint, but Trump and “Trumpkins” have nothing to do with this. Why do you think Youngkin won? Because so many people - including a lot of Biden voters - are done with this “equity/woke” BS infecting our public schools. Talk about living in a bubble - you seem not to have learned anything at all. See you at the polls this fall.

Oh, and btw - Langley is one of the most sought after schools in which to teach. Inform yourself a little better.

I think moderates are embarrassed by parents who go out of their way to second-guess librarians and other staff and make them uncomfortable in their jobs.

As for whether Langley is one of the more "sought-after schools in which to teach," I gather you don't spend a lot of time around teachers (except, perhaps, when they give your kid a B or assign "Beloved").

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Incidents such as these will have a chilling effect on what teachers teach in our local schools and how librarians and others do their jobs--and it will no doubt push some school professionals to leave their jobs. But perhaps that is the point...

If you have a few minutes, read this insightful article in WP into how teachers around the country are altering their teaching plans to accommodate this sudden parental interest in what is taught in schools.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/02/14/critical-race-theory-teachers-fear-laws/

I thought this was a dumb article.
It's not like they had no fear before this - they were afraid of not teaching pronouns correctly before this.

"But Given said she’s not clear on the definition of “inherently,” “superior” or “inferior.”" --> look it up in the dictionary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. The sign could be read a few different ways. In isolation, it is a lame attempt to be “edgy” and encourage kids to branch out in their reading choices. But it wasn’t made in isolation. In the context of the current parents’ rights debate, it can be read as being intentionally provocative or, at the very least, immature and tone deaf.

The sign was dumb. The “apology” was telling. Not that the apology was made, but the inclusion of this paragraph:

“To withdraw your child(ren) from FCPS, please notify your school directly to remove your contact information and ensure you will not receive FCPS emails in the future.”

It’s been a pretty consistent message from FCPS - if you don’t like it, withdraw your kid. If you publish our legal bills, we will sue you. If the governor says the parents have a say, we will sue him, too. FCPS can do what it wants, and if you don’t like it, take a hike. Or we will sue you.

In the end, people with means leave for private. Not because they have ideological differences on curriculum, but because they want to meaningfully participate in their DC’s education, and are told to F off when they raise their voice.

People without means are stuck, and increasing segregated by way of FCPS forcing a mass exodus to private schools. So, instead of creating a more integrated educational system, FCPS creates an increasingly segregated educational environment that is focused on “services” rather than substance.

Now because of the poor educational product in the name of the pandemic, we will see a disparate, negative racial and social-economic impact in the education of a generation.

All of this is done in the name of equity. The results are an insidious form of systemic racism as another generation becomes dependent on the “services” of a public entity that is more focused on its own survival, power, and enrichment than toss it is intended to serve.

A sound public education is a fundamental human right. FCPS withholds that right like a price gouger withholds bottled water during a hurricane.

That paragraph was NOT in the email.

It’s at the bottom of every email parents get from Gatehouse:

“ Parents of FCPS students may update contact information online through weCare@School. This information may also be updated by the Student Information Assistant at each child’s school.

To withdraw your child(ren) from FCPS, please notify your school directly to remove your contact information and ensure you will not receive FCPS emails in the future.

FCPS employees may update contact information through UConnect.

Individuals with no affiliation to the school system must fill out the Removal Request to have their contact information removed from eNotify.”

That is the point. It is boilerplate at this point. If you don’t like it, just leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always appreciate book stores with banned books sections

+1

Nice job, Langley librarians. We see you. Keep up the good work.

+2

My first thought was to wonder whether there's any kind of virtual tip jar for that librarian. Brilliant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: the inclusion of this paragraph:

“To withdraw your child(ren) from FCPS, please notify your school directly to remove your contact information and ensure you will not receive FCPS emails in the future.”

This is hilarious. Love it.

It’s not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wasn’t just the principal. The Region 1 superintendent (Doug Tyson) issued a separate apology as well. It’s just sad they feel the need to apologize for looking for creative ways to encourage kids to read.

There are many, many other ways to better encourage folks to read than this. C'mon - be better.

Telling kids that some adults want a thing to be off limits to them is actually a really effective way to pique their interest.

I would add a Thomas Sowell book to that table. A lot of adults certainly don’t want high school students to read those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. The sign could be read a few different ways. In isolation, it is a lame attempt to be “edgy” and encourage kids to branch out in their reading choices. But it wasn’t made in isolation. In the context of the current parents’ rights debate, it can be read as being intentionally provocative or, at the very least, immature and tone deaf.

The sign was dumb. The “apology” was telling. Not that the apology was made, but the inclusion of this paragraph:

“To withdraw your child(ren) from FCPS, please notify your school directly to remove your contact information and ensure you will not receive FCPS emails in the future.”

It’s been a pretty consistent message from FCPS - if you don’t like it, withdraw your kid. If you publish our legal bills, we will sue you. If the governor says the parents have a say, we will sue him, too. FCPS can do what it wants, and if you don’t like it, take a hike. Or we will sue you.

In the end, people with means leave for private. Not because they have ideological differences on curriculum, but because they want to meaningfully participate in their DC’s education, and are told to F off when they raise their voice.

People without means are stuck, and increasing segregated by way of FCPS forcing a mass exodus to private schools. So, instead of creating a more integrated educational system, FCPS creates an increasingly segregated educational environment that is focused on “services” rather than substance.

Now because of the poor educational product in the name of the pandemic, we will see a disparate, negative racial and social-economic impact in the education of a generation.

All of this is done in the name of equity. The results are an insidious form of systemic racism as another generation becomes dependent on the “services” of a public entity that is more focused on its own survival, power, and enrichment than toss it is intended to serve.

A sound public education is a fundamental human right. FCPS withholds that right like a price gouger withholds bottled water during a hurricane.

That paragraph was NOT in the email.

It’s at the bottom of every email parents get from Gatehouse:

“ Parents of FCPS students may update contact information online through weCare@School. This information may also be updated by the Student Information Assistant at each child’s school.

To withdraw your child(ren) from FCPS, please notify your school directly to remove your contact information and ensure you will not receive FCPS emails in the future.

FCPS employees may update contact information through UConnect.

Individuals with no affiliation to the school system must fill out the Removal Request to have their contact information removed from eNotify.”

That is the point. It is boilerplate at this point. If you don’t like it, just leave.

Nova is a transient area. People move all the time. You want to make this political but it’s not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was not done maliciously and I am totally supportive of pointing out to HS students that there are books people are trying to ban. They should know this and read them if they choose to.

Putting books on display like that has malicious intent. The school is basically advertising the books for kids to read them. The display is worded so that it is sparking curiosity in kids (by telling those are the books that some adults don't want them to read). Kids always get curious when things are mentioned in such a way.

Writing this as immigrant, left-wing, non-white parent who support free speech. If the school simply kept the books in the library, without advertising them, I would not think this way. The school should put educationally way more appropriate books on display.

Totally agree.

Could not disagree more.

What better way to bring up challenging conversations with your kids than through books?

[Anonymous]

IRL the only parents I have heard complain about the content of teaching material are my friends with kids at local privates.
My DC is a recent FCPS grad and was not assigned anywhere near the number of books by Black authors, for example, that a friend's kids at a NOVA private were. Most of what my DC learned about Black history was not in public school--it was a result of family discussions and odd bits of info DC picked up on TikTok and other social media. And she learned even less or next to nothing about religious minorities and LBGTQ perspectives in school. I really don't know what you public school parents are complaining about. My DC's FCPS education in subjects such as English and History was as generic and inoffensive as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: the inclusion of this paragraph:

“To withdraw your child(ren) from FCPS, please notify your school directly to remove your contact information and ensure you will not receive FCPS emails in the future.”

This is hilarious. Love it.

It’s not true.

It is true. It’s at the bottom of EVERY email FCPS parents get from Gatehouse. Every notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IRL the only parents I have heard complain about the content of teaching material are my friends with kids at local privates.
My DC is a recent FCPS grad and was not assigned anywhere near the number of books by Black authors, for example, that a friend's kids at a NOVA private were. Most of what my DC learned about Black history was not in public school--it was a result of family discussions and odd bits of info DC picked up on TikTok and other social media. And she learned even less or next to nothing about religious minorities and LBGTQ perspectives in school. I really don't know what you public school parents are complaining about. My DC's FCPS education in subjects such as English and History was as generic and inoffensive as possible.

Agree. The books and sex Ed curriculum at a “big 3” in DC would freak these parents out.