The "White People Are Mosquitoes" Video in FCPS

[Anonymous]

There's a link to the "white people are mosquitoes" video that was shown to FCPS students in the attached article: https://thefederalist.com/2023/02/06/public-schools-are-avoiding-crt-ban-with-trojan-horse-of-social-emotional-learning/

I found the video patronizing and threatening, especially with the suggestion that minorities reasonably could engage in violence against white people who engage in "microaggressions." Mind you, I have no problem with teaching kids to be kind to one another, or to think about how their words, even if not ill-intentioned, might hurt other students. But this video is crass and heavy-handed, to put it mildly, and shit like this only proliferates because the likes of Dr. Reid and the current School Board think it's a good way to demonstrate their commitment to "equity."

I don't know if Lunquist-Arora plans to run for School Board or not (I wish she would), but the current School Board has done nothing but aggravate tensions within FCPS and preside over the school system's continued decline. They need to be sent packing this fall.

[Anonymous]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with the video.

[Anonymous]

Videos like this are why we end up with so many young people now turning into arch-conservatives. They are rebelling against an establishment that pushes this SEL nonsense.

[Anonymous]

I watched the video. I think it actually tries to explain micro aggressions in a clever way. And yes at the end, the POC seem very annoyed by the micro-aggressions and hit the mosquitoes. Is that what you mean by saying the video implies minorities could engage in violence against white people? Because that is not what I got at all from this video. You know what is scary OP? How some conservatives are completely overreacting to CRT and the like. See Florida. I agree that we should focus on academics more than anything. But this fear mongering is scary. And the Federalist is biased AF OP. They are right wing and very much pro-school choice/not fond of public schools. But I am guessing you are already knew that, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Videos like this are why we end up with so many young people now turning into arch-conservatives. They are rebelling against an establishment that pushes this SEL nonsense.

This. Tell a group that they are the problem enough and they will react, just not in the way that you hope

[Anonymous]

Videos like this do nothing to encourage people to undertake some self-reflection, uncover biases and negative presuppositions, and modify their behavior. In fact, videos like this may drive some people further away from doing this important work — all while distorting the reality of micro aggressions.

[Anonymous]

The video is ridiculous and shouldn’t have been shown in the classroom.

But it’s not trying to say white people are mosquitos. It’s trying to explain that micro aggressions are like tiny mosquito bites. As an isolated bite, it’s no big deal but when you are getting bit constantly it can drive someone nuts.

I agree with the attempt but I don’t think the video was executed very well.

[Anonymous]

I cannot believe what DCUM has turned into with people peddling this garbage here. Can't you join some nazi website to talk to your other friends that are feeling so "threatened" by the idea of equality?

[Anonymous]

I think OP should watch the video again more closely. I don't think this video is trying to say that white people are the only people who can ever commit microaggressions and people of color are the only ones who ever experience them. In the middle of the video there are two white people (one disabled and one a woman) who are being bitten by the mosquitos. Basically any group that can be marginalized or has been considered "less than" at any point can experience them. People of color happen to be a large group that are frequent recipients. The disabled community could make a similar video showing people of all races saying problematic things to them.

The author of that article comes across very paranoid. I personally know and work with people who do research on SEL and have developed measures for schools to use (not those questions FCPS used in their screener, but better ones). They also do research on how teachers can promote SEL in children. They are not trying to push some woke agenda. They recognize the importance of SEL in a time where we have 6 year olds shooting teachers. We have too many kids who are angry, don't feel like they belong, don't know how to talk about their feelings, don't have parents who check in on them and pay attention for red flags. Someone has to give kids tools to name their emotions and learn how to manage them. Conflating SEL with DEI stuff is just uninformed.

[Anonymous]

I watched it expecting to be super offended. I wasn't. It seems like a.... metaphor. And an apt one at that.

- White lady, mom of high schoolers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched the video. I think it actually tries to explain micro aggressions in a clever way. And yes at the end, the POC seem very annoyed by the micro-aggressions and hit the mosquitoes. Is that what you mean by saying the video implies minorities could engage in violence against white people? Because that is not what I got at all from this video. You know what is scary OP? How some conservatives are completely overreacting to CRT and the like. See Florida. I agree that we should focus on academics more than anything. But this fear mongering is scary. And the Federalist is biased AF OP. They are right wing and very much pro-school choice/not fond of public schools. But I am guessing you are already knew that, no?

There was also a flamethrower.

[Anonymous]

I was saddened the other day when my white ES kid came home from school and I asked "what did you learn today.?" And the kid said glumly "same thing as everyday. White people are bad."

[Anonymous]

Why is this being shown in schools?

What’s with the flamethrower?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was saddened the other day when my white ES kid came home from school and I asked "what did you learn today.?" And the kid said glumly "same thing as everyday. White people are bad."

That really happened, huh? Say more, PP. Go on....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was saddened the other day when my white ES kid came home from school and I asked "what did you learn today.?" And the kid said glumly "same thing as everyday. White people are bad."

no kid said that EVER unless he heard it from you.