Did Dr. McKnight's antiracist speech fall flat?

[Anonymous]

No one has bothered to post or discuss the grandiose speech Dr. McKnight that teased and promoted through multiple MCPS communication blasts:

Article: https://moco360.media/2023/04/28/mcps-averages-one-hate-incident-a-day-mcknight-reports-outlining-response-plan/

I'm guessing the reason why no one DCUM is talking about it is because it fell flat?

For me, just as with the antiracist audit report, I heard a lot of talk and fluff but I can't figure out for the life of me what action she and/or MCPS are actually proposing. You say we need to do better, how will you make people do better? Training is a pathetic response to that question, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

My takeaways were they’re going to bring in experts, more teacher training, and engage with the community. So yeah, basically more of nothing.

[Anonymous]

It is all fluff.. if they were going to do something they would have. She only focuses on specific groups and she doesn't surround herself with folks similar to herself.

[Anonymous]

I thought she said more specifics would be announced at the May 11 board meeting.

[Anonymous]

99% of the county did not watch and does not care, OP. And rightly so, because it's meaningless. Families want schools that aren't falling apart, with working A/C and heating, no rodents, and hustling to build more schools to alleviate overcrowding. Also, they'd love to have an adequate number of qualified teachers to fill all empty positions, and enough bus drivers.

We can all dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:99% of the county did not watch and does not care, OP. And rightly so, because it's meaningless. Families want schools that aren't falling apart, with working A/C and heating, no rodents, and hustling to build more schools to alleviate overcrowding. Also, they'd love to have an adequate number of qualified teachers to fill all empty positions, and enough bus drivers.

We can all dream.

This would be great, and more teaching vs. discussions and group projects, actual homework that relates to the class topics for reinforcement, textbooks for references and to guide the class, reading actual books in English class and going back to the basics - math facts, spelling, grammar, etc.

I care that my kids are in an environment where the religion they identify with is regularly being subjected to hate crimes but sadly we/they know there isn't anything anyone is going to do about it as its not a group of MCPS interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:99% of the county did not watch and does not care, OP. And rightly so, because it's meaningless. Families want schools that aren't falling apart, with working A/C and heating, no rodents, and hustling to build more schools to alleviate overcrowding. Also, they'd love to have an adequate number of qualified teachers to fill all empty positions, and enough bus drivers.

We can all dream.

I have a Dream.

That MCPS will treat all children equally, fix all facilities equally, focus on providing academic fundamentals (versus Kid Museum and Leader in Me), provide services equally to all students in need, and stop talking about how 'equity' will be used to coddle a handful of the MCPS student body.

I don't see that happening under McKnight, but I can still dream!

[Anonymous]

McKnight is a politician. Just a lot of noise and no action. Until they stop wasting money on ridiculous programs and actually fix schools, address overcrowding, and the current teacher shortage- none of it actually matters. Many administrators don’t respect her and some of the top people have left. It’s only getting worse before it gets better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McKnight is a politician. Just a lot of noise and no action. Until they stop wasting money on ridiculous programs and actually fix schools, address overcrowding, and the current teacher shortage- none of it actually matters. Many administrators don’t respect her and some of the top people have left. It’s only getting worse before it gets better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McKnight is a politician. Just a lot of noise and no action. Until they stop wasting money on ridiculous programs and actually fix schools, address overcrowding, and the current teacher shortage- none of it actually matters. Many administrators don’t respect her and some of the top people have left. It’s only getting worse before it gets better.

She's not any worse or better so far than her predecessors. Which tells you that they're all pretty bad At least she dresses in a more interesting way!

[Anonymous]

I listened to it live and thought it was a very good speech. It addressed some of the immediate concerns in the community regarding the increase in racist incidents and set the tone for forthcoming changes in policy. She hinted at a few of them such as an expectation that attendance and disciplinary problems cannot be solved by the schools alone, but must involve the parents and community as a whole. She specifically cited changes to 4th and 5th grade social studies curriculum to include specific history regarding racism and marginalization of various groups in our society. I expect that internally every policy/initiative is going to held up against this vision and if it doesn’t support this vision, it’s going nowhere.

Sorry you are bored and hoping to stir up some Dr. McKnight bashing. Find something more productive to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I listened to it live and thought it was a very good speech. It addressed some of the immediate concerns in the community regarding the increase in racist incidents and set the tone for forthcoming changes in policy. She hinted at a few of them such as an expectation that attendance and disciplinary problems cannot be solved by the schools alone, but must involve the parents and community as a whole. She specifically cited changes to 4th and 5th grade social studies curriculum to include specific history regarding racism and marginalization of various groups in our society. I expect that internally every policy/initiative is going to held up against this vision and if it doesn’t support this vision, it’s going nowhere.

Sorry you are bored and hoping to stir up some Dr. McKnight bashing. Find something more productive to do.

Well, you know DCUM gonna DCUM!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I listened to it live and thought it was a very good speech. It addressed some of the immediate concerns in the community regarding the increase in racist incidents and set the tone for forthcoming changes in policy. She hinted at a few of them such as an expectation that attendance and disciplinary problems cannot be solved by the schools alone, but must involve the parents and community as a whole. She specifically cited changes to 4th and 5th grade social studies curriculum to include specific history regarding racism and marginalization of various groups in our society. I expect that internally every policy/initiative is going to held up against this vision and if it doesn’t support this vision, it’s going nowhere.

Sorry you are bored and hoping to stir up some Dr. McKnight bashing. Find something more productive to do.

What specific actions or next steps did you hear that I didn't?

What you said, at best, sounds like something might happen. But if there's no what, where, when and how, why are you impressed?

And saying attendance and disciplinary problems cannot be solved by the schools alone is groundbreaking and a compelling thought to you? What action and consequence comes from that statement? Furthermore, what is she demanding and expecting of the community or parents to combat those issues, if she thinks they're beyond the school district's influence?

[Anonymous]

It's basically saying they hate hate.. but doesn't really state what they are for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I listened to it live and thought it was a very good speech. It addressed some of the immediate concerns in the community regarding the increase in racist incidents and set the tone for forthcoming changes in policy. She hinted at a few of them such as an expectation that attendance and disciplinary problems cannot be solved by the schools alone, but must involve the parents and community as a whole. She specifically cited changes to 4th and 5th grade social studies curriculum to include specific history regarding racism and marginalization of various groups in our society. I expect that internally every policy/initiative is going to held up against this vision and if it doesn’t support this vision, it’s going nowhere.

Sorry you are bored and hoping to stir up some Dr. McKnight bashing. Find something more productive to do.

MCPS has never involved parents at least while we've been with MCPS. She's been talking for a year. School year is almost over. They are constantly talking about the issues in my child's MS. It's to the point where the kids toon out as it's too much and way overboard.