Antiracist System Audit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I took the survey, the questions and answer seemed to imply that implicit bias and disparate racial outcomes already existed. The questions were just asking me to rank my experience with them. I was dissatisfied that so much of the survey seemed to have a predetermined outcome. A few other staff I talked to felt the same way. There were no personal questions about educational background, SES, family structure. Only race and ethnicity. My problem with this is that when you only look at race then the only explanation for outcomes is racism. It seems over reductive. Race is literally the only thing someone can’t change about themselves.

All surveys in MCPS has a predetermined outcome. It’s grossly absurd that money was wasted.

Our family has experienced many acts of discrimination based on a student’s disability. Such discrimination has had a serious impact to educational opportunities for my children. MCPS seems to be getting more non-compliant under Dr. McKnight’s administration. As a family we wonder why racial discrimination received an expensive survey but discrimination against students with disabilities is a growing problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Throwing out all traditional texts is also an unbalanced way of teaching literature and will leave students unprepared for higher education. Same is true when students are only required to read one or two novels per year for middle and high school.

I'm the PP and I agree. We read some of the more traditional books at home. But fewer books is a logical outcome of having overcrowded classrooms. How can the teacher teach these in depth? My son doesn't bring home anything to read, because they don't have enough books. That slows down instruction, too. And even if they did, his school (high FARMS rate) seems to think kids won't have time or the ability to do homework at home. I am sure they are right about some kids, and my heart aches for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Throwing out all traditional texts is also an unbalanced way of teaching literature and will leave students unprepared for higher education. Same is true when students are only required to read one or two novels per year for middle and high school.

I'm the PP and I agree. We read some of the more traditional books at home. But fewer books is a logical outcome of having overcrowded classrooms. How can the teacher teach these in depth? My son doesn't bring home anything to read, because they don't have enough books. That slows down instruction, too. And even if they did, his school (high FARMS rate) seems to think kids won't have time or the ability to do homework at home. I am sure they are right about some kids, and my heart aches for them.

MCPS has $500,000 for surveys but children do not have books to bring home to read or funds to lower class sizes to a more manageable level. So sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, changing the school's name will fix things! Sigh..

Ever heard of stepping stones? No one with a functioning brain actually thinks changing the school's name will make an immediate difference. I mean, that is just common sense. But it stops that name from being continued on for the rest of history.....Not sure why this is hard or difficult to understand...I know, you thought you made a "gotcha" post...sadly, you clearly didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, changing the school's name will fix things! Sigh..

Ever heard of stepping stones? No one with a functioning brain actually thinks changing the school's name will make an immediate difference. I mean, that is just common sense. But it stops that name from being continued on for the rest of history.....Not sure why this is hard or difficult to understand...I know, you thought you made a "gotcha" post...sadly, you clearly didn't.

Culture War! It's on!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Throwing out all traditional texts is also an unbalanced way of teaching literature and will leave students unprepared for higher education. Same is true when students are only required to read one or two novels per year for middle and high school.

I'm the PP and I agree. We read some of the more traditional books at home. But fewer books is a logical outcome of having overcrowded classrooms. How can the teacher teach these in depth? My son doesn't bring home anything to read, because they don't have enough books. That slows down instruction, too. And even if they did, his school (high FARMS rate) seems to think kids won't have time or the ability to do homework at home. I am sure they are right about some kids, and my heart aches for them.

MCPS has $500,000 for surveys but children do not have books to bring home to read or funds to lower class sizes to a more manageable level. So sad.

Follow the cash! Someone is making a crap ton of money off of this kind of nonsense. And our kids lose out. Money spent on this kind of thing means less money for teachers, textbooks, classroom supplies. But the contractors are making loads of taxpayer funded profits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Throwing out all traditional texts is also an unbalanced way of teaching literature and will leave students unprepared for higher education. Same is true when students are only required to read one or two novels per year for middle and high school.

I'm the PP and I agree. We read some of the more traditional books at home. But fewer books is a logical outcome of having overcrowded classrooms. How can the teacher teach these in depth? My son doesn't bring home anything to read, because they don't have enough books. That slows down instruction, too. And even if they did, his school (high FARMS rate) seems to think kids won't have time or the ability to do homework at home. I am sure they are right about some kids, and my heart aches for them.

MCPS has $500,000 for surveys but children do not have books to bring home to read or funds to lower class sizes to a more manageable level. So sad.

Follow the cash! Someone is making a crap ton of money off of this kind of nonsense. And our kids lose out. Money spent on this kind of thing means less money for teachers, textbooks, classroom supplies. But the contractors are making loads of taxpayer funded profits.

Such a grift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Throwing out all traditional texts is also an unbalanced way of teaching literature and will leave students unprepared for higher education. Same is true when students are only required to read one or two novels per year for middle and high school.

I'm the PP and I agree. We read some of the more traditional books at home. But fewer books is a logical outcome of having overcrowded classrooms. How can the teacher teach these in depth? My son doesn't bring home anything to read, because they don't have enough books. That slows down instruction, too. And even if they did, his school (high FARMS rate) seems to think kids won't have time or the ability to do homework at home. I am sure they are right about some kids, and my heart aches for them.

MCPS has $500,000 for surveys but children do not have books to bring home to read or funds to lower class sizes to a more manageable level. So sad.

Follow the cash! Someone is making a crap ton of money off of this kind of nonsense. And our kids lose out. Money spent on this kind of thing means less money for teachers, textbooks, classroom supplies. But the contractors are making loads of taxpayer funded profits.

It would be great if you would actually follow the cash, detail all the spending items you consider to be wasteful and then translate that into the number of teachers/textbooks and classroom supplies it would cover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Throwing out all traditional texts is also an unbalanced way of teaching literature and will leave students unprepared for higher education. Same is true when students are only required to read one or two novels per year for middle and high school.

I'm the PP and I agree. We read some of the more traditional books at home. But fewer books is a logical outcome of having overcrowded classrooms. How can the teacher teach these in depth? My son doesn't bring home anything to read, because they don't have enough books. That slows down instruction, too. And even if they did, his school (high FARMS rate) seems to think kids won't have time or the ability to do homework at home. I am sure they are right about some kids, and my heart aches for them.

MCPS has $500,000 for surveys but children do not have books to bring home to read or funds to lower class sizes to a more manageable level. So sad.

$500k is not nearly enough to lower class sizes. That less than 5 teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Throwing out all traditional texts is also an unbalanced way of teaching literature and will leave students unprepared for higher education. Same is true when students are only required to read one or two novels per year for middle and high school.

I'm the PP and I agree. We read some of the more traditional books at home. But fewer books is a logical outcome of having overcrowded classrooms. How can the teacher teach these in depth? My son doesn't bring home anything to read, because they don't have enough books. That slows down instruction, too. And even if they did, his school (high FARMS rate) seems to think kids won't have time or the ability to do homework at home. I am sure they are right about some kids, and my heart aches for them.

MCPS has $500,000 for surveys but children do not have books to bring home to read or funds to lower class sizes to a more manageable level. So sad.

Follow the cash! Someone is making a crap ton of money off of this kind of nonsense. And our kids lose out. Money spent on this kind of thing means less money for teachers, textbooks, classroom supplies. But the contractors are making loads of taxpayer funded profits.

Such a grift.

Indeed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

I agree with you that they need to evaluate new programs, but that's not what you were advocating for in your previous post. You are just changing the subject. And no, reading books by authors of color does not mean MCOS has overcome racism. GTFOOH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I took the survey, the questions and answer seemed to imply that implicit bias and disparate racial outcomes already existed. The questions were just asking me to rank my experience with them. I was dissatisfied that so much of the survey seemed to have a predetermined outcome. A few other staff I talked to felt the same way. There were no personal questions about educational background, SES, family structure. Only race and ethnicity. My problem with this is that when you only look at race then the only explanation for outcomes is racism. It seems over reductive. Race is literally the only thing someone can’t change about themselves.

+ a million. Even the name of the survey suggests a pre-determined outcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Why is it fantastic that kids do not read anything from the source of our culture? And a large group of kids are given the message that their own ancestors are shameful? Why do we abandon our own culture because people from around the world were drawn to live in it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Why is it fantastic that kids do not read anything from the source of our culture? And a large group of kids are given the message that their own ancestors are shameful? Why do we abandon our own culture because people from around the world were drawn to live in it?

Is that what you think the slave trade was?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does racial equity work look like when there is no proof that disparities in any particular measure means there is bias?

Why not just meet every child where they are and go from there?

This is such a racist dog whistle. Any such disparities are due to systemic inquities in the classroom.

It isn't racist. It's intelligent inquiry. Association is not causation.

But if you build policy on association, you end up with unintended, and often harmful impacts. And no guarantee you actually fix anything.

Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are born and remain in poverty when others come from outrageous wealth.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have robust health insurance coverage that pays for neuropsych exams and years of therapy when other kids have nothing.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids are homeless and others have stable homes, stable transportation, etc.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents with mental health or substance misuse disorders and other kids have parents with no additional medical needs.
Schools can't equalize outcomes when some kids have parents who can run to the store for the supplies they need for a last minute project and others can't.


If we ignore those systematic inequities outside of school, we have no hope of improving things within schools.

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think a goal of any school should be equalized outcomes. Equalized opportunities sure, but not outcomes.

If you read the comments in the audit report, it is clear that many do not perceive equalized opportunities.

Yes, this has been an ongoing issue with the USA but not something MCPS can correct. MCPS needs to focus on educating children and leave societal issues to soceity.

Obviously MCPS can't correct all the problems of society; no one is suggesting that they should. But I see nothing wrong with MCPS trying to correct the school-based problems cited in the report.

Unfortunately those problems stem from larger societal problems and are beyond mcps' pervue.

Sounds like you haven't read the report. There are plenty of issues within MCPS's purview.

I did and you're statement makes it clear you failed to grasp it. MCPS can't solve these problems. Their scope is global. MCPS job is to educate children and because it's so distracted, it is failing to do that.

Next, MCPS should fund a study on solving global warming!

It was proven that the globe is not warming, so we changed it to climate change.

Agree MCPS needs to fund a multi-million dollar study to prevent climate change and poverty too. Who needs to hire teachers when we face so many large global problems!

MCPS has been building LEED certified buildings for years to help address their part in climate change. Heck, I do stuff, too, even though I can't solve climate change.

If no one tackles their own part of an enormous problem but rather waits for someone else to take care of it, it never gets taken care of.

MCPS’s own part is to meet each kid where they’re at as an individual and teach them academic subjects, specials like music and art, and physical education. That’s what my taxpayer money is paying for.

So MCPS should sweep any implicit bias and systemic racism under the rug?

Systems level: If they used valid research to identify just exactly what parts of MCPD were systemically racist, then they should work to remove it.

Individual level: We all have implicit bias. You can't get rid of it You can only modify actions. MCPS needs to outline very clear guidance on appropriate behavior. And then hold people accountable if they violate it.

You're advocating for paralysis by analysis. You don't need expensive, never-ending studies at the local level to know that systemic racism exists in MCPS. MCPS is not some magical land that is different from every other school district in the country. You combine the information we have locally with rigorous studies from elsewhere to understand what the issues are.

I am not. Mcps has a history of implementing new programs, costing millions, with zero accountability. The don’t sufficiently train employees and/or fail to bring in true experts, and their feel-good ideas never amount to any improvement. If we (if the board would do its job) and require explicit identification of things we can change, then oversight to ensure it has the desired effect, that would be a different story. How are they measuring effectiveness of Leader in Me for example? They aren’t. They instead just take credit for all the bright shiny new programs they force on kids (and teachers).

And the truth is MCPS is light years ahead of most of the nation making schools inclusive. There are tested, evidence based ways to do that, and we have done much of it. My kid hasn’t read one work of fiction yet that’s part of the old school, traditional (white) canon. Last year he read Yoruba Girl Dancing and this year he’s reading The Book of Unknown Americans. And that’s great. Social Studies is absolutely fantastic, teaching from multiple perspectives, using primary and secondary sources, and teaching the different value of each.

The rest is interpersonal behavior within explicitly stated norms. They didn’t need an antiracist audit for that.

Why is it fantastic that kids do not read anything from the source of our culture? And a large group of kids are given the message that their own ancestors are shameful? Why do we abandon our own culture because people from around the world were drawn to live in it?

Is that what you think the slave trade was?

Look at the books the PP posted. That is what I was referring to. And MCPS does plenty of education and atonement for the slave trade already. African Americans (including all of the recent immigrants) are 12% of the population of the U.S. and their perspective and experience is conveyed during a lot more than 12% of the time in literature and history. So no, I don't have any guilt over how slavery is taught in MCPS.