APS budget cuts - no MS sports or extracurriculars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this thread has jumped the shark.
Please everyone who cares about middle school clubs (not just sports -- this is cancelling act 2 and ALL CLUBS), please write in and let the school board know!

but how many students can participate at any one time in an ACT 2 class for example?
I have seen no numbers to support the claims that these MS programs - sports or otherwise - are utilized by high numbers of students.

*Can* participate or *do* participate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this thread has jumped the shark.
Please everyone who cares about middle school clubs (not just sports -- this is cancelling act 2 and ALL CLUBS), please write in and let the school board know!

As always, the Equity Police drives the conversation off the rails.

It was the HB hater randomly popping in

[Anonymous]

Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Where’s the equity in that? Free babysitting for some families, but other students don’t benefit from those dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Grouping students by ability is what’s best for society in the long run, too. Who is going to cure cancer when the bright kids aren’t given what they need to meet their full potential?

Funny how “what’s best for society” only matters sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Grouping students by ability is what’s best for society in the long run, too. Who is going to cure cancer when the bright kids aren’t given what they need to meet their full potential?

Funny how “what’s best for society” only matters sometimes.

They should be, I’m fine with TJ being 90 percent Asian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Grouping students by ability is what’s best for society in the long run, too. Who is going to cure cancer when the bright kids aren’t given what they need to meet their full potential?

Funny how “what’s best for society” only matters sometimes.

They should be, I’m fine with TJ being 90 percent Asian

I’m fine with TJ being 100% Asian-American. Who cares about race? The smartest kids should be in there, as long as they’re US citizens. (Magnet schools especially should be restricted to US citizens.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Grouping students by ability is what’s best for society in the long run, too. Who is going to cure cancer when the bright kids aren’t given what they need to meet their full potential?

Funny how “what’s best for society” only matters sometimes.

They should be, I’m fine with TJ being 90 percent Asian

I’m fine with TJ being 100% Asian-American. Who cares about race? The smartest kids should be in there, as long as they’re US citizens. (Magnet schools especially should be restricted to US citizens.)

Yeah, if you’re really thinking about how best to invest taxpayer dollars, educating the best and brightest, even if their parents brought them here illegally, is the smartest thing to do for the country. We want the smartest talents to stay here and do things for the US. No reason to treat gifted kids differently because of decisions their parents made. Wasting talent in children is short-sighted. Why let a lesser native-born kid get a slot over a genius who came here illegally at age 2? Doesn’t make sense. It’s just nativism. No better than wasting talent due to racism or sexism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Grouping students by ability is what’s best for society in the long run, too. Who is going to cure cancer when the bright kids aren’t given what they need to meet their full potential?

Funny how “what’s best for society” only matters sometimes.

They should be, I’m fine with TJ being 90 percent Asian

I’m fine with TJ being 100% Asian-American. Who cares about race? The smartest kids should be in there, as long as they’re US citizens. (Magnet schools especially should be restricted to US citizens.)

Yeah, if you’re really thinking about how best to invest taxpayer dollars, educating the best and brightest, even if their parents brought them here illegally, is the smartest thing to do for the country. We want the smartest talents to stay here and do things for the US. No reason to treat gifted kids differently because of decisions their parents made. Wasting talent in children is short-sighted. Why let a lesser native-born kid get a slot over a genius who came here illegally at age 2? Doesn’t make sense. It’s just nativism. No better than wasting talent due to racism or sexism.

Nativism. Now I’ve heard it all!

Yes, these special programs that are funded by US taxpayers should be available to US citizens only. It’s not a hard concept to grasp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Grouping students by ability is what’s best for society in the long run, too. Who is going to cure cancer when the bright kids aren’t given what they need to meet their full potential?

Funny how “what’s best for society” only matters sometimes.

They should be, I’m fine with TJ being 90 percent Asian

I’m fine with TJ being 100% Asian-American. Who cares about race? The smartest kids should be in there, as long as they’re US citizens. (Magnet schools especially should be restricted to US citizens.)

Yeah, if you’re really thinking about how best to invest taxpayer dollars, educating the best and brightest, even if their parents brought them here illegally, is the smartest thing to do for the country. We want the smartest talents to stay here and do things for the US. No reason to treat gifted kids differently because of decisions their parents made. Wasting talent in children is short-sighted. Why let a lesser native-born kid get a slot over a genius who came here illegally at age 2? Doesn’t make sense. It’s just nativism. No better than wasting talent due to racism or sexism.

There’s no guarantee that they stay here. We aren’t responsible for educating the rest of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Grouping students by ability is what’s best for society in the long run, too. Who is going to cure cancer when the bright kids aren’t given what they need to meet their full potential?

Funny how “what’s best for society” only matters sometimes.

They should be, I’m fine with TJ being 90 percent Asian

I’m fine with TJ being 100% Asian-American. Who cares about race? The smartest kids should be in there, as long as they’re US citizens. (Magnet schools especially should be restricted to US citizens.)

Yeah, if you’re really thinking about how best to invest taxpayer dollars, educating the best and brightest, even if their parents brought them here illegally, is the smartest thing to do for the country. We want the smartest talents to stay here and do things for the US. No reason to treat gifted kids differently because of decisions their parents made. Wasting talent in children is short-sighted. Why let a lesser native-born kid get a slot over a genius who came here illegally at age 2? Doesn’t make sense. It’s just nativism. No better than wasting talent due to racism or sexism.

There’s no guarantee that they stay here. We aren’t responsible for educating the rest of the world.

Why don’t we open TJ admission to all VA, DC, and MD residents while we’re at it. Maybe WV too. Not doing so seems very state-ist.

[Anonymous]

If they don’t cut activities for ONE year, they will increase clsss size!

An increase in class size wouldn’t be a one year thing. I’ve heard heard of APS lowering class size.

We most likely won’t have activities as usual next year because of COVID.

Keep your eye on the prize people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Symone just posted a letter from NAACP to APS regarding this issue.

Idk... APS has stated over and over again that their role is not child care, yet the letter makes a big case for after school programs being there to supervise students until the evening.

People should pay for after care or figure it out on their own. Why are taxpayers paying for after school babysitting?

Because it’s better for society in the long run

There are lots of kids who don’t have somewhere safe or productive to be after school (safe in the sense of....somewhere they won’t get into trouble)

Grouping students by ability is what’s best for society in the long run, too. Who is going to cure cancer when the bright kids aren’t given what they need to meet their full potential?

Funny how “what’s best for society” only matters sometimes.

They should be, I’m fine with TJ being 90 percent Asian

I’m fine with TJ being 100% Asian-American. Who cares about race? The smartest kids should be in there, as long as they’re US citizens. (Magnet schools especially should be restricted to US citizens.)

Yeah, if you’re really thinking about how best to invest taxpayer dollars, educating the best and brightest, even if their parents brought them here illegally, is the smartest thing to do for the country. We want the smartest talents to stay here and do things for the US. No reason to treat gifted kids differently because of decisions their parents made. Wasting talent in children is short-sighted. Why let a lesser native-born kid get a slot over a genius who came here illegally at age 2? Doesn’t make sense. It’s just nativism. No better than wasting talent due to racism or sexism.

There’s no guarantee that they stay here. We aren’t responsible for educating the rest of the world.

There is no guarantee that anyone stays here, but anyone who has spent their entire life (or been here since early childhood) in the US and has no real ties to any other country is certainly more likely to stay here.

We aren't responsible for educating the rest of the world. But if we are providing an education to a child, and that child is talented, we should be giving them access to the most appropriate education, not subjecting them to a second-tier education because of their immigration status. That is stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/budget-cuts-could-imperil-arlington-middle-school-sports/article_db250602-8714-11eb-b396-0fa81fd8b40e.html

Most other public schools don’t have school funded sports. APS can easily go without. Kids can just do rec or travel sports on their own time.

It wasn’t very equitable anyway, since there was very limited slots in most sports, the only people who made the teams were people who already paid for private lessons (like tennis) or played on travel sports (soccer basketball). I think they had frisbee as the only walk on sport. The school system is too crowded to have distractions like MS Sports that only go to a select few.

You don’t know what you’re talking about.

No, they do. My son’s best friend tried out for tennis, and he had had lessons and was a decent player, and was not given a spot. Middle school sports should not be this exclusive - where I grew up school sports, even at the middle school level, had the equivalent of a JV where anyone who showed up could participate, especially in their first year. It was complete BS. Let the semi-pros keep spending thousands of dollars a year for their private “teams” and let public school sports be for those who can’t spend the big bucks. And the extracurriculars in middle school are also very odd. I wanted my son to participate in something, and he said “these all stink” and when he showed me the options I had to agree. So I’m okay with them cutting funding. - what they have benefits only a small few now.

It’s not just about the rich kids, ffs. Lots of FARMS kids depend on after school activities to fill hours that they would otherwise be unsupervised.

They could do intramural sports and charge a small fee in addition to teams that travel.