DC Public Education Candidate Forum starting now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should not be in charge of DC public and charter schools if you are unwilling to send your own kids.

That goes for Mayor and DME.

People should weigh whether a politician sends their kid to public or charter school when they pick who to vote for but having it be legally disqualifying is just flat unconstitutional.

That being said what dc pols have kids in public school? I think Bowser’s kid is still in her school, but typically they go to St. John’s.

They don’t go there lol Why would it be unconstitutional in a city with mayoral control? It’d be different if we had a school board. How can a mayor be allowed to run public schools without any stake in them or experience?

It would constitute a very clear religious test under even a pretty liberal court. You might not even have to get there as a restraint of freedom of association.

Are his kids going to a religious private school?
Also restraint of freedom? I would think that’s a price you pay for being mayor.
Guess that checks out when we have a senile man who SA’s children running our nation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly Janice Lewis George is my pick -she is the only one who talked about actually structural changes.
My second is Gary Goodweather, who talks about classroom changes and training for teacher but to me it’s also a red flag. If you know Michelle Rhee, she did a number on DCPS and helped ruin it. Teachers don’t need MORE training, we need GOOD training and planning time.

I find it interesting McDuffie is ALWAYS declining debates involving education. I also recently discovered his plan is to get kids ‘AI ready.’ Just no, we don’t need more tech. The research clearly shows this is not the way and let’s be honest most dummies can utilize AI -to use it well should be an elective a kid in HS can take IF they are interested.

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

DP- overall? The debate was pretty short.
But universal childcare (little kids), more aftercare slots,actually addressing truancy and how kids get to school. As well as how we can address challenging behaviors.
Changing who is in charge not just the chancellor but possibly deputy of education, superintendents.
More listening to what teachers, parents, and students are saying.

I think no one is offering the huge changes teachers and parents would really want.

But I also agree that of all the candidates Janice and Gary are the best but Gary’s answers were way less polished and he admitted he has no expertise in running education. I know I will not be voting for McDuffie either, I do need the next mayor to not just care about businesses and crime (well I’d like them to actually care about crime more) but also education.

I'm always surprised when people here rip JLG on education because she has been incredibly engaged on education during her time on Council. People see DSA and lose their minds but she's from Ward 4, went to Deal and Wilson, and she and her staff have shown up and pushed for school improvements even outside of just her constituents. I'm sure there are things we disagree on but the blanket "she's DSA and hates standards" is so reductive.

I also believe she may be in favor of relinquishing mayoral control of DCPS which would be huge and one of Bowser's worst decisions. It makes everything at the school level, even small things, a political fight which is not how we should view education.

I agree. I'm not sure what baggage people have that cause them to be negative about her but Janeese understands what's going on and can speak to the issues competently. It's refreshing compared to the usual political hacks that are just trying to tell us what we want to hear but clearly don't understand the issues.

Janeese would be a major step down from Bowser. At least Bowser is willing to stand up to the teachers union. We remember how hard Janeese fought to keep schools closed during the pandemic, even after they had been open for months. We also know how adamantly she opposes raising academic standards or any form of accountability with schools. Nobody cares or should care about this nothing burger she's selling re: mayoral control of DCPS. It's meaningless.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

[Anonymous]

So no JLG, no McDuffie. Who are we left with?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

No.

McDuffie will defund all public schools. He loves big business and private schools.

[Anonymous]

McDuffie would be a huge step down from Bowser -not that she has done much overall for public schools.

He now loves business and private schools. He has refused to debate about education or answer hard hitting questions.

I can’t imagine anyone with children in a public schools voting for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So no JLG, no McDuffie. Who are we left with?

No one. It is the lesser of two evils -which is JLG.

She at least has a proven track record -while McDuffie hasn’t done anything. Some people are literally voting for him because he is a black man (I wish I was kidding).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So no JLG, no McDuffie. Who are we left with?

No one. It is the lesser of two evils -which is JLG.

She at least has a proven track record -while McDuffie hasn’t done anything. Some people are literally voting for him because he is a black man (I wish I was kidding).

I believe it.

I won't vote for him because his kids go to private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So no JLG, no McDuffie. Who are we left with?

No one. It is the lesser of two evils -which is JLG.

She at least has a proven track record -while McDuffie hasn’t done anything. Some people are literally voting for him because he is a black man (I wish I was kidding).

I believe it.

I won't vote for him because his kids go to private school.

+1000

‘I think public schools are great but I’d never send my own children to any of them,’ is not a shining endorsement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly Janice Lewis George is my pick -she is the only one who talked about actually structural changes.
My second is Gary Goodweather, who talks about classroom changes and training for teacher but to me it’s also a red flag. If you know Michelle Rhee, she did a number on DCPS and helped ruin it. Teachers don’t need MORE training, we need GOOD training and planning time.

I find it interesting McDuffie is ALWAYS declining debates involving education. I also recently discovered his plan is to get kids ‘AI ready.’ Just no, we don’t need more tech. The research clearly shows this is not the way and let’s be honest most dummies can utilize AI -to use it well should be an elective a kid in HS can take IF they are interested.

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

DP- overall? The debate was pretty short.
But universal childcare (little kids), more aftercare slots,actually addressing truancy and how kids get to school. As well as how we can address challenging behaviors.
Changing who is in charge not just the chancellor but possibly deputy of education, superintendents.
More listening to what teachers, parents, and students are saying.

I think no one is offering the huge changes teachers and parents would really want.

But I also agree that of all the candidates Janice and Gary are the best but Gary’s answers were way less polished and he admitted he has no expertise in running education. I know I will not be voting for McDuffie either, I do need the next mayor to not just care about businesses and crime (well I’d like them to actually care about crime more) but also education.

I'm always surprised when people here rip JLG on education because she has been incredibly engaged on education during her time on Council. People see DSA and lose their minds but she's from Ward 4, went to Deal and Wilson, and she and her staff have shown up and pushed for school improvements even outside of just her constituents. I'm sure there are things we disagree on but the blanket "she's DSA and hates standards" is so reductive.

I also believe she may be in favor of relinquishing mayoral control of DCPS which would be huge and one of Bowser's worst decisions. It makes everything at the school level, even small things, a political fight which is not how we should view education.

I agree. I'm not sure what baggage people have that cause them to be negative about her but Janeese understands what's going on and can speak to the issues competently. It's refreshing compared to the usual political hacks that are just trying to tell us what we want to hear but clearly don't understand the issues.

Janeese would be a major step down from Bowser. At least Bowser is willing to stand up to the teachers union. We remember how hard Janeese fought to keep schools closed during the pandemic, even after they had been open for months. We also know how adamantly she opposes raising academic standards or any form of accountability with schools. Nobody cares or should care about this nothing burger she's selling re: mayoral control of DCPS. It's meaningless.

For the benefit of those who don't "remember how hard Janeese fought to keep schools closed," care to enlighten us with receipts?

She backed legislation in 2022 that would have forced schools to re-close if they didn't meet impossible-to-meet coronavirus metrics. She said it was to ensure schools were safe. This was at a time when schools had already been open for five months, after closing for 18 months. The teachers union wanted virtual learning to go on forever and Janeese was doing the teachers union's bidding with the bill, per usual. She will do anything the union tells her. All she cares about is getting elected. The other members of the city council forced her to drop the idea.

JLG has sold her soul to the teachers union.

But why would she do that? Honest question. I would assume fewer than half of DCPS teachers live in DC, so why would she worry about people who aren’t her constituents?’

Some people say this because teachers are backing her for mayor. McDuffie refused to answer the teacher’s questionnaire or join the debate. Also some BS about covid. Blue states ALL opened later than red, even though it’s very easily verified that these states aren’t doing better because they opened earlier.

Even with this, it does not equate to selling her soul. She did not answer every question exactly the way we would have wanted. Yet we endorsed her because she is the only one with a track record and cares about public schools. Not just big businesses.

Regardless of who you vote for know that McDuffie does not care about education at all.

I think this is a misguided belief but McDuffie clearly views himself as the prohibitive favorite and is refusing to give anyone any attack surface by campaigning on anything at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should not be in charge of DC public and charter schools if you are unwilling to send your own kids.

That goes for Mayor and DME.

People should weigh whether a politician sends their kid to public or charter school when they pick who to vote for but having it be legally disqualifying is just flat unconstitutional.

That being said what dc pols have kids in public school? I think Bowser’s kid is still in her school, but typically they go to St. John’s.

They don’t go there lol Why would it be unconstitutional in a city with mayoral control? It’d be different if we had a school board. How can a mayor be allowed to run public schools without any stake in them or experience?

It would constitute a very clear religious test under even a pretty liberal court. You might not even have to get there as a restraint of freedom of association.

Are his kids going to a religious private school?
Also restraint of freedom? I would think that’s a price you pay for being mayor.
Guess that checks out when we have a senile man who SA’s children running our nation.

There is a distinction between whether something is illegal and whether you think it disqualifies them from the position.

Banning the mayor from having their kids in parochial or other private schools would be flatly unconstitutional on many first amendment grounds (religion, association immediately come to mind).

For me, a candidate having their kids in private school is disqualifying and I won’t vote for them. But that’s different than thinking it should be illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should not be in charge of DC public and charter schools if you are unwilling to send your own kids.

That goes for Mayor and DME.

People should weigh whether a politician sends their kid to public or charter school when they pick who to vote for but having it be legally disqualifying is just flat unconstitutional.

That being said what dc pols have kids in public school? I think Bowser’s kid is still in her school, but typically they go to St. John’s.

They don’t go there lol Why would it be unconstitutional in a city with mayoral control? It’d be different if we had a school board. How can a mayor be allowed to run public schools without any stake in them or experience?

It would constitute a very clear religious test under even a pretty liberal court. You might not even have to get there as a restraint of freedom of association.

Are his kids going to a religious private school?
Also restraint of freedom? I would think that’s a price you pay for being mayor.
Guess that checks out when we have a senile man who SA’s children running our nation.

There is a distinction between whether something is illegal and whether you think it disqualifies them from the position.

Banning the mayor from having their kids in parochial or other private schools would be flatly unconstitutional on many first amendment grounds (religion, association immediately come to mind).

For me, a candidate having their kids in private school is disqualifying and I won’t vote for them. But that’s different than thinking it should be illegal.

Yet, they have to live in DC is somehow different?

I do agree on religion, just not private in general. But this point is moot, I know it’s not illegal and will not be. I just think it’s interesting that someone running for mayor says they ‘care’ about public schools yet didn’t even try pre-k.

[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:Honestly Janice Lewis George is my pick -she is the only one who talked about actually structural changes.
My second is Gary Goodweather, who talks about classroom changes and training for teacher but to me it’s also a red flag. If you know Michelle Rhee, she did a number on DCPS and helped ruin it. Teachers don’t need MORE training, we need GOOD training and planning time.

I find it interesting McDuffie is ALWAYS declining debates involving education. I also recently discovered his plan is to get kids ‘AI ready.’ Just no, we don’t need more tech. The research clearly shows this is not the way and let’s be honest most dummies can utilize AI -to use it well should be an elective a kid in HS can take IF they are interested.

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

DP- overall? The debate was pretty short.
But universal childcare (little kids), more aftercare slots,actually addressing truancy and how kids get to school. As well as how we can address challenging behaviors.
Changing who is in charge not just the chancellor but possibly deputy of education, superintendents.
More listening to what teachers, parents, and students are saying.

I think no one is offering the huge changes teachers and parents would really want.

But I also agree that of all the candidates Janice and Gary are the best but Gary’s answers were way less polished and he admitted he has no expertise in running education. I know I will not be voting for McDuffie either, I do need the next mayor to not just care about businesses and crime (well I’d like them to actually care about crime more) but also education.

I'm always surprised when people here rip JLG on education because she has been incredibly engaged on education during her time on Council. People see DSA and lose their minds but she's from Ward 4, went to Deal and Wilson, and she and her staff have shown up and pushed for school improvements even outside of just her constituents. I'm sure there are things we disagree on but the blanket "she's DSA and hates standards" is so reductive.

I also believe she may be in favor of relinquishing mayoral control of DCPS which would be huge and one of Bowser's worst decisions. It makes everything at the school level, even small things, a political fight which is not how we should view education.

I agree. I'm not sure what baggage people have that cause them to be negative about her but Janeese understands what's going on and can speak to the issues competently. It's refreshing compared to the usual political hacks that are just trying to tell us what we want to hear but clearly don't understand the issues.

Janeese would be a major step down from Bowser. At least Bowser is willing to stand up to the teachers union. We remember how hard Janeese fought to keep schools closed during the pandemic, even after they had been open for months. We also know how adamantly she opposes raising academic standards or any form of accountability with schools. Nobody cares or should care about this nothing burger she's selling re: mayoral control of DCPS. It's meaningless.

For the benefit of those who don't "remember how hard Janeese fought to keep schools closed," care to enlighten us with receipts?

She backed legislation in 2022 that would have forced schools to re-close if they didn't meet impossible-to-meet coronavirus metrics. She said it was to ensure schools were safe. This was at a time when schools had already been open for five months, after closing for 18 months. The teachers union wanted virtual learning to go on forever and Janeese was doing the teachers union's bidding with the bill, per usual. She will do anything the union tells her. All she cares about is getting elected. The other members of the city council forced her to drop the idea.

JLG has sold her soul to the teachers union.

But why would she do that? Honest question. I would assume fewer than half of DCPS teachers live in DC, so why would she worry about people who aren’t her constituents?’

Some people say this because teachers are backing her for mayor. McDuffie refused to answer the teacher’s questionnaire or join the debate. Also some BS about covid. Blue states ALL opened later than red, even though it’s very easily verified that these states aren’t doing better because they opened earlier.

Even with this, it does not equate to selling her soul. She did not answer every question exactly the way we would have wanted. Yet we endorsed her because she is the only one with a track record and cares about public schools. Not just big businesses.

Regardless of who you vote for know that McDuffie does not care about education at all.

I think this is a misguided belief but McDuffie clearly views himself as the prohibitive favorite and is refusing to give anyone any attack surface by campaigning on anything at all.

How is it misguided? JLG has not consulted with the teacher’s union on what she ‘should do.’ I am saying this as a teacher who is a prominent member of our union. She never agreed with the weird body bag thing, nor did the union as a whole. If a few of your colleagues in your company defaced a building does that mean your whole company is responsible?

I’m a sensitive type of person and it bugs me that some parents hate dcps teachers yet still send their kids to a dcps school. Covid is over, if we have another pandemic we definitely will be better prepared. The majority of us really hated distance learning -especially those of us teaching younger students. Now with the rise of AI older kids will probably have an AI version participate in class instead haha.

I do agree with the last part, he is banking on getting the same people who voted for Bowser. I will not be voting for him as of now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

She needs to tell voters her plan for charter schools. If she's going to try to kneecap them, parents need to know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true JLG has promised to defund charter schools?

She needs to tell voters her plan for charter schools. If she's going to try to kneecap them, parents need to know that.

McDuffie plans to defund all public schools.