Moderate conservative immigrant family moving from Fairfax VA to Mountain View CA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you about specific public schools in MV if that's what you want. There are two public middle schools, multiple elementary schools, and two choice elementary schools. The high school district is different than the middle school and elementary district.

There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

MV is filled with extremely hard working immigrants, some of whom have done very well for themselves and their families, and they tend to value education. That is reflected in the school population and what happens in the schools.

What else do you want to know?

I'm the PP who mentioned the $1K "donation". It is a donation, not obligatory, but it funds things that we take for granted in the DC area. As I stated, I lived in SV area (Peninsula area to be specific), and that's what every school district there did.. they had parents "donate" to fund things like art and PE.

In MV, they use the funds for things like chromebooks and PSAT (both are free in our school district in DC area).

https://mvlafoundation.org/what-we-fund/

https://mvlafoundation.org/donate/

I grew up in CA, went to school there. Public education there is vastly underfunded since Prop 13 (I'm old, and remember when this hit the public schools).

I literally live here with kids in public schools and this is not true. The maximum donation request I have heard of in MV is $300, and it is discretionary and many families don't give anything. MV has a very diverse population with a high FARMS percentage. There are no mandatory $1k donations here.

I'm not sure why you are making stuff up about a place you left years ago, but you need to stop it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you about specific public schools in MV if that's what you want. There are two public middle schools, multiple elementary schools, and two choice elementary schools. The high school district is different than the middle school and elementary district.

There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

MV is filled with extremely hard working immigrants, some of whom have done very well for themselves and their families, and they tend to value education. That is reflected in the school population and what happens in the schools.

What else do you want to know?

I'm the PP who mentioned the $1K "donation". It is a donation, not obligatory, but it funds things that we take for granted in the DC area. As I stated, I lived in SV area (Peninsula area to be specific), and that's what every school district there did.. they had parents "donate" to fund things like art and PE.

In MV, they use the funds for things like chromebooks and PSAT (both are free in our school district in DC area).

https://mvlafoundation.org/what-we-fund/

https://mvlafoundation.org/donate/

I grew up in CA, went to school there. Public education there is vastly underfunded since Prop 13 (I'm old, and remember when this hit the public schools).

I literally live here with kids in public schools and this is not true. The maximum donation request I have heard of in MV is $300, and it is discretionary and many families don't give anything. MV has a very diverse population with a high FARMS percentage. There are no mandatory $1k donations here.

I'm not sure why you are making stuff up about a place you left years ago, but you need to stop it.

P.S. Also, I’ve volunteered for MVEF events. I know much, much more about this than you do, and I am telling you, you are flat-out spreading misinformation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

I don't want to reply to that "resiliency" comment, but what I do want to know is if I get a teacher putting the rainbow flag besides the American flag in the classroom, will I be able to report this to the principal and have the flag taken down? At least here in Fairfax, things are somewhat moderate and we are generally ok with the public school system.
Again I don't want to discuss about my family's values and beliefs, we are who we are. I just don't want to get my kids into an ultra-progressive public school system which is not consistent with our values.

Time for some real talk, OP. You aren’t made of stern enough stuff for Silicon Valley. There are many conservatives here, but conservatism here has a healthy dose of libertarianism, and frankly you’d be laughed out of the room if you tried to get a rainbow flag taken down. Conservatives here tend to be very hard working people who are driven, and who would question your decision to waste energy on removing a flag rather than just teaching your kids your own values and trusting they are strong enough to withstand the sight of a rainbow flag.

The PP who wrote the long post about Silicon Valley is right. The kind of conservatives in California who would agree with your desire to remove a rainbow flag largely live in the poorer, whiter, and more rural parts of California. They also tend to be very anti-immigrant. Silicon Valley conservatives would roll their eyes at you, and wonder why you are wasting your time and mental energy.

So no, you aren’t getting the principal to remove a rainbow flag. You’d get laughed at if you asked. I’m in California but I am honestly surprised Fairfax, VA principals would entertain such nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you about specific public schools in MV if that's what you want. There are two public middle schools, multiple elementary schools, and two choice elementary schools. The high school district is different than the middle school and elementary district.

There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

MV is filled with extremely hard working immigrants, some of whom have done very well for themselves and their families, and they tend to value education. That is reflected in the school population and what happens in the schools.

What else do you want to know?

I'm the PP who mentioned the $1K "donation". It is a donation, not obligatory, but it funds things that we take for granted in the DC area. As I stated, I lived in SV area (Peninsula area to be specific), and that's what every school district there did.. they had parents "donate" to fund things like art and PE.

In MV, they use the funds for things like chromebooks and PSAT (both are free in our school district in DC area).

https://mvlafoundation.org/what-we-fund/

https://mvlafoundation.org/donate/

I grew up in CA, went to school there. Public education there is vastly underfunded since Prop 13 (I'm old, and remember when this hit the public schools).

I literally live here with kids in public schools and this is not true. The maximum donation request I have heard of in MV is $300, and it is discretionary and many families don't give anything. MV has a very diverse population with a high FARMS percentage. There are no mandatory $1k donations here.

I'm not sure why you are making stuff up about a place you left years ago, but you need to stop it.

DP. The PP literally said "it's a donation, not obligatory".

PP was probably talking about donations in the general area, not MV specifically. My sister lives in Palo Alto and they are "expected" to donate $1k+ per kid.

https://papie.org/donate/
Sorry - looks like it's $1200 per kid.

[Anonymous]

OP isn’t asking about moving to Palo Alto, so I don’t see why making a fuss over voluntary donations that most people don’t even do in one of the wealthiest cities in the US is remotely relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

I don't want to reply to that "resiliency" comment, but what I do want to know is if I get a teacher putting the rainbow flag besides the American flag in the classroom, will I be able to report this to the principal and have the flag taken down? At least here in Fairfax, things are somewhat moderate and we are generally ok with the public school system.
Again I don't want to discuss about my family's values and beliefs, we are who we are. I just don't want to get my kids into an ultra-progressive public school system which is not consistent with our values.

PP who suggested you go to the eastern and inland areas of the BA again. I'm not interested in arguing with you about your politics. I am an expert on California's political climate though and have written many papers and books on the state and on Silicon Valley, in particular. I have lived in the Bay Area and in DC for over three decades.

Based on what you just stated, the places where you would want to live in California will be mostly in the inland, north, and far southeast areas of the state. (Santa Cruz, which you suggested is literally the opposite of the kind of community you seek.) The southern portions of San Jose/Gilroy will be more in your price range, but they aren't especially safe areas and the politics there aren't as conservative as you would like. To the extent they are conservative, at least some portion of that conservatism is anti-immigrant, which would not really help you.

Also, FYI - you say you consider yourself a moderate conservative, but in California most moderate conservatives embrace LGBT rights. By California standards, you are not moderate. You are conservative, full stop. I'm not saying this to insult you, but to help you understand how to find what you want.

FWIW - There are very few places in the Bay Area where even the conservatives would freak out about the presence of a rainbow flag in a classroom. (Frankly, I think that your views aren't even as accepted as you might believe in Fairfax.) I can't think of a single community in the Bay Area where a parent could demand something like that - e.g., take down a rainbow flag - without it turning into a major fight that you would most likely lose.

That said, I think you can find communities here where the liberal politics aren't as "in your face," where the schools are excellent, and where immigrants are welcome. For that, I repeat my recommendation to go through the tunnel to the Lamorinda area (Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, etc.). The other place you could go would be outside Sacramento, but that's way too long for commute. You'd also find a similar fit in the Bakersfield/San Joaquin Valley, but that commute is also brutal.

The easy way to do this is to get out a map and look at the counties and cities where Trump won. Those places are where you will most likely find people with views similar to yours, though they may also be anti-immigrant, which is just something you'll have to navigate.

OP here. Thank you for your reply. Yes I don't want to end up in an unsafe, anti-immigrant community. But at the same time, I don't want to end up in a school with the liberal politics "in my kids face" as you stated. And I consider the rainbow flag part of it, as well as BLM etc. I don't care about lgbt rights, I just don't want my kids brainwashed with these stuff.
Not sure about if such area exists there. But all I care is about schools. And I don't want to be part of a "culture war", I just want a quiet and safe life for me and my family.

A 1hr commute would be acceptable for me, as I will be only going to SV twice per week or so. I've been to Sacramento and it's a very nice city, although I'm not sure if it satisfies my standards..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

I don't want to reply to that "resiliency" comment, but what I do want to know is if I get a teacher putting the rainbow flag besides the American flag in the classroom, will I be able to report this to the principal and have the flag taken down? At least here in Fairfax, things are somewhat moderate and we are generally ok with the public school system.
Again I don't want to discuss about my family's values and beliefs, we are who we are. I just don't want to get my kids into an ultra-progressive public school system which is not consistent with our values.

PP who suggested you go to the eastern and inland areas of the BA again. I'm not interested in arguing with you about your politics. I am an expert on California's political climate though and have written many papers and books on the state and on Silicon Valley, in particular. I have lived in the Bay Area and in DC for over three decades.

Based on what you just stated, the places where you would want to live in California will be mostly in the inland, north, and far southeast areas of the state. (Santa Cruz, which you suggested is literally the opposite of the kind of community you seek.) The southern portions of San Jose/Gilroy will be more in your price range, but they aren't especially safe areas and the politics there aren't as conservative as you would like. To the extent they are conservative, at least some portion of that conservatism is anti-immigrant, which would not really help you.

Also, FYI - you say you consider yourself a moderate conservative, but in California most moderate conservatives embrace LGBT rights. By California standards, you are not moderate. You are conservative, full stop. I'm not saying this to insult you, but to help you understand how to find what you want.

FWIW - There are very few places in the Bay Area where even the conservatives would freak out about the presence of a rainbow flag in a classroom. (Frankly, I think that your views aren't even as accepted as you might believe in Fairfax.) I can't think of a single community in the Bay Area where a parent could demand something like that - e.g., take down a rainbow flag - without it turning into a major fight that you would most likely lose.

That said, I think you can find communities here where the liberal politics aren't as "in your face," where the schools are excellent, and where immigrants are welcome. For that, I repeat my recommendation to go through the tunnel to the Lamorinda area (Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, etc.). The other place you could go would be outside Sacramento, but that's way too long for commute. You'd also find a similar fit in the Bakersfield/San Joaquin Valley, but that commute is also brutal.

The easy way to do this is to get out a map and look at the counties and cities where Trump won. Those places are where you will most likely find people with views similar to yours, though they may also be anti-immigrant, which is just something you'll have to navigate.

OP here. Thank you for your reply. Yes I don't want to end up in an unsafe, anti-immigrant community. But at the same time, I don't want to end up in a school with the liberal politics "in my kids face" as you stated. And I consider the rainbow flag part of it, as well as BLM etc. I don't care about lgbt rights, I just don't want my kids brainwashed with these stuff.
Not sure about if such area exists there. But all I care is about schools. And I don't want to be part of a "culture war", I just want a quiet and safe life for me and my family.

A 1hr commute would be acceptable for me, as I will be only going to SV twice per week or so. I've been to Sacramento and it's a very nice city, although I'm not sure if it satisfies my standards..

If you are so sensitive to the mere sight of a rainbow flag that you would immediately run to the principal, you are indeed looking to be part of a culture war. Rainbow flags are all over this state, including in deep red, state of Jefferson areas that usually hate immigrants. You are in for a rough time.

I am positive you will find occasional classrooms in the Sacramento area with rainbow flags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

I don't want to reply to that "resiliency" comment, but what I do want to know is if I get a teacher putting the rainbow flag besides the American flag in the classroom, will I be able to report this to the principal and have the flag taken down? At least here in Fairfax, things are somewhat moderate and we are generally ok with the public school system.
Again I don't want to discuss about my family's values and beliefs, we are who we are. I just don't want to get my kids into an ultra-progressive public school system which is not consistent with our values.

PP who suggested you go to the eastern and inland areas of the BA again. I'm not interested in arguing with you about your politics. I am an expert on California's political climate though and have written many papers and books on the state and on Silicon Valley, in particular. I have lived in the Bay Area and in DC for over three decades.

Based on what you just stated, the places where you would want to live in California will be mostly in the inland, north, and far southeast areas of the state. (Santa Cruz, which you suggested is literally the opposite of the kind of community you seek.) The southern portions of San Jose/Gilroy will be more in your price range, but they aren't especially safe areas and the politics there aren't as conservative as you would like. To the extent they are conservative, at least some portion of that conservatism is anti-immigrant, which would not really help you.

Also, FYI - you say you consider yourself a moderate conservative, but in California most moderate conservatives embrace LGBT rights. By California standards, you are not moderate. You are conservative, full stop. I'm not saying this to insult you, but to help you understand how to find what you want.

FWIW - There are very few places in the Bay Area where even the conservatives would freak out about the presence of a rainbow flag in a classroom. (Frankly, I think that your views aren't even as accepted as you might believe in Fairfax.) I can't think of a single community in the Bay Area where a parent could demand something like that - e.g., take down a rainbow flag - without it turning into a major fight that you would most likely lose.

That said, I think you can find communities here where the liberal politics aren't as "in your face," where the schools are excellent, and where immigrants are welcome. For that, I repeat my recommendation to go through the tunnel to the Lamorinda area (Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, etc.). The other place you could go would be outside Sacramento, but that's way too long for commute. You'd also find a similar fit in the Bakersfield/San Joaquin Valley, but that commute is also brutal.

The easy way to do this is to get out a map and look at the counties and cities where Trump won. Those places are where you will most likely find people with views similar to yours, though they may also be anti-immigrant, which is just something you'll have to navigate.

OP here. Thank you for your reply. Yes I don't want to end up in an unsafe, anti-immigrant community. But at the same time, I don't want to end up in a school with the liberal politics "in my kids face" as you stated. And I consider the rainbow flag part of it, as well as BLM etc. I don't care about lgbt rights, I just don't want my kids brainwashed with these stuff.
Not sure about if such area exists there. But all I care is about schools. And I don't want to be part of a "culture war", I just want a quiet and safe life for me and my family.

A 1hr commute would be acceptable for me, as I will be only going to SV twice per week or so. I've been to Sacramento and it's a very nice city, although I'm not sure if it satisfies my standards..

If you are so sensitive to the mere sight of a rainbow flag that you would immediately run to the principal, you are indeed looking to be part of a culture war. Rainbow flags are all over this state, including in deep red, state of Jefferson areas that usually hate immigrants. You are in for a rough time.

I am positive you will find occasional classrooms in the Sacramento area with rainbow flags.

I'm talking about such flags in the classroom. So far haven't encountered such a situation in Fairfax, and haven't heard about such things from other parents here.

Sorry just saw Sacramento is 2hrs, so that's a bit too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

I don't want to reply to that "resiliency" comment, but what I do want to know is if I get a teacher putting the rainbow flag besides the American flag in the classroom, will I be able to report this to the principal and have the flag taken down? At least here in Fairfax, things are somewhat moderate and we are generally ok with the public school system.
Again I don't want to discuss about my family's values and beliefs, we are who we are. I just don't want to get my kids into an ultra-progressive public school system which is not consistent with our values.

PP who suggested you go to the eastern and inland areas of the BA again. I'm not interested in arguing with you about your politics. I am an expert on California's political climate though and have written many papers and books on the state and on Silicon Valley, in particular. I have lived in the Bay Area and in DC for over three decades.

Based on what you just stated, the places where you would want to live in California will be mostly in the inland, north, and far southeast areas of the state. (Santa Cruz, which you suggested is literally the opposite of the kind of community you seek.) The southern portions of San Jose/Gilroy will be more in your price range, but they aren't especially safe areas and the politics there aren't as conservative as you would like. To the extent they are conservative, at least some portion of that conservatism is anti-immigrant, which would not really help you.

Also, FYI - you say you consider yourself a moderate conservative, but in California most moderate conservatives embrace LGBT rights. By California standards, you are not moderate. You are conservative, full stop. I'm not saying this to insult you, but to help you understand how to find what you want.

FWIW - There are very few places in the Bay Area where even the conservatives would freak out about the presence of a rainbow flag in a classroom. (Frankly, I think that your views aren't even as accepted as you might believe in Fairfax.) I can't think of a single community in the Bay Area where a parent could demand something like that - e.g., take down a rainbow flag - without it turning into a major fight that you would most likely lose.

That said, I think you can find communities here where the liberal politics aren't as "in your face," where the schools are excellent, and where immigrants are welcome. For that, I repeat my recommendation to go through the tunnel to the Lamorinda area (Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, etc.). The other place you could go would be outside Sacramento, but that's way too long for commute. You'd also find a similar fit in the Bakersfield/San Joaquin Valley, but that commute is also brutal.

The easy way to do this is to get out a map and look at the counties and cities where Trump won. Those places are where you will most likely find people with views similar to yours, though they may also be anti-immigrant, which is just something you'll have to navigate.

OP here. Thank you for your reply. Yes I don't want to end up in an unsafe, anti-immigrant community. But at the same time, I don't want to end up in a school with the liberal politics "in my kids face" as you stated. And I consider the rainbow flag part of it, as well as BLM etc. I don't care about lgbt rights, I just don't want my kids brainwashed with these stuff.
Not sure about if such area exists there. But all I care is about schools. And I don't want to be part of a "culture war", I just want a quiet and safe life for me and my family.

A 1hr commute would be acceptable for me, as I will be only going to SV twice per week or so. I've been to Sacramento and it's a very nice city, although I'm not sure if it satisfies my standards..

If you are so sensitive to the mere sight of a rainbow flag that you would immediately run to the principal, you are indeed looking to be part of a culture war. Rainbow flags are all over this state, including in deep red, state of Jefferson areas that usually hate immigrants. You are in for a rough time.

I am positive you will find occasional classrooms in the Sacramento area with rainbow flags.

I'm talking about such flags in the classroom. So far haven't encountered such a situation in Fairfax, and haven't heard about such things from other parents here.

Sorry just saw Sacramento is 2hrs, so that's a bit too much.

Yes, I understand, and I'm telling you, you are too sensitive to flourish in California.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

I don't want to reply to that "resiliency" comment, but what I do want to know is if I get a teacher putting the rainbow flag besides the American flag in the classroom, will I be able to report this to the principal and have the flag taken down? At least here in Fairfax, things are somewhat moderate and we are generally ok with the public school system.
Again I don't want to discuss about my family's values and beliefs, we are who we are. I just don't want to get my kids into an ultra-progressive public school system which is not consistent with our values.

PP who suggested you go to the eastern and inland areas of the BA again. I'm not interested in arguing with you about your politics. I am an expert on California's political climate though and have written many papers and books on the state and on Silicon Valley, in particular. I have lived in the Bay Area and in DC for over three decades.

Based on what you just stated, the places where you would want to live in California will be mostly in the inland, north, and far southeast areas of the state. (Santa Cruz, which you suggested is literally the opposite of the kind of community you seek.) The southern portions of San Jose/Gilroy will be more in your price range, but they aren't especially safe areas and the politics there aren't as conservative as you would like. To the extent they are conservative, at least some portion of that conservatism is anti-immigrant, which would not really help you.

Also, FYI - you say you consider yourself a moderate conservative, but in California most moderate conservatives embrace LGBT rights. By California standards, you are not moderate. You are conservative, full stop. I'm not saying this to insult you, but to help you understand how to find what you want.

FWIW - There are very few places in the Bay Area where even the conservatives would freak out about the presence of a rainbow flag in a classroom. (Frankly, I think that your views aren't even as accepted as you might believe in Fairfax.) I can't think of a single community in the Bay Area where a parent could demand something like that - e.g., take down a rainbow flag - without it turning into a major fight that you would most likely lose.

That said, I think you can find communities here where the liberal politics aren't as "in your face," where the schools are excellent, and where immigrants are welcome. For that, I repeat my recommendation to go through the tunnel to the Lamorinda area (Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, etc.). The other place you could go would be outside Sacramento, but that's way too long for commute. You'd also find a similar fit in the Bakersfield/San Joaquin Valley, but that commute is also brutal.

The easy way to do this is to get out a map and look at the counties and cities where Trump won. Those places are where you will most likely find people with views similar to yours, though they may also be anti-immigrant, which is just something you'll have to navigate.

OP here. Thank you for your reply. Yes I don't want to end up in an unsafe, anti-immigrant community. But at the same time, I don't want to end up in a school with the liberal politics "in my kids face" as you stated. And I consider the rainbow flag part of it, as well as BLM etc. I don't care about lgbt rights, I just don't want my kids brainwashed with these stuff.
Not sure about if such area exists there. But all I care is about schools. And I don't want to be part of a "culture war", I just want a quiet and safe life for me and my family.

A 1hr commute would be acceptable for me, as I will be only going to SV twice per week or so. I've been to Sacramento and it's a very nice city, although I'm not sure if it satisfies my standards..

If you are so sensitive to the mere sight of a rainbow flag that you would immediately run to the principal, you are indeed looking to be part of a culture war. Rainbow flags are all over this state, including in deep red, state of Jefferson areas that usually hate immigrants. You are in for a rough time.

I am positive you will find occasional classrooms in the Sacramento area with rainbow flags.

I'm talking about such flags in the classroom. So far haven't encountered such a situation in Fairfax, and haven't heard about such things from other parents here.

Sorry just saw Sacramento is 2hrs, so that's a bit too much.

Yes, I understand, and I'm telling you, you are too sensitive to flourish in California.

+1 I have to agree. I'm not progressive uber liberal, but if a rainbow flag in a school to show support for lgbtq is going to trigger you, I don't think liberal areas like SV is for you.

What if OP your kid turns out to be gay? Will you disown them?

I'm also an immigrant, conservative family, but my family would never disown a family member for being gay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you about specific public schools in MV if that's what you want. There are two public middle schools, multiple elementary schools, and two choice elementary schools. The high school district is different than the middle school and elementary district.

There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

MV is filled with extremely hard working immigrants, some of whom have done very well for themselves and their families, and they tend to value education. That is reflected in the school population and what happens in the schools.

What else do you want to know?

I'm the PP who mentioned the $1K "donation". It is a donation, not obligatory, but it funds things that we take for granted in the DC area. As I stated, I lived in SV area (Peninsula area to be specific), and that's what every school district there did.. they had parents "donate" to fund things like art and PE.

In MV, they use the funds for things like chromebooks and PSAT (both are free in our school district in DC area).

https://mvlafoundation.org/what-we-fund/

https://mvlafoundation.org/donate/

I grew up in CA, went to school there. Public education there is vastly underfunded since Prop 13 (I'm old, and remember when this hit the public schools).

I literally live here with kids in public schools and this is not true. The maximum donation request I have heard of in MV is $300, and it is discretionary and many families don't give anything. MV has a very diverse population with a high FARMS percentage. There are no mandatory $1k donations here.

I'm not sure why you are making stuff up about a place you left years ago, but you need to stop it.

I hope your kids are getting a better education than you did since you seem to have reading comprehension issues. I never stated it was mandatory. You stated that. But, the donations do go towards things like PE and art, and if no one donates because they don't feel obligated to, then guess what... the kids don't get PE and art.

And you're right. .. it's "$800 request", not $1000. Yes, MV has a high FARMs rate in part because it's crazy expensive in the Bay Area, and this is part of why the school districts ask for donations. Not sure why you are getting so bent out of shape when almost every school district in that area has a nonprofit to fund these "extras".


https://www.mvef.org/home-early-2021

https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_b348058c-54ec-11e6-9d49-0a1b37ae639f&WidgetId=7051264

$800.00 - Requested amount per student

And this would be a request every year. I paid that amount because, of course, I want my kids to have PE and art in school, but it's nuts. Prior to Prop 13, these were all standard. I was so happy when I moved to the DC area, and the PTA asked for $35 for the whole year for party supplies.

I have donated several hundred to the MS/HS here, but those went to fun events, not for what used to be a standard part of the curriculum. People with money will donate, and part of what they donate will cover people who don't/cant'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

I don't want to reply to that "resiliency" comment, but what I do want to know is if I get a teacher putting the rainbow flag besides the American flag in the classroom, will I be able to report this to the principal and have the flag taken down? At least here in Fairfax, things are somewhat moderate and we are generally ok with the public school system.
Again I don't want to discuss about my family's values and beliefs, we are who we are. I just don't want to get my kids into an ultra-progressive public school system which is not consistent with our values.

PP who suggested you go to the eastern and inland areas of the BA again. I'm not interested in arguing with you about your politics. I am an expert on California's political climate though and have written many papers and books on the state and on Silicon Valley, in particular. I have lived in the Bay Area and in DC for over three decades.

Based on what you just stated, the places where you would want to live in California will be mostly in the inland, north, and far southeast areas of the state. (Santa Cruz, which you suggested is literally the opposite of the kind of community you seek.) The southern portions of San Jose/Gilroy will be more in your price range, but they aren't especially safe areas and the politics there aren't as conservative as you would like. To the extent they are conservative, at least some portion of that conservatism is anti-immigrant, which would not really help you.

Also, FYI - you say you consider yourself a moderate conservative, but in California most moderate conservatives embrace LGBT rights. By California standards, you are not moderate. You are conservative, full stop. I'm not saying this to insult you, but to help you understand how to find what you want.

FWIW - There are very few places in the Bay Area where even the conservatives would freak out about the presence of a rainbow flag in a classroom. (Frankly, I think that your views aren't even as accepted as you might believe in Fairfax.) I can't think of a single community in the Bay Area where a parent could demand something like that - e.g., take down a rainbow flag - without it turning into a major fight that you would most likely lose.

That said, I think you can find communities here where the liberal politics aren't as "in your face," where the schools are excellent, and where immigrants are welcome. For that, I repeat my recommendation to go through the tunnel to the Lamorinda area (Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, etc.). The other place you could go would be outside Sacramento, but that's way too long for commute. You'd also find a similar fit in the Bakersfield/San Joaquin Valley, but that commute is also brutal.

The easy way to do this is to get out a map and look at the counties and cities where Trump won. Those places are where you will most likely find people with views similar to yours, though they may also be anti-immigrant, which is just something you'll have to navigate.

OP here. Thank you for your reply. Yes I don't want to end up in an unsafe, anti-immigrant community. But at the same time, I don't want to end up in a school with the liberal politics "in my kids face" as you stated. And I consider the rainbow flag part of it, as well as BLM etc. I don't care about lgbt rights, I just don't want my kids brainwashed with these stuff.
Not sure about if such area exists there. But all I care is about schools. And I don't want to be part of a "culture war", I just want a quiet and safe life for me and my family.

A 1hr commute would be acceptable for me, as I will be only going to SV twice per week or so. I've been to Sacramento and it's a very nice city, although I'm not sure if it satisfies my standards..

If you are so sensitive to the mere sight of a rainbow flag that you would immediately run to the principal, you are indeed looking to be part of a culture war. Rainbow flags are all over this state, including in deep red, state of Jefferson areas that usually hate immigrants. You are in for a rough time.

I am positive you will find occasional classrooms in the Sacramento area with rainbow flags.

I'm talking about such flags in the classroom. So far haven't encountered such a situation in Fairfax, and haven't heard about such things from other parents here.

Sorry just saw Sacramento is 2hrs, so that's a bit too much.

Yes, I understand, and I'm telling you, you are too sensitive to flourish in California.

+1 I have to agree. I'm not progressive uber liberal, but if a rainbow flag in a school to show support for lgbtq is going to trigger you, I don't think liberal areas like SV is for you.

What if OP your kid turns out to be gay? Will you disown them?

I'm also an immigrant, conservative family, but my family would never disown a family member for being gay.

OP here. I never said that I will disown a gay or anything like that. But I consider having a rainbow flag or a BLM flag in the classroom not appropriate. Only the American flag should be in the classroom. If I had a teacher bringing liberal political symbols into the classroom, I would send my kid with a MAGA or an all lives matter T-shirt at school (never voted for Trump, after all I don't have voting rights in the US). I never got into such situations in Fairfax schools. If I am guaranteed to face this stuff in CA, I'd rather pass the offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you about specific public schools in MV if that's what you want. There are two public middle schools, multiple elementary schools, and two choice elementary schools. The high school district is different than the middle school and elementary district.

There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

MV is filled with extremely hard working immigrants, some of whom have done very well for themselves and their families, and they tend to value education. That is reflected in the school population and what happens in the schools.

What else do you want to know?

I'm the PP who mentioned the $1K "donation". It is a donation, not obligatory, but it funds things that we take for granted in the DC area. As I stated, I lived in SV area (Peninsula area to be specific), and that's what every school district there did.. they had parents "donate" to fund things like art and PE.

In MV, they use the funds for things like chromebooks and PSAT (both are free in our school district in DC area).

https://mvlafoundation.org/what-we-fund/

https://mvlafoundation.org/donate/

I grew up in CA, went to school there. Public education there is vastly underfunded since Prop 13 (I'm old, and remember when this hit the public schools).

I literally live here with kids in public schools and this is not true. The maximum donation request I have heard of in MV is $300, and it is discretionary and many families don't give anything. MV has a very diverse population with a high FARMS percentage. There are no mandatory $1k donations here.

I'm not sure why you are making stuff up about a place you left years ago, but you need to stop it.

I hope your kids are getting a better education than you did since you seem to have reading comprehension issues. I never stated it was mandatory. You stated that. But, the donations do go towards things like PE and art, and if no one donates because they don't feel obligated to, then guess what... the kids don't get PE and art.

And you're right. .. it's "$800 request", not $1000. Yes, MV has a high FARMs rate in part because it's crazy expensive in the Bay Area, and this is part of why the school districts ask for donations. Not sure why you are getting so bent out of shape when almost every school district in that area has a nonprofit to fund these "extras".


https://www.mvef.org/home-early-2021

https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_b348058c-54ec-11e6-9d49-0a1b37ae639f&WidgetId=7051264

$800.00 - Requested amount per student

And this would be a request every year. I paid that amount because, of course, I want my kids to have PE and art in school, but it's nuts. Prior to Prop 13, these were all standard. I was so happy when I moved to the DC area, and the PTA asked for $35 for the whole year for party supplies.

I have donated several hundred to the MS/HS here, but those went to fun events, not for what used to be a standard part of the curriculum. People with money will donate, and part of what they donate will cover people who don't/cant'.

Jesus lady. I live here. I volunteer with MVEF. You live thousands of miles away, yet insist on spreading misinformation about my home. I don't know what your bizarre problem is, but as someone who literally lives here with kids in school here, I am telling you what you are saying is wrong.

OP, you need to ignore this poster. I don't think you are a fit for MV for other reasons, but you definitely don't have to donate $1000 or $800 or whatever this crazy lady insists in her own reality from thousands of miles away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
There are many families just like yours in MV. I haven't heard of any teacher obligating asking of pronouns, but some kids probably offer them. The population is very diverse. This $1k obligatory donation PP is talking about is completely untrue. I do not think they say the pledge of allegiance in the classrooms but I think that has been true for many years afaik (like since the 90s). There aren't rainbow flags in classrooms by policy, but it is possible individual teachers may have one (I have no idea why you would be so triggered by that, though, and I'm doubting the resiliency of you and your kids with that comment).

I don't want to reply to that "resiliency" comment, but what I do want to know is if I get a teacher putting the rainbow flag besides the American flag in the classroom, will I be able to report this to the principal and have the flag taken down? At least here in Fairfax, things are somewhat moderate and we are generally ok with the public school system.
Again I don't want to discuss about my family's values and beliefs, we are who we are. I just don't want to get my kids into an ultra-progressive public school system which is not consistent with our values.

PP who suggested you go to the eastern and inland areas of the BA again. I'm not interested in arguing with you about your politics. I am an expert on California's political climate though and have written many papers and books on the state and on Silicon Valley, in particular. I have lived in the Bay Area and in DC for over three decades.

Based on what you just stated, the places where you would want to live in California will be mostly in the inland, north, and far southeast areas of the state. (Santa Cruz, which you suggested is literally the opposite of the kind of community you seek.) The southern portions of San Jose/Gilroy will be more in your price range, but they aren't especially safe areas and the politics there aren't as conservative as you would like. To the extent they are conservative, at least some portion of that conservatism is anti-immigrant, which would not really help you.

Also, FYI - you say you consider yourself a moderate conservative, but in California most moderate conservatives embrace LGBT rights. By California standards, you are not moderate. You are conservative, full stop. I'm not saying this to insult you, but to help you understand how to find what you want.

FWIW - There are very few places in the Bay Area where even the conservatives would freak out about the presence of a rainbow flag in a classroom. (Frankly, I think that your views aren't even as accepted as you might believe in Fairfax.) I can't think of a single community in the Bay Area where a parent could demand something like that - e.g., take down a rainbow flag - without it turning into a major fight that you would most likely lose.

That said, I think you can find communities here where the liberal politics aren't as "in your face," where the schools are excellent, and where immigrants are welcome. For that, I repeat my recommendation to go through the tunnel to the Lamorinda area (Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, etc.). The other place you could go would be outside Sacramento, but that's way too long for commute. You'd also find a similar fit in the Bakersfield/San Joaquin Valley, but that commute is also brutal.

The easy way to do this is to get out a map and look at the counties and cities where Trump won. Those places are where you will most likely find people with views similar to yours, though they may also be anti-immigrant, which is just something you'll have to navigate.

OP here. Thank you for your reply. Yes I don't want to end up in an unsafe, anti-immigrant community. But at the same time, I don't want to end up in a school with the liberal politics "in my kids face" as you stated. And I consider the rainbow flag part of it, as well as BLM etc. I don't care about lgbt rights, I just don't want my kids brainwashed with these stuff.
Not sure about if such area exists there. But all I care is about schools. And I don't want to be part of a "culture war", I just want a quiet and safe life for me and my family.

A 1hr commute would be acceptable for me, as I will be only going to SV twice per week or so. I've been to Sacramento and it's a very nice city, although I'm not sure if it satisfies my standards..

If you are so sensitive to the mere sight of a rainbow flag that you would immediately run to the principal, you are indeed looking to be part of a culture war. Rainbow flags are all over this state, including in deep red, state of Jefferson areas that usually hate immigrants. You are in for a rough time.

I am positive you will find occasional classrooms in the Sacramento area with rainbow flags.

I'm talking about such flags in the classroom. So far haven't encountered such a situation in Fairfax, and haven't heard about such things from other parents here.

Sorry just saw Sacramento is 2hrs, so that's a bit too much.

Yes, I understand, and I'm telling you, you are too sensitive to flourish in California.

+1 I have to agree. I'm not progressive uber liberal, but if a rainbow flag in a school to show support for lgbtq is going to trigger you, I don't think liberal areas like SV is for you.

What if OP your kid turns out to be gay? Will you disown them?

I'm also an immigrant, conservative family, but my family would never disown a family member for being gay.

OP here. I never said that I will disown a gay or anything like that. But I consider having a rainbow flag or a BLM flag in the classroom not appropriate. Only the American flag should be in the classroom. If I had a teacher bringing liberal political symbols into the classroom, I would send my kid with a MAGA or an all lives matter T-shirt at school (never voted for Trump, after all I don't have voting rights in the US). I never got into such situations in Fairfax schools. If I am guaranteed to face this stuff in CA, I'd rather pass the offer.

Stay in VA, OP. You are too delicate for Silicon Valley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Stay in VA, OP. You are too delicate for Silicon Valley.

That's what I'm afraid of, that public schools around SV are not appropriate for me based on my standards. But I would like to hear other opinions as well.

Anonymous wrote:
OP, you need to ignore this poster. I don't think you are a fit for MV for other reasons, but you definitely don't have to donate $1000 or $800 or whatever this crazy lady insists in her own reality from thousands of miles away.

Honestly I don't think $1K is going to influence my decision regardless..