APS School Board race

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like Miranda and Erin will split the "parents know more than educators" vote. Go Angelo!

This is concerning in a Democratic Primary.

It's a talking point of the ultra right "parents rights" movement.

Conservative parents are joining APS committees in large numbers.

What if the parent run School Health Board puts out a recommendation to limit rights to trans students? Or change family life curriculum?

What if the parent run ACTL Social Studies committee recommends limiting African American Studies?

What if the parent run ACTL ELA committee doesn't want some types of books to be read in English?

"Drive central office staff to respect APS committee recommendations and survey results" - Erin's wesbite

Do we really want central office to respect committees recommendations that don't share out values? This is why we have an elected school board. It's their job to look at the recommendations offered by central office staff AND parent committees, and then decide how to move forward in the best interest of our community and students.

This is straight paranoia. Like, monsters-in-the-closet paranoia. The biggest knocks on the committee system are that 1) people only get selected for committees from a narrow and self-selecting group. If you're not "in the club", you'll never get picked, and 2) The staff doesn't even listen to committee reports and surveys.

Just look at the calendar process! That had no left-right valence, but the committee tried to stack the deck against what most people wanted, the survey confirmed that parents didn't like the committe-preferred option, and the staff proposed that one anyway!

APS has actual problems that kind of require actual solutions, but you're over here hiding under your bedsheets because you think a bunch of MAGAts are infiltrating Arlington, Illuminati-style. Doing secret handshakes and whispering "hail Trump" in each others' ears.

This sounds like it's from Angelo's team, considering he has no experience with APS. Like they turned on Tucker, then MSNBC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like Miranda and Erin will split the "parents know more than educators" vote. Go Angelo!

This is concerning in a Democratic Primary.

It's a talking point of the ultra right "parents rights" movement.

Conservative parents are joining APS committees in large numbers.

What if the parent run School Health Board puts out a recommendation to limit rights to trans students? Or change family life curriculum?

What if the parent run ACTL Social Studies committee recommends limiting African American Studies?

What if the parent run ACTL ELA committee doesn't want some types of books to be read in English?

"Drive central office staff to respect APS committee recommendations and survey results" - Erin's wesbite

Do we really want central office to respect committees recommendations that don't share out values? This is why we have an elected school board. It's their job to look at the recommendations offered by central office staff AND parent committees, and then decide how to move forward in the best interest of our community and students.

This is straight paranoia. Like, monsters-in-the-closet paranoia. The biggest knocks on the committee system are that 1) people only get selected for committees from a narrow and self-selecting group. If you're not "in the club", you'll never get picked, and 2) The staff doesn't even listen to committee reports and surveys.

Just look at the calendar process! That had no left-right valence, but the committee tried to stack the deck against what most people wanted, the survey confirmed that parents didn't like the committe-preferred option, and the staff proposed that one anyway!

APS has actual problems that kind of require actual solutions, but you're over here hiding under your bedsheets because you think a bunch of MAGAts are infiltrating Arlington, Illuminati-style. Doing secret handshakes and whispering "hail Trump" in each others' ears.

This sounds like it's from Angelo's team, considering he has no experience with APS. Like they turned on Tucker, then MSNBC.

"You should vote for me. I'm dumb as a rock, so I'll just do what I'm told!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like Miranda and Erin will split the "parents know more than educators" vote. Go Angelo!

This is concerning in a Democratic Primary.

It's a talking point of the ultra right "parents rights" movement.

Conservative parents are joining APS committees in large numbers.

What if the parent run School Health Board puts out a recommendation to limit rights to trans students? Or change family life curriculum?

What if the parent run ACTL Social Studies committee recommends limiting African American Studies?

What if the parent run ACTL ELA committee doesn't want some types of books to be read in English?

"Drive central office staff to respect APS committee recommendations and survey results" - Erin's wesbite

Do we really want central office to respect committees recommendations that don't share out values? This is why we have an elected school board. It's their job to look at the recommendations offered by central office staff AND parent committees, and then decide how to move forward in the best interest of our community and students.

This is straight paranoia. Like, monsters-in-the-closet paranoia. The biggest knocks on the committee system are that 1) people only get selected for committees from a narrow and self-selecting group. If you're not "in the club", you'll never get picked, and 2) The staff doesn't even listen to committee reports and surveys.

Just look at the calendar process! That had no left-right valence, but the committee tried to stack the deck against what most people wanted, the survey confirmed that parents didn't like the committe-preferred option, and the staff proposed that one anyway!

APS has actual problems that kind of require actual solutions, but you're over here hiding under your bedsheets because you think a bunch of MAGAts are infiltrating Arlington, Illuminati-style. Doing secret handshakes and whispering "hail Trump" in each others' ears.

This sounds like it's from Angelo's team, considering he has no experience with APS. Like they turned on Tucker, then MSNBC.

"You should vote for me. I'm dumb as a rock, so I'll just do what I'm told!"

Miranda's and Erin's platform look identical. I'm interested in Maggie at this point. She may have some actual experience worth noting. Angelo can't be serious. Well, if Cristina can jump right in tho

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t decide what is most bizarre about this thread. That anyone in 2023 is saying anti-mask like it’s a slur is hilarious - look around at almost everyone now. No one wants to wear them let alone require them on children now. And can there be a thread about APS without someone going down some weird conspiracy theory of some influence of Koch please? I find it bizarre and ironic as a supporter of public school policies traditionally held by the left that there is a constant desire by posters to give the GOP the issues of higher teacher pay and smaller class sizes, closing opportunity gaps etc that I am seeing on Arlington Parents’ website and twitter. These don’t seem like scary and conspiratorial concepts. You are giving away the platform of public schools to the right.

They were aggressively anti-mask way back when. And they were anti-teacher, anti-school, etc. Someone who helped a lot with her first campaign behaved very poorly at a SB meeting.

Just an odd group of miscreants for a potential school board member to side with.

The thing is, we can see in hindsight that they were correct in many ways. After vaccines were available to all adults there really wasn't any reason to wear masks or not go 5 days/week in person. I realize that masks were a political signifier in many ways, but there really was no scientific reason to bother with them at all in the 21-22 school year.

There was with questionable vaccination rates and winter surge.

They weren’t just opposed to masks. They were aggressively anti-maskers. Before it was time to let them go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff/Admin: Can you explain why posts in this thread keep getting deleted if they mention APE?

There is a post directly above yours that mentions APE that did not get deleted. Posts are getting deleted for that reason. They are getting deleted for making false statements.

This group, which a SB candidate led for years, was an open schools group in Arlington. They were abusive online and in school board meetings. Some of their most aggressive, vocal members were anti-maskers, anti-CRT, pro-voucher. They were aligned with open schools groups out in FCPS and LCPS. Including Ian Prior, PDE (Koch bro), etc.

This is really really really offensive. To say APE - which has an EXTREMELY public website and biweekly newsletter - is anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch brothers or Ian Prior is complete lies. You shouldn't be allowed to defame like this on a public website. Show us ANY proof of anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch or aligned with Ian Prior. Literally anything.

Here's an idea - some people thought kids should be in school sooner than you did, apparently. That doesn't make them bigots.

APE website: www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org

DP. Not an APE member and don't know who the members are. I agree with PP. However, while APE's work may be "extremely public," I don't understand why they are so anonymous. Those opinion pieces on various topics supposedly written by concerned parents or teachers are NEVER SIGNED. I can understand MAYBE a teacher being hesitant to have their name associated with a criticism of APS due to job concerns. But there is no reason for a parent to not sign their name to their own opinion piece. This just casts an air of secrecy and doubt: are these really pieces written by different concerned teachers and parents, or are they written by the same one or few members? APE proclaims its transparency - then OWN it and sign your names!

+1

I never took them seriously because the opinions were anonymous. And blatantly wrong at times. On some topics it was if they just started paying attention and had no history or understanding of the issues.

There is a reason why they don’t want you to know who they are. Because they know they’d lose all credibility.

[Anonymous]

Really?! is this what "GOP propaganda" look like:

from Miranda's website: "I’ve been an APS parent since 2015. I was a founding member of the Drew PTA in 2019 and still serve as Social Media Chair, am involved with the Montessori Public School of Arlington PTA, and serve as site liaison for the Drew/Green Valley Girls on the Run team. I’m a member of the Early Childhood Education Committee for the Advisory Council on Teaching & Learning. I volunteer as a Precinct Captain for the Arlington Democrats and spent time last fall knocking doors and poll greeting to elect local Democrats. I’m also a member of Green Valley Civic Association’s Executive Committee and our delegate to the Civic Federation.

In my professional life as a lawyer, I devote substantial time to volunteer pro bono work. I currently represent Planned Parenthood and litigate abortion rights in federal court, and I’ve mentored younger lawyers in housing rights cases and parole proceedings. "


She is a DINO. She's in it to win it, and has the race all locked up. She says the right Dem things while her base in her parent group will support her through the caucus and all the way to the election. She's very smary, savvy. It's not even a real race. She's going to run away with this.

If Miranda wins the caucus she wins the SB seat. The caucus is the election, for all intents and purposes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t decide what is most bizarre about this thread. That anyone in 2023 is saying anti-mask like it’s a slur is hilarious - look around at almost everyone now. No one wants to wear them let alone require them on children now. And can there be a thread about APS without someone going down some weird conspiracy theory of some influence of Koch please? I find it bizarre and ironic as a supporter of public school policies traditionally held by the left that there is a constant desire by posters to give the GOP the issues of higher teacher pay and smaller class sizes, closing opportunity gaps etc that I am seeing on Arlington Parents’ website and twitter. These don’t seem like scary and conspiratorial concepts. You are giving away the platform of public schools to the right.

They were aggressively anti-mask way back when. And they were anti-teacher, anti-school, etc. Someone who helped a lot with her first campaign behaved very poorly at a SB meeting.

Just an odd group of miscreants for a potential school board member to side with.

She didn’t just side with them. She was one of the original leaders. She also defended - saying she thought it was funny - that awful picture of Dr Duran that someone’s child allegedly drew where the picture shows Duran saying that he hates kids. Still a hard pass on MT but am excited to learn about the other candidates.

Exactly. Looking forward to seeing the other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff/Admin: Can you explain why posts in this thread keep getting deleted if they mention APE?

There is a post directly above yours that mentions APE that did not get deleted. Posts are getting deleted for that reason. They are getting deleted for making false statements.

This group, which a SB candidate led for years, was an open schools group in Arlington. They were abusive online and in school board meetings. Some of their most aggressive, vocal members were anti-maskers, anti-CRT, pro-voucher. They were aligned with open schools groups out in FCPS and LCPS. Including Ian Prior, PDE (Koch bro), etc.

This is really really really offensive. To say APE - which has an EXTREMELY public website and biweekly newsletter - is anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch brothers or Ian Prior is complete lies. You shouldn't be allowed to defame like this on a public website. Show us ANY proof of anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch or aligned with Ian Prior. Literally anything.

Here's an idea - some people thought kids should be in school sooner than you did, apparently. That doesn't make them bigots.

APE website: www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org

DP. Not an APE member and don't know who the members are. I agree with PP. However, while APE's work may be "extremely public," I don't understand why they are so anonymous. Those opinion pieces on various topics supposedly written by concerned parents or teachers are NEVER SIGNED. I can understand MAYBE a teacher being hesitant to have their name associated with a criticism of APS due to job concerns. But there is no reason for a parent to not sign their name to their own opinion piece. This just casts an air of secrecy and doubt: are these really pieces written by different concerned teachers and parents, or are they written by the same one or few members? APE proclaims its transparency - then OWN it and sign your names!

+1

I never took them seriously because the opinions were anonymous. And blatantly wrong at times. On some topics it was if they just started paying attention and had no history or understanding of the issues.

There is a reason why they don’t want you to know who they are. Because they know they’d lose all credibility.

It's funny how guilt-by-association only runs one way. Mary Kadera was pretty clearly aligned with "Smart Restart". And yet no one on this board thinks she has to answer for every Smart Restart acolyte who called people they disagreed with racist granny-killers. Or the teachers who drove around with child-sized coffins on their cars to protest the idea of re-opening schools. Or the people who were quite clearly using an obsession with ventilation statistics as an alternative to therapy and anxiety meds.

And that's because it's obviously dumb.

Miranda Turner, on the other hand, must answer for every single person who criticized APS leadership from March 2020 to February 2022. And that's not dumb, according to these people, because if you disagree with them you are a racist cryptofascist Trump supporter who wants to turn public schools into a cross between a Kid Rock concert and the Handmaid's tale.

I guess what I'm saying is self-reflection can be hard for some people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t decide what is most bizarre about this thread. That anyone in 2023 is saying anti-mask like it’s a slur is hilarious - look around at almost everyone now. No one wants to wear them let alone require them on children now. And can there be a thread about APS without someone going down some weird conspiracy theory of some influence of Koch please? I find it bizarre and ironic as a supporter of public school policies traditionally held by the left that there is a constant desire by posters to give the GOP the issues of higher teacher pay and smaller class sizes, closing opportunity gaps etc that I am seeing on Arlington Parents’ website and twitter. These don’t seem like scary and conspiratorial concepts. You are giving away the platform of public schools to the right.

They were aggressively anti-mask way back when. And they were anti-teacher, anti-school, etc. Someone who helped a lot with her first campaign behaved very poorly at a SB meeting.

Just an odd group of miscreants for a potential school board member to side with.

The thing is, we can see in hindsight that they were correct in many ways. After vaccines were available to all adults there really wasn't any reason to wear masks or not go 5 days/week in person. I realize that masks were a political signifier in many ways, but there really was no scientific reason to bother with them at all in the 21-22 school year.

There was with questionable vaccination rates and winter surge.

They weren’t just opposed to masks. They were aggressively anti-maskers. Before it was time to let them go.

This appears to be the ventilation voter's stance. Not making a statement = aggressively anti-mask. This person is still citing vaccination rates and a winter surge. It will always be 2020.

Back here in Arlington, I'm ready to hear about actual APS issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff/Admin: Can you explain why posts in this thread keep getting deleted if they mention APE?

There is a post directly above yours that mentions APE that did not get deleted. Posts are getting deleted for that reason. They are getting deleted for making false statements.

This group, which a SB candidate led for years, was an open schools group in Arlington. They were abusive online and in school board meetings. Some of their most aggressive, vocal members were anti-maskers, anti-CRT, pro-voucher. They were aligned with open schools groups out in FCPS and LCPS. Including Ian Prior, PDE (Koch bro), etc.

This is really really really offensive. To say APE - which has an EXTREMELY public website and biweekly newsletter - is anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch brothers or Ian Prior is complete lies. You shouldn't be allowed to defame like this on a public website. Show us ANY proof of anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch or aligned with Ian Prior. Literally anything.

Here's an idea - some people thought kids should be in school sooner than you did, apparently. That doesn't make them bigots.

APE website: www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org

DP. Not an APE member and don't know who the members are. I agree with PP. However, while APE's work may be "extremely public," I don't understand why they are so anonymous. Those opinion pieces on various topics supposedly written by concerned parents or teachers are NEVER SIGNED. I can understand MAYBE a teacher being hesitant to have their name associated with a criticism of APS due to job concerns. But there is no reason for a parent to not sign their name to their own opinion piece. This just casts an air of secrecy and doubt: are these really pieces written by different concerned teachers and parents, or are they written by the same one or few members? APE proclaims its transparency - then OWN it and sign your names!

+1

I never took them seriously because the opinions were anonymous. And blatantly wrong at times. On some topics it was if they just started paying attention and had no history or understanding of the issues.

There is a reason why they don’t want you to know who they are. Because they know they’d lose all credibility.

It's funny how guilt-by-association only runs one way. Mary Kadera was pretty clearly aligned with "Smart Restart". And yet no one on this board thinks she has to answer for every Smart Restart acolyte who called people they disagreed with racist granny-killers. Or the teachers who drove around with child-sized coffins on their cars to protest the idea of re-opening schools. Or the people who were quite clearly using an obsession with ventilation statistics as an alternative to therapy and anxiety meds.

And that's because it's obviously dumb.

Miranda Turner, on the other hand, must answer for every single person who criticized APS leadership from March 2020 to February 2022. And that's not dumb, according to these people, because if you disagree with them you are a racist cryptofascist Trump supporter who wants to turn public schools into a cross between a Kid Rock concert and the Handmaid's tale.

I guess what I'm saying is self-reflection can be hard for some people.

How involved was MK in SR?

Because MT’s role went way beyond association with this specific group of people. Remember her campaign promoter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t decide what is most bizarre about this thread. That anyone in 2023 is saying anti-mask like it’s a slur is hilarious - look around at almost everyone now. No one wants to wear them let alone require them on children now. And can there be a thread about APS without someone going down some weird conspiracy theory of some influence of Koch please? I find it bizarre and ironic as a supporter of public school policies traditionally held by the left that there is a constant desire by posters to give the GOP the issues of higher teacher pay and smaller class sizes, closing opportunity gaps etc that I am seeing on Arlington Parents’ website and twitter. These don’t seem like scary and conspiratorial concepts. You are giving away the platform of public schools to the right.

They were aggressively anti-mask way back when. And they were anti-teacher, anti-school, etc. Someone who helped a lot with her first campaign behaved very poorly at a SB meeting.

Just an odd group of miscreants for a potential school board member to side with.

The thing is, we can see in hindsight that they were correct in many ways. After vaccines were available to all adults there really wasn't any reason to wear masks or not go 5 days/week in person. I realize that masks were a political signifier in many ways, but there really was no scientific reason to bother with them at all in the 21-22 school year.

There was with questionable vaccination rates and winter surge.

They weren’t just opposed to masks. They were aggressively anti-maskers. Before it was time to let them go.

This appears to be the ventilation voter's stance. Not making a statement = aggressively anti-mask. This person is still citing vaccination rates and a winter surge. It will always be 2020.

Back here in Arlington, I'm ready to hear about actual APS issues.

We were discussing APE’s horrible behavior during the pandemic and MT’s judgment to work closely with those people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff/Admin: Can you explain why posts in this thread keep getting deleted if they mention APE?

There is a post directly above yours that mentions APE that did not get deleted. Posts are getting deleted for that reason. They are getting deleted for making false statements.

This group, which a SB candidate led for years, was an open schools group in Arlington. They were abusive online and in school board meetings. Some of their most aggressive, vocal members were anti-maskers, anti-CRT, pro-voucher. They were aligned with open schools groups out in FCPS and LCPS. Including Ian Prior, PDE (Koch bro), etc.

This is really really really offensive. To say APE - which has an EXTREMELY public website and biweekly newsletter - is anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch brothers or Ian Prior is complete lies. You shouldn't be allowed to defame like this on a public website. Show us ANY proof of anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch or aligned with Ian Prior. Literally anything.

Here's an idea - some people thought kids should be in school sooner than you did, apparently. That doesn't make them bigots.

APE website: www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org

DP. Not an APE member and don't know who the members are. I agree with PP. However, while APE's work may be "extremely public," I don't understand why they are so anonymous. Those opinion pieces on various topics supposedly written by concerned parents or teachers are NEVER SIGNED. I can understand MAYBE a teacher being hesitant to have their name associated with a criticism of APS due to job concerns. But there is no reason for a parent to not sign their name to their own opinion piece. This just casts an air of secrecy and doubt: are these really pieces written by different concerned teachers and parents, or are they written by the same one or few members? APE proclaims its transparency - then OWN it and sign your names!

+1

I never took them seriously because the opinions were anonymous. And blatantly wrong at times. On some topics it was if they just started paying attention and had no history or understanding of the issues.

There is a reason why they don’t want you to know who they are. Because they know they’d lose all credibility.

It's funny how guilt-by-association only runs one way. Mary Kadera was pretty clearly aligned with "Smart Restart". And yet no one on this board thinks she has to answer for every Smart Restart acolyte who called people they disagreed with racist granny-killers. Or the teachers who drove around with child-sized coffins on their cars to protest the idea of re-opening schools. Or the people who were quite clearly using an obsession with ventilation statistics as an alternative to therapy and anxiety meds.

And that's because it's obviously dumb.

Miranda Turner, on the other hand, must answer for every single person who criticized APS leadership from March 2020 to February 2022. And that's not dumb, according to these people, because if you disagree with them you are a racist cryptofascist Trump supporter who wants to turn public schools into a cross between a Kid Rock concert and the Handmaid's tale.

I guess what I'm saying is self-reflection can be hard for some people.

The dumbest thing Smart Restart did was publicly doxx an APE member. IIRC, Kadera had to distance themselves from that group.

Otherwise one of them would be running for school board too. Miranda was wise to stay above it all.

I do hope there are more people running though because this seems like the bottom of the barrel in terms of candidates. Three unknowns and one who already lost once. Yay for APS. 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff/Admin: Can you explain why posts in this thread keep getting deleted if they mention APE?

There is a post directly above yours that mentions APE that did not get deleted. Posts are getting deleted for that reason. They are getting deleted for making false statements.

This group, which a SB candidate led for years, was an open schools group in Arlington. They were abusive online and in school board meetings. Some of their most aggressive, vocal members were anti-maskers, anti-CRT, pro-voucher. They were aligned with open schools groups out in FCPS and LCPS. Including Ian Prior, PDE (Koch bro), etc.

I h

This is really really really offensive. To say APE - which has an EXTREMELY public website and biweekly newsletter - is anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch brothers or Ian Prior is complete lies. You shouldn't be allowed to defame like this on a public website. Show us ANY proof of anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch or aligned with Ian Prior. Literally anything.

Here's an idea - some people thought kids should be in school sooner than you did, apparently. That doesn't make them bigots.

APE website: www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org

DP. Not an APE member and don't know who the members are. I agree with PP. However, while APE's work may be "extremely public," I don't understand why they are so anonymous. Those opinion pieces on various topics supposedly written by concerned parents or teachers are NEVER SIGNED. I can understand MAYBE a teacher being hesitant to have their name associated with a criticism of APS due to job concerns. But there is no reason for a parent to not sign their name to their own opinion piece. This just casts an air of secrecy and doubt: are these really pieces written by different concerned teachers and parents, or are they written by the same one or few members? APE proclaims its transparency - then OWN it and sign your names!

Regarding anonymous opinion pieces. I have not contributed to the newsletter but here are some reasons I would only do so on an anonymous basis: 1) look at this thread and the delusional APE trolls who want to tear them apart and spread lies - I don't need that in my life, 2) I have a serious career I've worked very hard for and do not need opinion pieces re my kids' school experience showing in a google search, 3) I respect my kids' privacy and wouldn't feel comfortable sharing their difficulties so publicly.

Understandable - and precisely why you wouldn't write a letter to the editor or an opinion piece for the Washington Post, as it requires a name. Like any reputable newspaper, APE should do the same; and it would serve itself well to have non-anonymous opinion pieces, if they're going to have them. If not, then don't couch it in that format and just write about the issues. I guarantee you: the anonymity makes things suspect and makes people leery of the group, which then diminishes the group's credibility and effectiveness.

Says the person post to an anonymous message board without their names. Maybe you can see why people, especially with regards to their children, would want to remain anon?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff/Admin: Can you explain why posts in this thread keep getting deleted if they mention APE?

There is a post directly above yours that mentions APE that did not get deleted. Posts are getting deleted for that reason. They are getting deleted for making false statements.

This group, which a SB candidate led for years, was an open schools group in Arlington. They were abusive online and in school board meetings. Some of their most aggressive, vocal members were anti-maskers, anti-CRT, pro-voucher. They were aligned with open schools groups out in FCPS and LCPS. Including Ian Prior, PDE (Koch bro), etc.

I h

This is really really really offensive. To say APE - which has an EXTREMELY public website and biweekly newsletter - is anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch brothers or Ian Prior is complete lies. You shouldn't be allowed to defame like this on a public website. Show us ANY proof of anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch or aligned with Ian Prior. Literally anything.

Here's an idea - some people thought kids should be in school sooner than you did, apparently. That doesn't make them bigots.

APE website: www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org

DP. Not an APE member and don't know who the members are. I agree with PP. However, while APE's work may be "extremely public," I don't understand why they are so anonymous. Those opinion pieces on various topics supposedly written by concerned parents or teachers are NEVER SIGNED. I can understand MAYBE a teacher being hesitant to have their name associated with a criticism of APS due to job concerns. But there is no reason for a parent to not sign their name to their own opinion piece. This just casts an air of secrecy and doubt: are these really pieces written by different concerned teachers and parents, or are they written by the same one or few members? APE proclaims its transparency - then OWN it and sign your names!

Regarding anonymous opinion pieces. I have not contributed to the newsletter but here are some reasons I would only do so on an anonymous basis: 1) look at this thread and the delusional APE trolls who want to tear them apart and spread lies - I don't need that in my life, 2) I have a serious career I've worked very hard for and do not need opinion pieces re my kids' school experience showing in a google search, 3) I respect my kids' privacy and wouldn't feel comfortable sharing their difficulties so publicly.

Understandable - and precisely why you wouldn't write a letter to the editor or an opinion piece for the Washington Post, as it requires a name. Like any reputable newspaper, APE should do the same; and it would serve itself well to have non-anonymous opinion pieces, if they're going to have them. If not, then don't couch it in that format and just write about the issues. I guarantee you: the anonymity makes things suspect and makes people leery of the group, which then diminishes the group's credibility and effectiveness.

Says the person post to an anonymous message board without their names. Maybe you can see why people, especially with regards to their children, would want to remain anon?

DP. I’m an anonymous poster on DCUM. I have zero credibility. Similar to how the anonymous APE opinion writers have zero credibility.

If APE wants credibility then they have to be transparent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jeff/Admin: Can you explain why posts in this thread keep getting deleted if they mention APE?

There is a post directly above yours that mentions APE that did not get deleted. Posts are getting deleted for that reason. They are getting deleted for making false statements.

This group, which a SB candidate led for years, was an open schools group in Arlington. They were abusive online and in school board meetings. Some of their most aggressive, vocal members were anti-maskers, anti-CRT, pro-voucher. They were aligned with open schools groups out in FCPS and LCPS. Including Ian Prior, PDE (Koch bro), etc.

This is really really really offensive. To say APE - which has an EXTREMELY public website and biweekly newsletter - is anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch brothers or Ian Prior is complete lies. You shouldn't be allowed to defame like this on a public website. Show us ANY proof of anti-CRT or pro-voucher or supported by Koch or aligned with Ian Prior. Literally anything.

Here's an idea - some people thought kids should be in school sooner than you did, apparently. That doesn't make them bigots.

APE website: www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org

DP. Not an APE member and don't know who the members are. I agree with PP. However, while APE's work may be "extremely public," I don't understand why they are so anonymous. Those opinion pieces on various topics supposedly written by concerned parents or teachers are NEVER SIGNED. I can understand MAYBE a teacher being hesitant to have their name associated with a criticism of APS due to job concerns. But there is no reason for a parent to not sign their name to their own opinion piece. This just casts an air of secrecy and doubt: are these really pieces written by different concerned teachers and parents, or are they written by the same one or few members? APE proclaims its transparency - then OWN it and sign your names!

+1

I never took them seriously because the opinions were anonymous. And blatantly wrong at times. On some topics it was if they just started paying attention and had no history or understanding of the issues.

There is a reason why they don’t want you to know who they are. Because they know they’d lose all credibility.

It's funny how guilt-by-association only runs one way. Mary Kadera was pretty clearly aligned with "Smart Restart". And yet no one on this board thinks she has to answer for every Smart Restart acolyte who called people they disagreed with racist granny-killers. Or the teachers who drove around with child-sized coffins on their cars to protest the idea of re-opening schools. Or the people who were quite clearly using an obsession with ventilation statistics as an alternative to therapy and anxiety meds.

And that's because it's obviously dumb.

Miranda Turner, on the other hand, must answer for every single person who criticized APS leadership from March 2020 to February 2022. And that's not dumb, according to these people, because if you disagree with them you are a racist cryptofascist Trump supporter who wants to turn public schools into a cross between a Kid Rock concert and the Handmaid's tale.

I guess what I'm saying is self-reflection can be hard for some people.

The dumbest thing Smart Restart did was publicly doxx an APE member. IIRC, Kadera had to distance themselves from that group.

Otherwise one of them would be running for school board too. Miranda was wise to stay above it all.

I do hope there are more people running though because this seems like the bottom of the barrel in terms of candidates. Three unknowns and one who already lost once. Yay for APS. 🙄

Was that the FOIA of the FOIA?