Bower's top education aide sends his kids to 100 percent open private school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through the whole thread but...has anyone pointed out that his kids have gone to Washington International since *before* he even got the job in 2018? It's not like he sneakily enrolled them last May to get one over on the public school plebes.

If you think someone should have to have their kids in public school to be deputy mayor for education, ok. But it's clear that isn't currently a condition of the job nor was it when he got hired.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-taps-new-deputy-mayor-for-education-from-outside-dc-schools/2018/09/24/9a7dfa04-c03e-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html

well, read the thread. the gross part is he is hypocritically and dishonestly sending his kids to in person school while allowing DC public schools to remained closed by claims “it’s not safe.”

DP. How is he dishonest about where he is sending his kid?

And, as to the immediate PP's point, why is it hypocritical (or dishonest) for him to want to keep his kid as the existing school rather than pulling the kid because he got a new job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through the whole thread but...has anyone pointed out that his kids have gone to Washington International since *before* he even got the job in 2018? It's not like he sneakily enrolled them last May to get one over on the public school plebes.

If you think someone should have to have their kids in public school to be deputy mayor for education, ok. But it's clear that isn't currently a condition of the job nor was it when he got hired.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-taps-new-deputy-mayor-for-education-from-outside-dc-schools/2018/09/24/9a7dfa04-c03e-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html

well, read the thread. the gross part is he is hypocritically and dishonestly sending his kids to in person school while allowing DC public schools to remained closed by claims “it’s not safe.”

PP. I did read the first 4 pages but it was getting repetitive. I didn't see where Kihn is claiming "it's not safe." I get that he's the Deputy Mayor of Education but he can't really overrule the Department of Health, can he?

If dude is out here making speeches about how it's not safe in our schools and kids should stay home blah blah blah, then sure, roast him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through the whole thread but...has anyone pointed out that his kids have gone to Washington International since *before* he even got the job in 2018? It's not like he sneakily enrolled them last May to get one over on the public school plebes.

If you think someone should have to have their kids in public school to be deputy mayor for education, ok. But it's clear that isn't currently a condition of the job nor was it when he got hired.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-taps-new-deputy-mayor-for-education-from-outside-dc-schools/2018/09/24/9a7dfa04-c03e-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html

well, read the thread. the gross part is he is hypocritically and dishonestly sending his kids to in person school while allowing DC public schools to remained closed by claims “it’s not safe.”

PP. I did read the first 4 pages but it was getting repetitive. I didn't see where Kihn is claiming "it's not safe." I get that he's the Deputy Mayor of Education but he can't really overrule the Department of Health, can he?

If dude is out here making speeches about how it's not safe in our schools and kids should stay home blah blah blah, then sure, roast him.

Yes, he did that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe this is anyone’s concern but that man and his family. You can not control other people’s decisions and homes. There is no moral or ethical issue with this. The DCUM ED mob is the worst.

I think you're missing the point. The issue is that he argues it's unsafe to open schools and is preventing our kids from getting a decent education. Even as his own kids go to school every single day and have since the beginning of the year.

Does anyone have an actual recent quote that he has said it’s unsafe to open public schools?

He clearly hasn’t done anything to stand up for having them open, not publicly or effectively. That’s enough.

I honestly think he should be run out of DCPS just to make an example of him. It’s unconscionable. He should have been on the absolute bleeding edge of getting kids back in school asap, instead of cowardly kowtowing to the union and political considerations all the while sending his own kids to school. where’s the petition to fire him?

This is perfectly stated, and exactly why he needs to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through the whole thread but...has anyone pointed out that his kids have gone to Washington International since *before* he even got the job in 2018? It's not like he sneakily enrolled them last May to get one over on the public school plebes.

If you think someone should have to have their kids in public school to be deputy mayor for education, ok. But it's clear that isn't currently a condition of the job nor was it when he got hired.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-taps-new-deputy-mayor-for-education-from-outside-dc-schools/2018/09/24/9a7dfa04-c03e-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html

well, read the thread. the gross part is he is hypocritically and dishonestly sending his kids to in person school while allowing DC public schools to remained closed by claims “it’s not safe.”

PP. I did read the first 4 pages but it was getting repetitive. I didn't see where Kihn is claiming "it's not safe." I get that he's the Deputy Mayor of Education but he can't really overrule the Department of Health, can he?

If dude is out here making speeches about how it's not safe in our schools and kids should stay home blah blah blah, then sure, roast him.

Yes, he did that too.

PP. Where? I didn't find anything in this thread or with a quick google for "Paul Kihn reopening." Found a few quotes in meeting minutes and whatnot talking about cohort restrictions but that's just acknowledging what DC Health has mandated.

I don't care if this guy has this job forever or gets canned tomorrow. This just has a bit of a tilting-at-windmills vibe. If anyone has the juice to move DC health, it's Bowser and the council, not a fellow appointed bureaucrat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through the whole thread but...has anyone pointed out that his kids have gone to Washington International since *before* he even got the job in 2018? It's not like he sneakily enrolled them last May to get one over on the public school plebes.

If you think someone should have to have their kids in public school to be deputy mayor for education, ok. But it's clear that isn't currently a condition of the job nor was it when he got hired.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-taps-new-deputy-mayor-for-education-from-outside-dc-schools/2018/09/24/9a7dfa04-c03e-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html

well, read the thread. the gross part is he is hypocritically and dishonestly sending his kids to in person school while allowing DC public schools to remained closed by claims “it’s not safe.”

DP. How is he dishonest about where he is sending his kid?

And, as to the immediate PP's point, why is it hypocritical (or dishonest) for him to want to keep his kid as the existing school rather than pulling the kid because he got a new job?

he’s being dishonest to implicitly and expressly support a policy of keeping public schools closed as “unsafe,” while sending his own kids to private school.

[Anonymous]

I think the people who work in upper admin for DCPS should be required to have kids enrolled in DCPS (if they have kids).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through the whole thread but...has anyone pointed out that his kids have gone to Washington International since *before* he even got the job in 2018? It's not like he sneakily enrolled them last May to get one over on the public school plebes.

If you think someone should have to have their kids in public school to be deputy mayor for education, ok. But it's clear that isn't currently a condition of the job nor was it when he got hired.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-taps-new-deputy-mayor-for-education-from-outside-dc-schools/2018/09/24/9a7dfa04-c03e-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html

well, read the thread. the gross part is he is hypocritically and dishonestly sending his kids to in person school while allowing DC public schools to remained closed by claims “it’s not safe.”

PP. I did read the first 4 pages but it was getting repetitive. I didn't see where Kihn is claiming "it's not safe." I get that he's the Deputy Mayor of Education but he can't really overrule the Department of Health, can he?

If dude is out here making speeches about how it's not safe in our schools and kids should stay home blah blah blah, then sure, roast him.

he is the **deputy mayor of education.** if not him to advocate for public education, who tf will? if he’s too scared of optics or pressure from above, then that just highlights his hypocrisy even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through the whole thread but...has anyone pointed out that his kids have gone to Washington International since *before* he even got the job in 2018? It's not like he sneakily enrolled them last May to get one over on the public school plebes.

If you think someone should have to have their kids in public school to be deputy mayor for education, ok. But it's clear that isn't currently a condition of the job nor was it when he got hired.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-taps-new-deputy-mayor-for-education-from-outside-dc-schools/2018/09/24/9a7dfa04-c03e-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html

well, read the thread. the gross part is he is hypocritically and dishonestly sending his kids to in person school while allowing DC public schools to remained closed by claims “it’s not safe.”

PP. I did read the first 4 pages but it was getting repetitive. I didn't see where Kihn is claiming "it's not safe." I get that he's the Deputy Mayor of Education but he can't really overrule the Department of Health, can he?

If dude is out here making speeches about how it's not safe in our schools and kids should stay home blah blah blah, then sure, roast him.

Yes, he did that too.

PP. Where? I didn't find anything in this thread or with a quick google for "Paul Kihn reopening." Found a few quotes in meeting minutes and whatnot talking about cohort restrictions but that's just acknowledging what DC Health has mandated.

I don't care if this guy has this job forever or gets canned tomorrow. This just has a bit of a tilting-at-windmills vibe. If anyone has the juice to move DC health, it's Bowser and the council, not a fellow appointed bureaucrat.

Oh yeah, he’s just the DEPUTY MAYOR. no power at all! just a paper pusher, totally helpless and without influence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't go through the whole thread but...has anyone pointed out that his kids have gone to Washington International since *before* he even got the job in 2018? It's not like he sneakily enrolled them last May to get one over on the public school plebes.

If you think someone should have to have their kids in public school to be deputy mayor for education, ok. But it's clear that isn't currently a condition of the job nor was it when he got hired.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/bowser-taps-new-deputy-mayor-for-education-from-outside-dc-schools/2018/09/24/9a7dfa04-c03e-11e8-90c9-23f963eea204_story.html

well, read the thread. the gross part is he is hypocritically and dishonestly sending his kids to in person school while allowing DC public schools to remained closed by claims “it’s not safe.”

DP. How is he dishonest about where he is sending his kid?

And, as to the immediate PP's point, why is it hypocritical (or dishonest) for him to want to keep his kid as the existing school rather than pulling the kid because he got a new job?

he’s being dishonest to implicitly and expressly support a policy of keeping public schools closed as “unsafe,” while sending his own kids to private school.

This. He's just crapping public schools families because he doesn't want to take on WTU, so he's hiding behind his hypocritic claims it's not safe to abdicate his responsibilities. I'd incite an angry mob if I wasn't so exhausted from supporting DL for my kids.

[Anonymous]

You all do realize that private schools had resources to open that public schools did not, right? Smaller classroom sizes, larger facilities, funds to purchase masks, shields, etc. Would all of you been happy to have your taxes increase to fund reopening? My guess is no. On the other hand, parents at private schools were more than happy to fork over additional money so their schools could reopen under the conditions imposed. The complete tunnel vision without full context most of you have expressed is sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all do realize that private schools had resources to open that public schools did not, right? Smaller classroom sizes, larger facilities, funds to purchase masks, shields, etc. Would all of you been happy to have your taxes increase to fund reopening? My guess is no. On the other hand, parents at private schools were more than happy to fork over additional money so their schools could reopen under the conditions imposed. The complete tunnel vision without full context most of you have expressed is sad.

Huh?! Of course I’d be happy to pay slightly higher taxes for schools to reopen! Spread across all taxpayers, it wouldn’t be much. Having schools closed has had costs too!

No one at private school “forked over extra money” for reopening. The federal government did, however, to both public and private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all do realize that private schools had resources to open that public schools did not, right? Smaller classroom sizes, larger facilities, funds to purchase masks, shields, etc. Would all of you been happy to have your taxes increase to fund reopening? My guess is no. On the other hand, parents at private schools were more than happy to fork over additional money so their schools could reopen under the conditions imposed. The complete tunnel vision without full context most of you have expressed is sad.

No one at my kid's private school "forked over additional money". It was federal money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all do realize that private schools had resources to open that public schools did not, right? Smaller classroom sizes, larger facilities, funds to purchase masks, shields, etc. Would all of you been happy to have your taxes increase to fund reopening? My guess is no. On the other hand, parents at private schools were more than happy to fork over additional money so their schools could reopen under the conditions imposed. The complete tunnel vision without full context most of you have expressed is sad.

This is Canard #3 in the "ONLY WHEN IT'S SAFE" endless chain of moving goalposts.

There's nothing magic about private schools. AFAIK, they didn't have special fees for covid. And many, many modestly funded Catholic schools remained open with much less per-pupil funding than urban public schools.

And if it was a matter of money, then I would have expected the Deputy Mayor to be working his butt off to get that money to the schools so there could be parity. Not sitting around letting public schools suffer while his kids go to private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all do realize that private schools had resources to open that public schools did not, right? Smaller classroom sizes, larger facilities, funds to purchase masks, shields, etc. Would all of you been happy to have your taxes increase to fund reopening? My guess is no. On the other hand, parents at private schools were more than happy to fork over additional money so their schools could reopen under the conditions imposed. The complete tunnel vision without full context most of you have expressed is sad.

I love your condescension! And how you combine that with being kind of clueless!

A couple points:

1. DC spends more on its public schools than any place else, except for New York. Here, you can look at the statistics yourself from the Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/2020/comm/school-system-spending.html

Isn't it strange how all these other states can manage to get their kids back in class despite spending a fraction of what DC does?

2. If that's not enough, Congress has dumped a mountain of cash on schools to deal with coronavirus. The stimulus package approved last Spring provided $30 billion to schools to deal with the outbreak. The stimulus package approved in December provided another $82 billion to schools. The stimulus package approved last month provided another $168 billion to schools. What is the annual DCPS budget? Maybe $1 billion?

So, no, the problem here is not money. This is a problem of will.