DC Public Education Candidate Forum starting now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

It's same reason why she opposes cracking down on crime. At least she's consistent.

[Anonymous]

Newcomer to DC here, why is the campaigning for the mayoral (primary) election so long?

I get the criticism of McDuffie for not showing up for the Forum, but the election is in November! I'd blame McDuffie for not showing up, and any organization that schedules a forum 6 months ahead of the election.

Even presidential campaigns aren't quite active at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newcomer to DC here, why is the campaigning for the mayoral (primary) election so long?

I get the criticism of McDuffie for not showing up for the Forum, but the election is in November! I'd blame McDuffie for not showing up, and any organization that schedules a forum 6 months ahead of the election.

Even presidential campaigns aren't quite active at this point.

The election is in June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newcomer to DC here, why is the campaigning for the mayoral (primary) election so long?

I get the criticism of McDuffie for not showing up for the Forum, but the election is in November! I'd blame McDuffie for not showing up, and any organization that schedules a forum 6 months ahead of the election.

Even presidential campaigns aren't quite active at this point.

Democratic primary is the de facto election, which is in June

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

The deflection here is telling. Instead of defending McDuffie’s actual record, you jump straight to attacking JLG. Let’s stay on topic.
On private schools
When you’re an elected official responsible for DC public schools, where you send your own kids absolutely matters. It signals where your real priorities are.

On “pro-criminal”
Sentencing reform and questioning police budgets is a mainstream policy position held by plenty of serious lawmakers. Calling it “pro-criminal” is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
On Covid school closures - many education advocates, pediatricians, and parents supported caution at the time. Hindsight is easy.

You haven’t actually rebutted anything. His ties to big business are documented. His Ward 5 record speaks for itself when you compare investment outcomes. And his refusal to debate isn’t a minor thing - if your candidate won’t defend his record publicly, that tells you something.
JLG being imperfect doesn’t make McDuffie a good choice.

DC residents deserve someone who actually shows up for them, not someone who shows up for donors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

The deflection here is telling. Instead of defending McDuffie’s actual record, you jump straight to attacking JLG. Let’s stay on topic.
On private schools
When you’re an elected official responsible for DC public schools, where you send your own kids absolutely matters. It signals where your real priorities are.

On “pro-criminal”
Sentencing reform and questioning police budgets is a mainstream policy position held by plenty of serious lawmakers. Calling it “pro-criminal” is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
On Covid school closures - many education advocates, pediatricians, and parents supported caution at the time. Hindsight is easy.

You haven’t actually rebutted anything. His ties to big business are documented. His Ward 5 record speaks for itself when you compare investment outcomes. And his refusal to debate isn’t a minor thing - if your candidate won’t defend his record publicly, that tells you something.
JLG being imperfect doesn’t make McDuffie a good choice.

DC residents deserve someone who actually shows up for them, not someone who shows up for donors.

DC was one of the last places in the entire world to reopen schools during Covid. It was shameful and wrong. Everyone knew it was safe, every doctor said kids should be in school, and Janeese didn't care. Bowser wanted to reopen schools far sooner, and Janeese fought it every step of the way. She was even trying to reclose schools six months after they had finally reopened because that's how much she wants the approval of the teachers union, which was trying to make virtual learning permanent.

On crime, Janeese is a parody of leftist positions on the cops. She wants to defund the police department and give the money to her friends via the failed Violence Interrupters program, which is now embroiled in a bribery scandal. The soft-on-crime policies she championed, one that even Democrats in Congress said were loony tunes (remember that?), led to a huge spike in crime in DC, which led directly to Trump taking over the police department and putting National Guard and ICE agents on every corner. If she was elected, Trump would immediately end home rule and we wouldnt get it back for a long time.

I don't think anyone cares where Duffie sends his kids to school. No one should have to attend Dunbar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

The deflection here is telling. Instead of defending McDuffie’s actual record, you jump straight to attacking JLG. Let’s stay on topic.
On private schools
When you’re an elected official responsible for DC public schools, where you send your own kids absolutely matters. It signals where your real priorities are.

On “pro-criminal”
Sentencing reform and questioning police budgets is a mainstream policy position held by plenty of serious lawmakers. Calling it “pro-criminal” is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
On Covid school closures - many education advocates, pediatricians, and parents supported caution at the time. Hindsight is easy.

You haven’t actually rebutted anything. His ties to big business are documented. His Ward 5 record speaks for itself when you compare investment outcomes. And his refusal to debate isn’t a minor thing - if your candidate won’t defend his record publicly, that tells you something.
JLG being imperfect doesn’t make McDuffie a good choice.

DC residents deserve someone who actually shows up for them, not someone who shows up for donors.

DC was one of the last places in the entire world to reopen schools during Covid. It was shameful and wrong. Everyone knew it was safe, every doctor said kids should be in school, and Janeese didn't care. Bowser wanted to reopen schools far sooner, and Janeese fought it every step of the way. She was even trying to reclose schools six months after they had finally reopened because that's how much she wants the approval of the teachers union, which was trying to make virtual learning permanent.

On crime, Janeese is a parody of leftist positions on the cops. She wants to defund the police department and give the money to her friends via the failed Violence Interrupters program, which is now embroiled in a bribery scandal. The soft-on-crime policies she championed, one that even Democrats in Congress said were loony tunes (remember that?), led to a huge spike in crime in DC, which led directly to Trump taking over the police department and putting National Guard and ICE agents on every corner. If she was elected, Trump would immediately end home rule and we wouldnt get it back for a long time.

I don't think anyone cares where Duffie sends his kids to school. No one should have to attend Dunbar.

Janeese is a Ward 4 councilmember. She doesn’t run DCPS. Bowser does. Elementary schools began in-person programming in November 2020 and all schools reopened with in-person options in February 2021 , which is hardly “last in the world.” Blaming a council backbencher for Bowser’s negotiations with her own teachers union is creative, but not accurate.

The bribery scandal you’re referring to is actually tied to Ward 8 councilmember Trayon White, not Janeese . Also worth noting: the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement that was ensnared in that scandal is a mayor-run office , not something Janeese controls. And even DC’s police chief pushed back on scrapping the whole program, saying violence interrupters “have been very instrumental in supporting us in the crime reduction” seen across the District. Yes, there was real corruption and mismanagement. That’s a legitimate critique of oversight. It’s just not Janeese’s scandal.

She did say provocative things about policing in 2020. She has since voted in favor of the SECURE DC crime bill and now says DC needs to continue recruiting officers. People are allowed to evolve, and “she tweeted something in 2019” is not the same as a governing record. The version of her described here hasn’t existed in several years.


This is the weakest argument in the bunch and also the meanest. Dunbar was America’s first public high school for Black students, and from the early 20th century through the 1950s it sent 80 percent of its graduates to college , with faculty holding graduate degrees and PhDs.

Its decline is a story about what DC’s government did to a historically Black institution after desegregation, not an indictment of the kids who go there now. Sneering at it to try and score a point about where some send their own kid is a pretty ugly move.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

The deflection here is telling. Instead of defending McDuffie’s actual record, you jump straight to attacking JLG. Let’s stay on topic.
On private schools
When you’re an elected official responsible for DC public schools, where you send your own kids absolutely matters. It signals where your real priorities are.

On “pro-criminal”
Sentencing reform and questioning police budgets is a mainstream policy position held by plenty of serious lawmakers. Calling it “pro-criminal” is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
On Covid school closures - many education advocates, pediatricians, and parents supported caution at the time. Hindsight is easy.

You haven’t actually rebutted anything. His ties to big business are documented. His Ward 5 record speaks for itself when you compare investment outcomes. And his refusal to debate isn’t a minor thing - if your candidate won’t defend his record publicly, that tells you something.
JLG being imperfect doesn’t make McDuffie a good choice.

DC residents deserve someone who actually shows up for them, not someone who shows up for donors.

DC was one of the last places in the entire world to reopen schools during Covid. It was shameful and wrong. Everyone knew it was safe, every doctor said kids should be in school, and Janeese didn't care. Bowser wanted to reopen schools far sooner, and Janeese fought it every step of the way. She was even trying to reclose schools six months after they had finally reopened because that's how much she wants the approval of the teachers union, which was trying to make virtual learning permanent.

On crime, Janeese is a parody of leftist positions on the cops. She wants to defund the police department and give the money to her friends via the failed Violence Interrupters program, which is now embroiled in a bribery scandal. The soft-on-crime policies she championed, one that even Democrats in Congress said were loony tunes (remember that?), led to a huge spike in crime in DC, which led directly to Trump taking over the police department and putting National Guard and ICE agents on every corner. If she was elected, Trump would immediately end home rule and we wouldnt get it back for a long time.

I don't think anyone cares where Duffie sends his kids to school. No one should have to attend Dunbar.

The GDS line is devastating and he handed it on a silver platter.

McDuffie sends his kids to Georgetown Day School, one of the most expensive private schools in DC. Fine. Lots of politicians do. But when asked about it, he said “I will never play politics with my kids’ education.”

Sit with that for a second. In his framing, sending your kids to DC public schools is “playing politics.” That’s not a neutral statement. That’s a man telling you, with his own mouth, that DC public schools are a sacrifice he’s not willing to make for himself -only a performance he’d ask of others. Every family in Ward 8 who doesn’t have the option of Georgetown Day School isn’t “playing politics.” They’re just parents.
Thirteen years is a long time to be fixing things.


McDuffie has been on the DC Council since 2012. Crime spiked. Housing got unaffordable. Schools struggled. He was there for all of it - not as a bystander, but as a legislator. His entire campaign is premised on promising things he had a decade-plus to deliver. You can’t fact-check that contradiction away because it’s a question of judgment: at what point does “I’m fighting for change from the inside” become “I am the inside”?

“Growth with guardrails” is a slogan that means whatever you need it to mean.
It’s the political equivalent of saying you’re for “balance.” It commits him to nothing, offends no one, and can be retrofitted to any outcome.

It tells you more about how he thinks about voters - as people to be managed, than about what he’d actually do as mayor. It’s a read on a man’s character, and AI cannot tell you it’s wrong.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Anonymous]

Schools opened in February 2021? My kids first day back in class would have been end of April 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools opened in February 2021? My kids first day back in class would have been end of April 2021.

Guess your school sucked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

The deflection here is telling. Instead of defending McDuffie’s actual record, you jump straight to attacking JLG. Let’s stay on topic.
On private schools
When you’re an elected official responsible for DC public schools, where you send your own kids absolutely matters. It signals where your real priorities are.

On “pro-criminal”
Sentencing reform and questioning police budgets is a mainstream policy position held by plenty of serious lawmakers. Calling it “pro-criminal” is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
On Covid school closures - many education advocates, pediatricians, and parents supported caution at the time. Hindsight is easy.

You haven’t actually rebutted anything. His ties to big business are documented. His Ward 5 record speaks for itself when you compare investment outcomes. And his refusal to debate isn’t a minor thing - if your candidate won’t defend his record publicly, that tells you something.
JLG being imperfect doesn’t make McDuffie a good choice.

DC residents deserve someone who actually shows up for them, not someone who shows up for donors.

DC was one of the last places in the entire world to reopen schools during Covid. It was shameful and wrong. Everyone knew it was safe, every doctor said kids should be in school, and Janeese didn't care. Bowser wanted to reopen schools far sooner, and Janeese fought it every step of the way. She was even trying to reclose schools six months after they had finally reopened because that's how much she wants the approval of the teachers union, which was trying to make virtual learning permanent.

On crime, Janeese is a parody of leftist positions on the cops. She wants to defund the police department and give the money to her friends via the failed Violence Interrupters program, which is now embroiled in a bribery scandal. The soft-on-crime policies she championed, one that even Democrats in Congress said were loony tunes (remember that?), led to a huge spike in crime in DC, which led directly to Trump taking over the police department and putting National Guard and ICE agents on every corner. If she was elected, Trump would immediately end home rule and we wouldnt get it back for a long time.

I don't think anyone cares where Duffie sends his kids to school. No one should have to attend Dunbar.

Janeese's response to every question about her record is "What about where Duffie's kids go to school?" She sounds like Republicans complaining about Hilary's emails...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

The deflection here is telling. Instead of defending McDuffie’s actual record, you jump straight to attacking JLG. Let’s stay on topic.
On private schools
When you’re an elected official responsible for DC public schools, where you send your own kids absolutely matters. It signals where your real priorities are.

On “pro-criminal”
Sentencing reform and questioning police budgets is a mainstream policy position held by plenty of serious lawmakers. Calling it “pro-criminal” is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
On Covid school closures - many education advocates, pediatricians, and parents supported caution at the time. Hindsight is easy.

You haven’t actually rebutted anything. His ties to big business are documented. His Ward 5 record speaks for itself when you compare investment outcomes. And his refusal to debate isn’t a minor thing - if your candidate won’t defend his record publicly, that tells you something.
JLG being imperfect doesn’t make McDuffie a good choice.

DC residents deserve someone who actually shows up for them, not someone who shows up for donors.

DC was one of the last places in the entire world to reopen schools during Covid. It was shameful and wrong. Everyone knew it was safe, every doctor said kids should be in school, and Janeese didn't care. Bowser wanted to reopen schools far sooner, and Janeese fought it every step of the way. She was even trying to reclose schools six months after they had finally reopened because that's how much she wants the approval of the teachers union, which was trying to make virtual learning permanent.

On crime, Janeese is a parody of leftist positions on the cops. She wants to defund the police department and give the money to her friends via the failed Violence Interrupters program, which is now embroiled in a bribery scandal. The soft-on-crime policies she championed, one that even Democrats in Congress said were loony tunes (remember that?), led to a huge spike in crime in DC, which led directly to Trump taking over the police department and putting National Guard and ICE agents on every corner. If she was elected, Trump would immediately end home rule and we wouldnt get it back for a long time.

I don't think anyone cares where Duffie sends his kids to school. No one should have to attend Dunbar.

The GDS line is devastating and he handed it on a silver platter.

McDuffie sends his kids to Georgetown Day School, one of the most expensive private schools in DC. Fine. Lots of politicians do. But when asked about it, he said “I will never play politics with my kids’ education.”

Sit with that for a second. In his framing, sending your kids to DC public schools is “playing politics.” That’s not a neutral statement. That’s a man telling you, with his own mouth, that DC public schools are a sacrifice he’s not willing to make for himself -only a performance he’d ask of others. Every family in Ward 8 who doesn’t have the option of Georgetown Day School isn’t “playing politics.” They’re just parents.
Thirteen years is a long time to be fixing things.


McDuffie has been on the DC Council since 2012. Crime spiked. Housing got unaffordable. Schools struggled. He was there for all of it - not as a bystander, but as a legislator. His entire campaign is premised on promising things he had a decade-plus to deliver. You can’t fact-check that contradiction away because it’s a question of judgment: at what point does “I’m fighting for change from the inside” become “I am the inside”?

“Growth with guardrails” is a slogan that means whatever you need it to mean.
It’s the political equivalent of saying you’re for “balance.” It commits him to nothing, offends no one, and can be retrofitted to any outcome.

It tells you more about how he thinks about voters - as people to be managed, than about what he’d actually do as mayor. It’s a read on a man’s character, and AI cannot tell you it’s wrong.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

The deflection here is telling. Instead of defending McDuffie’s actual record, you jump straight to attacking JLG. Let’s stay on topic.
On private schools
When you’re an elected official responsible for DC public schools, where you send your own kids absolutely matters. It signals where your real priorities are.

On “pro-criminal”
Sentencing reform and questioning police budgets is a mainstream policy position held by plenty of serious lawmakers. Calling it “pro-criminal” is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
On Covid school closures - many education advocates, pediatricians, and parents supported caution at the time. Hindsight is easy.

You haven’t actually rebutted anything. His ties to big business are documented. His Ward 5 record speaks for itself when you compare investment outcomes. And his refusal to debate isn’t a minor thing - if your candidate won’t defend his record publicly, that tells you something.
JLG being imperfect doesn’t make McDuffie a good choice.

DC residents deserve someone who actually shows up for them, not someone who shows up for donors.

Ward 5 resident here. I hate McDuffie. But JLG is a nonstarter. Her platform is idiotic.

I really wish we had an actual quality candidate for mayor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

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

Thanks for this - what structural changes is JLG supporting?

Janeese is a vote for the status quo. She will slavishly do whatever the teacher's union wants (she was trying to re-close schools during the pandemic for months after they had finally opened for good). Her answer to every problem is throwing more money at it. Let's face it. These schools are extremely well funded. What they need are higher academic standards. She is the last person on Earth who will support making schools more rigorous.

There should be more discussion of raising standards at DCPS. They are constantly lowering them. It makes the schools seem like a joke.

Neither McDuffie or JLG will raise them to the level we want. But as least JLG will listen to some things teachers say who DO WANT to raise standards. Unlike McDuffie who hates us from the beginning for some odd reason.

The status quo is McDuffie. Personally I am hoping for change in our city but especially for schools.

I don't think we're talking about the same Janeese. The one who is running for mayor has bought into this idea that's fashionable on the left that raising academic standards is racist because it hurts black children and perpetuates white supremacy. It's how we ended up in the place we're at with DCPS constantly watering down the curriculum and refusing to flunk any student for any reason.

Why lie?

All the things said about McDuffie are verifiable.
He is pro big business.
He send his kids to private school.
The things he’s done for ward 5 pale in comparison to JLG and all he supported for schools is modernization.
He refuses to debate.

While you may not like McDuffie, JLG is a disaster who is pro criminal. How is she even a valuable option being considered in this thread. She wanted to keep schools closed during Covid. Lowering sentencing for criminals and her loud position on defunding the police. If I had the money I would send my kids to private schools as well. Why is that a factor. She's for whatever is popular. Many in Ward 4 are not blind to her theatrics.

The deflection here is telling. Instead of defending McDuffie’s actual record, you jump straight to attacking JLG. Let’s stay on topic.
On private schools
When you’re an elected official responsible for DC public schools, where you send your own kids absolutely matters. It signals where your real priorities are.

On “pro-criminal”
Sentencing reform and questioning police budgets is a mainstream policy position held by plenty of serious lawmakers. Calling it “pro-criminal” is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
On Covid school closures - many education advocates, pediatricians, and parents supported caution at the time. Hindsight is easy.

You haven’t actually rebutted anything. His ties to big business are documented. His Ward 5 record speaks for itself when you compare investment outcomes. And his refusal to debate isn’t a minor thing - if your candidate won’t defend his record publicly, that tells you something.
JLG being imperfect doesn’t make McDuffie a good choice.

DC residents deserve someone who actually shows up for them, not someone who shows up for donors.

Ward 5 resident here. I hate McDuffie. But JLG is a nonstarter. Her platform is idiotic.

I really wish we had an actual quality candidate for mayor.

I'm your neighbor and I agree on all counts. This thread is so depressing.