Do Local Republicans Want to Gut or Reform FCPS?

[Anonymous]

There are most definitely forces outside of the county that want to dismantle public education and see Fairfax as the place to do that. Republicans have nothing to offer in terms of healthcare, real immigration reform or gun control or the debt, so they’re going back to culture wars and distractions like CRT and book banning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s my question. Disgusted with the local Democrats on the School Board - flakes like Meren, idiots like Frisch and Omeish, hypocrites like Tholen.

But I also support public schools. So my question is whether the local Republicans trying to get elected this fall want to gut and privatize public education (won’t support them) or instead reform FCPS and refocus on the basics (will support them).

Anyone with real insight is welcome to post. Screeds against, say, Glenn Youngkin or Randi Weingarten are not being solicited.

This is not hard so I am going to say this one time

REPUBLCIANS = SCHOOL CHOICE = BETSEY DEVOS/YOUNGKIN PRIVATE SCHOOLS= SCAM/GRIFT

IF you want to be like Arkansaw more power to you vote in Republicans

If you want an educated workforce and educated kids run for the hills from Republicans/Moms of Liberty Garbage Nazi's

They promote crap not education.

Time for VA to WAKE the HELL UP.

There is no other path.

Seriously people wake up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s my question. Disgusted with the local Democrats on the School Board - flakes like Meren, idiots like Frisch and Omeish, hypocrites like Tholen.

But I also support public schools. So my question is whether the local Republicans trying to get elected this fall want to gut and privatize public education (won’t support them) or instead reform FCPS and refocus on the basics (will support them).

Anyone with real insight is welcome to post. Screeds against, say, Glenn Youngkin or Randi Weingarten are not being solicited.

This is not hard so I am going to say this one time

REPUBLCIANS = SCHOOL CHOICE = BETSEY DEVOS/YOUNGKIN PRIVATE SCHOOLS= SCAM/GRIFT

IF you want to be like Arkansaw more power to you vote in Republicans

If you want an educated workforce and educated kids run for the hills from Republicans/Moms of Liberty Garbage Nazi's

They promote crap not education.

Time for VA to WAKE the HELL UP.

There is no other path.

Seriously people wake up!

You're the exact type of idiot I hoped (in vain) would refrain from junking up the thread. Can you please go crawl back under your rock and let people who actually might have some insight post? There isn't a thread you touch that you don't degrade.

[Anonymous]

OP, you say you are looking for "real insight;" however, the Republicans have provided few ideas about how they plan to tackle the education gap and other shortcomings. I have only seen things about removing books from schools and banning CRT (even though it was never in our schools). You cannot address the education gap without talking about "equity," but "equity" is now a dirty word among the Republicans.

People are angry about COVID (rightly so), but I think they would have been angrier had we opened the schools and then saw a mass exodus of teachers who were unwilling to take the risk at the time. I think FCPS did the best it could under the circumstances and I think things are improving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s my question. Disgusted with the local Democrats on the School Board - flakes like Meren, idiots like Frisch and Omeish, hypocrites like Tholen.

But I also support public schools. So my question is whether the local Republicans trying to get elected this fall want to gut and privatize public education (won’t support them) or instead reform FCPS and refocus on the basics (will support them).

Anyone with real insight is welcome to post. Screeds against, say, Glenn Youngkin or Randi Weingarten are not being solicited.

This is not hard so I am going to say this one time

REPUBLCIANS = SCHOOL CHOICE = BETSEY DEVOS/YOUNGKIN PRIVATE SCHOOLS= SCAM/GRIFT

IF you want to be like Arkansaw more power to you vote in Republicans

If you want an educated workforce and educated kids run for the hills from Republicans/Moms of Liberty Garbage Nazi's

They promote crap not education.

Time for VA to WAKE the HELL UP.

There is no other path.

Seriously people wake up!

You're the exact type of idiot I hoped (in vain) would refrain from junking up the thread. Can you please go crawl back under your rock and let people who actually might have some insight post? There isn't a thread you touch that you don't degrade.

Listen, just b/c you don't like the tone or what is being said, doesn't mean the PP is wrong (I'm a different PP). Maybe check your outrage and actually read what they said, and do some research. It's accurate. The PP said Arkansas, and I thought it was a different state but in that vicinity, but the GOP GUTTED public education there and is proposing to do it all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Republicans are taking away women’s right to health care when pregnant.

They also want to privatize education.

I’m not willing to trust in a republican school
Board candidate yet given their past behavior.

I have voted for r and d before but will not vote r in the current climate. Their goal is to undermine government.

This is exactly right. They want to privatize and defund (do we not remember Betsy DeVos, as well as the schools Kansas????) They have not backed off those proposals. This includes Youngkin and Virginia GOP:

https://bluevirginia.us/2023/02/republicans-try-once-again-to-privatize-public-education-in-virginia
This session, Republicans again have sponsored a number of bills to privatize public education in furtherance of school choice. The most prominent of these — House Bill 1508 — would revive education savings accounts, now renamed “Education Success Accounts.” Under the proposed legislation, eligible parents could receive a portion of the amount ordinarily appropriated by the Commonwealth to a public school to educate that student. Parents could use the funds to pay for a wide range of educational services, including tuition, fees, and textbooks at a private elementary or secondary school in Virginia. On February 1, the bill was approved and reported out of a House Education Sub-Committee (on a party line vote).

He's luring people in with scare tactics to make you think your kids are going to be exposed to scary trans kids, read porn in school, and be told "white people are bad", among other boogey man fantasies. And then when he/they have you sufficiently riled up, they'll do things like this. Because who wouldn't WANT this if your kids are being made to suffer all these scarey "woke" situations. And y'all are doing JUST WHAT THEY WANT.

Shame on you.

There are few sites as partisan as Blue Virginia. It's the Daily Caller of the left.

There wouldn't be an appetite for school vouchers unless people were losing faith in the competence and intent of public schools officials. What you call "boogey man fantasies" are, in fact, part and parcel of what the far left wants to normalize in public schools. It wasn't Republicans who spend $500K on "equal outcomes for all" equity consultants and speeches by race hucksters like Kendi to make Democrats look bad; the Democrats did that to themselves.

But it still leaves open the question as to whether Republicans want to privatize public schools or whether they simply want to gain more influence over the public schools by threatening to privatize them. I actually don't care if they do the latter if it would push the public school establishment back towards the center, but I don't want schools defunded, either.

False. Virginia is only recently "blue" and as Youngkin's election shows, some D's will cross the line. So you're lying.

Secondly, there is not one credible fact that establishes what you're saying. None. CRT, being one example. Getting whipped up in a frenzy over "porn" in libraries. And the list goes on. These are not part of curriculum. Teachers do not push it. It. Is. Not. Happening. Not one. If you're going to come on here and claim otherwise, you had best put your money where your mouth is and prove it. CITE to the places where this PATTERN and practice is happening. Not an isolated, rogue incident. you can't, because it isn't.

As for equity, that is an absolute valid consideration in a public education system. The devils are in the details, of course. But, for you to degrade it as a theory or goal is repulsive. And is more reflective of the type of person you are.

If people are "losing faith", they are free to go private. They are not free to take from the public good that is public schools in order to do so. Nor should they be. If you can't be a grownup and have the discussion about what changes should be made, what should be happening, etc., without leaving and taking what benefits the community to benefit your own selfish needs, then you shouldn't be part of the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line is this: R’s want to lower taxes, which means funding for schools will be reduced. You can’t have it both ways. That, or they will make cuts everywhere else.

If there is less funding, will FCPS stop wasting on ST math, Lexia, Math Space. etc? Maybe switching back to textbook is not a bad idea.
Oh, also, if the funding is cut, will FCPS cut some useless positions?

That’s not usually how it works, but feel free to believe that will happen (one textbook per kid is far more expensive than any app that can be delivered via the internet). What I’m sure WILL happen is, all schools will be defunded to some degree; however, wealthy districts will continue to thrive because they have strong PTOs that can raise a $hit-ton of money to offset the lack of funding.

Accurate.

[Anonymous]

#1 request of new SB: focus on classroom instruction--what used to be called "academics."

High standards for all kids.

As a teacher, my philosophy was to take each child where he/she was and push and pull them as far as I could. I'm sure there are a lot of teachers doing this, but there does not appear to be much support from the SB.

A calendar which allows for structure and consistency.

For kids with special needs, be sure the needs are being met.

More help for behavioral problems.

Teach history--not grievance.

Teach science to include biology.

Teach FLE classes separated by sex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All republicans want to gut and privatize all public schools. Any attempt to argue otherwise is a lie.

Absolutely not true. You are speaking from your own point of view.

Like if I wrote:
All Dems want to let kids read porn in school. They want all schools to teach that our society is systemically racist. They want to get rid of all standardized testing and leave parents totally out of decision making.

I grew up in public schools --through the Masters' Degree level. DH did the same, except for Masters was private.

We sent out kids to public schools and colleges.

I have always wanted my grandchildren to go to public schools, but I am beginning to rethink that.

When people think that 'Gender Queer" a graphic novel with sexual depictions is okay to have in SCHOOL libraries, something is wrong.

I am NOT for book banning. But, discretion in what is ordered for school libraries is just common sense. Book banning is keeping books from being published or sold. It is not keeping them out of school libraries.

It's not porn. Where did you go to school?

And even if it was, you mind your own kid. Put your own kid on a list of those who can't check out certain books (and be sure to take their phone b/c there is worse on there . . . ) But you leave me and my kid to make our own decisions. That's why it's banning and, yes, that's exactly what it is. Your cute, little distinction makes no different in the end result.

[Anonymous]

It was Republican school boards that started Thomas Jefferson and Academies of Loudoun. It is Democrat run school boards that are gutting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you say you are looking for "real insight;" however, the Republicans have provided few ideas about how they plan to tackle the education gap and other shortcomings. I have only seen things about removing books from schools and banning CRT (even though it was never in our schools). You cannot address the education gap without talking about "equity," but "equity" is now a dirty word among the Republicans.

People are angry about COVID (rightly so), but I think they would have been angrier had we opened the schools and then saw a mass exodus of teachers who were unwilling to take the risk at the time. I think FCPS did the best it could under the circumstances and I think things are improving.

I think you could address the achievement gap by focusing on education, not "equity." "Equity" is a buzzword and I have observed that local Democrats will tailor its meaning to different audiences depending on what they think those audiences want to hear - ranging from (1) equity means equal opportunity to (2) equity means giving each student the tools they need to reach their potential to (3) a commitment to steer resources towards lower-performing schools and away from higher-performing schools until "equal outcomes" have been achieved.

I agree the loudest voices amongst Republicans are those who think culture wars over topics like school books and "banning" CRT will resonate with voters. Obviously, they are making a very clear effort to attract Asian voters and moderate voters - like myself - who are now disaffected with the Democrats who've been in total control of county politics and the School Board in recent years. And I don't think their "culture war" issues are totally fabricated, just exaggerated to the point of exhaustion and beyond. However, what I'd like to know ultimately is whether there are going to be more moderate Republican candidates (an example would be Patty Reed, who used to be on the School Board) or whether anyone getting a GOP endorsement these days is just going to push a right-wing agenda that includes defunding public education in favor of vouchers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Republicans are taking away women’s right to health care when pregnant.

They also want to privatize education.

I’m not willing to trust in a republican school
Board candidate yet given their past behavior.

I have voted for r and d before but will not vote r in the current climate. Their goal is to undermine government.

This is exactly right. They want to privatize and defund (do we not remember Betsy DeVos, as well as the schools Kansas????) They have not backed off those proposals. This includes Youngkin and Virginia GOP:

https://bluevirginia.us/2023/02/republicans-try-once-again-to-privatize-public-education-in-virginia
This session, Republicans again have sponsored a number of bills to privatize public education in furtherance of school choice. The most prominent of these — House Bill 1508 — would revive education savings accounts, now renamed “Education Success Accounts.” Under the proposed legislation, eligible parents could receive a portion of the amount ordinarily appropriated by the Commonwealth to a public school to educate that student. Parents could use the funds to pay for a wide range of educational services, including tuition, fees, and textbooks at a private elementary or secondary school in Virginia. On February 1, the bill was approved and reported out of a House Education Sub-Committee (on a party line vote).

He's luring people in with scare tactics to make you think your kids are going to be exposed to scary trans kids, read porn in school, and be told "white people are bad", among other boogey man fantasies. And then when he/they have you sufficiently riled up, they'll do things like this. Because who wouldn't WANT this if your kids are being made to suffer all these scarey "woke" situations. And y'all are doing JUST WHAT THEY WANT.

Shame on you.

There are few sites as partisan as Blue Virginia. It's the Daily Caller of the left.

There wouldn't be an appetite for school vouchers unless people were losing faith in the competence and intent of public schools officials. What you call "boogey man fantasies" are, in fact, part and parcel of what the far left wants to normalize in public schools. It wasn't Republicans who spend $500K on "equal outcomes for all" equity consultants and speeches by race hucksters like Kendi to make Democrats look bad; the Democrats did that to themselves.

But it still leaves open the question as to whether Republicans want to privatize public schools or whether they simply want to gain more influence over the public schools by threatening to privatize them. I actually don't care if they do the latter if it would push the public school establishment back towards the center, but I don't want schools defunded, either.

False. Virginia is only recently "blue" and as Youngkin's election shows, some D's will cross the line. So you're lying.

Secondly, there is not one credible fact that establishes what you're saying. None. CRT, being one example. Getting whipped up in a frenzy over "porn" in libraries. And the list goes on. These are not part of curriculum. Teachers do not push it. It. Is. Not. Happening. Not one. If you're going to come on here and claim otherwise, you had best put your money where your mouth is and prove it. CITE to the places where this PATTERN and practice is happening. Not an isolated, rogue incident. you can't, because it isn't.

As for equity, that is an absolute valid consideration in a public education system. The devils are in the details, of course. But, for you to degrade it as a theory or goal is repulsive. And is more reflective of the type of person you are.

If people are "losing faith", they are free to go private. They are not free to take from the public good that is public schools in order to do so. Nor should they be. If you can't be a grownup and have the discussion about what changes should be made, what should be happening, etc., without leaving and taking what benefits the community to benefit your own selfish needs, then you shouldn't be part of the conversation.

You have no idea how long I was a Democrat, how many thousands of dollars I contributed to Democratic candidates over the years (and none to Republican candidates), and how recent my disaffection with the Democratic Party is.

But that's OK, because you're reinforcing my impression that the core of the local Democrats now are uniquely obnoxious, self-righteous, and smug, and that being an Independent who leans increasingly Republican, at least in local elections, is the way to go.

So thanks again, and GFY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was Republican school boards that started Thomas Jefferson and Academies of Loudoun. It is Democrat run school boards that are gutting them.

Those Republicans are known as “RINOs”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

Republicans are taking away women’s right to health care when pregnant.

They also want to privatize education.

I’m not willing to trust in a republican school
Board candidate yet given their past behavior.

I have voted for r and d before but will not vote r in the current climate. Their goal is to undermine government.

This is exactly right. They want to privatize and defund (do we not remember Betsy DeVos, as well as the schools Kansas????) They have not backed off those proposals. This includes Youngkin and Virginia GOP:

https://bluevirginia.us/2023/02/republicans-try-once-again-to-privatize-public-education-in-virginia
This session, Republicans again have sponsored a number of bills to privatize public education in furtherance of school choice. The most prominent of these — House Bill 1508 — would revive education savings accounts, now renamed “Education Success Accounts.” Under the proposed legislation, eligible parents could receive a portion of the amount ordinarily appropriated by the Commonwealth to a public school to educate that student. Parents could use the funds to pay for a wide range of educational services, including tuition, fees, and textbooks at a private elementary or secondary school in Virginia. On February 1, the bill was approved and reported out of a House Education Sub-Committee (on a party line vote).

He's luring people in with scare tactics to make you think your kids are going to be exposed to scary trans kids, read porn in school, and be told "white people are bad", among other boogey man fantasies. And then when he/they have you sufficiently riled up, they'll do things like this. Because who wouldn't WANT this if your kids are being made to suffer all these scarey "woke" situations. And y'all are doing JUST WHAT THEY WANT.

Shame on you.

There are few sites as partisan as Blue Virginia. It's the Daily Caller of the left.

There wouldn't be an appetite for school vouchers unless people were losing faith in the competence and intent of public schools officials. What you call "boogey man fantasies" are, in fact, part and parcel of what the far left wants to normalize in public schools. It wasn't Republicans who spend $500K on "equal outcomes for all" equity consultants and speeches by race hucksters like Kendi to make Democrats look bad; the Democrats did that to themselves.

But it still leaves open the question as to whether Republicans want to privatize public schools or whether they simply want to gain more influence over the public schools by threatening to privatize them. I actually don't care if they do the latter if it would push the public school establishment back towards the center, but I don't want schools defunded, either.

False. Virginia is only recently "blue" and as Youngkin's election shows, some D's will cross the line. So you're lying.

Secondly, there is not one credible fact that establishes what you're saying. None. CRT, being one example. Getting whipped up in a frenzy over "porn" in libraries. And the list goes on. These are not part of curriculum. Teachers do not push it. It. Is. Not. Happening. Not one. If you're going to come on here and claim otherwise, you had best put your money where your mouth is and prove it. CITE to the places where this PATTERN and practice is happening. Not an isolated, rogue incident. you can't, because it isn't.

As for equity, that is an absolute valid consideration in a public education system. The devils are in the details, of course. But, for you to degrade it as a theory or goal is repulsive. And is more reflective of the type of person you are.

If people are "losing faith", they are free to go private. They are not free to take from the public good that is public schools in order to do so. Nor should they be. If you can't be a grownup and have the discussion about what changes should be made, what should be happening, etc., without leaving and taking what benefits the community to benefit your own selfish needs, then you shouldn't be part of the conversation.

You have no idea how long I was a Democrat, how many thousands of dollars I contributed to Democratic candidates over the years (and none to Republican candidates), and how recent my disaffection with the Democratic Party is.

But that's OK, because you're reinforcing my impression that the core of the local Democrats now are uniquely obnoxious, self-righteous, and smug, and that being an Independent who leans increasingly Republican, at least in local elections, is the way to go.

So thanks again, and GFY.

You think you stand for someone who is not self-righteous or obnoxious when you are using vulgar language and not engaging civilly in a public forum? Your opinion is rendered moot because you are unable to form a rational argument. At least my vote (and I am not the PP) will cancel yours out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All republicans want to gut and privatize all public schools. Any attempt to argue otherwise is a lie.

Absolutely not true. You are speaking from your own point of view.

Like if I wrote:
All Dems want to let kids read porn in school. They want all schools to teach that our society is systemically racist. They want to get rid of all standardized testing and leave parents totally out of decision making.

I grew up in public schools --through the Masters' Degree level. DH did the same, except for Masters was private.

We sent out kids to public schools and colleges.

I have always wanted my grandchildren to go to public schools, but I am beginning to rethink that.

When people think that 'Gender Queer" a graphic novel with sexual depictions is okay to have in SCHOOL libraries, something is wrong.

I am NOT for book banning. But, discretion in what is ordered for school libraries is just common sense. Book banning is keeping books from being published or sold. It is not keeping them out of school libraries.

It's not porn. Where did you go to school?

Different poster, but I think some of these books are inappropriate and do border on porn. So we disagree there and are both entitled to our opinion. And removing books from school libraries is not banning books. You are welcome to aquire them on your own - they are readily available.

I think Republicans are very worried about the direction public schools are taking. Questionable materials, keeping secrets from parents, and divisive lessons are some of the things they are concerned about. So the choice for them is to try to change those things or completely bail on the public schools - and that may mean trying to get school vouchers.

In FCPS they have little chance of making much headway. They probably make up a significant share of the students who left during COVID-19 and have not returned. They relocated, went private, or homeschool. Perhaps the tax money should follow the students. We know FCPS does not manage money wisely.