Not sure if this should be in the policy forum instead... Anyone here voting for Youngkin because of

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve reached the point that my kid’s AP Psychology exam was cancelled— because it falls on an O Day. If she wants to sit for it, she has to do so during makeup days, which are a week before she graduates mood luck with that.

Once a public school system has decided not to allow any kids in the system to sit for a national exam because some kids from one religion might have to use makeup days as accommodations, it’s gotten out of hand.

I also have a TJ alum and am furious at the new admissions standards— or lack thereof.

Not voting for more of the same. I voted for Youngkin today. And you can do the “you were never a Dem to being with” thing. But, this is my first R vote in a general election (I’ve taken the R ballot a couple of times in primaries, for example to vote against Trump).

I have written members, attended townhall, watched SB meeting, signed petitions and carried signs. And it has made no difference. We can’t keep going like this.

And no. I’m not a moron. I’m pretty clear eyed about who Youngkin is. But, I also know that McAuliffe is in bed with teachers unions, and they are the ones who kept school closed last year.

Sure. We believe you. *eye roll*

You know, it’s McAuliffe, the SB, Brabrand, et al.’s eye rolling at parents with very legitimate concerns about things like TJ admissions, VMPI, mask and xpvaxx policies, closed schools, cancelling AP exams for O Days, lack of instruction on O Days, Zoom in a Room last year, athletics returning last year but fine arts still being restricted, the awfulness of the situation for SN kids, lack of summer school planning, school renaming when kids weren’t even allowed in the buildings they renamed, etc., etc. that got McAuliffe into the position of possibly losing what should be an very easy win.

Parents have legitimate concerns. Real concerns, not CRT and a porno book in the Hs library astroturfed concerns. Thee McAuliffe crew rolls their eyes, calls parents who raise issues about TJ or VMPI or loss of instructional time on O days or similar issues morons and says people who question the wisdom of moving AP exams because a religious minority would have to use the makeup days must be Trumpkins. Not only are Dems not listening to parents concerns— they are dismissing or outright mocking them.

Why would I vote for someone whose surrogates think I’m a moron because I’m concerned about teacher collective bargaining or VMPI or other statewide issues.

Keep dismissing parents concerns, and parents will keep voting for not McAuliffe.

Well said. I had actually forgotten about FCPS allowing sports - even indoor, unmasked *wrestling* - but not allowing in-person academic and arts clubs to meet. Such hypocritical fools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this thread allowed on a FCPS board and not in politics where it belongs. Why do you wack jobs have to ruin every board. You'll find a way to post this crap in travel next

I know. It's so upsetting when people with views different from mine decide to express them. These wack jobs need to be silenced.
- a liberal

The passion you see here is because we aren’t allowed to express our feelings in the real world for fear of being canceled. Cancellation in an UMC context means losing a job or opportunities for your children. We have all been hectored about how wanting school open means you are a murderous deginerate Trumper, and I have simply had my fill of nonsense. I want this election to be a wake up call on a whole host of things, not least of which is education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve reached the point that my kid’s AP Psychology exam was cancelled— because it falls on an O Day. If she wants to sit for it, she has to do so during makeup days, which are a week before she graduates mood luck with that.

Once a public school system has decided not to allow any kids in the system to sit for a national exam because some kids from one religion might have to use makeup days as accommodations, it’s gotten out of hand.

I also have a TJ alum and am furious at the new admissions standards— or lack thereof.

Not voting for more of the same. I voted for Youngkin today. And you can do the “you were never a Dem to being with” thing. But, this is my first R vote in a general election (I’ve taken the R ballot a couple of times in primaries, for example to vote against Trump).

I have written members, attended townhall, watched SB meeting, signed petitions and carried signs. And it has made no difference. We can’t keep going like this.

And no. I’m not a moron. I’m pretty clear eyed about who Youngkin is. But, I also know that McAuliffe is in bed with teachers unions, and they are the ones who kept school closed last year.

Sure. We believe you. *eye roll*

You know, it’s McAuliffe, the SB, Brabrand, et al.’s eye rolling at parents with very legitimate concerns about things like TJ admissions, VMPI, mask and xpvaxx policies, closed schools, cancelling AP exams for O Days, lack of instruction on O Days, Zoom in a Room last year, athletics returning last year but fine arts still being restricted, the awfulness of the situation for SN kids, lack of summer school planning, school renaming when kids weren’t even allowed in the buildings they renamed, etc., etc. that got McAuliffe into the position of possibly losing what should be an very easy win.

Parents have legitimate concerns. Real concerns, not CRT and a porno book in the Hs library astroturfed concerns. Thee McAuliffe crew rolls their eyes, calls parents who raise issues about TJ or VMPI or loss of instructional time on O days or similar issues morons and says people who question the wisdom of moving AP exams because a religious minority would have to use the makeup days must be Trumpkins. Not only are Dems not listening to parents concerns— they are dismissing or outright mocking them.

Why would I vote for someone whose surrogates think I’m a moron because I’m concerned about teacher collective bargaining or VMPI or other statewide issues.

Keep dismissing parents concerns, and parents will keep voting for not McAuliffe.

Well said. I had actually forgotten about FCPS allowing sports - even indoor, unmasked *wrestling* - but not allowing in-person academic and arts clubs to meet. Such hypocritical fools.

How would Youngkin fix that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve reached the point that my kid’s AP Psychology exam was cancelled— because it falls on an O Day. If she wants to sit for it, she has to do so during makeup days, which are a week before she graduates mood luck with that.

Once a public school system has decided not to allow any kids in the system to sit for a national exam because some kids from one religion might have to use makeup days as accommodations, it’s gotten out of hand.

I also have a TJ alum and am furious at the new admissions standards— or lack thereof.

Not voting for more of the same. I voted for Youngkin today. And you can do the “you were never a Dem to being with” thing. But, this is my first R vote in a general election (I’ve taken the R ballot a couple of times in primaries, for example to vote against Trump).

I have written members, attended townhall, watched SB meeting, signed petitions and carried signs. And it has made no difference. We can’t keep going like this.

And no. I’m not a moron. I’m pretty clear eyed about who Youngkin is. But, I also know that McAuliffe is in bed with teachers unions, and they are the ones who kept school closed last year.

Sure. We believe you. *eye roll*

DP here.

Granted this is an anonymous board, but telling someone whose beef is that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears that they aren't credible is not going to help the Democrats in this or future elections. The consistent message from local Democrats in recent years has been that they only deign to listen when people say what they already want to hear.

There are only so many conspiracy theories one can tolerate before they all become a big blur.

If you want people to listen to you maybe rejoin us in reality first.

Renaming schools and redoing TJ admissions at the height of the pandemic
Making it so TJ Admissions are not merit based
Giving up the Carson site for the Western Co HS and using Hutchinson
VMPI
14 day quarantines, while all counties around us are making 7 days plus a negative PCR a work
Zoom in a Room and class monitors last year
2 DOJ lawsuits against FCPS on FAPE violations
Equity everything
Stopping all education for 11 days this year so that we can celebrate religious holidays. In a public school
Cancelling AP Psych and EnvironScience Exams because they fall on O Days and telling kids if they want to take them, they have to use the makeup block. U
The W. Potomac expansion
5 Eastern Co IB sites that struggle to graduate 40 full diploma candidates a year between them
And the entire foster luck of last year, starting with BB crashing, and going through not opening school in August not because it was unsafe,but because Brabrand gave all the teachers ADAs

Show me the conspiracy theory.

Show me which of these concerns are not grounded in reality.

Because every time you tell me these concerns are not valid, I become less inclined to vote D.

TRUTH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve reached the point that my kid’s AP Psychology exam was cancelled— because it falls on an O Day. If she wants to sit for it, she has to do so during makeup days, which are a week before she graduates mood luck with that.

Once a public school system has decided not to allow any kids in the system to sit for a national exam because some kids from one religion might have to use makeup days as accommodations, it’s gotten out of hand.

I also have a TJ alum and am furious at the new admissions standards— or lack thereof.

Not voting for more of the same. I voted for Youngkin today. And you can do the “you were never a Dem to being with” thing. But, this is my first R vote in a general election (I’ve taken the R ballot a couple of times in primaries, for example to vote against Trump).

I have written members, attended townhall, watched SB meeting, signed petitions and carried signs. And it has made no difference. We can’t keep going like this.

And no. I’m not a moron. I’m pretty clear eyed about who Youngkin is. But, I also know that McAuliffe is in bed with teachers unions, and they are the ones who kept school closed last year.

Sure. We believe you. *eye roll*

You know, it’s McAuliffe, the SB, Brabrand, et al.’s eye rolling at parents with very legitimate concerns about things like TJ admissions, VMPI, mask and xpvaxx policies, closed schools, cancelling AP exams for O Days, lack of instruction on O Days, Zoom in a Room last year, athletics returning last year but fine arts still being restricted, the awfulness of the situation for SN kids, lack of summer school planning, school renaming when kids weren’t even allowed in the buildings they renamed, etc., etc. that got McAuliffe into the position of possibly losing what should be an very easy win.

Parents have legitimate concerns. Real concerns, not CRT and a porno book in the Hs library astroturfed concerns. Thee McAuliffe crew rolls their eyes, calls parents who raise issues about TJ or VMPI or loss of instructional time on O days or similar issues morons and says people who question the wisdom of moving AP exams because a religious minority would have to use the makeup days must be Trumpkins. Not only are Dems not listening to parents concerns— they are dismissing or outright mocking them.

Why would I vote for someone whose surrogates think I’m a moron because I’m concerned about teacher collective bargaining or VMPI or other statewide issues.

Keep dismissing parents concerns, and parents will keep voting for not McAuliffe.

Well said. I had actually forgotten about FCPS allowing sports - even indoor, unmasked *wrestling* - but not allowing in-person academic and arts clubs to meet. Such hypocritical fools.

Yep.

And this year, unmasked indoor wrestling still allowed, but theater performances must be masked, even if it is one kid on the stage doing a 2 minute monologue with the audience 15 to 20 feet away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now if you are a parent organizing in your community to hold your local school board accountable you are a right wing puppet getting lots of funding.

That seems likely. Lol.

No, there are literally right-wing groups openly doing this. One infiltrated the TJ PTA and imploded it.

DP. What on earth are you babbling about? Links? The Coalition for TJ isn't "right-wing." They are fighting to keep TJ's admission standards selective. I don't even have kids at TJ, but can completely understand why the admissions standards shouldn't be watered down in the name of "diversity."

Parents Defending Education (definitely right-wing/Koch associates) had an exec member on the TJ PTA and coordinated to install a new president.

Any actual reputable links proving a Koch association? No? Then I guess you're lying. Again.

Sure.

Parents Defending Education is full of Koch associates and Trump activists. Here is the board:
https://defendinged.org/about/

And here are their connections to Koch/Trump.
https://fedsoc.org/contributors/nicoleneily

https://ij.org/staff/rachel-hannabass/

Richey
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-and-devos-announce-new-hires-at-education-department/2017/06

Aimee Viana
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-controversial-couple-heading-trumps-hispanic-education-efforts/2018/09

Nomani is a Trump/Youngkin activist:
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501853618/muslim-woman-immigrant-and-trump-supporter


Nomani was elected as secretary to the TJ PTA and helped support the election of the current president in a dramatic takeover. They did all kinds of shady stuff as part of the PTA. I’ll have to dig up those old posts too.

There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education.

I stand with Democrats, especially childless ones, who want to dismantle and disrupt systems of hierarchy and oppression like science and technology magnet schools.

"There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education."

Why would that be shady? Parents are supposed to advocate for this.

They aren’t really though. They just push GOP talking points/lies under the guise of “education”.

They DGAF about students, they just want your vote.

You're being dismissive about their concerns. Parents have every right to complain how things have been handled by the Democrats.

These aren’t just “parents” though. This isn’t just a “grassroots” organization.

This is a well-organized group of GOP political operatives pushing GOP taking points.

If they cared about students they wouldn’t work their way into PTA executive boards to include inflammatory messages in newsletters. They wouldn’t be pushing blatant lies in the name “education”.

Given the number of times people have been flat-out lied to by Democrats on the School Board your post falls flat. Not to mention, the supposedly non-partisan School Board members routinely campaign for Democratic candidates and show up at campaign events.

So just STFU with your faux concerns about parents who are “operatives” - they aren’t disqualified from holding views or advocating for their kids any more than anyone else.

It’s important to understand their motives and objectives. They are not looking out for kids, they are looking out for politicians. How are you ok with that?

It is very concerning that national organizations are f-ing around with our local schools, school boards, even PTAs. All in an effort to get Republicans elected NOT to help kids.

You can’t really be this dense. Parents are responding to the politicization of decisions affecting schools by far-left Democrats who are not just political operatives, but operatives holding ostensibly non-partisan offices.

Look at Karl Frisch, for example. He has no qualifications to serve on a local School Board. He has neither kids nor a college degree, but he’s planted on the School Board because he was a loyal party member and former low-level Democratic staff member on the Hill who made a good stooge.

Both political parties openly endorse candidates for school board. That is a transparent process, even if you don’t like the outcomes. The local orgs for Ds and Rs do it.

But these fake “grassroots” organizations try to appear like “parents” addressing education issues but they are actually national-level political activists trying to get their party elected. They are not transparent and are pushing blatant lies.

It’s not ok for them to use our kids as pawns.

Excuse me? The people listed above are very much parents, with kids who attend FCPS. It's funny how you keep repeating "grassroots," complete with quotes. Sorry, but the people above are FAR more concerned with our kids' education than those on the current SB - several of whom are childless. Their mission is to see everything through their "equity lens," thus diminishing the educational experiences for all in order to "level the playing field." Lottery admissions to the best school in the state and one of the best in the country? Sure, why not! Forget about admitting only those kids who are actually qualified. That's so racist!

Democrats have done *nothing* for our kids' education.

Parents Defending Education is not a “grassroots” organization no matter how you slice it. Look at the exec board.

And they are pushing GOP lies and their GOP candidate.

[Anonymous]

^^^^ YES!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you all care about your kid's chances of getting into TJ more than you care about other people's human rights. Got it.

Do these other people care about the kid's chance to get into TJ?

None of my kids ever went to TJ and I still think the admissions criteria should not be a lottery. There's a reason it's one of the best schools in the country.
DP

Same. I went to a very highly ranked high school like TJ and strongly believe in them. We need doctors, scientists and innovative people in society. My former classmates are doing great things. Why should people lose the option to attend gifted schools? (And I also don’t think my kids would make it into TJ)

The revised admissions criteria at TJ is not a lottery. A lottery was considered and rejected.

Instead, FCPS now sets aside a certain number of seats for students at every middle school in FCPS who meet certain requirements, with other seats set aside for students at other participating jurisdictions, and the remaining candidates drawn from a residual pool. However, students no longer have to take a rigorous STEM-focused admissions test, the new process requires far more time by FCPS employees to perform a "holistic" review of all the eligible students, and students get a boost based on "experience factors" such as being economically disadvantaged or attending a middle school that historically has sent fewer kids to TJ.

One of the results of these changes is that FCPS will now end up spending even more time and money focusing on who attends a single high school - TJ - and less time addressing the needs of students at all the other high schools in the county, many of which have pressing and unmet needs. For a school system that claims to prioritize equity, FCPS is now fetishizing the importance of TJ more than ever before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now if you are a parent organizing in your community to hold your local school board accountable you are a right wing puppet getting lots of funding.

That seems likely. Lol.

No, there are literally right-wing groups openly doing this. One infiltrated the TJ PTA and imploded it.

DP. What on earth are you babbling about? Links? The Coalition for TJ isn't "right-wing." They are fighting to keep TJ's admission standards selective. I don't even have kids at TJ, but can completely understand why the admissions standards shouldn't be watered down in the name of "diversity."

Parents Defending Education (definitely right-wing/Koch associates) had an exec member on the TJ PTA and coordinated to install a new president.

Any actual reputable links proving a Koch association? No? Then I guess you're lying. Again.

Sure.

Parents Defending Education is full of Koch associates and Trump activists. Here is the board:
https://defendinged.org/about/

And here are their connections to Koch/Trump.
https://fedsoc.org/contributors/nicoleneily

https://ij.org/staff/rachel-hannabass/

Richey
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-and-devos-announce-new-hires-at-education-department/2017/06

Aimee Viana
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-controversial-couple-heading-trumps-hispanic-education-efforts/2018/09

Nomani is a Trump/Youngkin activist:
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501853618/muslim-woman-immigrant-and-trump-supporter


Nomani was elected as secretary to the TJ PTA and helped support the election of the current president in a dramatic takeover. They did all kinds of shady stuff as part of the PTA. I’ll have to dig up those old posts too.

There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education.

I stand with Democrats, especially childless ones, who want to dismantle and disrupt systems of hierarchy and oppression like science and technology magnet schools.

"There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education."

Why would that be shady? Parents are supposed to advocate for this.

They aren’t really though. They just push GOP talking points/lies under the guise of “education”.

They DGAF about students, they just want your vote.

You're being dismissive about their concerns. Parents have every right to complain how things have been handled by the Democrats.

These aren’t just “parents” though. This isn’t just a “grassroots” organization.

This is a well-organized group of GOP political operatives pushing GOP taking points.

If they cared about students they wouldn’t work their way into PTA executive boards to include inflammatory messages in newsletters. They wouldn’t be pushing blatant lies in the name “education”.

Given the number of times people have been flat-out lied to by Democrats on the School Board your post falls flat. Not to mention, the supposedly non-partisan School Board members routinely campaign for Democratic candidates and show up at campaign events.

So just STFU with your faux concerns about parents who are “operatives” - they aren’t disqualified from holding views or advocating for their kids any more than anyone else.

+1,000
Apparently, it's fine for Democrats to lobby for their favored candidates, but not Republicans. There should be no question why so many are voting for Youngkin this time.

There is no “both sides”.

There is no D astroturfing organization here.

[Anonymous]

This poster summed it up better than anyone. I hope democrats (and I generally am one) eat a big slice of humble pie and reconsider their bombastic dismissiveness! :

Renaming schools and redoing TJ admissions at the height of the pandemic
Making it so TJ Admissions are not merit based
Giving up the Carson site for the Western Co HS and using Hutchinson
VMPI
14 day quarantines, while all counties around us are making 7 days plus a negative PCR a work
Zoom in a Room and class monitors last year
2 DOJ lawsuits against FCPS on FAPE violations
Equity everything
Stopping all education for 11 days this year so that we can celebrate religious holidays. In a public school
Cancelling AP Psych and EnvironScience Exams because they fall on O Days and telling kids if they want to take them, they have to use the makeup block. U
The W. Potomac expansion
5 Eastern Co IB sites that struggle to graduate 40 full diploma candidates a year between them
And the entire foster luck of last year, starting with BB crashing, and going through not opening school in August not because it was unsafe,but because Brabrand gave all the teachers ADAs

Show me the conspiracy theory.

Show me which of these concerns are not grounded in reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now if you are a parent organizing in your community to hold your local school board accountable you are a right wing puppet getting lots of funding.

That seems likely. Lol.

No, there are literally right-wing groups openly doing this. One infiltrated the TJ PTA and imploded it.

DP. What on earth are you babbling about? Links? The Coalition for TJ isn't "right-wing." They are fighting to keep TJ's admission standards selective. I don't even have kids at TJ, but can completely understand why the admissions standards shouldn't be watered down in the name of "diversity."

Parents Defending Education (definitely right-wing/Koch associates) had an exec member on the TJ PTA and coordinated to install a new president.

Any actual reputable links proving a Koch association? No? Then I guess you're lying. Again.

Sure.

Parents Defending Education is full of Koch associates and Trump activists. Here is the board:
https://defendinged.org/about/

And here are their connections to Koch/Trump.
https://fedsoc.org/contributors/nicoleneily

https://ij.org/staff/rachel-hannabass/

Richey
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-and-devos-announce-new-hires-at-education-department/2017/06

Aimee Viana
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-controversial-couple-heading-trumps-hispanic-education-efforts/2018/09

Nomani is a Trump/Youngkin activist:
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501853618/muslim-woman-immigrant-and-trump-supporter


Nomani was elected as secretary to the TJ PTA and helped support the election of the current president in a dramatic takeover. They did all kinds of shady stuff as part of the PTA. I’ll have to dig up those old posts too.

There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education.

I stand with Democrats, especially childless ones, who want to dismantle and disrupt systems of hierarchy and oppression like science and technology magnet schools.

"There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education."

Why would that be shady? Parents are supposed to advocate for this.

They aren’t really though. They just push GOP talking points/lies under the guise of “education”.

They DGAF about students, they just want your vote.

You're being dismissive about their concerns. Parents have every right to complain how things have been handled by the Democrats.

These aren’t just “parents” though. This isn’t just a “grassroots” organization.

This is a well-organized group of GOP political operatives pushing GOP taking points.

If they cared about students they wouldn’t work their way into PTA executive boards to include inflammatory messages in newsletters. They wouldn’t be pushing blatant lies in the name “education”.

Given the number of times people have been flat-out lied to by Democrats on the School Board your post falls flat. Not to mention, the supposedly non-partisan School Board members routinely campaign for Democratic candidates and show up at campaign events.

So just STFU with your faux concerns about parents who are “operatives” - they aren’t disqualified from holding views or advocating for their kids any more than anyone else.

It’s important to understand their motives and objectives. They are not looking out for kids, they are looking out for politicians. How are you ok with that?

It is very concerning that national organizations are f-ing around with our local schools, school boards, even PTAs. All in an effort to get Republicans elected NOT to help kids.

You can’t really be this dense. Parents are responding to the politicization of decisions affecting schools by far-left Democrats who are not just political operatives, but operatives holding ostensibly non-partisan offices.

Look at Karl Frisch, for example. He has no qualifications to serve on a local School Board. He has neither kids nor a college degree, but he’s planted on the School Board because he was a loyal party member and former low-level Democratic staff member on the Hill who made a good stooge.

Both political parties openly endorse candidates for school board. That is a transparent process, even if you don’t like the outcomes. The local orgs for Ds and Rs do it.

But these fake “grassroots” organizations try to appear like “parents” addressing education issues but they are actually national-level political activists trying to get their party elected. They are not transparent and are pushing blatant lies.

It’s not ok for them to use our kids as pawns.

Excuse me? The people listed above are very much parents, with kids who attend FCPS. It's funny how you keep repeating "grassroots," complete with quotes. Sorry, but the people above are FAR more concerned with our kids' education than those on the current SB - several of whom are childless. Their mission is to see everything through their "equity lens," thus diminishing the educational experiences for all in order to "level the playing field." Lottery admissions to the best school in the state and one of the best in the country? Sure, why not! Forget about admitting only those kids who are actually qualified. That's so racist!

Democrats have done *nothing* for our kids' education.

Parents Defending Education is not a “grassroots” organization no matter how you slice it. Look at the exec board.

And they are pushing GOP lies and their GOP candidate.

Really, because like it or not Asra Nomani was (until this spring) an FCPS parent and that organization has plenty of other members or supporters from NoVa. You seem to be the one pushing lies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve reached the point that my kid’s AP Psychology exam was cancelled— because it falls on an O Day. If she wants to sit for it, she has to do so during makeup days, which are a week before she graduates mood luck with that.

Once a public school system has decided not to allow any kids in the system to sit for a national exam because some kids from one religion might have to use makeup days as accommodations, it’s gotten out of hand.

I also have a TJ alum and am furious at the new admissions standards— or lack thereof.

Not voting for more of the same. I voted for Youngkin today. And you can do the “you were never a Dem to being with” thing. But, this is my first R vote in a general election (I’ve taken the R ballot a couple of times in primaries, for example to vote against Trump).

I have written members, attended townhall, watched SB meeting, signed petitions and carried signs. And it has made no difference. We can’t keep going like this.

And no. I’m not a moron. I’m pretty clear eyed about who Youngkin is. But, I also know that McAuliffe is in bed with teachers unions, and they are the ones who kept school closed last year.

Sure. We believe you. *eye roll*

DP here.

Granted this is an anonymous board, but telling someone whose beef is that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears that they aren't credible is not going to help the Democrats in this or future elections. The consistent message from local Democrats in recent years has been that they only deign to listen when people say what they already want to hear.

There are only so many conspiracy theories one can tolerate before they all become a big blur.

If you want people to listen to you maybe rejoin us in reality first.

Renaming schools and redoing TJ admissions at the height of the pandemic
Making it so TJ Admissions are not merit based
Giving up the Carson site for the Western Co HS and using Hutchinson
VMPI
14 day quarantines, while all counties around us are making 7 days plus a negative PCR a work
Zoom in a Room and class monitors last year
2 DOJ lawsuits against FCPS on FAPE violations
Equity everything
Stopping all education for 11 days this year so that we can celebrate religious holidays. In a public school
Cancelling AP Psych and EnvironScience Exams because they fall on O Days and telling kids if they want to take them, they have to use the makeup block. U
The W. Potomac expansion
5 Eastern Co IB sites that struggle to graduate 40 full diploma candidates a year between them
And the entire foster luck of last year, starting with BB crashing, and going through not opening school in August not because it was unsafe,but because Brabrand gave all the teachers ADAs

Show me the conspiracy theory.

Show me which of these concerns are not grounded in reality.

Because every time you tell me these concerns are not valid, I become less inclined to vote D.

What about VMPI?

Which one would “Youngkin” fix?

Still waiting on answers here…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of things that need addressing beyond a few school related matters. It's about the bigger picture which is where Youngkin will destroy VA and send it back to the deep south. Remember, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

It's true, but the 'many' in this case are parents and the 'few' in this case are those without kids who don't gaf about that aspect of the election.

I literally heard a friend say she'd be fine if abortion rights were stripped away in VA if it meant the schools were bettered. Why? Because her kids are too young to be affected by an abortion ban and she can't have anymore kids. It doesn't affect her, so she doesn't care... just like how childfree people don't care about school issues.

It sounds like you are a single issue voter (you want abortions). I respect that — but realize many, many other people are not single issue voters. Folks will determine their own priority issues and vote accordingly.

Best post yet. Clear and succinct. And absolutely going to fall on the deaf ears of liberals who are convinced they - and only they - are always right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now if you are a parent organizing in your community to hold your local school board accountable you are a right wing puppet getting lots of funding.

That seems likely. Lol.

No, there are literally right-wing groups openly doing this. One infiltrated the TJ PTA and imploded it.

DP. What on earth are you babbling about? Links? The Coalition for TJ isn't "right-wing." They are fighting to keep TJ's admission standards selective. I don't even have kids at TJ, but can completely understand why the admissions standards shouldn't be watered down in the name of "diversity."

Parents Defending Education (definitely right-wing/Koch associates) had an exec member on the TJ PTA and coordinated to install a new president.

Any actual reputable links proving a Koch association? No? Then I guess you're lying. Again.

Sure.

Parents Defending Education is full of Koch associates and Trump activists. Here is the board:
https://defendinged.org/about/

And here are their connections to Koch/Trump.
https://fedsoc.org/contributors/nicoleneily

https://ij.org/staff/rachel-hannabass/

Richey
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-and-devos-announce-new-hires-at-education-department/2017/06

Aimee Viana
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-controversial-couple-heading-trumps-hispanic-education-efforts/2018/09

Nomani is a Trump/Youngkin activist:
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501853618/muslim-woman-immigrant-and-trump-supporter


Nomani was elected as secretary to the TJ PTA and helped support the election of the current president in a dramatic takeover. They did all kinds of shady stuff as part of the PTA. I’ll have to dig up those old posts too.

There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education.

I stand with Democrats, especially childless ones, who want to dismantle and disrupt systems of hierarchy and oppression like science and technology magnet schools.

"There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education."

Why would that be shady? Parents are supposed to advocate for this.

They aren’t really though. They just push GOP talking points/lies under the guise of “education”.

They DGAF about students, they just want your vote.

You're being dismissive about their concerns. Parents have every right to complain how things have been handled by the Democrats.

These aren’t just “parents” though. This isn’t just a “grassroots” organization.

This is a well-organized group of GOP political operatives pushing GOP taking points.

If they cared about students they wouldn’t work their way into PTA executive boards to include inflammatory messages in newsletters. They wouldn’t be pushing blatant lies in the name “education”.

Given the number of times people have been flat-out lied to by Democrats on the School Board your post falls flat. Not to mention, the supposedly non-partisan School Board members routinely campaign for Democratic candidates and show up at campaign events.

So just STFU with your faux concerns about parents who are “operatives” - they aren’t disqualified from holding views or advocating for their kids any more than anyone else.

+1,000
Apparently, it's fine for Democrats to lobby for their favored candidates, but not Republicans. There should be no question why so many are voting for Youngkin this time.

There is no “both sides”.

There is no D astroturfing organization here.

Yet again, you unwittingly make the case for a change from total Democratic domination of state and local government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now if you are a parent organizing in your community to hold your local school board accountable you are a right wing puppet getting lots of funding.

That seems likely. Lol.

No, there are literally right-wing groups openly doing this. One infiltrated the TJ PTA and imploded it.

DP. What on earth are you babbling about? Links? The Coalition for TJ isn't "right-wing." They are fighting to keep TJ's admission standards selective. I don't even have kids at TJ, but can completely understand why the admissions standards shouldn't be watered down in the name of "diversity."

Parents Defending Education (definitely right-wing/Koch associates) had an exec member on the TJ PTA and coordinated to install a new president.

Any actual reputable links proving a Koch association? No? Then I guess you're lying. Again.

Sure.

Parents Defending Education is full of Koch associates and Trump activists. Here is the board:
https://defendinged.org/about/

And here are their connections to Koch/Trump.
https://fedsoc.org/contributors/nicoleneily

https://ij.org/staff/rachel-hannabass/

Richey
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-and-devos-announce-new-hires-at-education-department/2017/06

Aimee Viana
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-controversial-couple-heading-trumps-hispanic-education-efforts/2018/09

Nomani is a Trump/Youngkin activist:
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501853618/muslim-woman-immigrant-and-trump-supporter


Nomani was elected as secretary to the TJ PTA and helped support the election of the current president in a dramatic takeover. They did all kinds of shady stuff as part of the PTA. I’ll have to dig up those old posts too.

There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education.

I stand with Democrats, especially childless ones, who want to dismantle and disrupt systems of hierarchy and oppression like science and technology magnet schools.

"There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education."

Why would that be shady? Parents are supposed to advocate for this.

They aren’t really though. They just push GOP talking points/lies under the guise of “education”.

They DGAF about students, they just want your vote.

You're being dismissive about their concerns. Parents have every right to complain how things have been handled by the Democrats.

These aren’t just “parents” though. This isn’t just a “grassroots” organization.

This is a well-organized group of GOP political operatives pushing GOP taking points.

If they cared about students they wouldn’t work their way into PTA executive boards to include inflammatory messages in newsletters. They wouldn’t be pushing blatant lies in the name “education”.

Given the number of times people have been flat-out lied to by Democrats on the School Board your post falls flat. Not to mention, the supposedly non-partisan School Board members routinely campaign for Democratic candidates and show up at campaign events.

So just STFU with your faux concerns about parents who are “operatives” - they aren’t disqualified from holding views or advocating for their kids any more than anyone else.

It’s important to understand their motives and objectives. They are not looking out for kids, they are looking out for politicians. How are you ok with that?

It is very concerning that national organizations are f-ing around with our local schools, school boards, even PTAs. All in an effort to get Republicans elected NOT to help kids.

You can’t really be this dense. Parents are responding to the politicization of decisions affecting schools by far-left Democrats who are not just political operatives, but operatives holding ostensibly non-partisan offices.

Look at Karl Frisch, for example. He has no qualifications to serve on a local School Board. He has neither kids nor a college degree, but he’s planted on the School Board because he was a loyal party member and former low-level Democratic staff member on the Hill who made a good stooge.

Both political parties openly endorse candidates for school board. That is a transparent process, even if you don’t like the outcomes. The local orgs for Ds and Rs do it.

But these fake “grassroots” organizations try to appear like “parents” addressing education issues but they are actually national-level political activists trying to get their party elected. They are not transparent and are pushing blatant lies.

It’s not ok for them to use our kids as pawns.

Excuse me? The people listed above are very much parents, with kids who attend FCPS. It's funny how you keep repeating "grassroots," complete with quotes. Sorry, but the people above are FAR more concerned with our kids' education than those on the current SB - several of whom are childless. Their mission is to see everything through their "equity lens," thus diminishing the educational experiences for all in order to "level the playing field." Lottery admissions to the best school in the state and one of the best in the country? Sure, why not! Forget about admitting only those kids who are actually qualified. That's so racist!

Democrats have done *nothing* for our kids' education.

Parents Defending Education is not a “grassroots” organization no matter how you slice it. Look at the exec board.

And they are pushing GOP lies and their GOP candidate.

Really, because like it or not Asra Nomani was (until this spring) an FCPS parent and that organization has plenty of other members or supporters from NoVa. You seem to be the one pushing lies.

Yes, that is how astroturfing works.

Who else is on the exec board? Hint: I linked above…