In God We Trust sign prominently posted in FCPS Middle School main office

[Anonymous]

OP, if you do feel that strongly, why would you send complaint anonymously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed the same thing in my kid's Arlington Middle School. I find it inappropriate. Wish I didn't live in a state where this is the law.

Move across the Potomac River then. It’s your fault that you can’t adjust to the laws of this southern state, and if you don’t like it you can leave. Simple.

I taught my kid not to say the pledge nor to stand for it. It makes it even better that it pisses off southerners like you.

These civic ceremonies are the only thing that binds us together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I walked into the office to pick up my daughter yesterday and noticed an 8.5 x 11 sign stating "In God We Trust" in a prominent location in the main office.

This seems at best inappropriate and at worst like a brazen attempt to bring personal religious beliefs into a public space (unfortunately I do think it is legal). I happen to know, because of the Principal's Instagram account, that she is extremely religious. I respect her personal beliefs and her right to express them in a private context.

But as someone who has carefully raised their children without religion and God, this sign is offensive to me. Whether or not it is intentional, it effectively others and intimidates constituents of that school who don't believe in God. Even if it only offends a few people, isn't that enough? Why is this necessary?

I know. It's on our money and it's in the pledge, but my kids can opt to not say the God part in the pledge. They can't opt not to go into the main office.

I filled out a discrimination complaint online, but I doubt anything will come of it (there are certainly more immediate issues in that arena for that office to address).

I am considering writing a kind and good faith note to the principal from an anonymous email address. Any (kind and in good faith) thoughts on that approach or ideas for ways to resolve this without backlash against my kids?

Thanks.


Simply tell the principal why it bothers you respectfully, giving him or her the opportunity to respectfully respond. I wish we could have more honest and open conversations. I think I was more disappointed in my daughter’s freshman biology honors class notes where the answer to the question “what is life” was “it’s complicated.” Have we truly gotten to the point where that is the scientific answer? There has to be a scientific answer that doesn’t have to go into a full on debate on abortion.

The scientific truth is that it IS complicated, and it would be complicated whether abortion existed or not. Is a virus alive? It’s just a bit of genetic material. There are molecules that grow, reproduce, etc, and so seem to fulfill the definition of being alive, but like viruses aren’t exactly what we think we mean by “alive.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wait till OP finds out FCPS takes off for religious holidays.

And Virginia offers an IGWT license plate.

I have one (two).

[Anonymous]

Op is everything that is wrong with this country. Just looking for something to be offended by. Get a life op.

[Anonymous]

I don’t agree with the sign but the OP sounds like a miserable person.

[Anonymous]

At the PTA-sponsored book fair at our kid’s NOVA public elementary school a parent dressed as Santa and gave out candy. A Jewish family wrote a letter to the principal complaining that it was inappropriate and offensive and made them uncomfortable. The principal ignored it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op is everything that is wrong with this country. Just looking for something to be offended by. Get a life op.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed the same thing in my kid's Arlington Middle School. I find it inappropriate. Wish I didn't live in a state where this is the law.

Move across the Potomac River then. It’s your fault that you can’t adjust to the laws of this southern state, and if you don’t like it you can leave. Simple.

I taught my kid not to say the pledge nor to stand for it. It makes it even better that it pisses off southerners like you.

These civic ceremonies are the only thing that binds us together.

LOL.

Also to the PP, stop stereotyping southerners. I’m a redneck from the backwoods and this type of thing bothers gated community “liberals” far more than whatever “southerner” you have in mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the PTA-sponsored book fair at our kid’s NOVA public elementary school a parent dressed as Santa and gave out candy. A Jewish family wrote a letter to the principal complaining that it was inappropriate and offensive and made them uncomfortable. The principal ignored it.

How do you know the principal ignored it? Because someone told you he did? I am nit Christian. I don’t find Santa offensive (he also is not Christian!).

[Anonymous]

from dallasnews.com

>>About two dozen new signs depicting “In God We Trust” in Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi and Spanish were delivered to Allen schools, but whether they’ll make it onto the walls of classrooms is unclear.<<

The School Board passed a requirement to have IGWT signs in all the schools but refused to allow anything other than English and black and white text -- despite not having any design specifications in their edict.

if you google "IGWT" spelled out there are several stories about this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_motto#:~:text=The%20modern%20motto%20of%20the,on%20U.S.%20coins%20in%201864.

It's the national motto as well.

and

Virginia requires it's display.

Further evidence that VA is a sh1thole. Getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

That was passed by Governor Warner, a democrat and our current senator.

Doesn't make it any less of a sh1tty law.

Like I said, VA is a sh1thole. And getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

You’re a hypocritical moron. Go back to across the Potomac River if you hate the laws that were passed here decades ago and can’t seem to tolerate them.

Counting down the days until I move away. It’s way too backward here - and moving in the wrong direction.

Maybe someday VA will join the 21st century.

Back to Maryland or the Northeast I’m guessing?

You’re curious where civilized, educated people live?

Yet you still chose to live here even while knowing that? Silly OP, you’ll make your way down here sooner or later

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don’t disagree with you. But why do you have to do it anonymously? If you feel that strongly about it and also think it’s probably illegal (which it very well may be), then put your money where your mouth is and sign your polite note. What are you afraid of, that your middle school principal will ostracize your kids and cause them harm? Somehow I don’t see that happening.

Might want to check before declaring the national motto “illegal.” Multiple states require its display.

I never declared it to be illegal. Note that I qualified my statement. Besides, even if it isn’t illegal it’s insensitive.

It doesn’t matter if it’s insensitive or not, it’s Virginia law. Same as if you think it’s insensitive to celebrate a holiday, it’s the law whether federal or on a state level to recognize it in schools.

Many laws are unjust and deserve to be challenged.

Whether they deserve to be challenged is another story, but OP’s anonymous email to the principal will no effect because even the principals powers are limited to abide by the rules of the county and state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed the same thing in my kid's Arlington Middle School. I find it inappropriate. Wish I didn't live in a state where this is the law.

Move across the Potomac River then. It’s your fault that you can’t adjust to the laws of this southern state, and if you don’t like it you can leave. Simple.

I taught my kid not to say the pledge nor to stand for it. It makes it even better that it pisses off southerners like you.

Frankly I don’t care whether you say the pledge or not, all I care is that you and thousands of migrants chose to move here and buy my real estate. Maybe parents who can afford children to go to private school don’t belong on this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed the same thing in my kid's Arlington Middle School. I find it inappropriate. Wish I didn't live in a state where this is the law.

Move across the Potomac River then. It’s your fault that you can’t adjust to the laws of this southern state, and if you don’t like it you can leave. Simple.

I taught my kid not to say the pledge nor to stand for it. It makes it even better that it pisses off southerners like you.

These civic ceremonies are the only thing that binds us together.

Clearly not. The IGWT types stormed the Capitol because they don’t like democracy.