School board reckoning?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just read the Standards of Learning. No mention of CRT or CRT concepts in it.

I think what people are all up in arms about is training for teachers on pedagogy. Not curriculum.

Well yes, is that not obvious to people? I'm so confused when people don't seem to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read the Standards of Learning. No mention of CRT or CRT concepts in it.

I think what people are all up in arms about is training for teachers on pedagogy. Not curriculum.

Well yes, is that not obvious to people? I'm so confused when people don't seem to understand.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/virginia-dept-of-education-website-promotes-crt-despite-mcauliffe-claims-its-never-been-taught-there

Links in this article where you can view the Dept of Ed website that includes CRT.

Lots of items are taught that are not in the Standards of Learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe won Fairfax County by a whopping 65 - 35, so there's no reason for them to not double down.

The state DoE, however, may tread a bit more cautiously.

yes, but McAuliffe lost ground - I think Northam had 70% in FC. Whether it is fair or not, parents of all political persuasions (with 20/20 hindsight of course) were dissatisfied with FCPS in some regard - whether it was the complete and embarrassing failure of implementing on-line learning back in March 2019, the failure to open schools earlier in AUG 2020 to allow kids to engage with teachers before going virtual when Delta variant arrived, the very strict rules about social distancing/quarantine/masking even for HS kids who were vaccinated, the failure to acknowledge that kids were participating in sports/pods and bars/restaurants open but still not in school, the comparison to private schools - and of course the cultural issues surrounding curriculum.

It will be interesting to see if campaigns focus on COVID failures or the culture wars issues.

Don't forget their bizarre decision to prioritize a rehaul of the TJ admissions process in the middle of a pandemic and their incompetence when it comes to facilities management (spending $$$$ where it isn't needed while ignoring schools in need of investment). They suck as both people and board members.

Brabrand told them the VA secretary of education was requiring the bolded. Atif Qarni, who will be replaced by Youngkin, is behind quite a bit of the nonsense.

Absolutely, the state plays a role. This was foreseeable IMO. The blue parts of VA are narrow and not super left-leaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe won Fairfax County by a whopping 65 - 35, so there's no reason for them to not double down.

The state DoE, however, may tread a bit more cautiously.

yes, but McAuliffe lost ground - I think Northam had 70% in FC. Whether it is fair or not, parents of all political persuasions (with 20/20 hindsight of course) were dissatisfied with FCPS in some regard - whether it was the complete and embarrassing failure of implementing on-line learning back in March 2019, the failure to open schools earlier in AUG 2020 to allow kids to engage with teachers before going virtual when Delta variant arrived, the very strict rules about social distancing/quarantine/masking even for HS kids who were vaccinated, the failure to acknowledge that kids were participating in sports/pods and bars/restaurants open but still not in school, the comparison to private schools - and of course the cultural issues surrounding curriculum.

It will be interesting to see if campaigns focus on COVID failures or the culture wars issues.

Don't forget their bizarre decision to prioritize a rehaul of the TJ admissions process in the middle of a pandemic and their incompetence when it comes to facilities management (spending $$$$ where it isn't needed while ignoring schools in need of investment). They suck as both people and board members.

Brabrand told them the VA secretary of education was requiring the bolded. Atif Qarni, who will be replaced by Youngkin, is behind quite a bit of the nonsense.

I'm a D, and I get it now. The message was "don't mess with our kids." Lesson learned and I say we take it as a mandate to articulate our message better about education in Virginia and how we have parents involved in every level of from the PTA to the Dept. of Education and always want parents involved. Parental involvement in schools is essential and every PTA is set up for exactly that purpose. We failed on messaging in a big way. Let's learn from this instead of attacking parents as Trumpers.

Absolutely, the state plays a role. This was foreseeable IMO. The blue parts of VA are narrow and not super left-leaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Virginia GOP proved that it can whip up racist white enthusiasm, and win at the ballot box, without Donald Trump.

Virginians just elected a black woman and Latino guy. Yes, must be racist white enthusiasts who voted them in. Democrats fail to recognize that there are much more educated AA now.

yeah and one of the ads has that woman holding an AK-47 rifle. Just what VA needs.

Oh please. This was about the Youngkin campaign. Rarely do people focus on the LG or AG. But they should - Herring was a fantastic AG and did some really good things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe won Fairfax County by a whopping 65 - 35, so there's no reason for them to not double down.

The state DoE, however, may tread a bit more cautiously.

I believe Youngkin plans to change leadership at the DoE.

I agree that in Fairfax County the SB doesn't need to be too concerned. I wish it would send FCDC a lesson to pick better candidates next time, but I don't see how that's going to happen.

I am not going to lie, I am fine with the DoE seeing some change. The plans for changing math are ridiculous.

+1. And Youngkin has the power to move TJ back to merit based. I really agonized over my vote for Governor. I couldn’t vote for McAuliffe and watch the DOE continue down this path. Hopefully, this gets us off of equity everything, TJ admissions standards changed to merit based, the VMPI killed, and some calendar guidance that disallows O Days (days counted as educational where teachers are not allowed to teach). I couldn’t vote for Youngkin. I gave up and wrote in JCF and voted down ballot for Dems.

Mark Herring losing makes me feel worse than McAuliffe losing. By a lot. Especially with abortion rights at play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where was the focus of the School Board when the schools were closed on COVID? What were the issues discussed?

Social justice. Renaming schools. Religious holidays on the calendar. Removing merit from TJ.

And, how did they kick off their opening last year? With Kendi and his books.

Tone deaf.

This. Youngkin can moderate some of this. My kid’s AP tests being cancelled for an O Day was the straw the broke the camels back. If a school is open and counting towards 990 hours, it should me so restricted National exams can’t be given.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Virginia GOP proved that it can whip up racist white enthusiasm, and win at the ballot box, without Donald Trump.

Yes, it's always the other person that's the problem. You are perfect.

Unbelievable!

As the other PP pointed out, what's the Dem strategy to target moderates like me?

It can be both, you know? Yes, there were many failings on one side; but it is also true that Youngkin whipped up white racist enthusiasm.

As far as moderates like you: there has been plenty of things that McAuliffe (very much a moderate) and the current governor did that should appeal to you. Strong economy, elimination of rape kit back log (HUGE). Expanding medicaid. Leader in education, much as people would have you believe otherwise.

Youngkin is opposed to gay marriage, is not pro choice, and will reduce everything to pure dollars and cents. He will have ZERO affect on local school board issues or FCPS. This scenario is not something that typically appeals to moderates. If you are one, you should be concerned about what you just voted for.

I did not vote for Youngkin but voted McAuliffe for all the reasons you mention.

A lot of folks are pissed off at the school board for their wrong focus during the pandemic and what they perceive as anti-merit policies and voted for Youngkin out of spite. I clearly understand that the school board being ultra liberal/lefty/whatever is not a reflection of McAuliff but he was the available target for their anger. Now it's his party's job to educate their minions on the SB to do their job or risk losing future elections.

This. What the SB does impact the families of most kids more than what the Governor does. Especially since Youngkin has a Dem Senate. The SB has 12 Dems. They can get it together, hire a competent replacement to Brabrand, quit focusing on all things equity, adopt a sensible calendar, and quit focusing on dog parks and electric school buses and school renaming when their are massive problems from COVId and the fallout.

Or, we can do this again in 2023. Their call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where was the focus of the School Board when the schools were closed on COVID? What were the issues discussed?

Social justice. Renaming schools. Religious holidays on the calendar. Removing merit from TJ.

And, how did they kick off their opening last year? With Kendi and his books.

Tone deaf.

This. Youngkin can moderate some of this. My kid’s AP tests being cancelled for an O Day was the straw the broke the camels back. If a school is open and counting towards 990 hours, it should me so restricted National exams can’t be given.

What does this mean? When will they have the test - on another day?

[Anonymous]

I think it's bigger than the school board --- one could argue that it's the Teachers Federation (i.e. K Adams) and teachers who fought being IN school last year that drove parents AWAY from McAuliffe and toward Youngkin.

The Henny Penny mindset -- ("sky is falling!"/ "we're all going to die"/child-size coffins in parades) -- was too much drama for a lot of parents who just want their kids to learn something IN school.

And then you add a lot of non-schooling like "O" days, and extended quarantines, and people don't see the school system as competent. They think the school system is focused on the wrong things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe won Fairfax County by a whopping 65 - 35, so there's no reason for them to not double down.

The state DoE, however, may tread a bit more cautiously.

+100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe won Fairfax County by a whopping 65 - 35, so there's no reason for them to not double down.

The state DoE, however, may tread a bit more cautiously.

+100.

-100. If democrats want state wide office, they need wider margins in Fairfax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Virginia GOP proved that it can whip up racist white enthusiasm, and win at the ballot box, without Donald Trump.

Yes, it's always the other person that's the problem. You are perfect.

Unbelievable!

As the other PP pointed out, what's the Dem strategy to target moderates like me?

It can be both, you know? Yes, there were many failings on one side; but it is also true that Youngkin whipped up white racist enthusiasm.

As far as moderates like you: there has been plenty of things that McAuliffe (very much a moderate) and the current governor did that should appeal to you. Strong economy, elimination of rape kit back log (HUGE). Expanding medicaid. Leader in education, much as people would have you believe otherwise.

Youngkin is opposed to gay marriage, is not pro choice, and will reduce everything to pure dollars and cents. He will have ZERO affect on local school board issues or FCPS. This scenario is not something that typically appeals to moderates. If you are one, you should be concerned about what you just voted for.

I did not vote for Youngkin but voted McAuliffe for all the reasons you mention.

A lot of folks are pissed off at the school board for their wrong focus during the pandemic and what they perceive as anti-merit policies and voted for Youngkin out of spite. I clearly understand that the school board being ultra liberal/lefty/whatever is not a reflection of McAuliff but he was the available target for their anger. Now it's his party's job to educate their minions on the SB to do their job or risk losing future elections.

This. What the SB does impact the families of most kids more than what the Governor does. Especially since Youngkin has a Dem Senate. The SB has 12 Dems. They can get it together, hire a competent replacement to Brabrand, quit focusing on all things equity, adopt a sensible calendar, and quit focusing on dog parks and electric school buses and school renaming when their are massive problems from COVId and the fallout.

Or, we can do this again in 2023. Their call.

I don't think a majority of the school board are capable of this. Look at the way Meren only obsesses over getting federal dollars and national politics. Or Omeish abstaining from everything. Or Tholen not listening to voters on redistricting. Or Frisch and his dog park. Or their general inability to make coherent Covid policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read the Standards of Learning. No mention of CRT or CRT concepts in it.

I think what people are all up in arms about is training for teachers on pedagogy. Not curriculum.

Well yes, is that not obvious to people? I'm so confused when people don't seem to understand.

People understand; they just don’t want to acknowledge it or have that particular veil lifted, as they prefer such training to take place without any type of public scrutiny.

But when they then claim CRT is completely absent from the public schools they lose all credibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Virginia GOP proved that it can whip up racist white enthusiasm, and win at the ballot box, without Donald Trump.

Yeah, that's exactly why Winsome Sears and Jason Miyares won, isn't it. /s

She is no more black than Clarence Thomas. An Uncle Tom.

Dear white people: Stop using the term ‘Uncle Tom’
You don’t get to decide who’s a race traitor.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/dear-white-people-stop-using-the-term-uncle-tom/2018/11/15/8a68e9c0-e84e-11e8-a939-9469f1166f9d_story.html