FCC schools renaming

[Anonymous]

I just learned (though DC attending camps) that TJ elementary is now Oak St. ES, and George Mason HS is now Meridien.

I fully understand and support undoing the glorification of persons or institutions supporting the Confederacy, as that was a blatant sedition against the US Government. Just curious if this is the start of a major overhaul in "canceling" anyone who owned slaves. No argument from me that slavery was a massive blight on our history, but am unsure how this will play out elsewhere. There's the BIG TJ HS; will that change, too? Washington, DC?

[Anonymous]

No, it's just FCC being woke. It won't happen in FCPS, although they are removing things named after traitors.

[Anonymous]

This isn't the start of it.

That bright line of the glorification of the Confederacy that you describe (and many respected historians cite too) so well is gone. Of course Lincoln, Grant and the 54th Massachusetts have all been cancelled too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't the start of it.

That bright line of the glorification of the Confederacy that you describe (and many respected historians cite too) so well is gone. Of course Lincoln, Grant and the 54th Massachusetts have all been cancelled too.

Not understanding that, or where that has happened.

[Anonymous]

There was a big thread on this a while back. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/965350.page

Here is a summary of what has happened the past year. Some wanted the schools to be renamed, they put out a survey to the community, students and staff, there was not support to change the name, the school board unanimously voted to change it anyway saying the survey was not a vote, some people think Falls Church is making great progress with their quest towards equity, etc, others feel they are all way too woke now and lost focus on education… it can go on and on

But the real issue is the changes they are making in their grading policies. That should be more of a focus than the name changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a big thread on this a while back. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/965350.page

Here is a summary of what has happened the past year. Some wanted the schools to be renamed, they put out a survey to the community, students and staff, there was not support to change the name, the school board unanimously voted to change it anyway saying the survey was not a vote, some people think Falls Church is making great progress with their quest towards equity, etc, others feel they are all way too woke now and lost focus on education… it can go on and on

But the real issue is the changes they are making in their grading policies. That should be more of a focus than the name changes.

Just chiming into say that the survey was not well done and did nothing ask good questions and was not meant to be a referendum on the school names. The board took into consideration how BIPOC students and residents felt more than anyone from anywhere who disagreed with the idea. I honestly don’t know a single person in FCC who us mad that the names were changed. - FCCPS parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a big thread on this a while back. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/965350.page

Here is a summary of what has happened the past year. Some wanted the schools to be renamed, they put out a survey to the community, students and staff, there was not support to change the name, the school board unanimously voted to change it anyway saying the survey was not a vote, some people think Falls Church is making great progress with their quest towards equity, etc, others feel they are all way too woke now and lost focus on education… it can go on and on

But the real issue is the changes they are making in their grading policies. That should be more of a focus than the name changes.

Just chiming into say that the survey was not well done and did nothing ask good questions and was not meant to be a referendum on the school names. The board took into consideration how BIPOC students and residents felt more than anyone from anywhere who disagreed with the idea. I honestly don’t know a single person in FCC who us mad that the names were changed. - FCCPS parent

Really? Then you don’t talk to many people. This made a lot of people in FCC angry. Maybe they aren’t discussing with you because they know you won’t agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a big thread on this a while back. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/965350.page

Here is a summary of what has happened the past year. Some wanted the schools to be renamed, they put out a survey to the community, students and staff, there was not support to change the name, the school board unanimously voted to change it anyway saying the survey was not a vote, some people think Falls Church is making great progress with their quest towards equity, etc, others feel they are all way too woke now and lost focus on education… it can go on and on

But the real issue is the changes they are making in their grading policies. That should be more of a focus than the name changes.

Just chiming into say that the survey was not well done and did nothing ask good questions and was not meant to be a referendum on the school names. The board took into consideration how BIPOC students and residents felt more than anyone from anywhere who disagreed with the idea. I honestly don’t know a single person in FCC who us mad that the names were changed. - FCCPS parent

Really? Then you don’t talk to many people. This made a lot of people in FCC angry. Maybe they aren’t discussing with you because they know you won’t agree.

Hahaha ok go ahead and tell yourself that. We have lived in FCC for 12 years. Maybe the people I know are just more evolved than the people you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a big thread on this a while back. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/965350.page

Here is a summary of what has happened the past year. Some wanted the schools to be renamed, they put out a survey to the community, students and staff, there was not support to change the name, the school board unanimously voted to change it anyway saying the survey was not a vote, some people think Falls Church is making great progress with their quest towards equity, etc, others feel they are all way too woke now and lost focus on education… it can go on and on

But the real issue is the changes they are making in their grading policies. That should be more of a focus than the name changes.

Just chiming into say that the survey was not well done and did nothing ask good questions and was not meant to be a referendum on the school names. The board took into consideration how BIPOC students and residents felt more than anyone from anywhere who disagreed with the idea. I honestly don’t know a single person in FCC who us mad that the names were changed. - FCCPS parent

Really? Then you don’t talk to many people. This made a lot of people in FCC angry. Maybe they aren’t discussing with you because they know you won’t agree.

Hahaha ok go ahead and tell yourself that. We have lived in FCC for 12 years. Maybe the people I know are just more evolved than the people you know.

NP but this is the issue. You're new to the area. People who were raised here and stayed here or moved back are upset that new people have moved in and are making all these changes (plus all the new development). You need to meet my elderly neighbors and their 40-something children who live in the house across the street. So many families like this in FCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a big thread on this a while back. https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/965350.page

Here is a summary of what has happened the past year. Some wanted the schools to be renamed, they put out a survey to the community, students and staff, there was not support to change the name, the school board unanimously voted to change it anyway saying the survey was not a vote, some people think Falls Church is making great progress with their quest towards equity, etc, others feel they are all way too woke now and lost focus on education… it can go on and on

But the real issue is the changes they are making in their grading policies. That should be more of a focus than the name changes.

Just chiming into say that the survey was not well done and did nothing ask good questions and was not meant to be a referendum on the school names. The board took into consideration how BIPOC students and residents felt more than anyone from anywhere who disagreed with the idea. I honestly don’t know a single person in FCC who us mad that the names were changed. - FCCPS parent

Really? Then you don’t talk to many people. This made a lot of people in FCC angry. Maybe they aren’t discussing with you because they know you won’t agree.

Hahaha ok go ahead and tell yourself that. We have lived in FCC for 12 years. Maybe the people I know are just more evolved than the people you know.

NP but this is the issue. You're new to the area. People who were raised here and stayed here or moved back are upset that new people have moved in and are making all these changes (plus all the new development). You need to meet my elderly neighbors and their 40-something children who live in the house across the street. So many families like this in FCC.

Don’t bother responding to that other poster. This is FCC now. Anyone who doesn’t agree with an opinion is wrong, or not evolved, or not woke enough.

[Anonymous]

LOL that living in FCC for 12 years is "new" when this is the DC area and so many people moving in and out, foreign service, etc and that the new vs old mentality is the problem. Ask the mid west how that's working out for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL that living in FCC for 12 years is "new" when this is the DC area and so many people moving in and out, foreign service, etc and that the new vs old mentality is the problem. Ask the mid west how that's working out for them.

I don’t think it’s a new vs. old mentality. I am the poster above you. I think it is a mentality that anyone who disagrees with a person is wrong and can be insulted. I’m also in FCC and have been here for 15 years so I am fairly new by that person’s standards. I don’t agree with a lot of people and how they behave now. This is no longer a welcoming community where diversity is celebrated and embraced. Which is ironic, because people like to shout about diversity all of the time. They are only concerned with the color of your skin and making sure we have included everyone. Differences in opinion, especially when it comes to politics, are not welcome. I would not have moved here 15 years ago if I had a crystal ball.

[Anonymous]

So you all went a week and no one pointed out the new name of George Mason HS is Meridian, not Meridien?

That alone may tell you the new name is less than compelling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL that living in FCC for 12 years is "new" when this is the DC area and so many people moving in and out, foreign service, etc and that the new vs old mentality is the problem. Ask the mid west how that's working out for them.

I don’t think it’s a new vs. old mentality. I am the poster above you. I think it is a mentality that anyone who disagrees with a person is wrong and can be insulted. I’m also in FCC and have been here for 15 years so I am fairly new by that person’s standards. I don’t agree with a lot of people and how they behave now. This is no longer a welcoming community where diversity is celebrated and embraced. Which is ironic, because people like to shout about diversity all of the time. They are only concerned with the color of your skin and making sure we have included everyone. Differences in opinion, especially when it comes to politics, are not welcome. I would not have moved here 15 years ago if I had a crystal ball.

It's performative wokeness. Everyone else sees it for that, and nothing more.

Real contrition would involve FCC reaching out to Fairfax County and offering to re-incorporate the lower-income areas that FCC disposed of many decades ago when they didn't want Black people living in their town and having voting rights or children to educate.

Alternatively, FCC should make a large, voluntary payment to the schools in the Falls Church HS pyramid to reflect the additional expenses that the county incurred over the years due to that decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn't the start of it.

That bright line of the glorification of the Confederacy that you describe (and many respected historians cite too) so well is gone. Of course Lincoln, Grant and the 54th Massachusetts have all been cancelled too.

Not understanding that, or where that has happened.

maybe pp is referring to this: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/us/san-francisco-schools-names.html San Francisco went way too far and had to back down