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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
^FCPS has not developed a culture that supports the divided population we are seeing here. Years ago we had a more middle to upper middle class population. Now we are seeing the divide like much of America. FCPS is struggling to figure it all out. [/quote]

How is FCPS going to overcome the "divided population" that comes down to....whatever you want to call it, racism, classism, haves/have-nots, etc. This thread is basically, we have resources, pay a lot in taxes, and invest a lot in our kids and we're pissed that we live in a county where resources are spread around so much to "other" groups instead of our kids. So we're going to use our resources for private instead.

That's the "division" -- people who think that public education means we all pay into a system that redistributes so that everyone gets what they need--that's equity--and people who think that public education means you get what you pay for, and if you pay more you get more.

That's what "the system is too big" is code for. There is too much room for redistribution. People want to carve out the richer areas from the poorer areas. Then you won't have all this political division, because you won't be trying to get people to compromise any more--they won't be dividing up the same pot. Some people will have a big pot to themselves, and some people will have a small pot. [/quote]

This is spot-on, but it is certainly the case that FCPS is run today by people who look to redistribute resources to the poorer schools at every opportunity.

For example, Karen Keys Gamarra has been on the School Board as an at-large member for three years. Not once has she attended an event at McLean HS or displayed the slightest concern about the fact that the school has turned into a dilapidated trailer park.  But she championed the renaming of Lee HS this summer and now wants FCPS to spend millions on setting up a brand-new "social justice" Academy program at Lewis HS.  No work session will be held on solutions to the overcrowding at McLean, but the School Board will spend hours next month entertaining Keys Gamarra's "Academy" proposal.  And Elaine Tholen, who would like to help McLean, will get taken along for a ride by Keys Gamarra et al. and ignored if she brings up the overcrowding at MHS.

That is just one example, but the venting you read about so frequently on this forum is the last anguished plea from MC and UMC families who expected something better from FCPS.  They won't get it and soon they will exit the system.  It's a bonanza for private schools and other counties (Arlington, Loudoun), but it will not turn out so well for Fairfax. [/quote]

The easiest way to narrow the achievement gap is to ruin the good schools, whether it’s TJ or McLean. They’ll go after Langley, too, when they have a chance.[/quote]

I think the overcrowding issue is handled poorly across the board by FCPS.  Before Bailey's Elementary was split into a lower and upper school, the school was overcrowded for years.  It was supposed to be a school for the Arts and Sciences, but had to get rid of the science lab due to overcrowding.  They got rid of part of the library and even a part of the cafeteria, so kids had to eat lunch in classrooms because the cafeteria was no longer big enough to have the kids eat there.  The part of the playground that once had a basketball court for kids to use at recess was overrun by trailers.  This went on for years.  I don't think FCPS is serving any SES well.  They are lowering the caliber of education for all, so the achievement gap might actually end up bigger because most lower SES families don't have the education level or financial means to fill in the gap created by the lowering of the bar.  [/quote]

The schools in Mason get treated much better than the schools in Dranesville when it comes to capital resources. [/quote]

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