Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the governor's race ending up the way it did, will the FCPS school board now tone down their nonsense out of fear of being kicked out at the next election?

Very cringe because you think you just voted out the school board when in fact you voted for governor.

They did vote out the state board of education. I’m guessing equity won’t be a priority for the incoming board.

This. This is why I voted Youngkin. Whatever it takes to get Atif Qarni to stop imposing new teacher training mandates about equity that don’t do a damn thing to help my kid learn the 3 R’s, science, and non-victim-based social studies.

Exactly. And if the School Board members are paying any attention they’ll start focusing on their basic responsibilities again and stop with all their stupid nonsense like a new “social justice” Academy at failing Lewis HS.

I would have assumed conservative Christians would be supportive of such things considering the importance of social justice in the teachings of Jesus.

The separation of church and state is enshrined in the Constitution, but it would be far better to spend money teaching students at all the schools the skills they need to advocate, when they choose to do so, rather than setting up a program at one school with a likely bias towards teaching students not only that they should become advocates, but also what they should advocate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

They have to take it on the day set aside for make ups. So if the kid is sick on that day there is no make up option. Or if a kid is taking multiple tests there is a chance they end up with 2 tests on one day.

The O Days are ridiculous. Don't allow tests and quizzes for school assigned work but telling Teachers to not to provide new material and not allowing kids to take national based exams is an over reach. This ridiculous policy removes 11 teaching days from the calendar even though schools are open. So DS has 11 days where he is in school and learns nothing new and does nothing new. It is dumb and unnecessary.

TJ admissions will continue to have a portion of seats assigned to each MS. If they bring back the test, the kids who do well enough on the test at each Middle School will still have guaranteed seats. I have no clue how this is going to affect the kids of the pissed of parents at the TJ Feeder schools. Unless those parents are ridiculous enough to believe that there are not 8-10 students at each Middle School that can pass that exam.

Look, I don't like the "O" days but it's ridiculous to call it an overreach. This is perfectly within their purview, though a blunder.

The problem with all of you "School Board reckoning" whiners is this: your child, your needs . . . they are not the only ones in the classroom. The schools have to balance the wants, needs, desires of the school and all of the kids in it, and their parents. That's 2000+ kids at my school alone. Public school is for the benefit of the community, and learning in that community. Not your kid's AP desires or whatever else it is. If you want that much control, homeschool or go private. FULL stop.

For every person that doesn't like "equity" there are people who do. For those who don't like name changes, there are those of us that support it. For those who don't like "O" days, there are those that like to see their holidays respected. And in a PUBLIC school, that is a relevant consideration where Christian holidays have traditionally been the only ones acknowledged in a significant way (winter break centered around Christmas -something I recognize has other considerations- spring break tied to Easter). All of those things need to be balanced. I'm sorry, if you cannot understand that, you don't belong in the public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want the schools to focus on teaching kids. I don't need the schools to be worried about all things equity. I need them to teach grammar, spelling, science, history, math, and other core subjects. I don't want time devoted to my kids social well being or questions about his thoughts on racism or social justice issues. Focus on academics and stop worrying about how comfortable he is discussing race.

I don't want Trump and his far right supporters so I vote democrat but that doesn't mean that I want Sanders and his bunch either. I want schools to focus on teaching kids and not worried about being the base platform for everything equal. We cannot legislate equity in schools, it doesn't work that way. Title I schools have different issues that have to be addressed to improve the kids access to education and close the gaps. Changing the standards for kids at not Title 1 schools hurts those kids and does nothing to help the kids at the Title I schools.

Which is going to matter more to them in 30 years, your kid's social well being, or what they learned in geometry or chemistry class? How often do people use the latter in everyday life?

The people that invented the computers and wi-fi you posted this with tend to use these type of subjects.

What percentage of the population are those people?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want the schools to focus on teaching kids. I don't need the schools to be worried about all things equity. I need them to teach grammar, spelling, science, history, math, and other core subjects. I don't want time devoted to my kids social well being or questions about his thoughts on racism or social justice issues. Focus on academics and stop worrying about how comfortable he is discussing race.

I don't want Trump and his far right supporters so I vote democrat but that doesn't mean that I want Sanders and his bunch either. I want schools to focus on teaching kids and not worried about being the base platform for everything equal. We cannot legislate equity in schools, it doesn't work that way. Title I schools have different issues that have to be addressed to improve the kids access to education and close the gaps. Changing the standards for kids at not Title 1 schools hurts those kids and does nothing to help the kids at the Title I schools.

Which is going to matter more to them in 30 years, your kid's social well being, or what they learned in geometry or chemistry class? How often do people use the latter in everyday life?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want the schools to focus on teaching kids. I don't need the schools to be worried about all things equity. I need them to teach grammar, spelling, science, history, math, and other core subjects. I don't want time devoted to my kids social well being or questions about his thoughts on racism or social justice issues. Focus on academics and stop worrying about how comfortable he is discussing race.

I don't want Trump and his far right supporters so I vote democrat but that doesn't mean that I want Sanders and his bunch either. I want schools to focus on teaching kids and not worried about being the base platform for everything equal. We cannot legislate equity in schools, it doesn't work that way. Title I schools have different issues that have to be addressed to improve the kids access to education and close the gaps. Changing the standards for kids at not Title 1 schools hurts those kids and does nothing to help the kids at the Title I schools.

Which is going to matter more to them in 30 years, your kid's social well being, or what they learned in geometry or chemistry class? How often do people use the latter in everyday life?

The people that invented the computers and wi-fi you posted this with tend to use these type of subjects.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want the schools to focus on teaching kids. I don't need the schools to be worried about all things equity. I need them to teach grammar, spelling, science, history, math, and other core subjects. I don't want time devoted to my kids social well being or questions about his thoughts on racism or social justice issues. Focus on academics and stop worrying about how comfortable he is discussing race.

I don't want Trump and his far right supporters so I vote democrat but that doesn't mean that I want Sanders and his bunch either. I want schools to focus on teaching kids and not worried about being the base platform for everything equal. We cannot legislate equity in schools, it doesn't work that way. Title I schools have different issues that have to be addressed to improve the kids access to education and close the gaps. Changing the standards for kids at not Title 1 schools hurts those kids and does nothing to help the kids at the Title I schools.

Which is going to matter more to them in 30 years, your kid's social well being, or what they learned in geometry or chemistry class? How often do people use the latter in everyday life?

Anonymous wrote:I want the schools to focus on teaching kids. I don't need the schools to be worried about all things equity. I need them to teach grammar, spelling, science, history, math, and other core subjects. I don't want time devoted to my kids social well being or questions about his thoughts on racism or social justice issues. Focus on academics and stop worrying about how comfortable he is discussing race.

I don't want Trump and his far right supporters so I vote democrat but that doesn't mean that I want Sanders and his bunch either. I want schools to focus on teaching kids and not worried about being the base platform for everything equal. We cannot legislate equity in schools, it doesn't work that way. Title I schools have different issues that have to be addressed to improve the kids access to education and close the gaps. Changing the standards for kids at not Title 1 schools hurts those kids and does nothing to help the kids at the Title I schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

They have to take it on the day set aside for make ups. So if the kid is sick on that day there is no make up option. Or if a kid is taking multiple tests there is a chance they end up with 2 tests on one day.

The O Days are ridiculous. Don't allow tests and quizzes for school assigned work but telling Teachers to not to provide new material and not allowing kids to take national based exams is an over reach. This ridiculous policy removes 11 teaching days from the calendar even though schools are open. So DS has 11 days where he is in school and learns nothing new and does nothing new. It is dumb and unnecessary.

TJ admissions will continue to have a portion of seats assigned to each MS. If they bring back the test, the kids who do well enough on the test at each Middle School will still have guaranteed seats. I have no clue how this is going to affect the kids of the pissed of parents at the TJ Feeder schools. Unless those parents are ridiculous enough to believe that there are not 8-10 students at each Middle School that can pass that exam.

Look, I don't like the "O" days but it's ridiculous to call it an overreach. This is perfectly within their purview, though a blunder.

The problem with all of you "School Board reckoning" whiners is this: your child, your needs . . . they are not the only ones in the classroom. The schools have to balance the wants, needs, desires of the school and all of the kids in it, and their parents. That's 2000+ kids at my school alone. Public school is for the benefit of the community, and learning in that community. Not your kid's AP desires or whatever else it is. If you want that much control, homeschool or go private. FULL stop.

For every person that doesn't like "equity" there are people who do. For those who don't like name changes, there are those of us that support it. For those who don't like "O" days, there are those that like to see their holidays respected. And in a PUBLIC school, that is a relevant consideration where Christian holidays have traditionally been the only ones acknowledged in a significant way (winter break centered around Christmas -something I recognize has other considerations- spring break tied to Easter). All of those things need to be balanced. I'm sorry, if you cannot understand that, you don't belong in the public schools.

My kid is in ES and I am the poster who provided the explanation you are dismissing. i have yet to find a parent who likes the O days. I know parents who appreciate that their kid is not going to miss a test or an exam while celebrating their holiday. Those same parents also think it is crazy that Teachers are not suppose to present new material to the class. Why do they feel that way? Because the other 10 days that are not on holidays that their family celebrates their kids are stuck doing no work at school like everyone else.

And the AP part is a huge mess. Kids have to take the test on a different day. And it is a different test, to prevent cheating, which makes means fewer kids taking it and fewer exams to compare against for norming purposes. I graded AP exams for a few years, that norming process is important. It allows them to see if a question needs to have the scoring adjusted because of the responses that came in.

The reasonable implementation of the O days is no in school exams or quizzes and Teachers get a copy of their notes to kids who miss class and are available to review material with those kids. Kids scheduled for AP/IB exams are able to take the exam. If a kid has to miss the exam because of a religious or cultural holiday, they can take it on the make up day. That is exactly what the make up day is there for.

And I voted Democrat because I was not willing to toss out so many things that I find important over some of these other areas. But a good number of people either choose not to vote or voted Republican because they are tired of this type of crap in the schools and some of the other Progressive politics that are being pushed. The Democratic Party really needs to look at the political environment and stop shooting itself in the foot. Far fewer people support Bernie and the Progressives then the Republicans that support Trump and his ilk. Keep pushing to the left and see what happens in a few years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1. Kim Adams, Randy Weingarden, Omeish and Fritsch got Youngkin elected.

Plenty of others you could add to that list - Meren, Corbett Sanders, Tholen, Keys Gamarra, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1. Kim Adams, Randy Weingarden, Omeish and Fritsch got Youngkin elected.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

They have to take it on the day set aside for make ups. So if the kid is sick on that day there is no make up option. Or if a kid is taking multiple tests there is a chance they end up with 2 tests on one day.

The O Days are ridiculous. Don't allow tests and quizzes for school assigned work but telling Teachers to not to provide new material and not allowing kids to take national based exams is an over reach. This ridiculous policy removes 11 teaching days from the calendar even though schools are open. So DS has 11 days where he is in school and learns nothing new and does nothing new. It is dumb and unnecessary.

TJ admissions will continue to have a portion of seats assigned to each MS. If they bring back the test, the kids who do well enough on the test at each Middle School will still have guaranteed seats. I have no clue how this is going to affect the kids of the pissed of parents at the TJ Feeder schools. Unless those parents are ridiculous enough to believe that there are not 8-10 students at each Middle School that can pass that exam.

Look, I don't like the "O" days but it's ridiculous to call it an overreach. This is perfectly within their purview, though a blunder.

The problem with all of you "School Board reckoning" whiners is this: your child, your needs . . . they are not the only ones in the classroom. The schools have to balance the wants, needs, desires of the school and all of the kids in it, and their parents. That's 2000+ kids at my school alone. Public school is for the benefit of the community, and learning in that community. Not your kid's AP desires or whatever else it is. If you want that much control, homeschool or go private. FULL stop.

For every person that doesn't like "equity" there are people who do. For those who don't like name changes, there are those of us that support it. For those who don't like "O" days, there are those that like to see their holidays respected. And in a PUBLIC school, that is a relevant consideration where Christian holidays have traditionally been the only ones acknowledged in a significant way (winter break centered around Christmas -something I recognize has other considerations- spring break tied to Easter). All of those things need to be balanced. I'm sorry, if you cannot understand that, you don't belong in the public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

They have to take it on the day set aside for make ups. So if the kid is sick on that day there is no make up option. Or if a kid is taking multiple tests there is a chance they end up with 2 tests on one day.

The O Days are ridiculous. Don't allow tests and quizzes for school assigned work but telling Teachers to not to provide new material and not allowing kids to take national based exams is an over reach. This ridiculous policy removes 11 teaching days from the calendar even though schools are open. So DS has 11 days where he is in school and learns nothing new and does nothing new. It is dumb and unnecessary.

TJ admissions will continue to have a portion of seats assigned to each MS. If they bring back the test, the kids who do well enough on the test at each Middle School will still have guaranteed seats. I have no clue how this is going to affect the kids of the pissed of parents at the TJ Feeder schools. Unless those parents are ridiculous enough to believe that there are not 8-10 students at each Middle School that can pass that exam.

Look, I don't like the "O" days but it's ridiculous to call it an overreach. This is perfectly within their purview, though a blunder.

The problem with all of you "School Board reckoning" whiners is this: your child, your needs . . . they are not the only ones in the classroom. The schools have to balance the wants, needs, desires of the school and all of the kids in it, and their parents. That's 2000+ kids at my school alone. Public school is for the benefit of the community, and learning in that community. Not your kid's AP desires or whatever else it is. If you want that much control, homeschool or go private. FULL stop.

For every person that doesn't like "equity" there are people who do. For those who don't like name changes, there are those of us that support it. For those who don't like "O" days, there are those that like to see their holidays respected. And in a PUBLIC school, that is a relevant consideration where Christian holidays have traditionally been the only ones acknowledged in a significant way (winter break centered around Christmas -something I recognize has other considerations- spring break tied to Easter). All of those things need to be balanced. I'm sorry, if you cannot understand that, you don't belong in the public schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

They have to take it on the day set aside for make ups. So if the kid is sick on that day there is no make up option. Or if a kid is taking multiple tests there is a chance they end up with 2 tests on one day.

The O Days are ridiculous. Don't allow tests and quizzes for school assigned work but telling Teachers to not to provide new material and not allowing kids to take national based exams is an over reach. This ridiculous policy removes 11 teaching days from the calendar even though schools are open. So DS has 11 days where he is in school and learns nothing new and does nothing new. It is dumb and unnecessary.

TJ admissions will continue to have a portion of seats assigned to each MS. If they bring back the test, the kids who do well enough on the test at each Middle School will still have guaranteed seats. I have no clue how this is going to affect the kids of the pissed of parents at the TJ Feeder schools. Unless those parents are ridiculous enough to believe that there are not 8-10 students at each Middle School that can pass that exam.

Look, I don't like the "O" days but it's ridiculous to call it an overreach. This is perfectly within their purview, though a blunder.

The problem with all of you "School Board reckoning" whiners is this: your child, your needs . . . they are not the only ones in the classroom. The schools have to balance the wants, needs, desires of the school and all of the kids in it, and their parents. That's 2000+ kids at my school alone. Public school is for the benefit of the community, and learning in that community. Not your kid's AP desires or whatever else it is. If you want that much control, homeschool or go private. FULL stop.

For every person that doesn't like "equity" there are people who do. For those who don't like name changes, there are those of us that support it. For those who don't like "O" days, there are those that like to see their holidays respected. And in a PUBLIC school, that is a relevant consideration where Christian holidays have traditionally been the only ones acknowledged in a significant way (winter break centered around Christmas -something I recognize has other considerations- spring break tied to Easter). All of those things need to be balanced. I'm sorry, if you cannot understand that, you don't belong in the public schools.

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.

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.

70% of Virginias own guns, including democrats. If they don't need that, the percentage would be 0%-10% max.

Yeah a lot of Democrats on guns in VA. We're responsible. We take classes. We know how to use a safe. Painting all gun owners as right wing nut jobs doesn't really help the Democrat cause in a moderate state. BTW I'm a Democratic Black Woman and I own an AK 47.