Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP here.

No one wants their child to be a statistic. But, things happen. We all need to be alert and want to prevent these things. And, it happens everywhere.

Look at the poor college student who was just killed in SC because she thought the car she got in was her Uber. Was it the college's fault? No. Was it Uber's fault? No. Was it her fault? No--she trusted that it was her ride--but, as her dad is speaking out, we all need to be more careful and more alert.

The schools and government take steps to prevent these things. I'm sure we will learn more about it and no one is happy about it. But, everything is not the school's fault.

We don't even know if this happened at school.

It's horrible, disgusting, etc. I'm sure policies were in place, and probably followed. These things can happen anywhere.

Replying to you again. You can keep digging yourself into a bigger hole, by all means.

The whole "sh*t happens everywhere" argument doesn't hold water. It's lackadaisical, lazy, and utterly cynical. Who exactly is the WE who needs to be alert? Let's start with ACCOUNTABILITY. When we place our children in an FCPS SACC, an FCPS school, send them on an FCPS field trip, or whatever the location or activity is, there is a very clear compact between parents and the adult guardians / supervisors who may be FCPS employees, Fairfax County government employees, or whoever they may be. That compact is predicated on TRUST. Trust that these adults will actually do their jobs, be responsible adults, and TAKE care of these children and keep them out of harm's way.

I am not talking about accidents which can and do happen. I am talking about behaviors and activities that these adults do, or that they ignore, that directly result in FCPS children being injured, abused, traumatized, or worse.

My argument -- and apparently not yours -- is that we supposedly have trained and properly screened and vetted adults watching over kids on FCPS and Fairfax County. Obviously, that is not the case. The "statistic", as you eloquently put it, are proof that the system is failing.

And the "everything is not the school's fault" argument -- an insidious and obvious attempt to slide away from organizational culpability and accountability. Where does the buck stop? I know where it stops: The FCPS superintendent Scott Braband and Fairfax county government chair at large, Sharon Bulova. They must be held accountable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP here.

No one wants their child to be a statistic. But, things happen. We all need to be alert and want to prevent these things. And, it happens everywhere.

Look at the poor college student who was just killed in SC because she thought the car she got in was her Uber. Was it the college's fault? No. Was it Uber's fault? No. Was it her fault? No--she trusted that it was her ride--but, as her dad is speaking out, we all need to be more careful and more alert.

The schools and government take steps to prevent these things. I'm sure we will learn more about it and no one is happy about it. But, everything is not the school's fault.

We don't even know if this happened at school.

It's horrible, disgusting, etc. I'm sure policies were in place, and probably followed. These things can happen anywhere.

Replying to you again. You can keep digging yourself into a bigger hole, by all means.

The whole "sh*t happens everywhere" argument doesn't hold water. It's lackadaisical, lazy, and utterly cynical. Who exactly is the WE who needs to be alert? Let's start with ACCOUNTABILITY. When we place our children in an FCPS SACC, an FCPS school, send them on an FCPS field trip, or whatever the location or activity is, there is a very clear compact between parents and the adult guardians / supervisors who may be FCPS employees, Fairfax County government employees, or whoever they may be. That compact is predicated on TRUST. Trust that these adults will actually do their jobs, be responsible adults, and TAKE care of these children and keep them out of harm's way.

I am not talking about accidents which can and do happen. I am talking about behaviors and activities that these adults do, or that they ignore, that directly result in FCPS children being injured, abused, traumatized, or worse.

My argument -- and apparently not yours -- is that we supposedly have trained and properly screened and vetted adults watching over kids on FCPS and Fairfax County. Obviously, that is not the case. The "statistic", as you eloquently put it, are proof that the system is failing.

And the "everything is not the school's fault" argument -- an insidious and obvious attempt to slide away from organizational culpability and accountability. Where does the buck stop? I know where it stops: The FCPS superintendent Scott Braband and Fairfax county government chair at large, Sharon Bulova. They must be held accountable.

Anonymous wrote:DP here.

No one wants their child to be a statistic. But, things happen. We all need to be alert and want to prevent these things. And, it happens everywhere.

Look at the poor college student who was just killed in SC because she thought the car she got in was her Uber. Was it the college's fault? No. Was it Uber's fault? No. Was it her fault? No--she trusted that it was her ride--but, as her dad is speaking out, we all need to be more careful and more alert.

The schools and government take steps to prevent these things. I'm sure we will learn more about it and no one is happy about it. But, everything is not the school's fault.

We don't even know if this happened at school.

It's horrible, disgusting, etc. I'm sure policies were in place, and probably followed. These things can happen anywhere.

It's horrible, disgusting, etc. I'm sure policies were in place, and probably followed. These things can happen anywhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. Yes, there are criminals in the school system. When they are found, they are addressed. That happens everywhere, including at private schools. It does not indicate negligence, it's a matter of statistics.

Tell the parents that their kids who were injured, abused, neglected, traumatized or even died are "statistics." Then report back here and tell us what they said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our School Board is a great example of the problem. Look where their focus is. It's not on education.

This is it. The school board puts education well down on the priority list behind the social cause celeb of the day. Just go to a school board meeting and see what they talk about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listen to me you sensationalist piece of crap - look more closely at the story - no where does it say that Rolly Hammond sexually abused children *at* West Springfield. That is because there is no indication that it happened at the school. Don't get me wrong, it is still horrific and gut-wrenching, but it didn't happen on the campus of the school. I know because I am a parent of a child at SACC WSES right now and we met with the police. So please, this is obviously none of your business. As you say, your child does not even go to a FCPS school, let alone WSES. So if you are just writing this to give yourself some metaphorical pat on the back because you enjoy the suffering of others, then you are sick and have too much time on your hands. Please crawl back under your rock and stay there.

I made the contrarian post earlier. First, I'm sorry this happened at the school that your child attends. No parent should have to go through this.

Now, as far as your other comments.

Calling me a "sensationalist piece of crap" does not address the issues I raised in my post. Read it carefully. I am accusing FCPS of gross negligence because it is not protecting and safeguarding our children. The list of articles I linked to support this accusation pretty definitively.

Second - you seem to take issue with the fact that the abuse from the sexual predator did not happen at the school itself. Does the location of the incident or incidents somehow make this a better situation overall? Does it make any other parent feel better about what happened, even if the police determine that it did not happen at the school? I believe the answer is no. This is not about the "where" of this horrible situation. It is about the what and the why. And furthermore, as my post says, it is about the WHO -- who is responsible and where is FCPS's accountability in all of this?

As far as this being "none of my business" -- when something like this happens at a public school in the county where I live -- then as a resident and as a parent I have every right to raise my concerns here and anywhere I want to. And it doesn't matter that my child doesn't go there now -- you don't know why I took them out of FCPS, so you are in no moral position to judge. Beyond that, how do you know I won't be sending them to FCPS in the future? You are overreaching and that argument just doesn't hold up.

As far as the rest of your accusations -- you misread my admittedly emotional post. I don't enjoy the suffering of others. The point is this is about FCPS. It's a broken institution. If there's any doubt then people are either in denial or are totally oblivious to the facts. As parents we should not be accusing each other. It's time for parents to stand up for their children and hold FCPS and Fairfax County government accountable to us.

DP. Yes, there are criminals in the school system. When they are found, they are addressed. That happens everywhere, including at private schools. It does not indicate negligence, it's a matter of statistics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spend a lot of time in different classrooms in different schools watching the system in action.

It's not that FCPS is in decline. It's that your kid has a cell phone, and you just cannot imagine how much that time and attention sink is hurting his/her education.

does

So why not have a no phone in classroom policy? If it is out, goes on teachers desk or sent to office. I never understood why it wasn’t a rule? We enforced from home by restricting as much as we could but as they got older we were told they also used in class. But once assignments over, rule should activate.

Anonymous wrote:DP. Yes, there are criminals in the school system. When they are found, they are addressed. That happens everywhere, including at private schools. It does not indicate negligence, it's a matter of statistics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listen to me you sensationalist piece of crap - look more closely at the story - no where does it say that Rolly Hammond sexually abused children *at* West Springfield. That is because there is no indication that it happened at the school. Don't get me wrong, it is still horrific and gut-wrenching, but it didn't happen on the campus of the school. I know because I am a parent of a child at SACC WSES right now and we met with the police. So please, this is obviously none of your business. As you say, your child does not even go to a FCPS school, let alone WSES. So if you are just writing this to give yourself some metaphorical pat on the back because you enjoy the suffering of others, then you are sick and have too much time on your hands. Please crawl back under your rock and stay there.

I made the contrarian post earlier. First, I'm sorry this happened at the school that your child attends. No parent should have to go through this.

Now, as far as your other comments.

Calling me a "sensationalist piece of crap" does not address the issues I raised in my post. Read it carefully. I am accusing FCPS of gross negligence because it is not protecting and safeguarding our children. The list of articles I linked to support this accusation pretty definitively.

Second - you seem to take issue with the fact that the abuse from the sexual predator did not happen at the school itself. Does the location of the incident or incidents somehow make this a better situation overall? Does it make any other parent feel better about what happened, even if the police determine that it did not happen at the school? I believe the answer is no. This is not about the "where" of this horrible situation. It is about the what and the why. And furthermore, as my post says, it is about the WHO -- who is responsible and where is FCPS's accountability in all of this?

As far as this being "none of my business" -- when something like this happens at a public school in the county where I live -- then as a resident and as a parent I have every right to raise my concerns here and anywhere I want to. And it doesn't matter that my child doesn't go there now -- you don't know why I took them out of FCPS, so you are in no moral position to judge. Beyond that, how do you know I won't be sending them to FCPS in the future? You are overreaching and that argument just doesn't hold up.

As far as the rest of your accusations -- you misread my admittedly emotional post. I don't enjoy the suffering of others. The point is this is about FCPS. It's a broken institution. If there's any doubt then people are either in denial or are totally oblivious to the facts. As parents we should not be accusing each other. It's time for parents to stand up for their children and hold FCPS and Fairfax County government accountable to us.

DP. Yes, there are criminals in the school system. When they are found, they are addressed. That happens everywhere, including at private schools. It does not indicate negligence, it's a matter of statistics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listen to me you sensationalist piece of crap - look more closely at the story - no where does it say that Rolly Hammond sexually abused children *at* West Springfield. That is because there is no indication that it happened at the school. Don't get me wrong, it is still horrific and gut-wrenching, but it didn't happen on the campus of the school. I know because I am a parent of a child at SACC WSES right now and we met with the police. So please, this is obviously none of your business. As you say, your child does not even go to a FCPS school, let alone WSES. So if you are just writing this to give yourself some metaphorical pat on the back because you enjoy the suffering of others, then you are sick and have too much time on your hands. Please crawl back under your rock and stay there.

I made the contrarian post earlier. First, I'm sorry this happened at the school that your child attends. No parent should have to go through this.

Now, as far as your other comments.

Calling me a "sensationalist piece of crap" does not address the issues I raised in my post. Read it carefully. I am accusing FCPS of gross negligence because it is not protecting and safeguarding our children. The list of articles I linked to support this accusation pretty definitively.

Second - you seem to take issue with the fact that the abuse from the sexual predator did not happen at the school itself. Does the location of the incident or incidents somehow make this a better situation overall? Does it make any other parent feel better about what happened, even if the police determine that it did not happen at the school? I believe the answer is no. This is not about the "where" of this horrible situation. It is about the what and the why. And furthermore, as my post says, it is about the WHO -- who is responsible and where is FCPS's accountability in all of this?

As far as this being "none of my business" -- when something like this happens at a public school in the county where I live -- then as a resident and as a parent I have every right to raise my concerns here and anywhere I want to. And it doesn't matter that my child doesn't go there now -- you don't know why I took them out of FCPS, so you are in no moral position to judge. Beyond that, how do you know I won't be sending them to FCPS in the future? You are overreaching and that argument just doesn't hold up.

As far as the rest of your accusations -- you misread my admittedly emotional post. I don't enjoy the suffering of others. The point is this is about FCPS. It's a broken institution. If there's any doubt then people are either in denial or are totally oblivious to the facts. As parents we should not be accusing each other. It's time for parents to stand up for their children and hold FCPS and Fairfax County government accountable to us.

Anonymous wrote:Listen to me you sensationalist piece of crap - look more closely at the story - no where does it say that Rolly Hammond sexually abused children *at* West Springfield. That is because there is no indication that it happened at the school. Don't get me wrong, it is still horrific and gut-wrenching, but it didn't happen on the campus of the school. I know because I am a parent of a child at SACC WSES right now and we met with the police. So please, this is obviously none of your business. As you say, your child does not even go to a FCPS school, let alone WSES. So if you are just writing this to give yourself some metaphorical pat on the back because you enjoy the suffering of others, then you are sick and have too much time on your hands. Please crawl back under your rock and stay there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS is just too big. Teachers cannot pivot and adjust for your own child. If your child is a ginger bread cookie cut from a cutter, or able to disguise him or herself as such, he or she may get a good education. But children are individuals. And, I would argue, even the children who may maladaptively shape themselves to fit what they see as the prescribed mold may end up suffering down the road.

Where does that leave FCPs? An educational system with a mandate to serve those with no other option: poor, immigrants, ELLs, etc.

Public education has always been about serving those without other options, including poor immigrants. The only thing that’s changed is the color of the immigrants and the media available for right-wing haters to share their racist, nativist views.

DP- you are wrong. There were always brown immigrant kids in FCPS, and it was fine because they were a minority. They were easily dispersed through out classes. Those kids got fantastic immersive educations.

No, you are wrong. Both AA kids and immigrant kids receive better educations now; in the past, they often were placed in non-academic track classes and not encouraged to aim higher. It’s much better now; you simply liked things when there were fewer of them and the schools were majority white. Sorry - that FCPS, like that America, is gone and is never coming back.

You really think that kids in highly segregated schools are being well served? Cmon.

You do not care about any kids in "highly segregated schools" other than white kids who may now be a minority in certain schools.

I am quite sure that minority students at many majority-minority schools in FCPS are receiving a much better education than they would have at majority white schools decades ago. .

Ha! This is a joke right? *Checking to see if it was posted on April fools day...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS is just too big. Teachers cannot pivot and adjust for your own child. If your child is a ginger bread cookie cut from a cutter, or able to disguise him or herself as such, he or she may get a good education. But children are individuals. And, I would argue, even the children who may maladaptively shape themselves to fit what they see as the prescribed mold may end up suffering down the road.

Where does that leave FCPs? An educational system with a mandate to serve those with no other option: poor, immigrants, ELLs, etc.

Public education has always been about serving those without other options, including poor immigrants. The only thing that’s changed is the color of the immigrants and the media available for right-wing haters to share their racist, nativist views.

DP- you are wrong. There were always brown immigrant kids in FCPS, and it was fine because they were a minority. They were easily dispersed through out classes. Those kids got fantastic immersive educations.

No, you are wrong. Both AA kids and immigrant kids receive better educations now; in the past, they often were placed in non-academic track classes and not encouraged to aim higher. It’s much better now; you simply liked things when there were fewer of them and the schools were majority white. Sorry - that FCPS, like that America, is gone and is never coming back.

You really think that kids in highly segregated schools are being well served? Cmon.

You do not care about any kids in "highly segregated schools" other than white kids who may now be a minority in certain schools.

I am quite sure that minority students at many majority-minority schools in FCPS are receiving a much better education than they would have at majority white schools decades ago. .