STEPS TO FILE A PETITION (since evidently everybody wants to talk shit but nobody wants to do shit)

1) - Identify a problem that you want the government to address. Whether it’s the placement of a stop sign at a busy intersection or re-naming a school that is named after a historical figure who owned slaves.

2) - Check governmental requirements for petitions. State or local governments may set forth specific requirements for a petition. You should contact your local governmental agency and inquire as to any requirements and request a sample petition.

3) - Create your petition. Your petition should contain specific information detailing your cause and the steps that you want taken by the government. When drafting your petition, be sure that the petitions has a title that captures the essence of your campaign and includes your name and contact information.

4) - State your demands. Your petition should contain a section that specifically and concisely states the issue that you want addressed and the response that you are demanding from the governmental agency.

5) - Make a well-supported argument. In order to have a successful petition, it must contain a strong argument supported by evidence. Your argument should show how your proposal would benefit the general public. Include documents and data that support your argument. Create a petition that includes facts, charts, graphs, scientific evidence, or photos that demonstrate why your proposal is sound, necessary, and a benefit to the community.

6) - Create a signature form. This is the page (or pages) on which people add their signatures.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We elected a pussy grabber. Bad behavior no longer precludes people from being admired and honored in this nation.

But John Kennedy and Bill Clinton were different?

Are you really trying to defend DJT?

Name it Idiot HS because there are so many idiots in the US.

This whole issue has nothing to do with DJT.

It is about changing the name of a school --that will lead to changing the names of multiple schools at great expense to the children and taxpayers of Fairfax County.

I agree that some may find the name offensive--but my beef is justifying the change based on bogus accusations against the School Board that named it. I understand the issue, but the money would be better spent in the classroom.

If the name is offensive that is unfortunate. However, it could have been used as a learning tool rather than an opportunity to spend what will likely turn out to be millions and millions of dollars on something that will not aid the education of our young people.

Our School Board members have NO common sense. McElveen is now turning to sexual assault as his next issue--when there are so many more things that impact our kids. And, I seldom agree with Moon, but the "unintended consequences" of TDK's motion on learning about the names of schools is silly. Think "South County". Think Westfields which is named after an office park.

It is premature to claim that the names of multiple other schools besides Stuart will change. The motion that was approved referenced several factors specific to Stuart that will make changing the names of other schools harder, not easier.

I also think you are too focused on "bogus accusations" against the 1950s School Board members. The effect of their decision is what people focused most on, not their intent.

The argument that the name theoretically could have been a "learning tool" has more merit, but the problem with that is three-fold: (1) FCPS has spent decades figuring out how to whitewash JEB Stuart (removing the Confederate imagery and turning him into a content-neutral mascot); (2) there would be a protracted debate about what to teach about JEB Stuart - do we focus on his nifty "Quaker canons" or his not-so-pleasant raids into Union territory; and (3) objectively, he's not that significant a figure, and all the time spent teaching students about JEB Stuart would be to the exclusion of other matters.

"Common sense" is in the eye of the beholder. You have a problem with McElveen's issues; I think Elizabeth Schultz would take us back to an era in which minority and LGBTQ youth would feel unsafe.

Anonymous wrote:I like Hillwood High School
or
Valley Brook High School.

Lord knows that area could use a name that evokes an image of a higher SES. To the PP who complained about names seeming generic -- I think that is actually the whole point. Pick a generic name so that it doesn't have any baggage. The idea that FCPS school names have to have some greater meaning/purpose is what go us into this mess. FCPS always like to think that they are so superior to everyone else -- they aren't. Just pick a decent name and let the school community give it meaning by the way they conduct themselves over the coming years.

Good comment--makes sense.

I like Hillwood High School
or
Valley Brook High School.

Lord knows that area could use a name that evokes an image of a higher SES. To the PP who complained about names seeming generic -- I think that is actually the whole point. Pick a generic name so that it doesn't have any baggage. The idea that FCPS school names have to have some greater meaning/purpose is what go us into this mess. FCPS always like to think that they are so superior to everyone else -- they aren't. Just pick a decent name and let the school community give it meaning by the way they conduct themselves over the coming years.