HomeFairfax General ForumArrest/Ticket SearchWiki newPictures/VideosChatArticlesLinksAbout
Fairfax County General :  Fairfax Underground fairfax underground logo
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Pages: PreviousFirst...151152153154155156157158159160161...LastNext
Current Page: 156 of 189
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Candy Tistadt ()
Date: June 05, 2008 04:05PM

I AM NOT A DUDE

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: taxpayer ()
Date: June 05, 2008 04:53PM

Some links on IB.

IB will "prompt" closing a program with historically low diploma candidates. I guess that won't happen in FCPS since IBO gets a lot of business from gatehouse.
http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20080505/NEWS08/805040328

Each organization that promotes IB over AP should donate money to FCPS each year for the IB costs. Put their money where their mouth is.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2008/5/5/in-defense-of-international-baccalaureate.html?msg=1

If they want IB then put it everywhere and can instructional services. Hah. How happy would parents be about that? IB is nice for small schools without all our overhead.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 05, 2008 05:30PM

Dear Thomas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Why is it that you choose to partner with so many Wahoos, if you loathe them so much?< <

Familiarity breeds what, again?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 05, 2008 11:26PM

quantum Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, Neen, I am aware of the increased challenge
> that No. Va students have in gaining admittance to
> Va. schools. I am not persuaded, although it is
> possible,
> that the grading scale in and of itself impacts
> Va. school admissions - it may just be a case of
> raw geographic discrimination - which is
> disturbing for taxpayers in No. Virginia. To the
> extent that the grading scale can be shown to have
> a negative impact above and beyond the raw
> geographic discriminatory practices that exist, I
> would think that this alone would cause even the
> rather arrogant and self-satisfied FCPS to look
> anew at their policies - admission to Virginia
> schools is that important to parents and students.
> I would think you would agree with this
> clarified statement, except perhaps for the view
> that even a very probative set of data would cause
> the school system to change - my confidence may be
> misplaced and somewhat naive.
>
> On another topic, I am curious as to the lack of
> genuine feedback on the substance, or rigor of the
> YS program. Do we really have a novel and unique
> approach to overcome what virtually no other
> public schools systems have done? I would think
> that the poster Young Scholars has an opinion and
> knows more than he or she is letting on. I think
> an important topic - it goes straight to the
> integrity of the schools' academic missions.

I do not think our grading scaled hurts students applying to Virginia schools. Large numbers of smart kids in FCPS is what hurts our children's chances at Virginia schools. They must compete against each other for positions. The goofy grading scale does hurt students applying to out of state schools since few, if any, colleges would be familiar with our unique grading scale.

Again, the only goal of YS is to place more Black students into GT centers. It is a problem across the country. Dr. Domenech talked about the universality of the issue. He said that any school system that could solve the problem would be nationally acclaimed. Carol Horn wrote her PHd thesis on her Young Scholars program. There are no academic goals in the YS program. I cannot stress that enough. There is no discussion of rigor because it is not pertinent to the goals of the program.

It may well be that Dr.Horn has found a solution to the problem of Black under enrolled in gifted programs,
1)by using unique a test such the Naglieri,
2) by using a very subjective teachers rating scale that includes the opinions of people who may not have met the child, like assistant principals, librarians, and guidance counselors,
3)providing a free summer school program and tutoring, and
4)by expanding the program to a large enough percentage of the student body to capture more Blacks and Hispanics in the pool. There is no way to measure the effectiveness of the summer school and tutoring. We don't know if those chosen for YS would have been chosen without the summer school and tutoring. There is no way to measure any academic gains, or lack thereof. Although the GT office was excited that one YS was accepted into TJ last year. I don't know if any were any in this year's group of accepted students.

I am wondering what you think that "Young Scholar" is hiding, what he might know. If it is something good about the program, some positive academic gains, why not share the information? I suspect that Young Scholar is not as much of an insider as she thinks she is and has no more information than what has been presented to the school board and the GTAC. But I could well be wrong. If YS has done something other than increasing the numbers of Black students in GT centers, something to improve academic performance of Black students, I would expect staff to be reporting that to everyone and anyone who would listen. That would be very big news and FCPS would receive national recognition. It would not be a secret that required a phone call to Dr. Horn. But there is no way to measure such academic successes, if they do exist.

Quantum said:
>>>it goes straight to the
> integrity of the schools' academic missions.<<<

Could you expand on that, please? I am not sure what you mean by the statement. Thanks.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 05, 2008 11:30PM

FCPS HAVE NO BALLS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fairfax May Junk Study on Behavior
> Staff Report Shows Racial, Ethnic Gaps Among
> Students
>
> By Michael Alison Chandler
> Washington Post Staff Writer
> Thursday, June 5, 2008; B01
>
>
>
> Fairfax County School Board members said they are
> likely to abandon a staff report that showed
> racial and ethnic gaps in some measures of student
> behavior, including in the demonstration of "sound
> moral character and ethical judgment."
>
> The board had delayed an April vote to approve the
> report after concerns were raised that findings
> were based on subjective measures, such as
> elementary report card data, and that they would
> fuel negative stereotypes.
>
> Board member Phillip A. Niedzielski-Eichner
> (Providence) said yesterday that he plans to
> propose at a June 19 meeting that a vote on the
> report be postponed indefinitely. Several board
> members have indicated their support, he said.
>
> Board member Martina A. Hone (At Large) said that
> the original report is "fatally flawed" and that
> it doesn't make sense "to work on fixing it." She
> said she is pleased with the way the board is
> rethinking it. "I think we have come out a
> stronger school board," she said.
>
> The school system's report was an early attempt to
> measure progress on a host of goals the board
> considers "essential" for success in the
> workplace. It identified disparities among groups
> of students in several skills, including the
> ability to contribute effectively in a group,
> resolve conflicts and make healthy choices, and in
> the demonstration of moral character and ethical
> judgment.
>
> Board members plan to approve revisions to their
> goals June 19 to make the wording more precise.
> Superintendent Jack D. Dale will again be given
> the challenge of developing methods for
> interpreting and measuring the goals.
>
> In coming months, the board intends to review the
> potential for teacher bias in report cards and
> whether it makes sense to analyze nonacademic
> measures by race and ethnicity.
>
> The staff report on student behavior recently drew
> criticism from the chairman of the Minority
> Student Achievement Oversight Committee.
>
> In a letter to School Board Chairman Daniel G.
> Storck (Mount Vernon) last month, Ralph Cooper
> wrote that the report and some recent school
> system budget decisions had "damaged any
> credibility may have had in improving minority
> student achievement."
>
> The letter, attached to the committee's annual
> report, urged the board to hire a consultant to
> roll out its "essential life skills" goals and to
> work with the advisory committee and other
> groups.
>
> "We would like to be part of the team," Cooper
> said in an interview.
>
> The 31-member committee consists of school system
> employees and community members and has advised
> the board on minority student issues for more than
> 13 years.
>
> The committee's report included suggestions for
> how the school system can reach out to minority
> parents to encourage them to be effective
> advocates for their children's education.
>
> After hearing from nearly 100 people at three
> meetings, the committee concluded that too often
> minority parents feel "a sense of alienation" in
> their children's public schools. Many could not
> name their school board representatives or
> articulate their functions, the report said.
>
> The report noted some positive trends, including a
> reduction in the dropout rate for black and
> Hispanic students. But it also found mixed results
> in efforts to reduce achievement gaps in English
> test scores for those groups.
>
> Overall, Cooper said, "progress is too slow."
>
> What a waste of time and money.

Hilarious!!! They didn't get the answers they wanted, or even anticipated, so they simply scrap the results. Why don't they just stick their fingers in their ears and hum, real loud? This school board gets funnier every day, with every meeting.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Not fooled again..... ()
Date: June 05, 2008 11:43PM

The school board pays for consultants. Consultants do a study, the school board does not like the results, therefore they blame the consultant and junk the results. Didn't they do the same with the study on projection. Cost of the study was around $50,000. The results were critical of the way the school board staff complete projections, therefore the school board dismissed the report.... something called McKibben Report.

The school board should do like the Board of Supervisors....hire consultants, hold a charette, get the results that the Supervisors wanted, and then say...."The public has spoken." Not.....

Just like the Tysons Corner Task Force. I believe the Board of Supervisors paid a million dollars for that study. Your tax dollars at work.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 05, 2008 11:45PM

Hone does not respond Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> On two occassions, I have asked Tina Hone for data
> on IB/AP participation rates broken down by
> schools and ethnicity. I also asked for SAT/ACT
> rates with the same breakdowns. I also asked for
> drop out rates per schools.
>
> No response, of course. Time to file a FOIA. It
> really bugs me when these public servatnts don't
> respond and don't even have the courtesy to refer
> you to someone within FCPS.
>
> Time to play hardball. It seems to be the most
> effective way of dealing with FCPS. You have to
> shame them in the newspapers to get their
> attention.

To add insult to injury, you will have to pay for the FOIA information. That's the only way you will get it, unless they can claim that they do not have stats broken out in the way that you want them. Then you won't be able to get the information at all. You will find that staff has many ways of preventing the release of information.

Just curious, why did you choose to ask Tina Hone to get the information, rather than the school board member who represents your district?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 05, 2008 11:51PM

Not fooled again..... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The school board pays for consultants.
> Consultants do a study, the school board does not
> like the results, therefore they blame the
> consultant and junk the results. Didn't they do
> the same with the study on projection. Cost of
> the study was around $50,000. The results were
> critical of the way the school board staff
> complete projections, therefore the school board
> dismissed the report.... something called McKibben
> Report.
>
> The school board should do like the Board of
> Supervisors....hire consultants, hold a charette,
> get the results that the Supervisors wanted, and
> then say...."The public has spoken." Not.....
>
> Just like the Tysons Corner Task Force. I believe
> the Board of Supervisors paid a million dollars
> for that study. Your tax dollars at work.

It seems that the school board has now realized the wisdom of what you say. They are now going to pay consultants to tell them what they want to hear. Then they can claim that it was not staff, or them, or pressure from the public who made the decision, but a "completely objective outside source". LOL

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: alurker ()
Date: June 06, 2008 07:45AM

Not fooled again..... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The school board pays for consultants.
> Consultants do a study, the school board does not
> like the results, therefore they blame the
> consultant and junk the results.

That's why you use consultants -- if you use staff, then you might have to answer questions about why your staff's work output is useless, not to mention morale issues with those staffers. Consultants don't care: at $xxx/hour, you can ignore what I say and I'll still laugh.

Tsk, I'm cynical today (but reality supports my thesis, in this instance and far too many others to name, across multiple industries...)

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: ME again ()
Date: June 08, 2008 04:09PM

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>f.y.i<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<


the 8th graders at lhms had a VERY HIGH pass rate on the SOLs.

that should prove that the kid @ LHMS are NOt stupid

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Baffled ()
Date: June 08, 2008 04:43PM

ME again Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>f.y.i<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>
>
> the 8th graders at lhms had a VERY HIGH pass rate
> on the SOLs.
>
> that should prove that the kid @ LHMS are NOt
> stupid

That's great. The SOLs results are out already for the 8th graders? My daughter just finished her last SOL test last week and awaiting results.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: taken on-line ()
Date: June 08, 2008 05:18PM

Test results for SOLs taken on-line are back almost immediately. Most middle and high schools are now taking many on-line, elementary is not as much. Students who fail SOLs are allowed retakes by the Commonwealth of Virginia. On-line testing allows them to retake closer to the date of the learning instead of having to wait for the paper and pencil (elementary school SOL) tests which take several months to be scored and returned. If your child took an on-line SOL they should ask their teacher for their score the following class.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: rumor ()
Date: June 08, 2008 06:44PM

taken on-line Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Test results for SOLs taken on-line are back
> almost immediately. Most middle and high schools
> are now taking many on-line, elementary is not as
> much. Students who fail SOLs are allowed retakes
> by the Commonwealth of Virginia. On-line testing
> allows them to retake closer to the date of the
> learning instead of having to wait for the paper
> and pencil (elementary school SOL) tests which
> take several months to be scored and returned. If
> your child took an on-line SOL they should ask
> their teacher for their score the following class.


I wonder how people feel about being able to retake SOLs when they were upset about teachers allowing retesting on general classroom tests?

I know they stated their objection was it wouldn't prepare them for college when retests weren't allowed.

In addition, SOLs are untimed...kids can take all day, and are actually allowed to stay after, to take a multiple choice Civics test that has only 50 questions on it. That sure prepares them for the SAT...

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Not Surprised ()
Date: June 08, 2008 07:25PM

To Me again:

No one says that students at LHMS are stupid. However, I am curious as to where you found the stats regarding the very high pass rate. Would you share?

------------------------------------------------------
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>f.y.i<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>
>
> the 8th graders at lhms had a VERY HIGH pass rate
> on the SOLs.
>
> that should prove that the kid @ LHMS are NOt
> stupid

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 08, 2008 09:10PM

ME again Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>f.y.i<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>
>
> the 8th graders at lhms had a VERY HIGH pass rate
> on the SOLs.
>
> that should prove that the kid @ LHMS are NOt
> stupid

Doesn't Hughes have a large GT center that draws from other areas? Not saying that the local Hughes kids are stupid............but they do get some help with those SOL scores.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: pass rate ()
Date: June 09, 2008 09:31AM

Me Again posted that LH had a high pass rate-not high average. Therefore the high GT population is irrelevant. Pass rate means the number of people who pass. No one helps you pass-you have to get the score yourself

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: SBS ()
Date: June 09, 2008 09:54AM

pass rate Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Me Again posted that LH had a high pass rate-not
> high average. Therefore the high GT population is
> irrelevant. Pass rate means the number of people
> who pass. No one helps you pass-you have to get
> the score yourself

Uh, guess again. If 100% of the GT students pass the SOLs, that will most definitely improve the rate, as well as the average.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: wanker ()
Date: June 09, 2008 10:38AM

The Hughes kids might not be stupid, but their parents can't do a simple math problem. cheesus.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Truth in Posting ()
Date: June 09, 2008 12:04PM

Hughes has a relatively small GT center, when compared with nearby schools. Parents on this site often quoted the high SOL pass rates at Rachel Carson, but I never read Neen countering that Carson has a very large GT center. Cherry-picking data never works.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ME again Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>f.y.i<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> >
> >
> > the 8th graders at lhms had a VERY HIGH pass
> rate
> > on the SOLs.
> >
> > that should prove that the kid @ LHMS are NOt
> > stupid
>
> Doesn't Hughes have a large GT center that draws
> from other areas? Not saying that the local
> Hughes kids are stupid............but they do get
> some help with those SOL scores.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: sherman's march ()
Date: June 09, 2008 12:41PM

wanker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Hughes kids might not be stupid, but their
> parents can't do a simple math problem. cheesus.

Eureka!! We agree. You are, indeed, a wanker.

Let's see:

SLHS kids can't get into any "real" colleges.
- But they get into UVA, William and Mary, Princeton, MIT, the US service academies, etc., in impressive numbers. Check the facts and figures, if you dare.

Well, they only make it because of affirmative action, e.g., the high numbers of UVA acceptances.
- Anti-RDers suggest that the only ones accepted are due to affirmative action. One of the UVA acceptees this year is "a person of color", for the record. Many others are going to many other "real" colleges. See above.

Well, everyone knows that there are quotas for schools like South Lakes.
- You mean FCPS high schools.

And "everyone" knows that SLHS kids only get 4.0 because they get to take the exams a zillion times and Stu wants them to succeed.
- I thought Fairgrade was about FCPS students having a disadvantage in grading. Other than your animus against SL, where's the beef for your allegation against these kids?

And SLHS and Hughes kids can't pass SOLs or excel on IB and AP.
- But I just heard that Hughes kids had a "very high pass rate", and that there was an increase in IB diploma holders this year at SLHS.

And "everyone" knows that Hughes kids get to take the exams a zillion times and Stu wants them to succeed. And IB sucks. Who wants their kid to spend so much time on IB that they don't get to do extracurriculars, like sports and basket weaving (heh, heh..)
- But most of the IB diploma holders did lots of sports and other extracurriculars.

And SLHS sports teams stink too.
-- But didn't SLHS just win the track regionals and place 9th in the state?

Well, if the SLHS and Hughes kids spent more time on academics and less time on athletics, then they wouldn't fail so badly at SOLs.............
-- Whatevah....

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: wanker ()
Date: June 09, 2008 01:04PM

Sherm,
A chip on the shoulder indicates wood a little higher.

Be careful not to trip over the bar you've set so high.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: quantum ()
Date: June 09, 2008 02:13PM

Sherman's March - just to clarify - I think you are missing a point in your diatribe - thoughtful people do not ascribe the admissions of SLHS students to competitive colleges solely or even primarily to affirmative action. They do, however, think it highly relevant to mention because it is likely that SLHS benefits to a greater degree than surrounding schools from affirmative action inasmuch as the degree of preference that competitive schools afford to certain minorities, but in particular African Americans, is really, really substantial. So to make college admit statistics meaningful to those that cannot enjoy these substantial preferences, this factor ought to be weighed if any comparative analysis is to be done. This of course irritates many because affirmative action programs most often are designed to work in secret - if the preferences were transparent and open such programs would stigmatize recipients far more than they already do (and they already stigmatize to a fare thee well). So I am not sure if your angst is directed at those that appear to have a general bias towards South Lakes (they are admittedly quite a few) or towards messengers that merely relate the truth about programs that typically operate in secret.

In any event, I am not sure if the technique of acting besieged is persuasive. It has a short half life, and it makes more sense to focus on the rational pluses and minuses of the place. My guess is that the result that obtains with approach are a number of reasonably outstanding pluses, with, at the same time, a few minuses that unfortunately are of the nature that make people in the suburbs uncomfortable, sometimes with justification.

By the way, if anyone is of a cynical bent (or maybe just a realistic one) that wants to really get at the bottom of what drives the emotional level of this RD, take a read at Hanna Rosin's article about the relationships between crime, social dysfunction, the suburbs, race, and the furthering of another large social engineering program, Section 8. Highly explosive stuff.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: rumor ()
Date: June 09, 2008 02:39PM

quantum Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > By the way, if anyone is of a cynical bent (or
> maybe just a realistic one) that wants to really
> get at the bottom of what drives the emotional
> level of this RD, take a read at Hanna Rosin's
> article about the relationships between crime,
> social dysfunction, the suburbs, race, and the
> furthering of another large social engineering
> program, Section 8. Highly explosive stuff.

Where is the article? Can you link it?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: come on now..... ()
Date: June 09, 2008 02:41PM

wanker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Hughes kids might not be stupid, but their
> parents can't do a simple math problem. cheesus.

*******************

My parents were not able to do much more than simple math problems. However, they were proud of me when I marched across the stage and received my PhD.

There are tons of parents who have difficulty in reading and writing. They, however,value education. That is why some of us must ask the question....Is the IB program at SL best for all students or just for a very select few?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: sherman's march ()
Date: June 09, 2008 05:50PM

wanker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sherm,
> A chip on the shoulder indicates wood a little
> higher.
>
> Be careful not to trip over the bar you've set so
> high.


Wank:

I have no problem with my wood, thank you for asking.

Quantum:

You often raise provocative and thoughtful perspectives about affirmative action and other issues. But when you state that "the number of matriculants at UVa from SLHS likely does include those that receive a very significant advantage from the affirmative action practices engaged in by UVa", I would read that to mean: SLHS minority candidates benefited from UVA's acceptance practices, period.

If -- per the figures that I have heard -- one of this year's SLHS UVA-accepted kids is a "minority" and consequently the only possible recipient of the "advantage(s) from the [UVA] affirmative action practices" that you deride, then why tarnish the achievements of all the UVA-bound SLHS grads by linking their acceptance to a preference that hardly benefits the preponderance of those accepted (i.e., the 13 or so others this year).

If one of the chief criticisms of affirmative action is that delegitimizes the efforts and achievements of minority students (see, e.g., Justice Thomas; Shelby Steele), why paint with so broad a brush that it also denigrates the acceptances of every SLHS student? I don't get it, and I don't think it is based on the unemotional, factual analysis that you demand.

You have written earlier:

"The admit rate for now, however, should be deemed a SLHS success story - UVa's minority graduation rate, to their credit, is one of the highest of those universities engaging in the heavy preference game (many have great admit stats, but lousy graduation statistics), so in the end, if not inclined to being defensive, you could point to a story of minority success while conceding that the ample preferences in play do skew the statistics to some degree. But that likely is too unemotional or factual approach for you, inasmuch as it doesn't accomodate the chip that appears on your shoulder. "

But the facts don't have anything to do with my too-testy (apparently, for you and Der Wanker) response.

Is it not a Red Herring to laud the success of UVA's minority graduation rate in the context of implying that SLHS attendees to that institution are (a) predominantly minority, and (b) beneficiaries of affirmative action. You are tainting both (1) SLHS attendees to UVA generally, whatever their racial or ethnic background, and (2) those SLHS attendees to UVA who are African-American or Hispanic, specifically.

That is why many of us get testy: because even the rare "compliments" can be patronizing and misleading.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: sherman's march ()
Date: June 09, 2008 05:52PM

wanker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sherm,
> A chip on the shoulder indicates wood a little
> higher.
>
> Be careful not to trip over the bar you've set so
> high.


Wank:

I have no problem with my wood, thank you for asking.

Quantum:

You often raise provocative and thoughtful perspectives about affirmative action and other issues. But when you state that "the number of matriculants at UVa from SLHS likely does include those that receive a very significant advantage from the affirmative action practices engaged in by UVa", I would read that to mean: SLHS minority candidates benefited from UVA's acceptance practices, period.

If -- per the figures that I have heard -- one of this year's SLHS UVA-accepted kids is a "minority" and consequently the only possible recipient of the "advantage(s) from the [UVA] affirmative action practices" that you deride, then why tarnish the achievements of all the UVA-bound SLHS grads by linking their acceptance to a preference that hardly benefits the preponderance of those accepted (i.e., the 13 or so others this year).

If one of the chief criticisms of affirmative action is that delegitimizes the efforts and achievements of minority students (see, e.g., Justice Thomas; Shelby Steele), why paint with so broad a brush that it also denigrates the acceptances of every SLHS student? I don't get it, and I don't think it is based on the unemotional, factual analysis that you demand.

You have written earlier:

"The admit rate for now, however, should be deemed a SLHS success story - UVa's minority graduation rate, to their credit, is one of the highest of those universities engaging in the heavy preference game (many have great admit stats, but lousy graduation statistics), so in the end, if not inclined to being defensive, you could point to a story of minority success while conceding that the ample preferences in play do skew the statistics to some degree. But that likely is too unemotional or factual approach for you, inasmuch as it doesn't accomodate the chip that appears on your shoulder. "

But the facts don't have anything to do with my too-testy (apparently, for you and Der Wanker) response.

Is it not a Red Herring to laud the success of UVA's minority graduation rate in the context of implying that SLHS attendees to that institution are (a) predominantly minority, and (b) beneficiaries of affirmative action. You are tainting both (1) SLHS attendees to UVA generally, whatever their racial or ethnic background, and (2) those SLHS attendees to UVA who are African-American or Hispanic, specifically.

That is why many of us get testy: because even the rare "compliments" can be patronizing and misleading.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Good on You Sherman.... ()
Date: June 09, 2008 07:27PM

...and I forgive you for pillaging and burning 'the Mecca.'

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: exodus ()
Date: June 09, 2008 07:53PM

LHMS students are not stupid. They are very smart. They quickly move out to other high schools the moment they finsih middle school.

Not Surprised Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To Me again:
>
> No one says that students at LHMS are stupid.
> However, I am curious as to where you found the
> stats regarding the very high pass rate. Would
> you share?
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> ----
> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>f.y.i<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> >
> >
> > the 8th graders at lhms had a VERY HIGH pass
> rate
> > on the SOLs.
> >
> > that should prove that the kid @ LHMS are NOt
> > stupid

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: fcps responses ()
Date: June 09, 2008 07:59PM

That exact question was asked by Liz to FCPS and the FCPS answer is posted on the school board docs site. They say that was diverse communities like SL, IB is better. Stupid reasoning. Race has nothing to with this. FCPS thinks only whites are up to the AP challenge. Weird given the huge non white population in magnet programs like TJ.


come on now..... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wanker Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Hughes kids might not be stupid, but their
> > parents can't do a simple math problem.
> cheesus.
>
> *******************
>
> My parents were not able to do much more than
> simple math problems. However, they were proud of
> me when I marched across the stage and received my
> PhD.
>
> There are tons of parents who have difficulty in
> reading and writing. They, however,value
> education. That is why some of us must ask the
> question....Is the IB program at SL best for all
> students or just for a very select few?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 10, 2008 02:45AM

Did they explain why IB is better for diverse communities? Do minorities do better in IB programs than in AP programs? Is there any evidence of that? Or did staff explain it in some other way?

Thanks

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Meaning of DIversity ()
Date: June 10, 2008 10:12AM

Diversity, folks, is more than racial. SLHS has been applauding its diversity since it was built -- and that means ALL the cultural, religious, racial, geographical, socioeconomic, language, and alternative-thinking diversity at the school. More than four dozen languages are spoken there, apart from English.

So many of you assume "diversity" at schools like South Lakes means racial, or maybe White/Black/Hispanic only (and your comments reflect this over and over), that you should be asking yourselves what kinds of lenses you're using. Who, after all, is pre-judging? If you were part of the SLHS or similar community, you would never make this assumption.

The other bias is that at YOUR school, many of you imply diversity means White/Asian/Indian. Meaning higher class. Smarter. This rings out loud and clear in many of your posts.

It remains ironic that anti-South Lakes and anti-IB people are so quick to pontificate about the school and its programs -- who have never been involved with either one in their entire lives, or if so, they have come loaded for bear and thus blinded.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: 7 ()
Date: June 10, 2008 10:26AM

The counties highest percentage of acceptance into UVA at SLHS is due to the fact that a large number of UVA Seven Society members contribute to UVA and graduated from SLHS.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: quantum ()
Date: June 10, 2008 10:30AM

My apologies - the article is in this July/August's Atlantic Monthly - can't get to it on line without a subscription. But google the terms Hanna Rosin and crime and you will get an idea of what she writes about.

The "map" in her article - citing two researchers from the University of Memphis (a married couple) says it all - the worst crime areas correlate with Section 8 vouchers - and in turn - there is a similar correlation to race.

And it happens under the theory that if poor people mix with the middle class - voila!! All will be better because these folks will pick up the cultural and social skills of the middle class - akin to the same arguments made about the putative benefits of plunking lower class kids in better schools - it is all supposed to rub off on them in some way.

But what Rosin points out is that it is not working - the suburbs are becoming rife with pockets of crime - and those with the Great Society entitlement mentality and worst habits are following the vouchers and taking their bad habits with them. The cultural and moral deficiencies are every bit as real as a virus. They aren't getting "better". Of course, no one rational is going to defend the monolithic and destructive public housing complexes of the 60's - dens of crime and dysfunction - but Section 8 isn't working either - and inasmuch it is burdens police and social departments far less skilled and used to dealing with deep dysfunction - it is likely creating an entirely new set of problems that degrades life for suburban residents well beyond what they could have imagined when moving to the suburbs. And to think that this isn't at the heart of the RD, well, I am certain that it is. And while race is an issue, just invoking racism doesn't cut it - and is a ploy to avoid real debate. While the problems Rosin points out in Memphis are likely not nearly as bad in Reston (I am sure they are not), it makes sense that the very same phenomena is impacting Reston - it gets a lot of attention too because Reston is largely surrounded by jurisdictions that heretofore have not had to deal with the impacts of this social program. Another failed government social program - Rosin calls the conclusions "baffling". No surprise to those of us that have generally little faith in Government great society solutions, however.

And note - read the map of Memphis when her article becomes available on-line. Look at the lightest blue spots - very little crime - and in those areas there are no Section 8 red dots. Think of the Langley high school areas, if you will. And think of the RD. The wealthy elite doesn't endure the externalities of these programs - they get their way. And who cares if the middle class (the Fox Mills of the world) gets burdened,at least from the perspective of the politicos and the wealthy who in essence call the shots? If they don't like it, in their view the middle class can always move to Loudon County - the great escape route that concomitantly enriches the real estate developers and wealth class in its development of that sprawl. I recognize that this is a bit simplistic - and maybe too much of a class based analysis - but it really hit home to me. If anything, it makes me laugh to hear people portray school board members like Stu Gibson as liberal - yes - he may on the surface adopt liberal or progressive ideas, but his policies clearly hew to the desires of the moneyed elite. The real story of the RD is not about moving some folks to SLHS (although I don't mean to be insensitive to the families), but rather how the school board could so blatantly continue to gerrymander the Langley school district to avoid any population that carries with them even a hint of dysfunction. It is as if they know of Rosin's map - the red dots mean trouble, and they make sure that their kind of people avoid them. Lovely bunch.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: ME AGAIN ()
Date: June 10, 2008 03:11PM

The reason some of you cant believe that LHMS has a pass rate is because you dont want to wrong or know the truth.

And how I know this lets just say I'm an insider

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: me again ()
Date: June 10, 2008 03:17PM

sorry about the typos

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 11, 2008 01:32AM

Meaning of DIversity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Diversity, folks, is more than racial. SLHS has
> been applauding its diversity since it was built
> -- and that means ALL the cultural, religious,
> racial, geographical, socioeconomic, language, and
> alternative-thinking diversity at the school. More
> than four dozen languages are spoken there, apart
> from English.
>
> So many of you assume "diversity" at schools like
> South Lakes means racial, or maybe
> White/Black/Hispanic only (and your comments
> reflect this over and over), that you should be
> asking yourselves what kinds of lenses you're
> using. Who, after all, is pre-judging? If you were
> part of the SLHS or similar community, you would
> never make this assumption.
>
> The other bias is that at YOUR school, many of you
> imply diversity means White/Asian/Indian. Meaning
> higher class. Smarter. This rings out loud and
> clear in many of your posts.
>
> It remains ironic that anti-South Lakes and
> anti-IB people are so quick to pontificate about
> the school and its programs -- who have never been
> involved with either one in their entire lives, or
> if so, they have come loaded for bear and thus
> blinded.

Sorry, in FCPS, diversity is code for Blacks. That's why they proposed affirmative action for TJ, not to make it more diverse in all the ways you state, (because it already has students from around the world) but to add more Blacks to TJ.

It is not our prejudice that makes diversity mean Blacks vs white/asian, it is FCPS that has decided that is the definition of diversity.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 11, 2008 01:49AM

Quantum,
I enjoyed your post about the Rosin article. Very interesting.

Do you think that the SB might have avoided moving Langley students and the Madison students closest to SL because they knew the majority of these students would never attend South Lakes? By choosing more middle class areas (excluding Madison island) like Fox Mill and Floris, the SB knew that there would be more students in those areas without resources to escape South Lakes. Students in those areas are somewhat less likely to be able to afford private school, or a car to drive to another school, than students at Langley, those from North Reston, and the Madison students who live out Vale Road a couple of miles from South Lakes. Yes, they threw in Madison island knowing that there are so students it wouldn't matter if they went to SL or not, and geographically it's hard to justify not including them.

Another aspect is where politicians get their money. It's not from the poorer and middle class areas. They need to protect areas from whence their money comes.

Overall I agree with you, for whatever the reasons, the richest are protected, and that should be the story.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: arlington parents win ()
Date: June 11, 2008 10:43PM

arlington parents WON a court case against School Board RD !!!!. There is hope - Dont sell and move yet. Donate to CAPs. July 3 will be our day.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: What was the case about?? ()
Date: June 11, 2008 11:53PM

What was the Arlington case about?

Options: ReplyQuote
Times newpapers editorial on FFX grading scale
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 12, 2008 08:10AM

Friendly fire

Opinion
By Staff
Source: Fairfax County Times
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 2008

Thirty years ago, school officials here decided the traditional 10-point grading scale used by most U.S. school systems wasn't a good fit for Fairfax. In its place, they implemented a more stringent grading system, one intended to stem grade inflation and challenge students to work harder.

In hindsight, it appears that attempt to raise standards only succeeded in placing a generation of Fairfax graduates at a competitive disadvantage when applying to colleges across the state and country. Talk to any college admissions director and he or she will tell you that grade point average is the first thing admissions directors consider, followed by difficulty of the course load and SAT scores.

When challenged on the subject in past years, Fairfax school officials often countered by saying admissions officers at places like William & Mary and Virginia Tech know all about Fairfax County's rigid grading scale and factor it into admissions decisions as well as honors placement and merit
scholarships. Less clear is the impact it has had with those reviewing applications at private or out-of-state universities.

It's also no secret that teachers in Fairfax routinely consider our airtight grading scale when assessing year-end performance. After all, do they really want to give a hard-working student with an 84 average a "C" when their counterparts in Prince William and Henrico counties are doling out B's to those with averages of 80 or 81? Probably not.

Given the fact that everyone from Staunton to Springfield already seems to be grading Fairfax students on a curve, the only reasonable solution is a return to the 10-point grading scale.

It's long past time that our school system do something that puts our kids on a more level playing field when it comes to college admissions and scholarships.

Options: ReplyQuote
IB/AP
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 12, 2008 09:13AM

In today's Fairfax Extra section of the Post, Brian Nakamura, a teacher retired from a FFX IB high school writes about his experience with the preferential allocation of resources toward the small percentage of kids in the program and his inability to get less than $1,000 for his English classes to go on a field trip to the Newseum.

Mathews reply is as expected: a lame defense of IB.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: taxpayer ()
Date: June 12, 2008 09:25AM

I think there might be variability in schools and teachers. FCPS doesn't seem to have any uniform regulations on grading, rubrics, retesting, bonus points unrelated to performance [tissue boxes and no tardies have gotten academic points], adding 50% for correcting test answers at home, weighting heavily on pictures-layout instead of analytical written content.

get rid of that stuff except for elementary retesting to assure mastery in reading and math basics . the results? less time spent by teachers and some or many students would end up exactly where they are now for GPA's.

http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/letter/1384/

the letter from a teacher


"I want my students to learn the subject matter. I reward the ones who do by adjusting my classroom implementation of the grading system to artfully result in a number that falls within the scale at the place it ought to fall."

So if they cut artful implementation and go to a 10 point scale there should be less time expended on the part of teachers. Do Fairgrade advocates expect retesting, points for correcting at home and other such grade inflation practices to continue on a 10 point scale?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: ArlingtonRDShotDownStory ()
Date: June 12, 2008 02:03PM

Arlington (Map, News) - An Arlington plan to redistrict some elementary schools to relieve overcrowding, which drew passionate responses from parents and underwent a drastic revision before passing the School Board in February, was voided by a circuit court Thursday on a procedural technicality.

An Arlington County Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of six Tuckahoe Elementary School parents who argued that, among other things, the board did not properly advertise its public hearing date.

The board had advertised a Feb. 12 hearing, but rescheduled the hearing for the following day because of an ice storm that pummeled the region.

"Contrary to the plaintiffs' woefully incomplete recitation of events, the School Board did not base its decision to adopt the redistricting plan simply on a single Feb. 13, 2008, hearing the day before its action or on a single newspaper advertisement," the School Board's court filing read. "The School Board was highly engaged with the public in a comprehensive process that lasted more than a year. ..."

EXAMINER.COM RELATED ARTICLES
Mass. Sen. Marzilli not seeking re-election amid sex case
Lost crab pots still catching crabs
RFK's oldest child discusses legacy 40 years later
First Warner-Gilmore clash set
WW II plane collection on display Friday in Everett The parents who filed the lawsuit all have children who would attend Nottingham Elementary instead of Tuckahoe under the board's plan.

"The plaintiffs' children live, on average, twice as far from Nottingham as from Tuckahoe," their court filing said. "Yet, there are families living more than twice as far from Tuckahoe than to their closest neighborhood school whose boundaries remain part of the Tuckahoe school district."

The School Board has scheduled a new public hearing on the plan for June 12.

School Board Chairman Ed Fendley said he respected the court's decision but declined to comment on whether the board would consider changing the plan, which would affect about 130 children by the 2009 school year.

"I'm very let down by the School Board's decision to simply re-notice the meeting and revote on it," said Joseph Delogu, one of the parents who filed the suit.

Delogu said the six parents are prepared to file another suit arguing that the redistricting plan failed to comply with the School Board's own policies governing boundary changes.

"We don't intend to have a cheap victory here by winning on the notice provision," he said. "My children are little, this is a big problem, and I can't have the county's capricious behavior affecting my family."

tluntz@dcexaminer.com

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: ArlingtonCoNews ()
Date: June 12, 2008 02:49PM

That is good news about Arl Co suit. So many brilliant minds have said that courts almost never rule against School Boards. THey just dont want to involve themselves. It looks like that may not be so in the Commonwealth. I guess we in Fairfax Co will see for ourselves in July.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Caps supporter ()
Date: June 12, 2008 05:41PM

Has everyone seen that very nice article--front page and above the fold--in the Fairfax County Times (June 11) on the Caps lawsuit? With the turn of events in the Arlington County RD case, it looks like the Caps lawsuit might be looked upon more favorably than some believe.

If you are a Caps supporter, please consider a donation/an additional donation now. Community fund-raising is a hard (but critical) thing, but the efforts can certainly be worth it. As a Caps supporter I am glad to affiliate with such a organization--they didn't roll over when the school board bulldozed our community. Much appreciation for their very good efforts and hard work.

Options: ReplyQuote
South Lakes Graduation Observations
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 12, 2008 07:44PM

The National Anthem was sung as a solo a capella. It was amazing.

Of the 26 graduates who finished with a 4.0 "or better," 21 were female. None were African American. Only one was of east Asian extraction. A couple of girls were of south Asian heritage. No Hispanics. The rest were Wonder bread.

This in a school that is majority minority population.

Of the 6 kids going into the military, all were minorities, half hispanic.

The second loudest applause was for the observation that Railly Rodriguez was gone.

The loudest was for the outside speaker, now retired Assistant Principal Dave Dalton, who is sorely missed by many students and parents alike.

Gibson, Dale & Webb received scattered booing.

46 IB diploma candidates out of a class of 322. Less than 15%. Of course the kids won't even know if they actually got the IB diploma until late July. Not sure if the school ever finds out. There were more beachballs than IB diploma candidates.

The student speaker's observations were honest, zesty and insightful. Far less maudlin than the slurping from 2 years ago.

And there were not nearly enough beachballs. Next year's graduating class needs many more beachballs. And lots more crazy string.

It will be replayed on Channel 28 in Reston several times over the next few weeks.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2008 10:25PM by Thomas More.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: arlington suit ()
Date: June 12, 2008 09:05PM

I recall reading about the Arlington redistricting back in the winter. Students who could walk to their current elementary school would take a school bus to the other school. Hard to compare that with the FCPS high school study.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More needs glasses ()
Date: June 12, 2008 09:14PM

The guest editorial repeated in The POST today was written by BERNIE NAKAMURA not Brian. I believe when it originally ran a few months back the disclaimer said that Bernie is the MOTHER (as in "she") of a Post reporter and a former SL teacher.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 12, 2008 10:19PM

Thomas More needs glasses Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > The guest editorial repeated in The POST today was written by BERNIE NAKAMURA not Brian. I believe when it originally ran a few months back the disclaimer said that Bernie is the MOTHER (as in "she") of a Post reporter and a former SL teacher.< <

Thanks for the correction. It has been a while since the progressive lenses have been checked out. Time to make an appointment with the optometrist.

It wasn't a guest editorial but a letter and reply in Mathews weekly column.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: TM is an Idiot ()
Date: June 12, 2008 11:23PM

The maudlin slurping was from a kid who was losing his mother to a brain tumor, but I guess that wouldn't stop the village idiot from being an ass.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: TM is an Idiot ()
Date: June 12, 2008 11:24PM

Should have clarified, the village idiot is TM, not the 'maudlin slurper.'

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: TM needs glasses ()
Date: June 13, 2008 07:18AM

The first time (Thursday May 1, 2008) Mrs. Nakamura's "letter" was run in the Post it was as a guest editorial.

Tom, if you would like us to believe your posts on this blog you must "get it right" or at least make it seem like you try; otherwise you call in question everything you post.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Moderator ()
Date: June 13, 2008 07:57AM

TM is an Idiot wrote:

The maudlin slurping was from a kid who was losing his mother to a brain tumor, but I guess that wouldn't stop the village idiot from being an ass.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Please avoid violating our Forum Administrator’s guidelines for acceptable posting. Your posting could be interpreted as a personal attack on another poster.


[Moderation]

From time to time it may be necessary to delete or alter certain messages to guarantee the quality of this informational resource. Moderation of Fairfax Underground is almost non-existent except in extreme circumstances. The grounds for moderation or deletion of a post are:

* Spam
* Posting complete garbage that has nothing to do with the topic or thread
* Personal attacks on other posters


Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Signed,

The Moderator

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 13, 2008 08:05AM

TM needs glasses Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > The first time (Thursday May 1, 2008) Mrs. Nakamura's "letter" was run in the Post it was as a guest editorial.

Tom, if you would like us to believe your posts on this blog you must "get it right" or at least make it seem like you try; otherwise you call in question everything you post.< <

In yesterday's FFX Extra, it's in the Mathews column. What part of that is inaccurate?

We recycle our papers every week; so, we would have no way to dispute any assertion that Mathews is recycling/plagiarizing previous guest columns as letters to his column. It shouldn't surprise anyone if he is.

Collecting 6 weeks of papers can be a fire hazard. Please be careful with any open flames.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 13, 2008 08:14AM

TM is an Idiot Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > The maudlin slurping was from a kid who was losing his mother to a brain tumor, but I guess that wouldn't stop the village idiot from being an ass.< <

Certainly, had we known of those circumstances, we would have extended condolences to that family.

Nevertheless, many of that young man's classmates, those in attendance and those whom have watched the video, found the remarks to be completely unrepresentative of their experience at SL.

Noah Sweet's remarks yesterday were more consistent with the experiences of both his classmates and his fellow students who graduated ahead of him and who follow him.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: rumor ()
Date: June 13, 2008 08:40AM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> , we would
> have no way to dispute any assertion that Mathews
> is recycling/plagiarizing previous guest columns
> as letters to his column. It shouldn't surprise
> anyone if he is.
>
>

Mr. Mathews acknowledged where the original came from in yesterday's edition. He wasn't covering up or plagerizing. Here it is (same as it was in print)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/10/AR2008061003656.html

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: IB/AP
Posted by: rumor ()
Date: June 13, 2008 08:47AM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In today's Fairfax Extra section of the Post,
> Brian Nakamura, a teacher retired from a FFX IB
> high school writes about his experience with the
> preferential allocation of resources toward the
> small percentage of kids in the program and his
> inability to get less than $1,000 for his English
> classes to go on a field trip to the Newseum.
>
> Mathews reply is as expected: a lame defense of
> IB.

I meant to reply yesterday, and today's posts reminded me. Please see my post above with the full link. Mathews didn't give a lame defense of IB, rather he gave a lame defense to AP and IB in terms of disregarding what Ms. Nakamura had to say about "regular" students. He seems to imply that the end of course tests, which are difficult, will test whether or not the teacher is as "accomodating" to varied needs in the classroom..saying those teachers (and not others?) would give more time for the kids to grasp the material..how, realisitically, can you do that when you have a test date that is set in stone, and a test that he says doesn't allow room for faking how the course went/was taught. He seems contradictory to me. And to reiterate, if you feel he was defending IB, then he was also defending AP. (while she addressed IB, he responded with both programs, and ignored her comments..it is just his way of backing up his defense of open enrollment to "advanced" courses).

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Seahawk 06 ()
Date: June 13, 2008 11:58AM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TM is an Idiot Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > The maudlin slurping was from a kid who was
> losing his mother to a brain tumor, but I guess
> that wouldn't stop the village idiot from being an
> ass.< <
>
> Certainly, had we known of those circumstances, we
> would have extended condolences to that family.
>
> Nevertheless, many of that young man's classmates,
> those in attendance and those whom have watched
> the video, found the remarks to be completely
> unrepresentative of their experience at SL.
>
> Noah Sweet's remarks yesterday were more
> consistent with the experiences of both his
> classmates and his fellow students who graduated
> ahead of him and who follow him.


Noah Sweet's commencement remarks were great, especially his first thoughts in looking at the crappy old building. But no one I know -- and I know a lot of 2006 graduates, families, teachers and staff who saw Chris Cox's speech at our ceremony -- found [Chris Cox's] remarks to be completely unrepresentative of their experience". You are the only one. Everyone else loved it.

Maybe you show the videotape to guests at dinner parties and make them agree with you before you feed them?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Cox's Speech.. ()
Date: June 13, 2008 12:28PM

...was great, and there was not a dry eye in the house, with one certain exception who prefers to slowly sink further into victimhood.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: RD'd Mom ()
Date: June 13, 2008 01:25PM

I am no fan of the SLHS parents that pushed the RD on my children. However, it disgusts me to see anyone go after a kid. So whoever this kid is that had the courage to give a speech at what I assume is a graduation, should not bear criticism from posters here.
I dont believe that Mr.Moore is an anti RD person for if he was it would be unlikely that he would attend an SLHS graduation. Those of us who oppose the RD can barely stand to get within a mile of the place. So I think that Mr. Moore is very likely a troll.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 13, 2008 09:32PM

RD'd Mom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > I am no fan of the SLHS parents that pushed the RD on my children. However, it disgusts me to see anyone go after a kid. So whoever this kid is that had the courage to give a speech at what I assume is a graduation, should not bear criticism from posters here. I dont believe that Mr.Moore is an anti RD person for if he was it would be unlikely that he would attend an SLHS graduation. Those of us who oppose the RD can barely stand to get within a mile of the place. So I think that Mr. Moore is very likely a troll.<<

I attended both the 2006 and 2008 SL graduations and opposed the redistricting of Fox Mill and Floris into SL. I supported a redistricting of all of Aldrin and part of Armstong instead: Reston kids in Reston's school - South Lakes. I also want to end IB at SL and return it to AP. However that choice should be made by parents of middle school and elementary school parents after full, fair and objective disclosure of all facts. If you use the search function you would see all of that. By the way, the name is spelled with one "o".

Mr. Cox at the time of his graduation was (unless he was exceptionally precocious) an adult and many of his fellow members of that graduating class spontaneously offered that they found his remarks to be off putting as too praiseworthy of SL based on their experience.

Noah's more balanced view was more reflective of the experience of both the class of 2006 and 2008, and other SL, alumni who have spontaneously expressed their views in my presence.

You can ignore them if you want. More than one person is dissatisfied with SL. I have reported their dissatisfactions here. Again the search function would enable you to find those postings also.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2008 11:09PM by Thomas More.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: WestfieldDad ()
Date: June 13, 2008 11:03PM

RD'd Mom -

Thomas has consistently favored enhancing the community of Reston by making South Lakes the Reston HS. He was involved with the SL boundary group early on until it became clear that they were in favor of grabbing kids, any kids (well, OK, not just any kids - they had to have predictably high test scores...), rather than supporting community-based schools.


Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RD'd Mom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > I am no fan of the SLHS parents that pushed
> the RD on my children. However, it disgusts me to
> see anyone go after a kid. So whoever this kid is
> that had the courage to give a speech at what I
> assume is a graduation, should not bear criticism
> from posters here. I dont believe that Mr.Moore
> is an anti RD person for if he was it would be
> unlikely that he would attend an SLHS graduation.
> Those of us who oppose the RD can barely stand to
> get within a mile of the place. So I think that
> Mr. Moore is very likely a troll.<<
>
> I attended both the 2006 and 2008 SL graduations
> and opposed the redistricting of Fox Mill and
> Floris into SL. I supported a redistricting of
> all of Aldrin and part of Armstong instead: Reston
> kids in Reston's school - South Lakes. I also
> want to end IB at SL and return it to AP. However
> that choice should be made by parents of middle
> school and elementary school parents after full,
> fair and objective disclosure of all facts. If
> you use the search function you would see all of
> that. By the way, the name is spelled with one
> "o".
>
> Mr. Cox at the time of his graduation was (unless
> he was exceptionally precocious) an adult and many
> of his fellow members of that graduating class
> spontaneously offered that they found his remarks
> to be off putting as too praiseworthy of SL based
> on their experience.
>
> Noah's more balanced view was more reflective of
> the experience of both the class of 2006 and 2008
> and other SL alumni who have spontaneously
> expressed their views in my presence.
>
> You can ignore them if you want. More than one
> person is dissatisfied with SL. I have reported
> their dissatisfactions here. Again the search
> function would enable you to find those postings
> also.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: TM needs glasses ()
Date: June 13, 2008 11:05PM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TM needs glasses Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > The first time (Thursday May 1, 2008) Mrs.
> Nakamura's "letter" was run in the Post it was as
> a guest editorial.
>
> Tom, if you would like us to believe your posts on
> this blog you must "get it right" or at least make
> it seem like you try; otherwise you call in
> question everything you post.< <
>
> In yesterday's FFX Extra, it's in the Mathews
> column. What part of that is inaccurate?
>
> We recycle our papers every week; so, we would
> have no way to dispute any assertion that Mathews
> is recycling/plagiarizing previous guest columns
> as letters to his column. It shouldn't surprise
> anyone if he is.
>
> Collecting 6 weeks of papers can be a fire hazard.
> Please be careful with any open flames.


Come now Tom, even you should be above taking only part of a post and asking what is false while ignoring the beginning of the post where it clearly says you don't even have the gender of the author correct. After all, this woman taught at the very school your children attend (ed) and the school you so frequently disparage. At the very least your lack of attention to details cause me to disbelieve any posting you may make and I would caution anyone else to believe your statements put forth as fact.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 13, 2008 11:35PM

TM needs glasses Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Come now Tom, even you should be above taking only part of a post and asking what is false while ignoring the beginning of the post where it clearly says you don't even have the gender of the author correct.

"Bernie" is certainly an androgenous name. Thus, the gender of the author of the guest column is not self evident from the article.

> > After all, this woman taught at the very school your children attend (ed) and the school you so frequently disparage.< <

I have no memory of Mrs. Nakamura teaching any of my children.

> > At the very least your lack of attention to details cause me to disbelieve any posting you may make and I would caution anyone else to believe your statements put forth as fact.< <

Any rationalization to dismiss those with whom you disagree will give you comfort, no doubt.

The larger point is that IB kids get a disproportionate share of the resources of South Lakes to the point that a bunch of kids not in IB class had to pay their own way to the Newseum.

Both you and Mr. Mathews choose to ignore that most salient point.

It is surprising that the editors of the Post would allow Mathews to satisfy his contract for a weekly column by re-running a previously published story and adding only 5 paragraphs that ignored Mrs. Nakumura's central point.

IB takes recourses away from the 85% of SL kids who aren't pursuing the IB diploma in so many ways. That this is inequitable should be self-evident even through the fog your nit picking.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: rumor ()
Date: June 14, 2008 07:15AM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>> The larger point is that IB kids get a
> disproportionate share of the resources of South
> Lakes to the point that a bunch of kids not in IB
> class had to pay their own way to the Newseum.
>
> Both you and Mr. Mathews choose to ignore that
> most salient point.
>

She did indeed discuss the cost of IB, and clearly feels it is too expensive, but your quote above is misleading. Any kid going would have had to pay for a field trip, she was simply highlighting the cost of IB (80,000) to the cost of that field trip (20,000). Your quote makes it sound as if students not in IB had to pay while students in IB wouldn't..at least one would reasonably infer that if they hadn't read the article.

Here is her quote on that aspect: "It was extremely expensive to bring IB to our high school. In the first year alone, $80,000 was spent, mostly on airfare and hotel rooms for teachers attending training sessions. That same year, I requested funding to take three regular English 10 classes (two school bus loads) on a field trip to the Newseum in Arlington. The field trip would complement the course emphasis on clear, concise, coherent writing. And my students, generally, came from homes where that kind of enrichment was rare.

I was told that the trip was approved but that I would have to find the money to fund it. That involved $20 an hour for each driver for the five hours involved, along with a fee for mileage. I had to ask my students to pay to be enriched. After all, they were only in regular English"

Clearly, if anything, she is comparing the cost of training teachers to field trips...not non-IB students paying and IB students going for free.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Zoning_question ()
Date: June 14, 2008 07:26AM

Can someone clarify this?

Is a school board member responsible for each high school in FX county?

I know Stu owns South Lakes, Kathy is responsible for Chantilly and Westfield, Jeannie for Herndon high.

Is Stu also responsible for Madison and Oakton?

How does it work?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: friday ()
Date: June 14, 2008 09:14AM

Friday marked the last day for Foxmill MI Floris, when they had a high school of their choice. Now they are also part of the areas where parents have to face the choice of moving or sending to private school.
Hope Stu Gibson pays for his sins and persecution of these communities. There should a special place reserved in hell for him as the most trusted advisor of the devil himself.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: TM needs glasses ()
Date: June 14, 2008 09:30AM

You jump to a conclusion, falsely about me, Tom. I did not address anything about the content of the article, AP or IB, and you have no idea if I agree or disagree with the author or Mr. Mathews, you assume too much. I simply pointed out that you did not have your documentation and facts about the author correct and that you choose to speak in a tone of authority when in fact, you portend to be an expert on South Lakes and frequently post misinformation or partial information as factual. That causes me to disregard other things you may post since I do not trust your "information". You obviously have bones-to-pick about South Lakes and your bitterness about Reston becoming a township has shone through many pages of posts. I feel sorry for you.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: gibson is evil ()
Date: June 14, 2008 01:53PM

Stu Gibson has the heartfelt curses of these areas. He crushed the hopes and dreams of these young students and forced so many families to leave.

friday Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Friday marked the last day for Foxmill MI Floris,
> when they had a high school of their choice. Now
> they are also part of the areas where parents have
> to face the choice of moving or sending to private
> school.
> Hope Stu Gibson pays for his sins and persecution
> of these communities. There should a special place
> reserved in hell for him as the most trusted
> advisor of the devil himself.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 14, 2008 02:11PM

TM needs glasses Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > You jump to a conclusion, falsely about me, Tom. I did not address anything about the content of the article, AP or IB, and you have no idea if I agree or disagree with the author or Mr. Mathews, you assume too much. I simply pointed out that you did not have your documentation and facts about the author correct and that you choose to speak in a tone of authority when in fact, you portend to be an expert on South Lakes and frequently post misinformation or partial information as factual. That causes me to disregard other things you may post since I do not trust your "information". You obviously have bones-to-pick about South Lakes and your bitterness about Reston becoming a township has shone through many pages of posts. I feel sorry for you.< <

So you only bother to post here to nick pick and undermine the credibility of others. Pathetic. And you have no opinions or aren't ready to express and defend them (or only to imply them) and when you get called out on them you deny having them. Save the self righteous condescension for someone who tolerates such behavior. Troll.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2008 02:25PM by Thomas More.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 14, 2008 02:24PM

rumor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> She did indeed discuss the cost of IB, and clearly feels it is too expensive, but your quote above is misleading. Any kid going would have had to pay for a field trip, she was simply highlighting the cost of IB (80,000) to the cost of that field trip (20,000). Your quote makes it sound as if students not in IB had to pay while students in IB wouldn't..at least one would reasonably infer that if they hadn't read the article.< <

It wasn't a quote but description. Two school buses for a day do not cost $20,000. Other fields trips are partially subsidized by FCPS. But the Newseum trip wasn't which was Nakamura's point.

IB students are massively subsidized: (a full time coordinator, part time assistant, smaller class sizes, paying for exams, required IB classes squeazing non IB electives out of the master schedule) to the detriment of non-IB studnets.

That is Nakamura's and my point.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: rumor ()
Date: June 14, 2008 03:21PM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> rumor Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > She did indeed discuss the cost of IB, and
> clearly feels it is too expensive, but your quote
> above is misleading. Any kid going would have had
> to pay for a field trip, she was simply
> highlighting the cost of IB (80,000) to the cost
> of that field trip (20,000). Your quote makes it
> sound as if students not in IB had to pay while
> students in IB wouldn't..at least one would
> reasonably infer that if they hadn't read the
> article.< <
>
> It wasn't a quote but description. Two school
> buses for a day do not cost $20,000. Other fields
> trips are partially subsidized by FCPS. But the
> Newseum trip wasn't which was Nakamura's point.
>
> IB students are massively subsidized: (a full time
> coordinator, part time assistant, smaller class
> sizes, paying for exams, required IB classes
> squeazing non IB electives out of the master
> schedule) to the detriment of non-IB studnets.
>
> That is Nakamura's and my point.

But, the way you wrote what you wrote made it seem as if IB students would go on the trip for free, that was my point.

While yes, the cost of IB is expensive, and she was pointing out that the field trip was less costly and no one was assisting in those costs.

You wrote, "The larger point is that IB kids get a disproportionate share of the resources of South Lakes to the point that a bunch of kids not in IB class had to pay their own way to the Newseum." which reads as if the IB kids go for free. Not accurate..

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 14, 2008 03:48PM

rumor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > You wrote, "The larger point is that IB kids get a disproportionate share of the resources of South Lakes to the point that a bunch of kids not in IB class had to pay their own way to the Newseum." which reads as if the IB kids go for free. Not accurate..< <

Sorry that's your inference which is extraordinary literal.

IB takes so many resources that there was no discretionary funds left for the non-IB kids field trip. IB is for 15-20% of the SL kids and the rest of the kids get the left overs. If there are any left overs.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/14/2008 03:49PM by Thomas More.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: rumor ()
Date: June 14, 2008 04:35PM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> rumor Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > You wrote, "The larger point is that IB kids
> get a disproportionate share of the resources of
> South Lakes to the point that a bunch of kids not
> in IB class had to pay their own way to the
> Newseum." which reads as if the IB kids go for
> free. Not accurate..< <
>
> Sorry that's your inference which is extraordinary
> literal.
>
> IB takes so many resources that there was no
> discretionary funds left for the non-IB kids
> field trip. IB is for 15-20% of the SL kids and
> the rest of the kids get the left overs. If there
> are any left overs.

I don't believe it is "extraordinary literal" I believe you were trying to create the inference I drew. Otherwise, you would have linked the article and cut and pasted her comments on the cost. You also earlier had said that Mr. Mathews "defended IB" when he didn't. As I said in an earlier post, he defended the practice of both AP and IB of having open enrollment, to draw the "regular kids" in. It seems you are the one inferring from the original article, and then posting your conclusions in such a manner as to create impressions that you want folks to get. You are hoping folks won't read the original article and will trust your conclusions/comments about the article are correct.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 14, 2008 05:59PM

rumor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't believe it is "extraordinary literal" I believe you were trying to create the inference I drew.< <

Wow, you're a mindreader. Call the FBI and the CIA they can use your help. NOT.

> > Otherwise, you would have linked the article and cut and pasted her comments on the cost.

I didn't cut and paste because I read it in the hard copy that gets delivered every morning and didn't want to take the time to find it on line. Sheesh.

> You also earlier had said that Mr. Mathews "defended IB" when he didn't.

That's your interpretation and you are welcome to it. Sorry, I don't agree.

> As I said in an earlier post, he defended the practice of both AP and IB of having open enrollment, to draw the "regular kids" in. It seems you are the one inferring from the original article, and then posting your conclusions in such a manner as to create impressions that you want folks to get.< <

If that's his meaning, he barely implied it in the last of 5 paragraphs. Only Mathews could know for certain if that's what he meant, though his previous writings could lead some to suspect that was his intention.

> > You are hoping folks won't read the original article and will trust your conclusions/comments about the article are correct.< <

What tripe! That's why I directly referenced the article. So you could read it yourself. Paranoia runs deep: but then your moniker is "rumor."

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: rumor ()
Date: June 14, 2008 06:58PM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> rumor Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I don't believe it is "extraordinary literal" I
> believe you were trying to create the inference I
> drew.< <
>
> Wow, you're a mindreader. Call the FBI and the
> CIA they can use your help. NOT.
>
> > > Otherwise, you would have linked the article
> and cut and pasted her comments on the cost.
>
> I didn't cut and paste because I read it in the
> hard copy that gets delivered every morning and
> didn't want to take the time to find it on line.
> Sheesh.
>
> > You also earlier had said that Mr. Mathews
> "defended IB" when he didn't.
>
> That's your interpretation and you are welcome to
> it. Sorry, I don't agree.
>
> > As I said in an earlier post, he defended the
> practice of both AP and IB of having open
> enrollment, to draw the "regular kids" in. It
> seems you are the one inferring from the original
> article, and then posting your conclusions in
> such a manner as to create impressions that you
> want folks to get.< <
>
> If that's his meaning, he barely implied it in the
> last of 5 paragraphs. Only Mathews could know for
> certain if that's what he meant, though his
> previous writings could lead some to suspect that
> was his intention.
>
> > > You are hoping folks won't read the original
> article and will trust your conclusions/comments
> about the article are correct.< <
>
> What tripe! That's why I directly referenced the
> article. So you could read it yourself. Paranoia
> runs deep: but then your moniker is "rumor."

My moniker was picked due to various rumors that were being spread on this forum that were not based in reality. Clearly you and I interpreted the article differently. I did take the time to cut and paste the passage you referred to, and earlier I had posted the link to the entire article..thus, everyone else can determine their own interpretation.
Only fair in my opinion.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: not to change the subject BUT ()
Date: June 14, 2008 10:06PM

What ever happened to the so-called South Lakes curriculum committee that was supposed to be forming?

It was advertised in my PTA newsletter and I signed up when I saw it because I want the issue of AP v IB examined and I'd prefer AP at South Lakes.

They at least should've sent an email around indicating what the plans are for the group, and instead there has been absolutely nothing. It makes me think the whole thing was a big ruse to make me think they actually care.

I can't believe how conniving certain people were during the redistricting -- get our support for RD but telling us all the while to be hush-hush about our desire for AP because it could all be dealt with after the election. Certain individuals who live OUTSIDE the SL pyramid are the most strident voices you hear on why IB needs to remain at SL -- what business do they have dictating to parents inside the pyramid what is best for them and their community? There is a core group of people unrepresentative of the parents in the SL pyramid committed to IB, and these same people, after successfully getting their way on everything, have left the rest of the pyramid high and dry when it comes to making a decision that reflects what is best for the community instead of THEIR particular child.

I am going to yank my daughter for middle school because I don't believe IB is right for her. Meanwhile, I'll be crucified by the SL true believers who think I'm not giving IB a chance or prejudiced because of all the horrible things I heard. If IB doesn't work for high school, it certainly doesn't work for middle school, either, so there is no better time to yank her than at the end of 6th grade. I haven't heard a single positive thing about the IB middle school program, and from what I've seen, I think it's a joke.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: real reason for ib ()
Date: June 14, 2008 10:39PM

The real reason for putting IB in schools with large colored populations is purely racial. The school board is mostly white; they are trying to segregate diverse communities so that they can then dump second tier IB programs in those schools. Putting IB in these schools is meant to force migration of whites away from those schools. AP are reserved for schools with larger percent of whites. The mainly white SB is trying to segregate the schools again under cover of IB.

The stats on their website reveals these facts. Higher percentage of whites corelates with AP and better scores. Higher black and Hispanics are saddled with IB and suffer with lower scores.


not to change the subject BUT Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What ever happened to the so-called South Lakes
> curriculum committee that was supposed to be
> forming?
>
> It was advertised in my PTA newsletter and I
> signed up when I saw it because I want the issue
> of AP v IB examined and I'd prefer AP at South
> Lakes.
>
> They at least should've sent an email around
> indicating what the plans are for the group, and
> instead there has been absolutely nothing. It
> makes me think the whole thing was a big ruse to
> make me think they actually care.
>
> I can't believe how conniving certain people were
> during the redistricting -- get our support for RD
> but telling us all the while to be hush-hush about
> our desire for AP because it could all be dealt
> with after the election. Certain individuals who
> live OUTSIDE the SL pyramid are the most strident
> voices you hear on why IB needs to remain at SL --
> what business do they have dictating to parents
> inside the pyramid what is best for them and their
> community? There is a core group of people
> unrepresentative of the parents in the SL pyramid
> committed to IB, and these same people, after
> successfully getting their way on everything, have
> left the rest of the pyramid high and dry when it
> comes to making a decision that reflects what is
> best for the community instead of THEIR particular
> child.
>
> I am going to yank my daughter for middle school
> because I don't believe IB is right for her.
> Meanwhile, I'll be crucified by the SL true
> believers who think I'm not giving IB a chance or
> prejudiced because of all the horrible things I
> heard. If IB doesn't work for high school, it
> certainly doesn't work for middle school, either,
> so there is no better time to yank her than at the
> end of 6th grade. I haven't heard a single
> positive thing about the IB middle school program,
> and from what I've seen, I think it's a joke.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 14, 2008 10:41PM

not to change the subject BUT Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > What ever happened to the so-called South Lakes curriculum committee that was supposed to be forming? < <

Contact Maria Allen whose contact info is on the SLPTSA web page.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Neen ()
Date: June 15, 2008 03:19AM

Is there a curriculum committee being formed at South Lakes? My sources say that it is not happening. South Lakes PTSA folks got what they wanted, more bodies. Now they don't even have to pretend they are interested in exploring AP options, or anything else that the new parents at South Lakes may want.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: service_to_tax_payers ()
Date: June 15, 2008 07:47AM

Not to beat a dead horse but during the redistricting fight, a lot of people raised the issue that implementing IB at a high school is a community based consensus issue.

As far as I know, this is not how it was done at South Lakes. In addition they are now forcing kids into South Lakes from other communities where parents did their research and chose schools and programs of their liking.

The least South Lakes can do now is to explore the possibility of switching to AP and it does not look like they are interested in doing it.

Go and figure who got a real rotten deal here ...

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: taxpayer ()
Date: June 15, 2008 08:44AM

service_to_tax_payers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not to beat a dead horse but during the
> redistricting fight, a lot of people raised the
> issue that implementing IB at a high school is a
> community based consensus issue.
>
> As far as I know, this is not how it was done at
> South Lakes. In addition they are now forcing
> kids into South Lakes from other communities where
> parents did their research and chose schools and
> programs of their liking.
>
> The least South Lakes can do now is to explore the
> possibility of switching to AP and it does not
> look like they are interested in doing it.
>
> Go and figure who got a real rotten deal here ...

IB costs more than AP and that goes beyond the test fees. IB also has a per stduent fee of $123, a school fee, and training costs. Want IB? Then parents and NOT the general populace should be funding it.

Why should we pay for it? What's the point? FCPS passed the instructional services function over to IBO so there should have been public hearings. But what point are laws?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: lawsuit is the only option ()
Date: June 15, 2008 10:23AM

The school board thinks it is above the law. For now Lawsuit is the only option. By the next election we have to get the school board under the oversight of the board of supervisors. It was a stupid move to make them independent of the board of supervisors in the later 90s. Now we have a school board that is out of control serving only their special interests.

taxpayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> service_to_tax_payers Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Not to beat a dead horse but during the
> > redistricting fight, a lot of people raised the
> > issue that implementing IB at a high school is
> a
> > community based consensus issue.
> >
> > As far as I know, this is not how it was done
> at
> > South Lakes. In addition they are now forcing
> > kids into South Lakes from other communities
> where
> > parents did their research and chose schools
> and
> > programs of their liking.
> >
> > The least South Lakes can do now is to explore
> the
> > possibility of switching to AP and it does not
> > look like they are interested in doing it.
> >
> > Go and figure who got a real rotten deal here
> ...
>
> IB costs more than AP and that goes beyond the
> test fees. IB also has a per stduent fee of $123,
> a school fee, and training costs. Want IB? Then
> parents and NOT the general populace should be
> funding it.
>
> Why should we pay for it? What's the point? FCPS
> passed the instructional services function over to
> IBO so there should have been public hearings. But
> what point are laws?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: TM needs glasses ()
Date: June 15, 2008 10:53AM

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TM needs glasses Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > You jump to a conclusion, falsely about me,
> Tom. I did not address anything about the content
> of the article, AP or IB, and you have no idea if
> I agree or disagree with the author or Mr.
> Mathews, you assume too much. I simply pointed
> out that you did not have your documentation and
> facts about the author correct and that you choose
> to speak in a tone of authority when in fact, you
> portend to be an expert on South Lakes and
> frequently post misinformation or partial
> information as factual. That causes me to
> disregard other things you may post since I do not
> trust your "information". You obviously have
> bones-to-pick about South Lakes and your
> bitterness about Reston becoming a township has
> shone through many pages of posts. I feel sorry
> for you.< <
>
> So you only bother to post here to nick pick and
> undermine the credibility of others. Pathetic. And
> you have no opinions or aren't ready to express
> and defend them (or only to imply them) and when
> you get called out on them you deny having them.
> Save the self righteous condescension for someone
> who tolerates such behavior. Troll.

Tom, You have only yourself to look at because you have undermined your own credibility. I simply pointed it out. I have no dramatic opinion on IB vs. AP. Since, you are so eager to know, I think that both programs are rigorous programs and have a place in our school system. I probably would argue that IB should be run more as a magnet than in the selected school communities it currently is in. Since the argument doesn't directly affect me, I instead have made the choice not to be a community leader in this particular regard. We probably aren't so far apart on our AP/IB argument as you would like to think.

It is the delivery of your messages that I find so objectionable and offensive to your own community (which is not my community or you would offend me even more). Every time you post something that is "spun" or is partial information or is downright wrong you damage your credibility so that I no longer believe anything you have to say. If calling you out on your tactics makes me a troll, OK.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: taxpayer ()
Date: June 15, 2008 11:33AM

lawsuit is the only option Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The school board thinks it is above the law. For
> now Lawsuit is the only option. By the next
> election we have to get the school board under the
> oversight of the board of supervisors. It was a
> stupid move to make them independent of the board
> of supervisors in the later 90s. Now we have a
> school board that is out of control serving only
> their special interests...

I think in some areas the school board member has undue influence from the Board of Supervisors and state and federal politicians already. Look at South County. I don't consider the county as an alterntive source of funds. That's just a debit-credit from the same pot. Any federal money is an earmark by any name. Impact aid is the official vehicle that mitigates the effects on localities with large numbers of workers on federal property and on-base housing.

I never hear the discussions on that. Land swaps for more development are not a good idea - how much do we need?

Developers want a specific school? No further to look than the Langley attendance area situation. That was done by appointed school board members - Stu mendelsohn R-Dranesville and Lou Zone R-Hunter Mill.

Stu Gibson - in the Domenech era- had some administrtive boundary changes. The Whitman Middle school NOT in it's own attendance area was done with an appointed board. I like the system of checks and balances - blend of Democratic and Republican.

Public debate and transparent processes and budgets are vehicles towards the truth or best course of action - often it is somewhere in the middle and not what was proposed.

Too much complacency and lack of debate. Is Stu ever complacent? Was Stu wrong for adding to South Lakes ? No - but he was wrong to exclude Herndon-Langley and to place too many at SL's. I do think the most strident voice against a county wide study is Jane Strauss.

Reducing the size of Westfield was perhaps a function of many issues - one being that students were lost in the numbers. Smith obviously wanted her fles for brookfield and budgets be non-consequential. That's an earmark - in an economy when there are too few resources.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: lawsuit is the only option ()
Date: June 15, 2008 01:02PM

A lot of people will pitch in if we can get a ballot question to restore the authority of board of supervisors on school board this November general elections. The tax payers of ffx cnt owe it to themselves to have some checks and balance of 2 billion $ a year budget of fcps. The question is how? Do we need to get support of Republicans/Democrats local politicians? Anyone know what is the process of getting on the ballot

taxpayer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> lawsuit is the only option Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The school board thinks it is above the law.
> For
> > now Lawsuit is the only option. By the next
> > election we have to get the school board under
> the
> > oversight of the board of supervisors. It was a
> > stupid move to make them independent of the
> board
> > of supervisors in the later 90s. Now we have a
> > school board that is out of control serving
> only
> > their special interests...
>
> I think in some areas the school board member has
> undue influence from the Board of Supervisors and
> state and federal politicians already. Look at
> South County. I don't consider the county as an
> alterntive source of funds. That's just a
> debit-credit from the same pot. Any federal money
> is an earmark by any name. Impact aid is the
> official vehicle that mitigates the effects on
> localities with large numbers of workers on
> federal property and on-base housing.
>
> I never hear the discussions on that. Land swaps
> for more development are not a good idea - how
> much do we need?
>
> Developers want a specific school? No further to
> look than the Langley attendance area situation.
> That was done by appointed school board members -
> Stu mendelsohn R-Dranesville and Lou Zone R-Hunter
> Mill.
>
> Stu Gibson - in the Domenech era- had some
> administrtive boundary changes. The Whitman
> Middle school NOT in it's own attendance area was
> done with an appointed board. I like the system
> of checks and balances - blend of Democratic and
> Republican.
>
> Public debate and transparent processes and
> budgets are vehicles towards the truth or best
> course of action - often it is somewhere in the
> middle and not what was proposed.
>
> Too much complacency and lack of debate. Is Stu
> ever complacent? Was Stu wrong for adding to
> South Lakes ? No - but he was wrong to exclude
> Herndon-Langley and to place too many at SL's. I
> do think the most strident voice against a county
> wide study is Jane Strauss.
>
> Reducing the size of Westfield was perhaps a
> function of many issues - one being that students
> were lost in the numbers. Smith obviously wanted
> her fles for brookfield and budgets be
> non-consequential. That's an earmark - in an
> economy when there are too few resources.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: fmmom ()
Date: June 15, 2008 01:40PM

I think that FairfaxCAPS has a committee that is researching possible several different options, including all board members becoming members at large and possibly even appointed positions. If you are interested in this issue, why not join FairfaxCAPS and help out.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Boundary Warrior ()
Date: June 15, 2008 01:57PM

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is there a curriculum committee being formed at
> South Lakes? My sources say that it is not
> happening. South Lakes PTSA folks got what they
> wanted, more bodies. Now they don't even have to
> pretend they are interested in exploring AP
> options, or anything else that the new parents at
> South Lakes may want.


Your sources are wrong......(do you talk to the mirror?)

There is a curriculum committee formed, and there also is a committee to work with the parents and kids from the elementary schools specifically to solicit input from the new parents, many of whom have heard only from the whisperers and purveyors of false information.

Questions?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: yes, there are questions ()
Date: June 15, 2008 02:34PM

South Lakes parents who signed up want to know what the status of the committee is since we haven't heard anything in months.

This is originating in the SL community, not Neen. Stop making her the issue when it is the SL leadership's own lack of communication with people that caused this issue. I've spoken with a number of people who indicated to me that strident IB supporters were very reluctant to have this committee in the first place, and the lack of communication subsequent to this confirms that at the current time, the committee has zero momentum or attention. There is much focus on hoopla relating to welcoming people in, or celebrating the victory at SL, but all of this lacks substance -- if you want people to feel welcome, give them a REAL say in what THEIR school is going to look like.

I also don't want the committee populated with IB supporters from outside the pyramid. If they want input on their pyramid, fine, but stop telling people in this pyramid what we should or should not have.


Boundary Warrior Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is there a curriculum committee being formed at
> > South Lakes? My sources say that it is not
> > happening. South Lakes PTSA folks got what
> they
> > wanted, more bodies. Now they don't even have
> to
> > pretend they are interested in exploring AP
> > options, or anything else that the new parents
> at
> > South Lakes may want.
>
>
> Your sources are wrong......(do you talk to the
> mirror?)
>
> There is a curriculum committee formed, and there
> also is a committee to work with the parents and
> kids from the elementary schools specifically to
> solicit input from the new parents, many of whom
> have heard only from the whisperers and purveyors
> of false information.
>
> Questions?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Baffled ()
Date: June 15, 2008 02:41PM

yes, there are questions Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes parents who signed up want to know
> what the status of the committee is since we
> haven't heard anything in months.
>
> This is originating in the SL community, not Neen.
> Stop making her the issue when it is the SL
> leadership's own lack of communication with people
> that caused this issue. I've spoken with a number
> of people who indicated to me that strident IB
> supporters were very reluctant to have this
> committee in the first place, and the lack of
> communication subsequent to this confirms that at
> the current time, the committee has zero momentum
> or attention. There is much focus on hoopla
> relating to welcoming people in, or celebrating
> the victory at SL, but all of this lacks substance
> -- if you want people to feel welcome, give them a
> REAL say in what THEIR school is going to look
> like.
>
> I also don't want the committee populated with IB
> supporters from outside the pyramid. If they want
> input on their pyramid, fine, but stop telling
> people in this pyramid what we should or should
> not have.
>
>
> Boundary Warrior Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Neen Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Is there a curriculum committee being formed
> at
> > > South Lakes? My sources say that it is not
> > > happening. South Lakes PTSA folks got what
> > they
> > > wanted, more bodies. Now they don't even
> have
> > to
> > > pretend they are interested in exploring AP
> > > options, or anything else that the new
> parents
> > at
> > > South Lakes may want.
> >
> >
> > Your sources are wrong......(do you talk to the
> > mirror?)
> >
> > There is a curriculum committee formed, and
> there
> > also is a committee to work with the parents
> and
> > kids from the elementary schools specifically
> to
> > solicit input from the new parents, many of
> whom
> > have heard only from the whisperers and
> purveyors
> > of false information.
> >
> > Questions?


Yes, exactly! I am with you on this one..now my question is if the curriculum committee was formed at SL then how did the process work? Meaning who got on the committee, etc?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Silence speaks louder than words ()
Date: June 15, 2008 02:51PM

The SL curriculum committee was supposed to be advertised in every PTA newsletter for any school where any students feed up into SL.

The reality is that it was poorly advertised, and there was no follow-up to ensure that it got out into every PTA newsletter so that people could find out. My hunch is the reason that it was poorly advertised is that according to sources, there was some reluctance to have the committee in the first place, since strident IB supporters got exactly what they want anyway. Why do anything further other than a total screen to make people think something is being done?

Anyone can be on the committee as long as your child will feed at some point into SL high school.

Email the SLPTA and let them know you want to be on the committee -- this is the only thing you need to do to sign up.


Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> yes, there are questions Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > South Lakes parents who signed up want to know
> > what the status of the committee is since we
> > haven't heard anything in months.
> >
> > This is originating in the SL community, not
> Neen.
> > Stop making her the issue when it is the SL
> > leadership's own lack of communication with
> people
> > that caused this issue. I've spoken with a
> number
> > of people who indicated to me that strident IB
> > supporters were very reluctant to have this
> > committee in the first place, and the lack of
> > communication subsequent to this confirms that
> at
> > the current time, the committee has zero
> momentum
> > or attention. There is much focus on hoopla
> > relating to welcoming people in, or celebrating
> > the victory at SL, but all of this lacks
> substance
> > -- if you want people to feel welcome, give them
> a
> > REAL say in what THEIR school is going to look
> > like.
> >
> > I also don't want the committee populated with
> IB
> > supporters from outside the pyramid. If they
> want
> > input on their pyramid, fine, but stop telling
> > people in this pyramid what we should or should
> > not have.
> >
> >
> > Boundary Warrior Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Neen Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Is there a curriculum committee being
> formed
> > at
> > > > South Lakes? My sources say that it is not
> > > > happening. South Lakes PTSA folks got what
> > > they
> > > > wanted, more bodies. Now they don't even
> > have
> > > to
> > > > pretend they are interested in exploring AP
> > > > options, or anything else that the new
> > parents
> > > at
> > > > South Lakes may want.
> > >
> > >
> > > Your sources are wrong......(do you talk to
> the
> > > mirror?)
> > >
> > > There is a curriculum committee formed, and
> > there
> > > also is a committee to work with the parents
> > and
> > > kids from the elementary schools specifically
> > to
> > > solicit input from the new parents, many of
> > whom
> > > have heard only from the whisperers and
> > purveyors
> > > of false information.
> > >
> > > Questions?
>
>
> Yes, exactly! I am with you on this one..now my
> question is if the curriculum committee was formed
> at SL then how did the process work? Meaning who
> got on the committee, etc?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Clown Shoe ()
Date: June 15, 2008 02:54PM

We need to get 15 soccer Mom's with only high school educations together and have them formulate a new plan for the entire Fairfax County School system.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Resident shrink ()
Date: June 15, 2008 03:11PM

One poster here should consider anger management training, with a sprinkling of Fact-Checking 101 thrown in. You know who you are.

Another could benefit from anti-agitating and anti-rumor-mongering training. You know who you are.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 15, 2008 05:44PM

TM needs glasses Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
You're not calling anyone out since my errors are freely acknowledged. Your postings add nothing to this exchange, except to engage in inflamatory personal attacks which perfectly fits my understanding of "troll."

So thank you, troll, you can go back to your cave now.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 15, 2008 05:59PM

Silence speaks louder than words Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > The SL curriculum committee was supposed to be advertised in every PTA newsletter for any school where any students feed up into SL.< <

> > The reality is that it was poorly advertised, and there was no follow-up to ensure that it got out into every PTA newsletter so that people could find out. My hunch is the reason that it was poorly advertised is that according to sources, there was some reluctance to have the committee in the first place, since strident IB supporters got exactly what they want anyway. Why do anything further other than a total screen to make people think something is being done?< <
>
> > Anyone can be on the committee as long as your child will feed at some point into SL high school.< <
>
> > Email the SLPTA and let them know you want to be on the committee -- this is the only thing you need to do to sign up.< <

There is a new Board on the SLPTSA with some carry overs including Maria Allen. The website has not been updated but the newsletter that we received after the last day of school (timely huh?) had the new roster.

The chair of Academic Boosters to whom the curriculum committee is supposed to report is Dave Benbennick.

Maria Allen is the KIT administrator.

Many folks I know have signed up for the committee and no one has heard anything about this committee or received an e-mail.

The new webmaster is Ellen Jennings so hopefully the SLPTSA website will be updated soon with the next meeting of the curriculum committee having a prominent place on the front page.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: fmmom ()
Date: June 15, 2008 06:22PM

What is a KIT administrator?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Thomas More ()
Date: June 15, 2008 06:51PM

fmmom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What is a KIT administrator?

I have no idea.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: kit ()
Date: June 15, 2008 08:06PM

KIT stands for Keep in Touch-Maria is responsible for sending out the weekly 'what's happening at SL' message

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: Boundary Warrior ()
Date: June 15, 2008 09:17PM

yes, there are questions Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> South Lakes parents who signed up want to know
> what the status of the committee is since we
> haven't heard anything in months.
>
> This is originating in the SL community, not Neen.
> Stop making her the issue when it is the SL
> leadership's own lack of communication with people
> that caused this issue. I've spoken with a number
> of people who indicated to me that strident IB
> supporters were very reluctant to have this
> committee in the first place, and the lack of
> communication subsequent to this confirms that at
> the current time, the committee has zero momentum
> or attention. There is much focus on hoopla
> relating to welcoming people in, or celebrating
> the victory at SL, but all of this lacks substance
> -- if you want people to feel welcome, give them a
> REAL say in what THEIR school is going to look
> like.
>
> I also don't want the committee populated with IB
> supporters from outside the pyramid. If they want
> input on their pyramid, fine, but stop telling
> people in this pyramid what we should or should
> not have.
>
>
> Boundary Warrior Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Neen Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Is there a curriculum committee being formed
> at
> > > South Lakes? My sources say that it is not
> > > happening. South Lakes PTSA folks got what
> > they
> > > wanted, more bodies. Now they don't even
> have
> > to
> > > pretend they are interested in exploring AP
> > > options, or anything else that the new
> parents
> > at
> > > South Lakes may want.
> >
> >
> > Your sources are wrong......(do you talk to the
> > mirror?)
> >
> > There is a curriculum committee formed, and
> there
> > also is a committee to work with the parents
> and
> > kids from the elementary schools specifically
> to
> > solicit input from the new parents, many of
> whom
> > have heard only from the whisperers and
> purveyors
> > of false information.
> >
> > Questions?


Interesting.

You state that you won't tolerate having non-SLHS pyramid parents guide the curriculum process "telling people in this pyramid what we should or should not have" Are there such people on the committee, or is this another bogeyman issue, like the SLHS affirmative action pipeline to UVA, the let 'em take tests til we get 4.0 GPAs, kids - don't breath a word about SOLs, etc, etc)?

And yet you defend in the same post Neen, the ultimate non-SLHS pyramid person who continually posts rumors as fact, tells everyone, including SLHS, what we should or should not have, and always changes the subject when someone puts an actual fact on the table.

There is a committee. It doesn't have much momentum yet, but if, as you allege, the pro-IB people didn't want the committee, they failed and there a number of people who signed up who are very interested in exploring AP as a supplement to IB, or a return to AP to replace IB. Those are the facts. Have a real discussion on that.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: high school redistricting
Posted by: lilliputan ()
Date: June 15, 2008 09:49PM

Are you ordinarily such a pleasant person? It's clear a personality such as yours will convince oodles and oodles of people to attend SL.

Evidently, the only voice from the SL pyramid that counts are you, your friends or people who agree with you. The reality is that there has been a complete inaction on the committee even though it was announced months ago. I'm sorry if you think people won't or shouldn't draw certain conclusions from this because they don't happen to be talking with you and your friends to garner the "correct" information.



Boundary Warrior Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> yes, there are questions Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > South Lakes parents who signed up want to know
> > what the status of the committee is since we
> > haven't heard anything in months.
> >
> > This is originating in the SL community, not
> Neen.
> > Stop making her the issue when it is the SL
> > leadership's own lack of communication with
> people
> > that caused this issue. I've spoken with a
> number
> > of people who indicated to me that strident IB
> > supporters were very reluctant to have this
> > committee in the first place, and the lack of
> > communication subsequent to this confirms that
> at
> > the current time, the committee has zero
> momentum
> > or attention. There is much focus on hoopla
> > relating to welcoming people in, or celebrating
> > the victory at SL, but all of this lacks
> substance
> > -- if you want people to feel welcome, give them
> a
> > REAL say in what THEIR school is going to look
> > like.
> >
> > I also don't want the committee populated with
> IB
> > supporters from outside the pyramid. If they
> want
> > input on their pyramid, fine, but stop telling
> > people in this pyramid what we should or should
> > not have.
> >
> >
> > Boundary Warrior Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Neen Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Is there a curriculum committee being
> formed
> > at
> > > > South Lakes? My sources say that it is not
> > > > happening. South Lakes PTSA folks got what
> > > they
> > > > wanted, more bodies. Now they don't even
> > have
> > > to
> > > > pretend they are interested in exploring AP
> > > > options, or anything else that the new
> > parents
> > > at
> > > > South Lakes may want.
> > >
> > >
> > > Your sources are wrong......(do you talk to
> the
> > > mirror?)
> > >
> > > There is a curriculum committee formed, and
> > there
> > > also is a committee to work with the parents
> > and
> > > kids from the elementary schools specifically
> > to
> > > solicit input from the new parents, many of
> > whom
> > > have heard only from the whisperers and
> > purveyors
> > > of false information.
> > >
> > > Questions?
>
>
> Interesting.
>
> You state that you won't tolerate having non-SLHS
> pyramid parents guide the curriculum process
> "telling people in this pyramid what we should or
> should not have" Are there such people on the
> committee, or is this another bogeyman issue, like
> the SLHS affirmative action pipeline to UVA, the
> let 'em take tests til we get 4.0 GPAs, kids -
> don't breath a word about SOLs, etc, etc)?
>
> And yet you defend in the same post Neen, the
> ultimate non-SLHS pyramid person who continually
> posts rumors as fact, tells everyone, including
> SLHS, what we should or should not have, and
> always changes the subject when someone puts an
> actual fact on the table.
>
> There is a committee. It doesn't have much
> momentum yet, but if, as you allege, the pro-IB
> people didn't want the committee, they failed and
> there a number of people who signed up who are
> very interested in exploring AP as a supplement to
> IB, or a return to AP to replace IB. Those are the
> facts. Have a real discussion on that.

Options: ReplyQuote
Pages: PreviousFirst...151152153154155156157158159160161...LastNext
Current Page: 156 of 189


Your Name: 
Your Email (Optional): 
Subject: 
Attach a file
  • No file can be larger than 75 MB
  • All files together cannot be larger than 300 MB
  • 30 more file(s) can be attached to this message
Spam prevention:
Please, enter the code that you see below in the input field. This is for blocking bots that try to post this form automatically.
 **     **  ********   **         ********  ********  
 **     **  **     **  **    **      **     **     ** 
 **     **  **     **  **    **      **     **     ** 
 *********  ********   **    **      **     **     ** 
 **     **  **         *********     **     **     ** 
 **     **  **               **      **     **     ** 
 **     **  **               **      **     ********  
This forum powered by Phorum.