it's because rich white parents don't want their kids to have to put up with poor minorities. right or wrong, it's the truth..

Not a hard concept Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> it's because rich white parents don't want their
> kids to have to put up with poor minorities. right
> or wrong, it's the truth..


Absolutely right.

Granted, I would be pissed if I were paying Oakton property taxes and sending my kid to a school that was, say, less socially economically advantaged. However, the reason people are house poor in Oakton is all predicated on getting away from minorities. I find this to be humorously ironic.

blow up schools with horrible academic records (with kids in it) and then there is no redistricting. problem solved.

_________________________________
I'm pro-abortion, not pro-choice.

Uhm if any of yall havent noticed that u live in FAIRFAX COUNTY!! Does it really matter what school your kids go to??
Minoritys or not theres bad seeds every where.

c Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Uhm if any of yall havent noticed that u live in
> FAIRFAX COUNTY!! Does it really matter what school
> your kids go to??
> Minoritys or not theres bad seeds every where.

Agreed. Note that George W. Bush, Al Gore and Dan Quayle were all Grade C students who got pushed through into great schools because of daddy's wallet and name. Same shit goes on in Fairfax. Fairfax parents are only too happy to sue the school to get an "A" for their dumbass, coke snorting, asshole kid.

If want my kids in a top performing school because it is a TOP PERFORMING SCHOOL, why does that make me a racist? Yes, my kids are white, and I don't want my children to be - in effect - BUSSED - to a lower performing school just so that that the lower performing school can have a higher percentage of white kids. Talk about racist!!! Those calling for redistricting admit that they are seeking and 'ethnically diverse' mix based on RACE and CULTURAL and ECONOMIC status. Excuse me.... THAT IS WHERE THE RACISM LIES!!!

I don't care what color you are, what country you come from, what religion you practice or where you live. The fact is that I want my child to go the school with the best academic record. When we moved here we chose to move into an area that would allow our children to go to one of the top 100 High Schools in the country, and we've paid a pretty penny to ensure that they would. South Lakes has a terrible reputation and a bad academic record. They want to BUS my child and use her as a 'guinea pig' to help prop up a failing school. Rather than gearing the academic curriculum to the address the needs of the students they have, they want to 'reshuffle' the deck to get more white kids. That is just plain BACKWARDS!!!

Fairfax County feels justified in segregating the supposedly GIFTED and TALENTED' kids in seperate schools to address their needs. But it is called 'racist' if you suggest they gear a particular schools curriculum to kids who are - for WHATEVER REASON - low performers. What hypocrisy!!!

Chantilly Mom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Fairfax County feels justified in segregating the
> supposedly GIFTED and TALENTED' kids in seperate
> schools to address their needs. But it is called
> 'racist' if you suggest they gear a particular
> schools curriculum to kids who are - for WHATEVER
> REASON - low performers. What hypocrisy!!!


I take it your kids aren't gifted and talented.

By chance, did you vote for George W. Bush? If you did, you have only yourself to blame. This is a reaction to No Child Left Behind. I would suggest you contact your member of Congress and Senators Warner and Webb and ask that the law be scrapped when it comes up for renewal.

Incidentally, I do think you are over-reacting. Despite the fact brown people go there, South Lakes SOL scores are pretty solid. But I can certainly understand why you are pissed given how much you have overpaid for your home.

--------------------------

When we moved here we chose to move into an area that would allow our children to go to one of the top 100 High Schools in the country, and we've paid a pretty penny to ensure that they would. South Lakes has a terrible reputation and a bad academic record. They want to BUS my child and use her as a 'guinea pig' to help prop up a failing school. Rather than gearing the academic curriculum to the address the needs of the students they have, they want to 'reshuffle' the deck to get more white kids. That is just plain BACKWARDS!!!

-------------------

There are over 27,000 high schools in the United States. Now, if you were intelligent, you would know that measuring a school by the number of IB/AP tests the average senior takes is not a good way of measuring how good a school is. It more accurately measures how wealthy the district is, and disadvantages IB schools.

But even if you want to look at those rankings, you are arguing top 100 vs. top 500 (I don't know where SL was ranked), I'm guessing here. So, you are arguing in the top 2% of high schools in the country.

If you were a good parent, you would have confidence that your child could find success in such an enviornment, even if there are some students there that are not white.

I graduated from South Lakes, and somehow I managed to surround myself with people who now go to school at UVA, William and Mary as well as exclusive private schools in the northeast. People who have graduated from college and have become teachers in fairfax county. People who have given years of their lives to educating in some of the most underpriviledged areas of the country. People who have raised thousands of dollars to support causes they believe in. People who have gained acceptance into the military academies. Honestly, is this your definition of a 'failing school'? One of the best high schools in the country, you are claiming is a 'failing school." Think about whath you are saying.

No one is being bused anywhere. South Lakes has like 1300 students. It has always been underpopulated, and has become more so recently. Why should some schools in the county be underpopulated while other schools struggle with overcrowding? Does that make sense? Honestly, does that make sense?

If you don't want your kid to go there because you think he might be knifed, don't worry, it won't happen. If you don't want your kid to go there because s/he might makes friends with a black person, worry, it will happen. If you think your kid will gain a better outlook on life, worry, it will happen.

The world's not a happy rich box full of white people covered in purple. Eventually the real world will happen.

/SL IB Diploma graduate, 2004

I know several people who graduated from South Lakes in the 80's. They ended up attending UVA, W&M and one attended Harvard. I cannot attest to the current state of education at SL but I can tell you that there were always some racial tensions at the school.

There as far worse schools in Fairfax County than SL, for example Marshall. You can't even compare Fairfax County schools to DC schools.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2007 05:09PM by Lurker..

soccerguy nailed it. And yes, the IB/AP test thing is total bullshit. Everybody is doing it because Newsweek uses that as the standard. If you actually look at some of those "top schools" on GreatSchools.net, their SOL/Stanford 9 tests aren't any better than a school like South Lakes.

As for Chantilly Mom, maybe if your kids have to go to school with black and hispanic students they, and you, will lose your unfounded and irrational sense of entitlement.

Lurker. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know several people who graduated from South
> Lakes in the 80's. They ended up attended UVA,
> W&M and one went attended to Harvard. I cannot
> attest to the current state of education at SL but
> I can tell you that there were always some racial
> tensions at the school.


There's racial tension in life.

I agree, making the World look rose covered is handicapping a kid to be able to cope in life.

A lot of great people went to so-so high schools. I think education gives what you can take from it. Besides, most really affluent and image-conscious white people I know are fucking miserable human beings. I don't think I want my kids to learn to aspire to that way of thinking and living.

The issue should be the quality of the teachers at the school.

teachers fuck up everything

slinkeyts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> teachers fuck up everything


Sometimes they are on top!

I ain't no racist, but I don't wants my Billy Bob to go to school with no darkies. Billy Bob can't compete with them people when it comes to the football.

>By chance, did you vote for George W. Bush? If you did, you have only yourself to
>blame. This is a reaction to No Child Left Behind. I would suggest you contact your
>member of Congress and Senators Warner and Webb and ask that the law be scrapped
>when it comes up for renewal.

NCLB was authored and sponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy, a Democrat. Bush may have supported and signed it, but it was Kennedy's baby and a bipartisan clusterf*ck. I'm all for scrapping the program, but voting Democrat won't accomplish that and will cause a whole lot of other worse problems. By all means, hold both of our Senators' feet to the fire over NCLB, but understand that bashing a lame-duck President isn't going to help anything,

NCLB realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >By chance, did you vote for George W. Bush? If
> you did, you have only yourself to
> >blame. This is a reaction to No Child Left
> Behind. I would suggest you contact your
> >member of Congress and Senators Warner and Webb
> and ask that the law be scrapped
> >when it comes up for renewal.
>
> NCLB was authored and sponsored by Senator Edward
> Kennedy, a Democrat. Bush may have supported and
> signed it, but it was Kennedy's baby and a
> bipartisan clusterf*ck. I'm all for scrapping the
> program, but voting Democrat won't accomplish that
> and will cause a whole lot of other worse
> problems. By all means, hold both of our
> Senators' feet to the fire over NCLB, but
> understand that bashing a lame-duck President
> isn't going to help anything,



The teachers unions hate NCLB. Do the Republicans listen to teachers? Hell no.

THAT is why you need to vote for the Democrats.

Ted Kennedy is a screw up. But NCLB wouldn't have been possible with Bush and the Republicans.

As for No Child Left Behind, about 1/3 of Virginia schools have failed to meet standards under NCLB this year. If that doesn't sound the beginning of the end of this crap legislation, I don't know what will.

Teachers unions represent teachers who belong to the union -- not children. There's even a famous quote from the head of the NEA or AFT that said "When schoolchildren start paying union dues, then I'll start representing the interests of schoolchildren." I don't give a crap what the teachers unions want for their dues-paying employees -- I want what's best for my KIDS. So I won't be voting Democrat, but thanks for the tip.

NCLB Realist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Teachers unions represent teachers who belong to
> the union -- not children. There's even a famous
> quote from the head of the NEA or AFT that said
> "When schoolchildren start paying union dues, then
> I'll start representing the interests of
> schoolchildren." I don't give a crap what the
> teachers unions want for their dues-paying
> employees -- I want what's best for my KIDS. So I
> won't be voting Democrat, but thanks for the tip.


Do you think Republican Congressmen want what's best for schoolchildren?

If you don't want your kid to go there because you think he might be knifed, don't worry, it won't happen. If you don't want your kid to go there because s/he might makes friends with a black person, worry, it will happen. If you think your kid will gain a better outlook on life, worry, it will happen.

This is a great statement and so very true!!

I can't wait to see the look on my white lobbyist father's face when I bring my first black South Lakes boyfriend home. Chocolate Rain, indeed.

I'm in the SL pyramid. My kids are at Hughes and Hunters Woods and I can honestly say our experiences there have been just fine. My kids have made great friends and are "good kids". No one in my neighborhood is worried about South Lakes, because they have kids there or are going to, and the word is that South Lakes is what you make it, what your kids make it. It has a great Arts program and I personally like the diversity, and have heard from countless people that the SL reputation is really unfair. Really, the test scores are not that different in the scheme of things! They probably just reflect the broader mix of students, not how YOUR kid is going to do if they work hard and do IB!

I know people with experiences at both Oakton and South Lakes and they generally think that both schools have problems, just different problems, but are not opposed to their kids going to SL. With SL you may have more fights but also more tolerance of differences. With Oakton, you have many more overprivileged kids with a sense of entitlement and more drug problems. I've also heard that the parents at Oakton are not as friendly as at SL. This is all just hearsay, so take it FWIW.

Also, people forget that with the redistricting will come a greater socioeconomic balance, so SL will be even better than it is now. The statistics will change drastically, so that it will look much more like the schools in surrounding areas. Between that and the renovation and our great principal, SL might be even better than surrounding schools, because it's trying harder.

Nuff said.

"Also, people forget that with the redistricting will come a greater socioeconomic balance, so SL will be even better than it is now. The statistics will change drastically, so that it will look much more like the schools in surrounding areas. Between that and the renovation and our great principal, SL might be even better than surrounding schools, because it's trying harder."

I hate to provide you disappointing news, but the redistricting will never happen.
Too many lawsuits by homeowners claiming that their home values will be hurt because
the proposed redistricting.

Real estate agents don't help matters by directing home buyers, especially newcomers, to certain school pyramids. Ever notice the RE ads in the local papers. I never saw one promoting the South Lakes or Marshall pryamids. For sure, you'll see Madison, Oakton, and Langley in their ads. Higher sales price = higher commission.

I'm guessing no one here has heard of private school?

"I can't wait to see the look on my white lobbyist father's face when I bring my first black South Lakes boyfriend home. Chocolate Rain, indeed."

BAHAHAHAH. its good to see people can have a sense of humor.


dear elementary mom:
there is no atmosphere of fear at south lakes. as at every school, there are a few bad kids. the only gang incident last year was a bunch of deadbeat kids who, lets face it, aren't going anywhere in life. this in no way reflects the school. it was three kids. and a week later the newspaper reported that a gang had tagged a shed in a man's backyard. i know his son. it wasn't a gang that tagged a shed, it was the kid messing around because he figured his dad would never go back and see it and it wouldn't be a big deal.

the thing about south lakes is that while it is racially diverse, so are groups of friends. we see people as people and don't judge them by their skin tone. if your kid (not specifically directed to elem mom) was raised in a white civil rights era atmosphere then sure, south lakes wouldn't be the best fit for him. send him to a private school.


soccerguy knows exactly what he's talking about and was dead-on.

To Moron,
I don't think falling RE values is a valid basis for lawsuit since 1) it's hypothetical, and 2) when did Fairfax County ever listen to homeowners? I guess SL people could also sue FFC for depressing their RE values. See? It really doesn't hold water.

I don't think they are adding all that capacity at SL for nothing. Also, I've heard from several Oakton people that they would prefer SL becausee it is much closer than Oakton for them. So there really are two sides to this. I don't think the whiners are going to win.

You can sue anybody for anything.

But I think that a suit against the County over school redistricting might run into a brick wall called "municipal immunity". Just like if you fall on the sidewalk...don't waste your time and money trying to sue the County.

There is/was a lawsuit against the county recently (it may have been settled by now, I saw the paperwork when it was still underway about 2 months ago) for a woman who tripped on an upturned manhole cover owned by the ffx co dpwes and if I recall correctly, broke her wrist and dislocated her shoulder. When I saw the court paperwork, it looked like she would be getting her medical bills paid.

I could be wrong though.

Did you notice that the school board did not include parts of North Reston as part of the SL? That area happens to be part of Langley HS boundary . Although SL and even Herndon HS's are within 3-4 miles from there, the parents would rather have their kids drive their Beamers to Langley, which is a good 12 miles away. As a result of the school board catering to these areas, which have no business going to Langley, the schools in the pyramid are overcrowded when most schools in the county are declining in enrollment. I've heard several occasions that homeowners in the Langley district would sue the county if the boundary is changed.

Sorry if this sounds like my previous posts. If they are going to have kids going there from 12 miles away, why not include Bailey's Crossroads/Falls Church area, which is just as far? See what that does to the SAT scores and its reputation.

MBF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is/was a lawsuit against the county recently
> for a woman who tripped on an upturned
> manhole cover owned by the ffx co dpwes and if I
> recall correctly, broke her wrist and dislocated
> her shoulder.

i would be pissed off if something like that happened to me too. however, is she made out of glass or something?!

_________________________________
I'm pro-abortion, not pro-choice.

I think that case sounds a lot more clear cut than possible RE value slippage. Also, since SL will look a lot more like the other schools in terms of test scores, etc, there will be less reason for people to want to avoid SL, hence less potential slippage anyway.

When you look at the boundaries for Herndon High, where North Reston goes, it is not over capacity, so it probably wouldn't make sense to move students from there.

You Oakton Girl. Where can I hit the phat ass?

A rather profound and thoughtful exchange of ideas. Is the problem one of nurturing? Economics? Race? Politics? Or, all of the preceding? How do the folks who live in Fairfax Station (sic, Lorton) or those in Herdon (sic, Oak Hill) feel about this situation? Let's continue this robust and interesting sharing of ideas and opinions. It's healthful.

OMG! The Fairfax Station parents will have a lot to say. Their school is so overcrowded already they had to send a bunch of kids back to Hayfield this year for middle school. Here we go again- complaints about the long bus drive, no community coheseiveness, splitting up siblings, etc.

...at least the psychodrama may lead to catharsis

Bob James Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...at least the psychodrama may lead to catharsis


I need me some vanilla meat curtains. Mmmm, mmmm, mmm.

See, Tyrone, it's working already. Good luck with your SATs.

South Lakes Pyramid parent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> When you look at the boundaries for Herndon High,
> where North Reston goes, it is not over capacity,
> so it probably wouldn't make sense to move
> students from there.

Somehow your North Reston neighbors living in the Mac-Mansions near Reston Pkwy and Rt 7 are attending Langley. How come they are not going to Herndon or SL.

Positive reinforcement produces positive behavior. Is your child better off going to a school with similar social-economic children or attending school with children from a difference social-economic strata. Or does society benefit more from social-economic diversity?

Unbiased Observer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Positive reinforcement produces positive behavior.

and negative/abusive reinforcement causes a escalating spiral of anger. in such a trend, this is eventually expressed in an abusive manner or becoming a victim of abuse. i say we beat all the children!

_________________________________
I'm pro-abortion, not pro-choice.

North Reston parents prefer South Lakes. Seahawks rule! Bean me up Scottie.

WashingToneLocian Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------->
>
> Do you think Republican Congressmen want what's
> best for schoolchildren?


I don't think ANY Congressman or politician, Republican or Democrat, cares what's best for schoolchildren. As a parent, it's MY job to care.

I am currently a student at South Lakes High School, and I take pride in the fact that I am a Seahawk. I participate in sports and maintain a 3.5 average in honors and ib classes. I'm an IB diploma canidate as well. I can say that I've learned a lot as a person from going to South Lakes. It's an enriching experience that has taught me about different people and most importantly myself. As many have already said, I believe we shouldn't be wrapped up in statistics, because we are all individuals, and we are all different. School is literally what you make of it. It doesn't matter if you have the best and top rated teachers in the world, no teacher can make a student apply themself. I can promise that the faculty at South Lakes, and the entire staff is extremely helpful though. They've helped me every step of the way and made sure that the enviroment we work in is the best learning enviorment possible. I'd like to take a moment to remind you all that we live in Fairfax County, Virginia. Not only one of the richest counties in the US, but with an education system that goes beyond the norm. I stepped into South Lakes my freshmen year coming from a different middle school, one that fed into the Oakton and Westfield High Schools. And to this day, I have no regret with the choice I made in coming to South Lakes. The students welcomed me with open arms and made sure that I was comfortable in knowing my way around. I am extremely proud to say I am a student at South Lakes, because we have a tremendous amount of pride. Our diversity is what makes us unique, and we have learned because of our diversity that we are all human beings and we are all the same on the inside. Now please re-think what I've said. Does it sound like some kid who fails there SOL's and drops out of school? No. I'm simply a student who maintains a solid and strong GPA in honors classes, who has never been suspended, expelled, or involved in any violent behavior. I have friends like every other kid at South Lakes, and I attend our football games with as much enthusiasm as any other student. In truth, South Lakes does not deserve the reputation it has. I'm sure I speak for everyone at South Lakes that when the time comes to graduate and prepare for college or whatever lies next for each one of us, that we will be able to hold our heads high and proudly say we were South Lakes Seahawks!

brevity is the soul to wit mi'lady
however. bon mot.

Stephanie, you are much wiser than the supposed adults around here.

GO SEAHAWKS!

haha stephanie just wrote a college admissions essay.
oh yeah i need tomorrows trig hw

Good for you, Stephanie! You and your parents have every right to be extremely proud of your achievements. It is extremely pleasing to me to read such an intelligent and well-presented discussion. I hope that Tyrone (see above) is one of your scholastic peers. I wish you every success on your journey.