Based on the following story, the FCPS system and the SB made a big mistake.

The Folly Of Measuring Character By Race
What would drive one of the nation's most successful and respected school systems to report which racial and ethnic groups demonstrate the soundest moral character and ethical judgment? How did the Fairfax County schools come to put out statistics claiming that black and Hispanic students are less likely than their white and Asian peers to "possess the skills to manage and resolve conflict"?

Why will the school board convene today to talk about what one of its members calls a "morality gap" that divides the county's racial and ethnic groups?

For decades, schools have been asked to step in where too many parents have failed, taking on the job of teaching values, limits and the ability to tell right from wrong. But while there is a consensus that too many children lack the moral principles that should be planted before they ever set foot in a school, there is far less agreement about how to deal with those kids.

Two years ago, Fairfax, like a growing number of school systems across the country, decided to make "essential life skills" as much a goal as academics. The school board decreed that by the end of high school, "All students will demonstrate the aptitude, attitude and skills to lead responsible, fulfilling and respectful lives."

Who could oppose such a goal, right? So the school board tells the administration to get to work. Anyone who has set foot in a school since the dawn of the No Child Left Behind era knows what happened next.

Administrators, principals and teachers calculated how to determine which students "demonstrate sound moral character" and "courageously identify and pursue their personal goals," and which don't.

Then, as if that weren't difficult and subjective enough, the educators decided to collect data, chop it up by racial and ethnic groups, and digest it into a nifty little scorecard with explosive nuggets like this: Third-grade students who scored "good" or better on work habits "ranged from a low near 80 percent for Black and Special Education students to about 95 percent for Asian and white students."

Even if the basis for such conclusions weren't as flimsy as one of those online polls that ask who is going to win the next "American Idol" contest, what possible purpose could this information serve?

Fairfax School Board member Tina Hone walked off the dais after the data were reported two weeks ago. Today, she hopes to persuade a majority of her colleagues to reject the report and tell the system to go back to the drawing board.

"I agree that our role, especially for kids caught on the wrong side of the tracks, is to fill in gaps left in the home," Hone says. "What I don't think is wise is reporting data by race on having good character. If there's ever a place where teaching to everybody will raise all ships, it's in teaching character. We should be teaching fair play and a moral compass to every child."

Fairfax's measurements of moral character look crisply quantitative on paper, but read behind the numbers and you see scores built on a foundation of nonsense: Number of F's based on attendance; number of discipline referrals issued; teacher observations; surveys students fill out about their life skills -- a load of data, signifying . . . what?

Let's assume green people turn out to be collectively less moral than purple people: What do you do about that? Hone still recalls the powerful impact Aesop's fables had when she read them in school. Great teachers find universal parables in classic literature, in tales of history, in the great moral stands taken by the heroes they present to children.

But in Fairfax, and in schools across the land, the instinct -- no, the compulsion -- is to amass data points and "disaggregate," ed-lingo for looking at children not as individuals but as members of a group. The move to quantify grows from a religious devotion to test scores, a faith that the shaping of a mind can be mapped like a cancer cell and expressed as a number. And the resort to race stems from the balkanization of society, the self-destructive notion that we are a collection of groups rather than a nation of individuals who believe what it says on the coins in your pocket: e pluribus unum -- out of many, one.

"The superintendent told me that the reason they broke it down by race was that two years ago, the board decided to report all data by race," Hone says. "That was part of the No Child Left Behind frenzy. This is a classic case of a pendulum overswing."

Hone believes that as long as the achievement gap that divides the races persists, it's important to break out test scores by race. Otherwise, the failure to push underachieving students up to par might be hidden beneath overall strong numbers in a system such as Fairfax's.

But discerning right from wrong goes to the intimate core of the relationship between student and teacher, Hone says. It's just not something that you can reduce to a number. "This is on the teachers," she says. "It's not a problem of one group of kids. If I as a teacher saw a kid being left out because they were a nerd or fat, it was my job to figure out how to get that child together with the others."

Just as solutions to a child's struggle to learn to read must be molded to each kid's needs, so too must each moral compass be fixed, one at a time.

There are already two other threads about this topic.


[www.fairfaxunderground.com]

[www.fairfaxunderground.com]

All of the school threads really need to either have their own folder or go away period. Where is that idiot moderator when you really need him?

Debate Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
How did the Fairfax County schools come to put out statistics claiming that black and Hispanic students are less likely than their white and Asian peers to "possess the skills to manage and resolve conflict"?

a higher rate of reported conflicts that happen per race per capita? it doent take a rocket scientist to calculate such statistics.


> Just as solutions to a child's struggle to learn
> to read must be molded to each kid's needs, so too
> must each moral compass be fixed, one at a time.

by the time they set foot in a school of any kind, they "moral compass" is in stone.



bottom line, if you are a fuck up, dont have kids because they will be fuck up kids. there's a good chance if you are having financial problem that you are a fuck up. basic schooling is free and everyone can work and take college courses, many people do. im not saying you have to be poor to be a fuck up because there are plenty of people who have money and completely blow it and there are leeches who drain money from they "significant other". money most definitely not the only indicator (and not always an indicator) that you are a fuck up. if you are on your third marriage then you are very likely a serious fuck up. if some crazy bitch is yelling "that's my baby's daddy!" then you are definitely a fuck up.

please, if you are a fuck up, stop breeding and get out of the gene pool.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Why did the school board redistrict South Lakes and why did the school board request a morality gap report from FCPS staff?

Lets look at some facts regarding South Lakes? It was and is a failing school with high drop out rates and low SAT scores. The school board blames Blacks and Hispanics with the failures of this school. So how are they trying to fix this problem? Are they rolling up their sleeves and making the school staff accountable for their students results? No, their fix is to redistrict white and asian student into South Lakes from surrounding schools and hope that scores go up and drop out rates go down. Sounds like a wing and a prayer decision to me.

Now lets look at the failures of the FCPS system? FCPS has almost seventy schools that are failing NCLB, they have a high drop out rate when compared to other school systems in the state, they have test result scores that are going down and they have ten schools out of twenty five that are under capacity.

So what does FCPS and the school board do? They ask for a MORALITY GAP REPORT? Why? They knew what the results of this report would be before it was started. They knew that it would make blacks and hispanics students look bad and white and asian students look better.

FCPS and the school board will not take responsibility for the failures of their system. They refuse to take any blame because they always want to look good.

So who do they blame for their failures? They want to blame blacks and hispanics with the results of the morality gap report that they requested and knew what the results would be.

Blame the blacks and hispanics for their failures. Sounds like they are a group of racist who are bias in everything they do. Look at the make up of the school board, ten out of twelve are white. Look at the FCPS staff that supports the school board, it is almost all white.

I believe FCPS and the school board have big time morality gap issues.

Ms. Strauss-

Me thinks thou doth protest too much............

Your response unfortunately lacks substance and is, in my opinion, dishonest. This continued denial and candy coating that goes on within the FCPS politburo is really becoming troubling to me. Someone needs to stand up and say, "We are failing too many kids. We need to do more. Until all of our children succeed our work is not done".

I know I am dreaming but I keep thinking that one day it just may happen.....

Let's go over some of the statistics, shall we? Let's measure how well the African Americans and Latinos are doing under the FCPS School Board Leadership.

According to the MSAOC Report dated June 1, 2006, we have the following figures to be so proud of:

4 out of every 10 Latinos who started 9th grade in September 2001 did not graduate from high school in June of 2005.

In 2005, the percentage point gap between Whites and Blacks in 3rd grade SOL reading was 28.6. For 8th grade reading it was 26.8.

In 2005, the percentage point gap between Whites and Latinos in 3rd grade SOL reading was 19.3. For 8th grade reading it was 25.

In 2007, the percentage point gap between Whites and Latinos for 3rd grade reading SOL was 30. For 8th grade reading it was 33.

In 2007, the percentage point gap between Whites and Blacks for 3rd grade reading SOL was 21. For 8th grade reading it was 27.

3 out of 4 of the measurements showed a widening gap. Perhaps I am a glass half empty kind of guy, but I don't share your enthusiasm when the gap is widening and 4 out of 10 minority students are failing these standardized tests.

The MSAOC Report also states that the Latino dropout rate doubled between years 2001-02 and 2004-05.

In years 2005-06, 62% of White 3-8th graders participated in GT Programs. In comparison, 3% of Latinos and Blacks participated in GT.

In 2005, 31% of White students enrolled in at least one AP course. 10% of Blacks and 11% of Latino took these courses.

In 1998, 49 Black and Latino students were admitted to TJ. In 2005-06, 28 were admitted-a drop of 43%.

For the year 2007, the School Board directed The MSAOC to issue a report that addressed parental involvement in order to increase scores and participation rates for minorities. No statistics were provided for that year because of this "shift" in thinking of the SB-I find this interesting. Blame the parents, huh?

In mid 2007 The MSAOC issued the dropout report and urged SB members to take action by December 2007. Yet here we are in April of 2008, and the report is still in draft form. It makes one wonder how much of a priority this whole issue of dropouts could be?

The Dropout Report states the following:

Compared with other DC area school districts, FCPS ranks in the middle for Black and Hispanic dropouts. Loudon County, Howard County, Arlington and Montgomery have lower dropout rates than FCPS.Within VA, Chesterfield and VA Beach schools have lower dropout rates than FCPS.

I know you were beaming with pride over FCPS's alternative schools, but given that 50% of Asians, 54% of Blacks, 79% of Latinos and 43% of Whites dropped out of these schools in 2005-06, I have a hard time sharing your enthusiasm.

These numbers are an abomination. They are a violation of the public trust. There are a fiscally irresponsible use of funds. Until you and other SB members and Dale get a reality check on how far you have to go with minority underachievement , things will never improve.

GET MOVING.

Morality Gap Failure - What strikes me from your presentation of data is the extent of the School Board's delusion in ordering up a morality study. As you relate, the surprise is not there are gaps in achievement - these occur throughout the country - but that they are so large in well off Fairfax. The School Board thus should not be wasting its time trolling for morality excuses, but asking itself some tough questions as to why the gaps are, on a relative basis, so large. I suspect the reasons, however, are exactly what they don't want to hear. The FCPS cares about its national reputation and it high number of excellent students.That's a good thing - but that brand is mightily important to them. This might be the case merely because of its significant number of high socio-economic families, but in fairness, FCPS likely does (when it is not liquidating GT standards to accomodate minority students here and there) pay a fair amount of attention to the better students and keeping them challenged.
These students frankly pick up skills tested on the SOL's largely by osmosis and from what is taught at home, and for these better students, repetitive drill would be a boring and non-fulfilling waste of time. By the same token, minority students (many, of course, but not all) would benefit from the repetitive drill that other school districts no doubt employ - because like it or not - creative or not - this kind of drill helps build basic skills and help students pass the tests (volunteer parents who help out at the Reston school can attest to this). But to do this correctly, it would mean resegregating the educational experience - not the de jure form of desegregation by any means but the de facto kind - meaning these at risk kids would get an entirely different form of educational experience, and that their classroom experience would not be so diverse. Of course, the stigmatization and angst that would result would be enormous, and there would be significant elements of the community that would be furious. But that is the hard choice. The most honest way would be for the School Board to openly present the dilemma. But they won't do that because it carries with a self-admission that they are not doing a very good job and besides, it will make minority groups feel bad. But the thought that the School Board thought could gain insight into the problem by commissioning some morality study just sends chills up my spine...

MORALITY GAP FAILURE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ms. Strauss-
>
> Me thinks thou doth protest too much............
> [...]

i agree with you... but come on, if you are going to use "me thinks" use it properly, it's a compound word: methinks.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Gravis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MORALITY GAP FAILURE Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Ms. Strauss-
> >
> > Me thinks thou doth protest too
> much............
> > [...]
>
> i agree with you... but come on, if you are going
> to use "me thinks" use it properly, it's a
> compound word: methinks.


To Gravis

You must work for FCPS since you are so smart. Now that you have told us how smart you are, please fix all of the morality gap problems.

Blacks and hispanics are more likely to be criminals.

Mexican Blackbird Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Blacks and hispanics are more likely to be
> criminals.


The criminal system is nothing more then a means by which the majority can supress the minority. So...until 2050 (when whites become a minority) that will always be the case.

Niggers and Spics are more likely to rob you. Period.

Wrong, Vince. The criminal system is a means of supressing criminals.

******************************************************************************************************************************************
"Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words - "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind"

How to Teach Racism

Monday, April 14, 2008; A14



The April 10 front-page article "Behavioral Study on Students Stirs Debate" opened up an opportunity to ask the question: Why are we dividing our students into racial groups for any study?

When we identify students according to race, we are essentially instructing the students to see people not as their neighbors or friends, but as parts of distinct groups that are different. We are teaching racism.

It is in our interest to study our students as the children in our community.

MARY BALDRIDGE

Falls Church

The writer is a teacher at Falls Church High School.

Teachers are usually full of shit. And writers just want you to buy their work so they don't have to teach anymore.

The report was thrown in the trash because it didnt match the politically correct agenda of FCPS. Just more money wasted by them.

Some people at this forum have written about how Asians are the biggest criminals... despite the evidence such as this report.


White people just hate everyone no matter what.

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mexican Blackbird Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Blacks and hispanics are more likely to be
> > criminals.
>
>
> The criminal system is nothing more then a means
> by which the majority can supress the minority.
> So...until 2050 (when whites become a minority)
> that will always be the case.

You're stupid.

MORALITY GAP FAILURES Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To Gravis
>
> You must work for FCPS since you are so smart. Now
> that you have told us how smart you are, please
> fix all of the morality gap problems.

sure, just execute everyone that has below a C average. problem solved.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

How to Teach Racism Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How to Teach Racism
>
> Monday, April 14, 2008; A14
>
>
>
> The April 10 front-page article "Behavioral Study
> on Students Stirs Debate" opened up an opportunity
> to ask the question: Why are we dividing our
> students into racial groups for any study?
>
> When we identify students according to race, we
> are essentially instructing the students to see
> people not as their neighbors or friends, but as
> parts of distinct groups that are different. We
> are teaching racism.
>
> It is in our interest to study our students as the
> children in our community.
>
> MARY BALDRIDGE
>
> Falls Church
>
> The writer is a teacher at Falls Church High
> School.


because such analysis shows problem areas that can be fixed rather than hidden?

more trite trash that helps no one

Flawed Measures
Fairfax Schools erred in measuring behavior by race and ethnicity.

Sunday, April 13, 2008; B06



THE NO Child Left Behind law has been blamed for everything from bad teaching to childhood obesity. Now comes the silly suggestion that the federal law's worthy aim of using data to drive student achievement is responsible for Fairfax County's misguided effort to catalogue the moral character of its students by race and ethnic group. If anything, the events in one of the country's most respected school systems attest to the very biases that allow brown and black children to be overlooked and left behind.

The county School Board is clearly embarrassed by a report that purports to show racial and ethnic gaps in student behavior. African American, Hispanic and special education students get lower marks than white and Asian American students in areas such as "sound moral character and ethical judgment." At the behest of at-large member Martina A. Hone, the board voted last week to postpone a decision on whether to accept the report. To our mind, the board should have rejected out of hand what Ms. Hone, the only African American on the board, correctly called "potentially damaging and hurtful" conclusions. That school officials are at a loss as to what they planned to do with the findings is as troubling as the fact that no one foresaw the folly of using race and ethnicity as markers for character.

This is not, as some have suggested, a case of harsh truths falling victim to political correctness. No scientific system or good data were used. Instead, the report relies upon the highly subjective judgments of teachers on whether a student "exhibits courteous behavior," "works and plays cooperatively" or displays other intangibles. Other measures employed, such as rates for suspension and disciplinary infractions, have been shown to disproportionately penalize minority students. If there is any use to these findings, it may be in what they say about the inherent biases of those who deal with Fairfax students. Why is it that teachers were more apt to see problems with the behavior or character of minority students? One board member, according to The Post's Michael Alison Chandler, was "perplexed" that disparities in measures of character education mirrored the gaps in academic achievement. No one should be surprised that students don't do well when their teachers expect less of them.

FCPS/SB ARE RACIST Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Flawed Measures
> Fairfax Schools erred in measuring behavior by
> race and ethnicity.
>
> Sunday, April 13, 2008; B06
>
>
>
> THE NO Child Left Behind law has been blamed for
> everything from bad teaching to childhood obesity.
> Now comes the silly suggestion that the federal
> law's worthy aim of using data to drive student
> achievement is responsible for Fairfax County's
> misguided effort to catalogue the moral character
> of its students by race and ethnic group. If
> anything, the events in one of the country's most
> respected school systems attest to the very biases
> that allow brown and black children to be
> overlooked and left behind.
>
> The county School Board is clearly embarrassed by
> a report that purports to show racial and ethnic
> gaps in student behavior. African American,
> Hispanic and special education students get lower
> marks than white and Asian American students in
> areas such as "sound moral character and ethical
> judgment." At the behest of at-large member
> Martina A. Hone, the board voted last week to
> postpone a decision on whether to accept the
> report. To our mind, the board should have
> rejected out of hand what Ms. Hone, the only
> African American on the board, correctly called
> "potentially damaging and hurtful" conclusions.
> That school officials are at a loss as to what
> they planned to do with the findings is as
> troubling as the fact that no one foresaw the
> folly of using race and ethnicity as markers for
> character.
>
> This is not, as some have suggested, a case of
> harsh truths falling victim to political
> correctness. No scientific system or good data
> were used. Instead, the report relies upon the
> highly subjective judgments of teachers on whether
> a student "exhibits courteous behavior," "works
> and plays cooperatively" or displays other
> intangibles. Other measures employed, such as
> rates for suspension and disciplinary infractions,
> have been shown to disproportionately penalize
> minority students. If there is any use to these
> findings, it may be in what they say about the
> inherent biases of those who deal with Fairfax
> students. Why is it that teachers were more apt to
> see problems with the behavior or character of
> minority students? One board member, according to
> The Post's Michael Alison Chandler, was
> "perplexed" that disparities in measures of
> character education mirrored the gaps in academic
> achievement. No one should be surprised that
> students don't do well when their teachers expect
> less of them.

THEY ARE BIAS, RACIST AND OUT OF CONTROL.

The FCPS system is,broken to the point that I do not believe that it can be fixed in the few years. We have decided to move our younger child into private school for high school. Call it a loss of faith that FCPS is able to help this child reach his/her potential.

My outlook on the chances that FCPS will remain among the elite systems in the country is so glum that we will be moving out of the county as soon as our children "fly the coop".

Wrong message
By Staff

For the better part of three decades, Fairfax County's public school system has been held up as a model for others to emulate. Whether the measuring stick involves standardized test scores, participation in AP or IB coursework, or pursuit of higher learning, graduates here consistently rank among the nation's best and are highly prized by college admissions directors.

Unfortunately, that reputation took a significant hit last week when school officials shared an in-house report detailing the character and morality development of its 170,000-plus students.

Using information culled from elementary school report cards, student surveys and school discipline rates, school officials crunched numbers and, stunningly, felt compelled to categorize them by race.

Rating kids by their ability to "demonstrate sound moral character and ethical judgment" or "contribute effectively within a group dynamic," the study concluded that white and Asian students performed better in those areas than did other minority groups as well as students with limited English, students who are poor and students receiving special education services.

After first hearing of the survey, two questions immediately came to mind. First, how were these determinations being made? More importantly, why were they being broken down by race?

To the first point, isn't the background of a teacher assessing a student's "moral character" just as critical a variable as the behavior itself? Perhaps the school system should first train teachers and administrators on cultural sensitivity before throwing every black and Hispanic student in Fairfax County under a big yellow bus. What is a second-grader from Bolivia to think when told she doesn't possess the "skills to manage and resolve conflicts" that her Asian classmates have?

By lumping race and character together, school officials have simply put more fuel in the tank of those who already take issue with people who don't look, speak or act like they do.

Perhaps we're oversimplifying things, but isn't it about time we viewed ourselves as one team and stopped analyzing every school-related issue in terms of race, gender or socio-economic status?

Last week, the School Board decided to wait until June to determine the future of this study. They should move on to bigger and better things.

Times Community © 2007 | Fairfax Times

Mr. Storck

Your report card.


South County, South County, South County.

This is all Dan Storck talks about. More money for SOCO, more money, more money, more money.

What about Dan's OTHER middle schools?

Has he been paying attention to any of them over the last five years?

Let's see how they are doing.



KEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

YEAR 3 Did not make AYP

20% of all 7th graders failed the Reading tests- 75% higher than the FCPS average and worse than VA averages.

27% of all 8th graders failed the Reading tests-60% higher than the FCPS average and worse than VA averages.

In 19 out of 22 different demographic categories, Reading scores worsened over the last 2 years-scores are not improving.

61% of all 7th graders failed the Math tests-a failure rate nearly double of other FCPS schools.

28% of all 8th graders failed the Math tests-65% higher than FCPS averages and worse than VA averages.

In 11 different demographic groups for 8th grade Math-scores worsened in every category.

COULD THIS SCHOOL USE SOME OF DAN'S ATTENTION?



TWAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

YEAR 4 Did not make AYP

23% of all 7th graders failed the Reading tests-nearly double the FCPS failure rate and worse than VA averages.

48% of Latino 7th graders failed the Reading tests-this failure rate doubled from the prior year.

22% of 8th graders failed the Reading tests-showing no improvement over the last two years.

47% of Latino 8th graders failed the Reading tests-this failure rate doubled from the prior two years.

In 19 out of 22 different demographic groups, Reading scores worsened over the last 2 years.

79% of all 7th graders failed the Math tests-a rate 130% higher than FCPS and 80% above VA averages.

85% of African Americans and 87% of Latinos failed the 7th grade Math tests.

33% of 8th graders failed the Math tests-a rate double of FCPS averages.

41% of African Americans and 51% of Latinos failed the 8th grade Math tests-both showing increases over the last 2 years.

Students with disabilities-the ones who need Dan's advocacy the most, had a higher failure rate than VA averages in all 8 categories.

COULD THIS SCHOOL USE TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF THESE STUDENTS?>



SANDBURG MIDDLE SCHOOL

YEAR 3 Did not make AYP

55% of all 7th graders failed the Math tests, including a failure rate of 74% for Blacks and 68% for Latinos.

30% of all 8th graders failed the Reading tests, including a failure rate of 46% for Blacks and 56% for Latinos.

32% of all 8th graders failed the Math tests, including a failure rate of 48% for Blacks and 58% for Latinos.

Students identified as disadvantaged, had a higher failure rate in EVERY category in comparison to VA averages.

WHITMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

YEAR 2 Did not make AYP

59% of all 7th graders failed Math tests, including 70% failures for Blacks and 59% for Latinos.

80% of students with disabilities failed the math tests-well above FCPS and VA averages.

28% of 8th graders failed the Reading tests-showing no improvement over the last 2 years.

Students with disabilities had a higher failure rate in every category (except 1) relative to VA averages.

COULD ANY OF THE ABOVE SCHOOLS USE THE TEN MILLION DOLLARS DAN WANTS TO SPEND ON A NEW ADDITION TO THE SOUTH COUNTY SECONDARY SCHOOL?

I think so.



Given all these failures, why does Dan Storck continue to demand resources and funds for The SOCO community.

Stop ignoring your stepchildren Dan!! Pay attention to ALL of your schools or step down.

Activists Say FCPS Report Hurts Students
School board asks staff to take another look at data on "morality gap."

By Julia O'Donoghue
Wednesday, April 16, 2008


Members of Fairfax County’s African-American and Latino communities said the school board’s unanimous vote to postpone accepting a report on "essential life skills" did little to rectify the problems its public presentation caused in the first place.


Unveiled to the school board March 27, the report showed an achievement gap in character development between students from different ethnic groups, economic backgrounds and with different developmental skills.


In general, the report said that students who were black, Hispanic, poor or used special education services did not perform as well in areas like "demonstrates good moral judgment" as those who were white or Asian.


During its April 10 meeting, school board members told staff they wanted more information about the data used to measure student performance in "essential life skills." Nearly all members said they the original report was flawed and staff needed to examine it further.


"It is absolutely inappropriate to talk about a morality gap," said school board member Janie Strauss (Dranesville.)


The school board questioned whether the report’s sources – including student surveys and conduct scores on elementary school report cards – were reliable. Some also said the school system needed to get to the bottom of why certain groups of students are perceived by teachers and staff to be less cooperative or to have worse moral judgment than other groups.

Further investigation and apologies will not undo the harm the report caused, according to some African-American and Latino activists who showed up at the school board’s last meeting.


"The damage is already done. Some of those board members don’t have a clue how horrendous this is," said Arthur Andrew Lopez, a member of the school board’s minority student achievement oversight committee.


Lopez and others said the report, whether accepted by the school board or not, reinforces negative and false stereotypes of black and Hispanic students.


The public presentation of the report could reinforce some people’s unfair biases toward African Americans and Latinos, they said. They said many people would not realize data used in the report were soft and gathered for purposes other than to measure "essential life skills."


"You don’t retrofit data to work for a new study," said John Johnson, another member of the advisory committee on minority achievement. "My fear is that people will think the report was cleaned up for political correctness and not because it was inaccurate."


The head of the minority student achievement group, Ralph Cooper, said it was embarrassing the report made it to a public school board meeting. In many institutions, like the military, a report that flawed would never have done made it so far, he said.

For the most part, the school board defended staff’s decision to present the report on essential life skills broken down by ethnic, economic and learning subgroups. The school board had expected previous reports on academic achievement to be broken down in the same fashion.
"It is a learning process as we go along. … Staff did the work we asked them to do," said school board member Kathy Smith (Sully.)


Smith and others followed up these comments by saying that – as the board moved forward – they would not expect its data on "essential life skills" to be broken down in the same way academic achievement data is.

Regardless of how data is presented in the future, activists said the report is indicative of larger issues with minority achievement in Fairfax. While neighboring systems like the one in Montgomery County, Md. make strides in closing the achievement gap between minorities, Fairfax County remained stagnant, they said.


"I associate these attitudes with the administration of our new superintendent. … Either he is not up to the task [of closing the achievement gap] or he is extremely slick and is making us think he is not up to the task," said Johnson.

FYI

Based upon the story by Michael Alison Chandler which was in the Washington Post regarding the problems at the South Lakes HS the following questions need to be asked.

1. Is DISCRIMINATION alive and well in FCPS? YES

2. Is the FCPS system Discriminating against the MINORITY students at South Lakes HS and other FCPS? YES

3. Based upon my experience with the FCPS system at meetings, it is apparent to me that there are very little MINORITIES that make up the senior staff.

4. What is the make up of FCPS various staffs? WHITE?

THE QUESTION IS WHY? DISCRIMINATION

Why are South Lakes SAT scores at a 4- year low?

Why have they fallen from 1092 in 2003 to 1048 in 2006?

Why have four of the six elementary schools that feed South Lakes not able to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) last year?

Why at Lake Anne ES, only 40 percent of 3rd grade disadvantaged students were able to pass the English SOL test?

Why at Hunters Woods, only 62 percent of 3rd grade disadvantaged students were able to pass the English SOL test?

Who has dropped the ball, the Superintendent or the School Board? BOTH?

Your job is to ensure that all schools meet NCLB Annual Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind. You need to have a zero tolerance standard for failure by schools under NCLB like you have for students who fail to follow your rules.

You take the money from the Federal Government, so you need to do the job.


Why does FCPS only report good news on channel 21, why not report your failures also and what you intend to do about it?

FCPS Morality Report Analysis-PART 2

According to student surveys of 12th graders in FCPS, 60% of Whites, 59% of Hispanics and 44% of Blacks reported using one of 15 forms of illegal substances including alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc within the last 30 days. The usage could occur on or off school property.

I find it interesting that the Whites led the pack. Certainly FCPS disciplinary data should mirror these percentages. Let's see, shall we?

The total high school population is around 48,000 students. According to data reported to VA DOE, FCPS high schools reported 650 incidents involving ATODs in school year 2005-06. These incidents resulted in 260 expulsion recommendations for these types off offenses. FCPS takes this very seriously, as you can see.

So we have on average 55% users, which is about 26,000 students and only 650 reported incidents.

Even though Whites have the higher usage rates, Blacks and Hispanics are punished at a rate 3 times that of Whites based on their populations. That doesn't make sense, does it???

The schools with the highest incident rates, AS REPORTED BY FCPS, were Falls Church, South Lakes, and WestPot. Some of the lower incident rates were at TJ, Oakton, Langley and McLean. Is there a pattern here???


So you see, the schools with the highest White populations received the fewest punishments even though the usage rate is highest among Whites. And the schools with higher minority populations had the most punishments.

I am beginning to think that FCPS engages in some dicriminatory practices within their Disciplinary Department. I hope I am wrong.

dicriminatory practices Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FCPS Morality Report Analysis-PART 2
>
> According to student surveys of 12th graders in
> FCPS, 60% of Whites, 59% of Hispanics and 44% of
> Blacks reported using one of 15 forms of illegal
> substances including alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc
> within the last 30 days. The usage could occur on
> or off school property.
>
> I find it interesting that the Whites led the
> pack. Certainly FCPS disciplinary data should
> mirror these percentages. Let's see, shall we?
>
> The total high school population is around 48,000
> students. [...]
> FCPS high schools reported 650 incidents involving
> ATODs in school year 2005-06. [...]
>
> So we have on average 55% users, which is about
> 26,000 students and only 650 reported incidents.

yeah, you are completely right because the FCPS watch what kids do 24/7. are they ignoring the results of the daily drug screenings? they do control all the alcohol, drugs and tobacco so they must be selling to the kids.

you are a fucking retard.




"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/2008 09:19AM by Gravis.

I bet if you look at all of the money spent over the last few years on renovations of schools, you will see that the upper middle class get most of it.

Examples;

Langley, South County, South Lakes and Lake Braddock to name a few.

Where does it leave minorities?

How to Teach Racism Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How to Teach Racism
>
> Monday, April 14, 2008; A14
>
>
>
> The April 10 front-page article "Behavioral Study
> on Students Stirs Debate" opened up an opportunity
> to ask the question: Why are we dividing our
> students into racial groups for any study?
>
> When we identify students according to race, we
> are essentially instructing the students to see
> people not as their neighbors or friends, but as
> parts of distinct groups that are different. We
> are teaching racism.
>
> It is in our interest to study our students as the
> children in our community.
>
> MARY BALDRIDGE
>
> Falls Church
>
> The writer is a teacher at Falls Church High
> School.



NOW THE SB WANTS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AFTER THEY FUCKED UP.

THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD THE DISCUSSION FIRST, THEN MOVED AHEAD WITH A CLEAR MANDATE.

THE SB IS ALWAYS AT THE EDGE OF THE FOREST, BUT DO NOT SEE THE TREES.


THEY NEED TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE AND DO THINGS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

RACIAL STUDY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NOW THE SB WANTS TO [...]




"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

FCPS stocks a book in their educational library by this nutcase Ruby Payne. Many of the schools embrace some of the techniques preached by Ruby Payne.

Let's look at some of the tidbits from her books:

In A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Payne asks her readers to take a "Could you survive?" quiz. Here are a few examples of what Payne considers the essential knowledge of the lower class:

I know how to get someone out of jail

I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically

I know how to get a gun even if I have a police record

Her book is a case study in deficit theory and gives the following examples:

Poor people consider jail a normal part of life and not necessarily bad, that discipline in families of poverty consists of physically beating the child, and that people in poverty commonly trade sex for money and favors.

And we all wonder how our School Board produced the morality gap report. Is this the crap that the teachers are learning??

Does Ruby Payne run FCPS?

GET THIS BOOK OUT OF FCPS NOW.

The South County region is on the brink of tearing itself apart because people will define 'community schools' in whatever way fits their Biases, Racism and Bigotry. Who do we blame for this big problem? FCPS? SCHOOL BOARD? BOTH?

Bigotry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Who do we blame for this big problem?
> FCPS? SCHOOL BOARD? BOTH?

students.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Does the SB want all blacks and hispanics to leave Fairfax County so that drop out rates go down and SAT scores go up? Sounds racist to me.

WHAT MINORITY STUDENT WAS SCREWED TODAY BY FCPS?

Is the below more proof that FCPS is bias and racist?

From conflict of interest:

RD is so scammy! There is some conflict of interest here.The funniest part is the way the boundaries zigzag picking up the rich kids for rich kid schools. Middleton farm (most exp. houses in herndon) is the only community still left in Westfields while everything around it is going to SL.

Does anyone know if FCPS teachers and staff have their children attending under performing schools or schools that have failed NCLB?

Or have they placed their children in different schools?

FCPS is racist and bias against blacks/hispanics.

Look at these results and tell me what FCPS is doing about this?

Math Scores

Whites 570

Hispanics 503

Blacks 464

Math Scores Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FCPS is racist and bias against blacks/hispanics.
>
> Look at these results and tell me what FCPS is
> doing about this?


how are test scores racist? if they were higher than "whites" would it be racist then? btw, what are the scores for asians? if it's higher than whites im so calling it racist.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

FCPS is racist and bias against blacks/hispanics.

Look at these results and tell me what FCPS is doing about these low scores?

2007 average SAT critical reading Scores

Whites 565

Asians 536

Hispanics 494

Blacks 470

Blacks and Hispanics should stop killing each other.

What has happen to the racist Morality Gap report that the school board requested from Jack Dales staff?

Does anyone know the status?

This report has been changed by the SB because of the backlash by blacks and hispanics.

Dead and put to rest.


Status of Morality Gap Report? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What has happen to the racist Morality Gap report
> that the school board requested from Jack Dales
> staff?
>
> Does anyone know the status?

It is my understanding that the SB will be taking over the school system south of the border.

Read this post.

Re: Jack Dale needs to go.
Posted by: Report Card (IP Logged)
Date: May 05, 2008 12:41AM


The fact is that FCPS has always been a high performing school district. It is an affluent area with a large percentage of college graduates. The bar has always been high.

I just don't see Dale as adding any value. Drop outs are higher, SAT scores are lower, Achievement gaps are not improving. So many of the schools are trailing VA AVERAGES in test scores-that was unthinkable 10 years ago.

The recent embarassing articles about the NCLB standoff with The DOE, the morality report, no touching rules, no tag on playgrounds, boundary wars. The list goes on and on.

He just does not seem to have the RIGHT STUFF to run this school district. I hope the SB does not renew his contract.

It's not the school system's fault blacks and hispanics aren't as intelligent and have a much lower motivation to be educated.

The fairfax county school board is to blame for all of the following;


The recent embarassing articles about the NCLB standoff with The DOE, the morality report, no touching rules, no tag on playgrounds, boundary wars. The list goes on and on.

It just seems that helping minority students achieve does not seem to be on the top of the list of priorities for this school district. They continue to stroke TJ, Langley and the other White/Asian schools and everyone else is on their own. Some of these schools get Title 1 money, but I don't see HUGE investments in some of these really bad schools.

The parents of these minority kids are not as NOISY as the Langley parents-so they are ignored.

It is actually immoral in my opinion that they are not doing more.

we are way behind Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It just seems that helping minority students
> achieve does not seem to be on the top of the list
> of priorities for this school district. They
> continue to stroke TJ, Langley and the other
> White/Asian schools and everyone else is on their
> own. Some of these schools get Title 1 money, but
> I don't see HUGE investments in some of these
> really bad schools.
>
> The parents of these minority kids are not as
> NOISY as the Langley parents-so they are ignored.
>
> It is actually immoral in my opinion that they are
> not doing more.

Your kidding right? When is the last time you've been to Langley? I graduated there in 94' and the place hasn't seen a coat of paint since. In fact I hear TJ is no different. Both of these schools are usually the last to get upgrade money so people like you can't bitch. What so many minority groups refuse to accept is the fact that those superior scores aren't achieved through expensive learning programs or fancy classrooms... they're obtained the old fashioned way -HARD WORK. The kids there are academically competitive and actually have to STUDY. Imagine that. They don't promote a culture of finger pointing and race baiting. They recognize the importance of personal accountability. Cuba is the perfect example as they have little to no money for schools, yet after all these years they maintain a 97% graduation/literacy rate. How can that be? Because they foster a culture that demands study and shame onto those who don't.

People who go to langley and TJ dont trash the schools, becuase they are not hispanic or black. THus these buildings are around longer becuase they arent vandalized

I am sure the poster was not asking for more money for buildings but for help with instruction.

When a school has a 75% failure rate on an SOL-they clearly need more resources-whether it be more teachers, smaller classrooms, extended school year, whatever.

The school system just can't continue to ignore these problem schools forever.

invest where?? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am sure the poster was not asking for more money
> for buildings but for help with instruction.
>
> When a school has a 75% failure rate on an
> SOL-they clearly need more resources-whether it be
> more teachers, smaller classrooms, extended school
> year, whatever.
>
> The school system just can't continue to ignore
> these problem schools forever.

Yes they should ignore them. Its not the responsibility of government to motivate students to learn. Parents have to do it. Listen, if a student hasn't shown a propensity to apply him/herself academically by 9th grade then its already a LOST CAUSE. No amount of money or additional instruction will have any impact. At that point they are only fit for military enlistment, a farm hand, and/or maybe in some cases an apprenticeship to learn a trade.

Jesus, you're an asshole 70chip.

70chip Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes they should ignore them. Its not the
> responsibility of government to motivate students
> to learn. Parents have to do it. Listen, if a
> student hasn't shown a propensity to apply
> him/herself academically by 9th grade then its
> already a LOST CAUSE. No amount of money or
> additional instruction will have any impact. At
> that point they are only fit for military
> enlistment, a farm hand, and/or maybe in some
> cases an apprenticeship to learn a trade.

+1


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Harvard University's Achievement Gap Initiative is having their annual conference in June. This is usually a well attended event.

They are highlighteing school districts where reforms have produced important progress. Montgomery County, MD and Richmond, VA school districts are featured speakers.

Where's FCPS? How come we are not making a difference? We are supposed to be the BEST school district in the country-or so they always say.

We seem to be a bit behind on this problem. You have to wonder why????

everyone else is doing something Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Where's FCPS? How come we are not making a
> difference? We are supposed to be the BEST school
> district in the country-or so they always say.

well, are they right or are they liars?


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

The almost all white school board is trying to screw all blacks and hispanics with the Morality Gap report.

This SB is racist and bias against blacks and hispanics.

This SB announced that they were tweaking the goals and sustituting "honesty" with "morality" since honesty is easier to measure.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! Are they kidding???

These people are going to judge our kids on honesty....

Let's review the last year-

SB denys saying that they said the boundary study was flawed.

Stu Gibson knowingly violates the privacy of a SPED child for political gain. He never apologizes and cost school system $13,000 in legal fees and gets bitch slapped by VA DOE.

Kathy Smith calls Westfield parent "vile and toxic". She never apologizes to parent for saying it-only that the parent saw the email. Smith lies to WASH POST reporter Marc Fischer by stating that she apologized to the parent.

Dan Storck and Liz Bradsher receive virtually all their political donations from SOCO people and are pushing for middle school construction.

And of course, don't forget all the SB members who constantly tell us how "excellent" ALL of FCPS schools are. Some schools have 70% failure rates on their SOLs. Define excellent, please.

These people are the LAST ones who should judge kids on honesty and integrity.

When you put everything together we have a corrupt, evil,unethical and morally degenerate group of unprofessional School board members.

They need to go.

See these comments;

By that logic Stu Gibson cannot be stopped in Hunter Mill. Looking at the RD hearings, he really hates the Floris Asian community that spoke out at the hearing. He snikered, shook his head , looked down upon these speakers with asian accent. He will get back at them using the next RD due for the new elementary in that area. Things are going to get even nastier in this Gibson nightmare.


Yes and yet it was Bradsher who told everybody that these schools belonged to the SB and she represented the Springfield district. I personally did not agree with Bradsher's notion of the schools belonging to the SB. It is for everyone. I would be cautious with the word of "interferring" because these sbms talked privately in advance about the boundary decision and made back room deals. On another note of the word "public", I looked up the dictionary..anybody who would care, go look it up and see the meaning, it means open to everyone. Well, think of this way, there are thousands and thousands of public restrooms and we can choose any public restroom to use, well why can't this be the same way with public schools? These public schools do not only belong to the SB, it is for everyone and everyone has the right to choose which schools to go to!


Admire? Stu single handedly destroyed all public trust in the SB. He has done more harm to FCPS than all SBMs combined since start of FCPS.

Gibson is a RACIST.



Gibson looks down upon Asian speakers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When you put everything together we have a
> corrupt, evil,unethical and morally degenerate
> group of unprofessional School board members.
>
> They need to go.
>
> See these comments;
>
> By that logic Stu Gibson cannot be stopped in
> Hunter Mill. Looking at the RD hearings, he really
> hates the Floris Asian community that spoke out at
> the hearing. He snikered, shook his head , looked
> down upon these speakers with asian accent. He
> will get back at them using the next RD due for
> the new elementary in that area. Things are going
> to get even nastier in this Gibson nightmare.
>
>
> Yes and yet it was Bradsher who told everybody
> that these schools belonged to the SB and she
> represented the Springfield district. I personally
> did not agree with Bradsher's notion of the
> schools belonging to the SB. It is for everyone. I
> would be cautious with the word of "interferring"
> because these sbms talked privately in advance
> about the boundary decision and made back room
> deals. On another note of the word "public", I
> looked up the dictionary..anybody who would care,
> go look it up and see the meaning, it means open
> to everyone. Well, think of this way, there are
> thousands and thousands of public restrooms and we
> can choose any public restroom to use, well why
> can't this be the same way with public schools?
> These public schools do not only belong to the SB,
> it is for everyone and everyone has the right to
> choose which schools to go to!
>
>
> Admire? Stu single handedly destroyed all public
> trust in the SB. He has done more harm to FCPS
> than all SBMs combined since start of FCPS.

What about Moon? He only cares about asians.

Just look at this almost all white SB and tell me what they are doing to hurt Madison, Langley or McLean? Nothing.

This SB is bias against anyone who is not white.

Blacks and hispanics need to attend SB meetings in order to understand what this SB is doing that effects them.

Knowledge is power.


If you are not white Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just look at this almost all white SB and tell me
> what they are doing to hurt Madison, Langley or
> McLean? Nothing.
>
> This SB is bias against anyone who is not white.

If this is not racist, what is?

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Fairfax County's school board is tabling a report that grades moral character by race, one school board member tells WTOP.

"I cannot speak for the entire board but the sense of the governance committee is that we postpone or postpone indefinitely," says School Board Member At-Large Ilryong Moon.

The board hasn't made the decision formal yet.

The subjective scoring system caused quite a stir last month because it concludes white and Asian students score higher than black and Hispanic students on moral issues and ethical judgment.

Gibsons statement:

If you have a high-achieving student, that student is going to succeed at any high school in Fairfax County,” Gibson said. “The challenge that we have is where the student is not getting help at home; where the parents might not even speak English.”

If this is not racist what is.

Murdering, Enslaving, and denying someone liberty based on their skin color is RACIST. Citing objective scores from a govt. report citing Whites and Asians are academically/morally superior isn't. They're just objective facts. Are facts racist? laws of nature racist? If they are.. so be it. Your argument has zero merit. Understand your place on this earth, and embrace it.

Gibson is racist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gibsons statement:
>
> If you have a high-achieving student, that student
> is going to succeed at any high school in Fairfax
> County,” Gibson said. “The challenge that we have
> is where the student is not getting help at home;
> where the parents might not even speak English.”
>
> If this is not racist what is.

what does not speaking english have to do with race?


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

You need to check out Hillary and Obama democrat, your place is not on this earth.


Democrat4life Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Murdering, Enslaving, and denying someone liberty
> based on their skin color is RACIST. Citing
> objective scores from a govt. report citing Whites
> and Asians are academically/morally superior
> isn't. They're just objective facts. Are facts
> racist? laws of nature racist? If they are.. so
> be it. Your argument has zero merit. Understand
> your place on this earth, and embrace it.

If you are black or hispanics and are a student in FCPS you will either be a drop out or have low scores.

Why?

Blacks and hispanics ARE the problem.


FCPS has a problem Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you are black or hispanics and are a student in
> FCPS you will either be a drop out or have low
> scores.
>
> Why?

Wonder bread you sound like the school board. They blame everything on blacks and hispanics just like you.

We need to improve SAT scores, reduce drop out rates and lower the number of schools that failed NCLB.


WONDER BREAD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Blacks and hispanics ARE the problem.
>
>
> FCPS has a problem Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If you are black or hispanics and are a student
> in
> > FCPS you will either be a drop out or have low
> > scores.
> >
> > Why?

Because they are the problem.


lame game Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wonder bread you sound like the school board. They
> blame everything on blacks and hispanics just like
> you.
>
> We need to improve SAT scores, reduce drop out
> rates and lower the number of schools that failed
> NCLB.
>
>
> WONDER BREAD Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Blacks and hispanics ARE the problem.
> >
> >
> > FCPS has a problem Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > If you are black or hispanics and are a
> student
> > in
> > > FCPS you will either be a drop out or have
> low
> > > scores.
> > >
> > > Why?

According to the latest bumbling idiot school board member, Gibson, FCPS is unable to help these kids because of all their socio-economic baggage.

Hey Stu-what about this:

Ware Elementary School-Fort Riley, Junction City, Kansas

82% of students are on FRM
23% come from single parent homes
21% Black, 10% Latino, 21% ESL
Mobility rate is 65%

They spend HALF per pupil than FCPD does

83% of low income kids passed the 5th grade reading tests
86% of low income kids passed 5th grade math tests

What is your excuse now???

How are your Reston schools doing by the way????

Do your job or get the hell out of the way.

FCPS has a history of morality issues with blacks and hispanics.



Back in the 1990s, as the demographics of the county were changing and blacks and hispanics began to move en masse away from the Route 1 corridor, Fairfax County Public Schools issued a brochure that stated that "black and hispanic children were less likely to have the requisite skills to be ready for kindergarten." This brochure did not highlight language or cultural differences at all. This carte blanc pronouncement was not only irresponsible, but it signaled to me that there was trouble ahead. So the current attitude towards "morality" is not knew. Remember this is the same school district that shut down the schools during desegregation rather than allow black children to go to school with white children.

Didn't I just read this?

DESEGREGATION Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FCPS has a history of morality issues with blacks
> and hispanics.
>
>
>
> Back in the 1990s, as the demographics of the
> county were changing and blacks and hispanics
> began to move en masse away from the Route 1
> corridor, Fairfax County Public Schools issued a
> brochure that stated that "black and hispanic
> children were less likely to have the requisite
> skills to be ready for kindergarten." This
> brochure did not highlight language or cultural
> differences at all. This carte blanc pronouncement
> was not only irresponsible, but it signaled to me
> that there was trouble ahead. So the current
> attitude towards "morality" is not knew. Remember
> this is the same school district that shut down
> the schools during desegregation rather than allow
> black children to go to school with white
> children.

I really hope that CAPS jumps on this issue. The suspension/expulsion rates, the dropouts, the achievement gaps. Nobody is fighting for these kids-FCPS has ignored these kids for years. It is positively criminal.

No...blacks and hispanics are the criminals.


CAPS needs to get on this Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I really hope that CAPS jumps on this issue. The
> suspension/expulsion rates, the dropouts, the
> achievement gaps. Nobody is fighting for these
> kids-FCPS has ignored these kids for years. It is
> positively criminal.

CAPS needs to get on this Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I really hope that CAPS jumps on this issue. The
> suspension/expulsion rates, the dropouts, the
> achievement gaps. Nobody is fighting for these
> kids-FCPS has ignored these kids for years. It is
> positively criminal.

I believe the school board and FCPS are racist and bias against blacks/hispanics, but is Fairfac county as a whole also racist and bias against blacks/hispanics?

You tell me.

You all are rediculous. Every time one of you fuck up you play the racist card. It's people like you that stall the people who actually CARE about getting a good education.

More racist and facist ideas from FCPS employees

A nice reply from Bruce. It is propaganda. None of it changes the harsh reality that these RD areas now have to face. Bruce was part of the team that brought about the RD in the horrible way it was done. It would be naive to think that Bruce was not out there lobbying in the background for pulling specific areas into South Lakes. He is as much bought into the notion that rich white familites of North Reston should go Langley and middle class diverse neighbourhoods of FM and floris should go to South Lakes, as is Stu Gibson. Stu Gibson was in the front implementing his racist and facist ideas, Bruce was silently working in the back during the RD.

When will it stop?

[youtube.com]

Actually I don't think the talk of racism started on this forum--or certainly didn't end here. It was a teacher at SL, who spoke at the first public hearing, who suggested those who didn't support the RD were racists; it was Stu Gibson who told his farmer and plow story and immediately cited the number of hispanics at SL at the RD vote meeting; and it was Bruce Butler, who in a November article in the SL newspaper, said that he thought those who didn't want/like SL might "fear diversity." What does the phrase fear diversity mean to you? So, there are many people responsible for the racial rhetoric regarding SL.


Gibson is a low life.

Once again, this just proves the point that there is a huge disparity between Fairfax County schools. I question the congratulations to the SB-what about our low-performing schools?

What are we doing to help those students get an excellent education?

Low performing schools Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Once again, this just proves the point that there
> is a huge disparity between Fairfax County
> schools. I question the congratulations to the
> SB-what about our low-performing schools?
>
> What are we doing to help those students get an
> excellent education?

Maybe you should read the facts- Fairfax County has the high scores for schools in the US. Congrats Fairfax School Board

What about the 70 school out of 184 that failed NCLB and the high drop out rates in FCPS.

Tell me how many kids never take any test, which makes scores higher.


Fairfax School Top 2% In US Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Low performing schools Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Once again, this just proves the point that
> there
> > is a huge disparity between Fairfax County
> > schools. I question the congratulations to the
> > SB-what about our low-performing schools?
> >
> > What are we doing to help those students get an
> > excellent education?
>
> Maybe you should read the facts- Fairfax County
> has the high scores for schools in the US.
> Congrats Fairfax School Board

THAT is the SAD part. No one is paying any attention to the fact the schools are only educating those who are the easiest to educate, those who come to school with every advantage and with parents who have the money and ability to educate them at home. There is NO reason why FCPS has to settle for this economic disparity. Or it doesn't have to be as large as it is now. They could educate more children, and they even know how, but they won't. Their ideology will not permit it. Since Stu, and most of the others, know what is preventing them from doing what they could be doing, they have no choice but to accept the failures of so many students to receive even a basic education in FCPS.

Once again FCPS is only able to educate the students of parents who have money. The have nots can go to hell in this school system.

Have nots get screwed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Once again FCPS is only able to educate the
> students of parents who have money. The have nots
> can go to hell in this school system.

you are full of shit. rich or poor, you can be educated if you simply try. how exactly does "money == educable" because last time i checked, money doesnt make one intelligent.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

BIAS


These fox mill houses are 2000 sq ft or less mostly. These are middle class neighbourhoods. The McMansions of North Reston and Langley were protected by Stu Gibson. Gibson is on record saying that North Reston does not want to go to South Lakes and so he is not going to include them. In any case the school board or Gibson will never mess with rich folks. It does not make political sence and Gibson is first of all a politician


Have nots get screwed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> THAT is the SAD part. No one is paying any
> attention to the fact the schools are only
> educating those who are the easiest to educate,
> those who come to school with every advantage and
> with parents who have the money and ability to
> educate them at home. There is NO reason why FCPS
> has to settle for this economic disparity. Or it
> doesn't have to be as large as it is now. They
> could educate more children, and they even know
> how, but they won't. Their ideology will not
> permit it. Since Stu, and most of the others, know
> what is preventing them from doing what they could
> be doing, they have no choice but to accept the
> failures of so many students to receive even a
> basic education in FCPS.
>
> Once again FCPS is only able to educate the
> students of parents who have money. The have nots
> can go to hell in this school system.

I feel it's not race that is the issue...it's just plain bad parenting all the way around. Parents don't discipline their kids and, from what I've seen in recent years, it's the more "affluent" parents that are really egregious about it. Kids today seem to have such a sense of "entitlement" it's sickening. Many is the time I see some kid, any race, acting like an ass and his mother/father doing nothing about it. This is what happens when people think "the schools should raise my kid". If that's your attitude, you get what you deserve.

Fort Hunt 85 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I feel it's not race that is the issue...it's just
> plain bad parenting all the way around. Parents
> don't discipline their kids and, from what I've
> seen in recent years, it's the more "affluent"
> parents that are really egregious about it. Kids
> today seem to have such a sense of "entitlement"
> it's sickening. Many is the time I see some kid,
> any race, acting like an ass and his mother/father
> doing nothing about it. This is what happens when
> people think "the schools should raise my kid". If
> that's your attitude, you get what you deserve.


Exactly.

Is it because FCPS is racist and bias against blacks/hispanics?


The three magisterial districts with the
lowest GPA’s sit at the south-east end of
the county.

Working down the county,

Mason magisterial district ranks seventh
with a 2.73 GPA,

Lee magisterial district ranks
eighth with a 2.64 GPA,

Mount Vernon ranks ninth
with a 2.36 GPA.

Why does FCPS fail these schools Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is it because FCPS is racist and bias against
> blacks/hispanics?
>
>
> The three magisterial districts with the
> lowest GPA’s sit at the south-east end of
> the county.
>
> Working down the county,
>
> Mason magisterial district ranks seventh
> with a 2.73 GPA,
>
> Lee magisterial district ranks
> eighth with a 2.64 GPA,
>
> Mount Vernon ranks ninth
> with a 2.36 GPA.

Sounds like Kory, Center and Storck are racist and bias agains blacks/hispanics.

This might be an unfair statement-but it seems that FCPS keeps saying how much they care about our "at risk" kids. Yet they seem to be killing all the programs that help the minorities....

Summitt, Time Out, Young Scholars....

How come the programs that enrich the White kids some how manage to keep their funding???

This FLES which maintained funding-heck-Smith tried to expand the program even though there is no money does not seem to benefit the kids who are struggling.

We can't teach the Latinos how to speak English but we are going to spend tons of money so some kid in Great Falls can speak Chinese. It makes no sense.

Why would Latinos have to speak English? They could go through their whole life and never have to actually learn the language. Press 1 for English, press 2 for Spanish.



do as I say... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We can't teach the Latinos how to speak English
> but we are going to spend tons of money so some
> kid in Great Falls can speak Chinese. It makes no
> sense.

FYI


If you look at the public hearing, about 80% of the anti RD were non white. Almost 90% of all pro RD supporters from South lakes were white. If you look at the profile of RD areas - you will find they are not white. Some areas of Floris are completely Asian. Most of the Anti RD speaker parents had trouble communicating in English and were first generation immigrants. These are people who know the world and hardships better than the entire white school board or the entirely white SLPTSA does. Funny it is the white elitists who are playing the race card against a diverse community, who they forced RD on. Totally wierd reversal of roles

White Elitists Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FYI
>
>
> If you look at the public hearing, about 80% of
> the anti RD were non white. Almost 90% of all pro
> RD supporters from South lakes were white. If you
> look at the profile of RD areas - you will find
> they are not white. Some areas of Floris are
> completely Asian. Most of the Anti RD speaker
> parents had trouble communicating in English and
> were first generation immigrants. These are people
> who know the world and hardships better than the
> entire white school board or the entirely white
> SLPTSA does. Funny it is the white elitists who
> are playing the race card against a diverse
> community, who they forced RD on. Totally wierd
> reversal of roles

The real racists are SBMs like Stu Gibson. He pledged his support to the rich white communities of North Reston going to white Langley, while at the same time pushing more middle class diverse communities from far away into reston south lakes, which has a lot of diverse population. Every one of the school board member who voted for this RD fully knowing that they were shielding rich white areas of Reston, to let them go Langley is a true racist at heart. Here are the exact words of the racist Gibson as qouted in a local newspaper:


"A lot of people choose where to live based on the high schools where they live. It has been suggested before that all of Reston should go to South Lakes. North Point Village doesn't want to go to South Lakes. I love South Lakes. I have a daughter who went there and another that is going to graduate from there, but North Point Village doesn't want to go there," said Stuart Gibson (Hunter Mill). "If someone wants to go out in the community and float the idea of a boundary change, go ahead, but I for one will not be supporting that measure."


No doubt left who is a racist.