What, Did They Run Out Of Ribbons?
By Greg L | 4 December 2007 | Fairfax County | 97 Comments
I’m rather surprised the Prince William County Schools aren’t participating in this:
FCPS Students to Observe Different Shoe Day During National Inclusive Schools Week
Different Shoe Day, a symbolic gesture of accepting and valuing other people and their differences by wearing a different shoe on each foot, will be observed in ten Fairfax County public schools on Friday, December 7, as part of National Inclusive Schools Week, December 3-7. This is a grassroots project organized by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) parents.
Participating elementary schools include: Clermont, Fairhill, Floris, Forest Edge, Fort Hunt, Franklin Sherman, Laurel Ridge, Oak View, Washington Mill, and West Springfield. National Inclusive Schools Week highlights and celebrates the progress of the nation’s schools that provide a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
This activity will encourage students to learn about each other, foster acceptance and appreciation of differences, and teach students to recognize the similarities between themselves and their fellow students.
Everybody dress silly, now. It’s for a good cause. It’s for “celebrating diversity”.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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The lib jurisdictions around here are clearly running a stupid contest to see which of them can out dumb the other. They are truly insane.
I’ll bet their will be lawsuits if a kid trips because he crossed up his Nike with his Timberland…
And oh yeah - that won’t be a distraction to learning would it?
How about a field trip to the Smithsonian museum of AMERICAN history instead! Beuhler….Beuhler…sp?
I’d keep my kid home to watch Happy Days or Leave it to Beaver re-runs all day. They would learn so much more about America from that than a day in school with this idiotic stunt.
No wonder our schools and children are becoming more learning impaired with each passing year…I guess this brings keeping in step with No Child Left Behind to whole new level.
What ever happened to the three R’s?
Yes sir, wearing two different shoes will go along way to help students learn about each other, foster acceptance and appreciation of differences, and teach students to recognize the similarities between themselves and their fellow students. Why make it for only one day. Make it mandatory all year!
Yeah!
Since my children have native American Indian blood in them, would they wear moccasins or would they go barefoot if they went to one of these schools???
How about kilts? When my oldest was 4 he wore his kilt to church at St. Pattie’s Day. One of the parent’s walking down the hallway asked him what he was wearing under his kilt and his reply was, “My shoes.” The parent could not stop laughing. I taught him well.
Here’s an idea. In some places around the world they use pieces of a tire for shoes. How about this? And as MdMan stated, what happens if they fall down???
People leave their country to come to America for a better life. They work hard and they succeed so that they can dress their children in clothes that are more fitting to their new social class.
The Mission Statement is “This activity will encourage students to learn about each other, foster acceptance and appreciation of differences”. Ok, but what about them accepting OUR way of life and sets of values???
Oh wait, we have a POC to ask questions about. This is taken off of the Fairfax County Public School website (Source: http://www.fcps.edu/suptapps/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=747):
Note: For more information, contact Beth Jarvis at 703-619-4778, 703-203-2159, or home@pbjarvis.us.
Im glad my kids are out of high school and in college now. There, they
have the option of ignoring this sort of childish nonsense. I moved
to Fairfax from S. Arlington a few years ago in part, to get away
from pathological PC. The school board was trying to make elementary
school kids read a book called “Daddy Has a Friend”. By fourth grade,
the kids were learning more about Mexico then their own country.
I suppose the next trick will be to make them all come to school in
drag “just so they can relate to the experience”. PC=BS
Ive e-mailed my thoughts on the “shoe show” to everyone on the
FFx County School Board. (Ill bet they ignore me).
This is almost too stupid to respond too. However, exactly how does this type of activity increase the brain power and or learning power of the students?
And folks ask why we have our child in private school…
Oh ya, I can’t wait for all of the public school defenders to weigh in on this.
Laugh all you want- the Faifax SD is the envy of almost every other SD in Virginia. . .you’d have to be an idiot to think that they don’t (generally) deliver quality instruction and prepare kids for college. True, the shoe-idea is a little goofy- but bashing FSD as a whole as being some out-of-touch entity doesn’t wash.
Hey John
What is our way of life?
Please define
So what you guys are saying is we should force everyone to think and look a like and we should not teach our children to accept the differences in others. Kind of what of the Taliban was promoting.
Sad thing is you guys can not even recognize the hate you promote.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Talk about inclusion! “Whosoever” is a huge word.
“including students with disabilities”
Come on, people…it’s not always about the Mexicans. Give it a break.
Ah, it didn’t take long for the PC refrain of racism to enter the discussion. Bottom line is this is America and to spend an entire day shoving multicultural crap down kids’ throats with a romper-room stunt is disgraceful.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just have a social studies class where kids can
get up and talk about their ethnicity if they are not from here
originally?
Yes it would, but liberals have no common sense. They would rather give the kids an opportunity to see how goofy they can dress and let them play slap and tickle for a day. This is the same mindset that other “educators” have used to give birthcontrol to 12 year-olds.
Keep your kid home that day and let’s move on.
Jay,
The Fairfax school system used to be a great school system. Give it more time and the liberals will have it on par with the DC school system.
Ignorance of a culture promotes misunderstandings and in many cases can cause serious destructive attitudes in a learning environment. Schools are becoming more diverse everyday and it is important for students to understand the cultures of each individual.
Anonymous: Would that “ignorance” be anything like dressing up as Satan in a Parade held in the United States or maybe flying planes into buildings because we are the great infidel?
Or maybe that “ignorance” you talk about would be akin to putting your beliefs before the masses? Quite possibly, it could be the ignorance that believes that you can say or do what you want and claim that it is your heritage?
So, when the Sons of Confederate Veterans are marching in parade with the Stars and Bars about their ancestors who actually lived, fought, and died on this very soil, please do not call them racists because that would be, well, ignorant.
Oh for the love of Pete! It is a fun day for kids and the theme for the day is to be tolerant of those who might not be just like you. It is probably based on some variation of ‘walk a mile in my moccassins’ or ‘if the shoe were on the other foot.’
Learning to be kind to others is hardly a novel idea. When I was a kid we did things that taught you not to make fun of kids on crutches who had had polio and those who ate lard sandwiches because they were poor. They locked all the special ed kids in the attic so we never had to see them.
Time for everyone to get back to work and stop blogging on the boss’ time. No one is trying to brainwash your kids.
Why does there ALWAYS have to be little tiny liberals scurrying out from under every rock?
What is our culture?
Are far as the Sons of Confederate Veterans, I really don’t care my great grand fathers were on the winning side. 1st Vermont You know the ones fighting to preserve the nation and stop slavery. Let them march. So how much have you learned about the reason about Satan being in the parade or would you rather wallow in your ignorance and point fingers.
Considering the Merriam Webster definition of liberal, I think we could use a few more crawling out from under the rocks…..particularly those categorized under definition #2
1) a: of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts barchaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2)a: marked by generosity : openhanded b: given or provided in a generous and openhanded way c: ample, full
not literal or strict : loose
3): broad-minded; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms
Think positively, a little misguided illegal alien apologist democrat child might wear the shoes of a perfect republican child - boom the little democrat child might have an epiphany. Think of the possibilities!
I haven’t met too many people that didn’t benefit from exercising their brain.
Anonymous said on 4 Dec 2007 at 2:22 pm:
Ignorance of a culture promotes misunderstandings and in many cases can cause serious destructive attitudes in a learning environment.
I’m sure if a kid is not taught about, and has other “cultures” thrown down his throat he/she is going to be severely impaired for life. NOT! We have college students that can’t point Colorado or London on a map. Ask a student where Paraguay is. I’ll bet you ten out of ten can’t tell you but encouraging stupid displays like wearing different shoes in the hopes it will promote diversity is just plain ignorant.
Anonymous,
It really isn’t about who won. It is about pride in your heritage.
Do you seriously think that all federal soldiers fought to end slavery? You had better run for cover because I feel a serious history lesson coming on.
If my child didn’t know where Colorado was by the time he/she was 7 I would have bought the placemats. That is a parental responsibility not just the schools. We taught our son all the US/European/Central and South American capitals by the time he was 10. Same for musical instruments, currency of the world, presidents and so on…
Those placemats are the best!!! So is the Teacher’s store. Very inexpensive for home purchases as well.
Every parent should be somewhat of a homeschooler. It’s the best thing for the childrent.
John Light said on 4 Dec 2007 at 2:42 pm:
So, when the Sons of Confederate Veterans are marching in parade with the Stars and Bars about their ancestors who actually lived, fought, and died on this very soil, please do not call them racists because that would be, well, ignorant.
Great comment, John! Let’s see how many intelligent responses you get.
You probably will not get too many intelligent one but you can bet on getting a lot of ignorant ones.
Don’t make fun of Fairfax County schools…not when Manassas’ and Manssas Park’s schools rate as they do. As far as I know people have been moaning about the state of education in the US since the early/mid-sixties when the SAT scores started to slip. I think there are more legitimate complaints to make about “No child left behind” than about mismatched shoes.
Dolph said on 4 Dec 2007 at 3:28 pm:
Anonymous,
It really isn’t about who won. It is about pride in your heritage.
Do you seriously think that all federal soldiers fought to end slavery? You had better run for cover because I feel a serious history lesson coming on.
When Anonymous was supposed to be taking History, he was in the playground learning how to be diverse.
Dolph,
Back when I was growing up, we would have an entire day dedicated to our culture (we did this at each level of school, Elementary, Middle, and High School). We would wear traditional clothing, bring in food, music, etc.
That being said, one night the Elementary school teacher said she wanted us to wear something that was NOT from our heritage and we had to GUESS as to the nationality. My mom, God Bless her, (remember, I am about 8 years old at this time), dressed me up in a Greek Soldiers uniform.
Ok, have you ever SEEN a Greek Soldiers uniform before??? Well, click here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evzones and check out the white uniforms.
Needless to say, no one guessed my “nationality”, lol, but I was a BIG hit with the parents - lol. We all learned something - mine was not to join the Greek Army - lol.
My issue with this “different shoe on different feet” is that any lesson is going to be lost. It is a feel good exercise which really has no value. Tell me, has “The Simple Life” REALLY helped Paris Hilton (who is MUCH more “mature than Elementary School kids, right??? lol) understand and respect those “beneath” (not my belief, but am sure hers and her mother’s) her???
John
Won’t they still be in a classroom with their shoes?
You people really are sad. Something like this means a lot to many people. My autistic son for example. Not everything is about race or culture.
So… why exactly are folks from Prince William County so preoccupied with what Fairfax County decides to do? To each his or her own. We have our own problems.
John,
Too bad you couldn’t have been a Zuave. That would have kept everyone guessing for a while. Having to be a Greek Soldier must have been character building to say the least. You probably had to do a few playground fights long with wearing that uniform. Again, character building.
I have no problem with special days as long as food for thought does not become a full course meal. Little kids seem to enjoy those special occassions and if they learn to be nice to each other, and particularly, to someone others might see as ‘different,’ so much the better.
When things like this become a full course meal, then my mood does change.
Anonymous said on 4 Dec 2007 at 3:21 pm:
“What is our culture?
Are far as the Sons of Confederate Veterans, I really don’t care my great grand fathers were on the winning side. 1st Vermont You know the ones fighting to preserve the nation and stop slavery.”
Ok, history lesson. Did Lincoln want the Slaves to live here? Oh no, he wanted to send them “to Liberia - to their own native land.” (sorry, Anonymous, his words, not mine).
Oh, did you know that there were slave holding states that fought for the North? Yeah, Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri. Oh, WAS it about slavery? No, that did not come up until it was clear that the Union was loosing (the South has ALWAYS been known for having better Generals and fighters). The States believed that they could nullify Federal laws within their own borders, the North felt otherwise. Therefore, what began as a State’s Rights issue then became a “slavery” issue.
Oh, Anonymous, how many slaves did The Emancipation Proclamation free? Did it apply to EVERY state in Northern America, or only those states OUTSIDE of the Union’s control???
This is a liberal idea to get the children in the public schools to accept all Lifestyles that they deemed appropriate and not just cultures. Next there have cross dress day like they have in other parts of the US where your sons dress like girls and girls dress like boys to show that we are all a like with no regard for the parents views or wishes…is that also considered a “fun day.” Sometimes a view of the bigger picture is needed not the actual act itself.
Anonymous said on 4 Dec 2007 at 3:52 pm:
Not everything is about race or culture.
Tell that to the illegals and their appologist supporters. That’s all you hear from them!
Dolph,
Now THAT would have been a visual - lol. Actually, everyone liked me because I had a good sense of humor - go figure, lol. Also, I was tall for my age and back then that meant something.
John
“Next there have cross dress day like they have in other parts of the US where your sons dress like girls and girls dress like boys to show that we are all a like with no regard for the parents views or wishes…is that also considered a “fun day.” ”
Oh, I think that occurred at George Mason College in the Sixties as a way to get rid of an antiquated sexist dress code.
Perhaps some students will wear 2 left shoes to show solidarity with the Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and the “I have no clue what sex I am crowd”.
Queer as two left shoes.
Or they could wear two right, tight, and pinching shoes to show solidarity to the Right. They’d be crabby as hell.
Jody Wilcox–
Hmm…cross-dressing…where have I seen that in public schools…oh, yeah, powder-puff football, a time-honored tradition dating back well before political correctness or diversity education.
But I agree…a view of the big picture is needed. Maybe some of the folks here need to get out a little more and experience something beyond their normal cloistered existence.
I must say that I find it impossible not to visit this blog at least a few times a day just for the entertainment value alone. It never ceases to amaze me what issues get you in a dander and just how quickly Greg can get the fawning faithful into a full-blown tizzy.
I would point out one thing about this whole shoe business…please note this line in the press release:
“This is a grassroots project organized by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) parents.” [emphasis added)
Fairfax County Public School teachers and administrators did NOT come up with this idea. It was the parents. It was people just like you and me, not some “liberal NEA indoctrinators” (oops, now I’ve let out the secret that they really DO exist) sent to corrupt the youth of America.
Old Soldier said on 4 Dec 2007 at 3:58 pm:
“So… why exactly are folks from Prince William County so preoccupied with what Fairfax County decides to do? To each his or her own. We have our own problems.”
For the same reason we follow what they do - as our neighbors, it is good to know what is going on in the other county so we can see what to expect down the road.
Ask MdMan if PWC policies have affected life in Maryland concerning illegals. From what I gather from his posts, he will say they DIRECTLY affected Maryland. And THAT is more than just 5 miles away!!!
Yes, we in Fairfax DO have our own problems, such as a certain member of the BOS who has his head in the sand concerning the illegal immigration problem within the county. Same with what happens in the school systems. Fairfax County is the beacon on the hill for the nation with the Northern Virginia school systems leading the way in this land of ours. And JUST as the National News reports on what happens in a school system in San Francisco, so does BVBL post what is happening in neighboring counties.
Wow. So much hate and anger. My name is Tracy and I am married to a retired SF soldier. I have two children on the autism spectrum. I am a republican, a Catholic and a NY Giant’s fan.
And what does any of that have to do with regonizing “National Inclusive Schools Week”, nothing but apparently to half of the bloggers it does though I am not sure why.
“Different Shoe Day” highlights and celebrates the progress of our nation’s schools in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students with disabilities and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backrounds. Hopefully parents will take a few minutes to talk to their children about diversity in our community and that we all have strengths and weakness regardless of our race, political affiliations, disabilities, etc… And maybe, just maybe your child will go to school the next day and instead of seeing a girl in a wheelchair, they will see a girl that likes ice cream just like they do or instead of seeing the boy flapping his hands, they will see the NY Giant’s jersey that he is wearing just like the one your child has on. Or not. But what is the harm in trying to have our children learn a valuable lesson in a fun and silly way? There is no harm.
John Light said on 4 Dec 2007 at 3:34 pm:
Ok, have you ever SEEN a Greek Soldiers uniform before???
When on parade or standing guard, the Evzone (Presidential Honor Guard) wear the colorful traditional costume of the mountain warriors who fought the Ottomans in the Greek War of Independence (1821-32). This dress uniform includes tasseled cap and shoes, white stockings and the fustanella, a shirtwaist with pleated skirt of white fustian.
The Greek military uniforms were based at one time on the British military’s uniforms. This has changed over the years and the Greek military uniforms are similar the the U.S. military. The uniform you referred to in the original post is strictly ceremonial and is worn only by the Presidential Honor Guard.
Spent a number of years in Greece and although I am not Greek, I love that country and it’s people.
Turn PW:
When you say “NEA”, are you referring to THIS organization:
http://www.nea-glbtc.org/
Tracy said on 4 Dec 2007 at 4:34 pm:
Hopefully parents will take a few minutes to talk to their children about diversity in our community and that we all have strengths and weakness regardless of our race, political affiliations, disabilities, etc…
Right on! Diversity should be taught at home. This different shoe day is out in left field if it’s trying to teach kids respect for different cultures. Buy the way, when I was in school we always had exchange students. There were no special rites held. The student(s) were introduced to the class and assimilated with the class. Today we are trying to force diversity instead of letting it happen naturally. Just my opinion.
Turn PW Blue said on 4 Dec 2007 at 4:29 pm:
“This is a grassroots project organized by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) parents.” [emphasis added)
This wouldn’t be the same group that put the book “Johnny Has Two Daddys” in the schools, would it?
Vigilant1 - you are 100% correct.
Yes, I wore the white uniform and was only going off of information provided to me by mom at that time. She and Dad were stationed in Greece and while I have not ever been there (definitely don’t recommend it to women who are about to give birth, lol), I do like their food
Vigilant1,
There were always a couple of exchange students during my years too. They were a welcome addition to the school, and they DID assimilate with no hesitation that I ever saw. I remember one girl from Spain, and most students were clueless to the fact she was an exchange student. These students were typically here for the school year, and they embraces our way of life. Today, we have “uninvited guests”(I like invaders, myself) in our communities, and they do not assilmilate or really even attempt it. So, if teenagers assilmilated while here visiting. Why is it that those who choose to leave THEIR country, don’t choose to assimilate, and live the American dream?
BTW-On a lighter note, another self deportation house on my block. The curb was covered with everything from trash to furniture/matresses. I will post pictures later.
Lafayette,
Foreign exchange students are taught how to assimilate. They prepare for the exchange for years. Thus, the difference.
So more empty houses over your way? I guess our tax dollars will be responsible for the clean up.
JL,
I am glad your humor spared you having to duke it out on the playground. Thanks for delivering that brief history lesson I promised. I no longer have the patience. I figured you or CoM wouldn’t let me down.
hmmmm…would that Republican Party be the same one with the Log Cabin Republicans? Sorry, I could resist with a little parallel ‘humor.’
Does 4+4 not add up to 8 in certain cultures? How is getting along with a classmate going to improve a test score? This is all a bunch of silly politically correct BS that is being pushed as education by liberals who have taken over many school districts. Schools do more damage then good when they attempt to push differences on students.
As I have said before on this blog, I grew up in Arlington County, and went to school with what I suppose passes today as a diverse student body. However, we were not force feed this type of garbage, and you know what, we all got along great. We saw what we had in common and used that to become friends. There were not separate tables for white students, black students or Asian students. We all sat together as friends at lunch, and played together during break.
What do schools do to show what students have in common? What do schools do to show that every student should aspire to be an American? Rather then to highlight perceived differences, why not highlight what is common among students.
One shoe with “KKK” written on it and one shoe with a “Swastika” , after all FFX schools are promoting diversity, cultural awareness and sensitivity.
I know a certain PWC elementary school that has pajama day. I know they did two years ago.
We had “costume day” at my school when I was a teenager. But it wasn’t tied to any cause or theory or whatever you want to call it. It was just supposed to be fun.
It seems that schools are incapable of permitting fun without some sort of preachy aspect to it these days…
Dolph,
Really, I must say you make the foriegn exchange students’ “preparation” sound like they are in training for the Olympics in Russia(communist). Do you really think these students are in training for years to visit here as an exchange student?
Yes, another empty house over here. There was serious “dumpster diving” going on down there too. I hope they payed their trash bill, and gets picked up. If it doesn’t I will be sure and call Zoning to report it for clean up. I doubt anyone else will. There were several on this blog that chose to laugh and comment on the “coke machine”, yet never thought enough of their/our community to even pick up the phone. I purposely didn’t call, just to see what would happen.
Citizen of Manassas,
We all sat and played together here in PWC when I was growing up like you in Arlington. Schools, are for an education.
I don’t think the schools promote the common ground at all. It’s all about being PC and “warm and fuzzy”. Perhaps, a teacher could help explain this.
Why not have an “American” day or month in our schools?
Spekaing of inclusion….my nephew and his family recently moved n with us at a local school district (NOT Pr. Wm. or Manassas and certainly not Fairfax…) and was discrienated aginsts by the councilors there.
They said because he is still learning English he should not be in an Advanced PLacement course but my nephew is very smart in Mexico and I know he could learn the same material any American boy could if only they would provide more translators.
Let’s really push our schools to be more inclusive and serve ALL the students!!
Tia,
Is there no ESOL en su escuelas? What jurisdicition is this in?
There doesn’t seem to be a shortage in ESOL teachers around these parts.
Lafayette,
I think the Russian foreign exchangers did prepare like it was the Olympics. But that is how they do things. I don’t think other countries were quite as intense. The ones I remember from back in the day sure had a good background in English under their belts before they got here. Thus, another difference.
You are going to be living in a ghost town if things keep going the way they are going over on Lafayette. Are you putting something in the water? grin!
“They said because he is still learning English he should not be in an Advanced PLacement course but my nephew is very smart in Mexico and I know he could learn the same material any American boy could if only they would provide more translators.”
Providing him with translators won’t help him when he’s out of school. He needs to SPEAK ENGLISH.
Dolph,
The self deportations and foreclosures seem to being doing just fine on their own.
We have to many water main breaks over here in WestGate for anything to harm the water.
Sudley just a few years behind. You have been warned!
Tia,
I don’t believe any jurisdictions around here provide translators for English as a second language students. If they do, they shouldn’t. Students need to learn English first, and then pick up advanced classes. They will be tested in English, not in Spanish. I would say that the counsellors were doing their job rather than discriminating against your nephew.
Since he is a bright boy, if he works hard he will pick up English quickly and can be placed in advanced placement classes after he has demonstrated his ability to handle those classes in English.
I hope this helps.
Dolph,
Sudley’s just a few years behind with the water main breaks. I didn’t want you to think I meant the foreclosures, because they are happening EVERYWHERE in the county and two cities.
Anonymous said on 4 Dec 2007 at 7:04 pm:
Providing him with translators won’t help him when he’s out of school. He needs to SPEAK ENGLISH.
I agree completely. I would think a “genious” would be able to pick up on English. Kids learn a second language much faster than adults.-IMHO
Tia
Plus, there is summer school so if he is up to speed with the language quickly, he can take a basic class during the summer to maybe carry an extra AP class next year. I know several kids that took PE, elective or a regular class to make room. The point about the testing is valid.
Maybe there is an organization that would provide an english tutor for your nephew. Several of the churches have these services or would be happy to help you locate a resource.
It would be shame for him to not be as challenged as possible.
Hmmm, what ever happened to CLASH DAY?
I have an improvement on this show thing: Make the kids come in weearing two white shoes, and then force them to color one of them differently. You can therefore use up classroom time and materials more effectively, plus engage in a REWARDING diversity exercise! LOL
Should’ve said SHOE thing, not SHOW thing!
Shoe show, shoo!
What ever happened to pen pals?
“Isophorone said on 4 Dec 2007 at 8:17 pm:
Hmmm, what ever happened to CLASH DAY?”
I was trying to think of what it was called back in my day of ….I think this is what is was.
John Light said on 4 Dec 2007 at 4:00 pm:
Anonymous said on 4 Dec 2007 at 3:21 pm:
“What is our culture?
Are far as the Sons of Confederate Veterans, I really don’t care my great grand fathers were on the winning side. 1st Vermont You know the ones fighting to preserve the nation and stop slavery.”
Ok, history lesson. Did Lincoln want the Slaves to live here? Oh no, he wanted to send them “to Liberia - to their own native land.” (sorry, Anonymous, his words, not mine).
Care to answer why West Virginia was admitted to the Union as as a slave State during the War? Care to explain why four States that did not leave the Union continued to have slavery during the war?
Ape Lincoln only used the slavery card in 1862 in order to keep England and France out of the war. I suppose you are a fan of big Government, because that is exactly what we have now thanks to Ape.
When I was a kid I didn’t have shoes and walked 5 miles through snow to get to school. grin
Patty said on 4 Dec 2007 at 6:07 pm:
I know a certain PWC elementary school that has pajama day. I know they did two years ago.
How about a learning day. That would be something different and the kids might just find it cool.
Lafayette said on 4 Dec 2007 at 5:03 pm:
Good news! There will no doubt be many, many more after the police action cuts in early next year. BTW, any idea who purchased Colgan’s old house? Not much in the way of signs of life there. Got a house down on Greenview Ln in Sudley that was owned by a Latino that appears empty. There has been a for sale sign on it for almost a year. He put a massive addition on it (to include his wife’s beauty salon ((legal.)) He was only asking $700,000 for it.
What is a beauty salon doing in a residential neighborhood? Are you sure this was licensed b the county? arrggghhhhhhhh!!!
Vigilant1,
Still no new owner showing up yet at Colgan’s yet. What’s the number of Greenview or general location. Boy, you’ve got me wondering. $700K for a Sudley house? It will stay for sale! Or do you think the bank owns it? Are they still asking for that much dinero?
CitizenofManassas said on 4 Dec 2007 at 8:39 pm: - you give Southern’ers a bad name. Re-read my post…you will see that I was SLAMMING Lincoln.
Can you PLEASE explain what your point was…you write it as if you are slamming me, but the quote you use of mine support YOUR hypothesis.
Let me guess, you are a public school drop-out?
Dolph said on 4 Dec 2007 at 9:09 pm:
What is a beauty salon doing in a residential neighborhood? Are you sure this was licensed b the county? arrggghhhhhhhh!!!
Maybe they are fiiming another sequel in the “Barbershop” series???
JL,
I guess everyone has their own pet peeves. Mine happens to be the ‘businesses’ in the neighborhood that impact the quality of life.
ARRGGHHHHHHH I’ll ‘barbershop’ them! grrrrrrr
CoM and JL,
You guys are both on the same side. I think there has been a misunderstanding.
I’m waiting for a child to wear shoes with different heal heights and try to run a recess, fall, and break her leg. The parents then sue for millions, taking away money from all those ‘inclusion’ kids.
Lafayette said on 4 Dec 2007 at 10:27 pm:
Vigilant1,
Still no new owner showing up yet at Colgan’s yet.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The house is the big yellow one, third down the street on the right-hand side from the corner of Strasburg. That was the asking price this summer. Haven’t seen any activity or cars parked there for some time.
Tia,
If your nephew is as bright as you say, why didn’t Mexico teach him English? Why didn’t he try to learn it on his own?
BTW, the class guidelines are different for each location. What is advanced in one place, may be regular classes at another.
Remember the good old days when kids went to school to learn reading, writing and arthimetic?
I don’t think our generation will be remembered kindly for the ignorance and stupidity we have allowed to be foisted upon our children.
Kids are coming home with 30-pound backpacks full of books, doing homework for a couple of hours a night, because the school day is occupied with garbage like this.
Dolph said on 4 Dec 2007 at 9:09 pm:
What is a beauty salon doing in a residential neighborhood? Are you sure this was licensed b the county? arrggghhhhhhhh!!!
Yes, I definitly can confirm the business was legal. I called the zoning board when I heard about it. The person I spoke to said that the business had a permit and was legal
Vigilant1,
I don’t understand why the county is allowing all this commercialism to creep in to the neighborhoods. Then they act all stupid when confronted over some of our neighborhood problems. Like doh! How did that happen.
No one needs to build an addition on their home so they can bring in a business. I don’t mind someone doing photography out of their home or some lady doing someone’s hair in the family room. I do mind a full fledged beauty parlor opening up down the street. Next thing you know someone will be building a full service auto repair garage in Westgate/Sudley. Why even have zoning laws?
Please let me know of other such violations. I will turn real nasty on this subject.
Dolph said: “…JL,…Thanks for delivering that brief history lesson I promised. I no longer have the patience. I figured you or CoM wouldn’t let me down.”
Good one, “brief” - lol I know it was long-winded. And you are welcome
When I lived at the Dale City 3rd Home Owner’s Association, we were PROHIBITED from running a business (exception was child-care) out of the house. Anything that would cause excess traffic to a neighborhood was against the rules. Not really sure if it was a Homeowners Association thing, a county thing, or a combination of the two.
jfk said on 5 Dec 2007 at 11:04 am: “…Kids are coming home with 30-pound backpacks full of books, doing homework for a couple of hours a night, because the school day is occupied with garbage like this.”
Where do YOUR kids go to school??? I agree that the kids come home with 30-pound ruck, er, backpacks and that is absolutely insane, but I only WISH they had a couple hours a night of homework. Maybe my boys are just getting their homework done quickly, but they ARE on the X-Box or PS2 a lot.
As a comparison, I averaged 3.5 hours a night and most weekends spent doing homework. Then again, my kids are much smarter than I (Jr High taking Japanese and a good number of Advance Placement courses and getting As). Also, my middle son was hoping to try out for Thomas Jefferson, but I was out of country at the time. I told him not to worry, there’s always next year and his reply was, “Don’t worry, Dad, it would just mean making new friends all over again.” God bless him!!!!
John,
I was responding to the person who said the Union was fighting to save the Union and to end slavery. I thought it was you….
If you are a kid whose family has been in Virginia for several generations and wanted to celebrate diversity and honor *your* ancestors - do you think you could commemorate the Civil War by wearing a shoe decorated for the Confederacy and a shoe decorated for the Union?
How much do you want to bet that they would send you home for being a “racist” on one of your feet ?
Gee wiz. Do they have nothing better to do in school these days than come up with ideas for future “South Park” episodes?
Oh, and John Light, similar observation: I had all AP classes at the end of HS, was NHS, played varsity sports, and had to get up at 0530 to be ready for the bus every day. My school did not permit us to drive to school, unless we had work afterwards. With matches, I didn’t get home most nights until dinner time. I never complained about it. I had straight As. My friends were all similarly motivated. I didn’t play video games: no time for that. I got a part time job as soon as I was old enough. The hard work payed off in a full scholarship later and in opportunities to study in places I’d only really have dreamed of getting to visit. I was a happy teenager.
In general…
Half of my family were immigrants (legal). They encouraged full effort and participation on the part of the children. Truly, the people who do not assimilate, who do not try to become American, miss out personal opportunities, as well as opportunities to be part of the larger society. Yes, we are all different - but we all need to try to fit in when fitting in is advantageous! People seem to think fitting in is somehow wrong these days. It isn’t. It is was people do in a society.
Okay. So, you don’t want Shoe Day. You want kids to speak only English. Some want inclusion. Some don’t want inclusion. Some like the No Child Left Behind Act, and others don’t. How many of you have actually called a school or school board to make your wants or concerns known? It is one thing to vent here on the boards. It is another to take action. How many of you have taken action and what did “they” (love the infamous “they”) tell you?
I have spoken before the County School board, and I have voiced my concerns to members of the City of Manassas school board.
A few years ago there were a few cases in the County involving students wearing Confederate tee-shirts. The excuse for not allowing it was because of “diversity” and inclusion.
Diversity only counts when it comes to racial minorities and gays.
Anon in Manassas(Is that city or county?),
I’ve also spoken before the PWCSB, and voice my concerns to any employee(teachers, principals, etc). We must make our voiced heard. We as parents are our children’s number one advocator. We can’t sit back any longer with so many things.
Enough of the PC BS!
Here’s an interesting letter regarding PWCPS in the MJM today.
http://www.manassasjm.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=MJM%2FMGArticle%2FWPN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173353745042&path=!opinion
All citizens are welcome to address the PWC School Board at any meeting. You may sign up to speak by calling our clerk at 703-791-7809 or starting our first meeting in January you may sign to speak the night of the meeting. We are very proud that all 8 High Schools that were eligible to qualify for the top 5% of the schools in the NATION did. The letter to the editor that Lafayette is linking is way off.
Sorry, the phone number is: 703-791-8709.
Okay, those who know me know I do my homework. I was off to bed, but then wanted to “confirm” my research. What I put above is correct for Newsweek’s 2006 list of the top 5% of the schools in the nation. They now have their 2007 list out:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?sort=Rank&count=1236&start=0&limit=100&year=2007&Search=VA
I have sorted it by Virginia schools to make is easier to check and now ALL 10 High Schools in PWC are listed as being in the top 5% in the NATION. Freedom and Battlefield were not eligible the previous year, but now they are and they BOTH made the list. Of course I am biased, but I am very proud of our schools!
Anon @ 11:12 am,
Englsh only, inclusion, and NCLB are all issues not under the purview of local schools. If I worked for the school board in any capacity and someone called me up grousing about English only, inclusion classes and NCLB I would think they were ignorant trouble makers.
That is not to say that you shouldn’t make your opinion known, but make it known to those who have the power. Additionally, I have yet to see anyone on bvbl supporting NCLB.
I would never accuse people who post here of just sitting around grousing amongst themselves. There are many many community activists here.
Julie Lucas,
I was very pleased to see you no longer have to sign up to speak at Citizen’s Time. I posted the “release” on the blog as soon as it was up on the school’s website. Why did they decide to change this policy? The BOS has never had the luxury of know what citizens are going to “hit” them with.
I am very concerned about the sidewalks getting clearing with all the walkers. The word needs to get out. I will be addressing with BOS as well. This is very dangerous when the snow is fozen over. I’m sure you read the comments regarding Channels 23 & 18.
I would like it known just because I post a link does NOT mean that I agree with the opinion. I’m glad your biased when it comes to our schools. It wasn’t that long ago that Stonewall Jackson was ranking #1 in the nation. I graduated from SJHS, as my daughter will too. The IB program there is ranked 18th in the nation andd 33rd in the world. This is something the whole county should be proud of. The education my daughter is getting much better than the education we had in the 70’s & 80’s. However, “world class” seems a little over the top.Lucy used this phrase when debating for the Clerks office. She said she wanted to make the our clerks office a “world class” clerk office. I’m very grateful that, and all that the PWCPS staff.
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone more biased than myself when it comes to ALL to do with my native PWC. I’ve been involved in the community my entire life. I’ve also served on the Adv. Counc to the Super. for three years. Being an “activist” is nothing new to me. I’m not a newcomer when it comes to community involvement.
You are to be commended for Neabsco District getting the first new elem. school in decades. Way to go!
I’ve contacted my Supervisor, my School Board rep, Dr. Waltz’s office, and Community Relations(PWCSB) to express concerns regarding the sidewalks when we have snow. I urged them to put a message on Channels 23 & 18 reminding citizens to clear their sidewalks. This is of great importance to insure
OUR children’s safety to and from school. Not to mention it is the law.
Mrs. Pannell,
I appreciate your comments and the mention about clearing our sidewalks. Last year I stressed this very thing during board comment time and asked that a message be put on Channel 18. We need everyone in our community to do their part to help our kids safely get to school. We can help get the schools cleared as soon as possible, but we need the citizens of PWC to help us by clearing their sidewalks ASAP. With regard to changing the policy for citizen comment time… this policy was in place well before I was on the board, but “we” the current board, talked about changing it for years. We were happy to change it and hope that more people will feel welcome to address the board. The reason why our clerk has asked about the “topic” is to help “put out fires” as soon as possible. Parents want their problem solved. They are not focused on voicing their concern on TV. Please know I am NOT suggesting that is what you or anyone wants, just that we (the School Division) want to solve problems as soon as we can. By knowing what the problem is we can try to resolve it as soon as the person signs up to speak. Just like when you came to the board to talk about milk at your daughter’s school. I hope Mr. Kisha called you right away. We want to help. I really appreciate Greg’s blog getting information out to the public. You do a great job posting things/links and I am glad to know you don’t support what that person said in their letter to the editor. “World Class” is a slogan, but is our goal for our school division. We all need goals and want to strive to achieve the very best for our children. You did the right thing by contacting your representative. I hope anyone with a concern will contact their School Board representative. All contact information is listed on our web site: www.pwcs.edu. Parents please know we need your help by volunteering at your child’s school. If you are interested in serving on a text book review committee, calendar committee, budget committee, code of behavior committee, or any other interest please contact your School Board representative. We need you!
Julie Lucas,
Yes, Mr. Kisha didn’t even let me get out the door the night I addressed the board. He also, followed up with a nice email as well. I’d like you to know there’s been no repeats.
After making my calls this morning I feel confident that Channels 23 & 18 will have something on snow removal.
I think all concerned citizens need to speak out more. The county at all levels can’t fix the problems if the concerns are never heard. We must all encourage more community involvement.
BTW-It is Ms. Pannell. (That’s the name I was born with)
****
For others that might not know Chris Pannell is me.
Lafayette.
What have I done, Anonymous in Manassas? I put my daughter in private school for starters, since I do not have a high opinion of the FCPS system. I’m not against children learning other languages, I am against children not being proficient in English. English is the language you must be able to speak in order to be successful in the USA. Learning to speak additional languages provides an advantage.
According to the topic of the blog. We should all learn 1000 different languages so we can all learn to tolerate and understand our cultural and social, and lingual differences better, and to wear shoes that never match so we can understand what we are saying and conveying to each other better.
We are not supposed to wear the same shoes if we believe in diversity and not in homogenity.
We are not supposed to speak the same language if we believe in diversity and not in a blended homgenous society.
We are not supposed to have the same rights and equality, but rather different rights and priviliges based on what different shoe combinations we are wearing. We cannot discrimminate based on what shoes we are wearing, no matter how smart we are or how high our IQs are as individuals.
If we wear different shoes we are all entitled to different priviliges based on these shoes and don’t have to really understand each other in order to get along and be happy with our diverse and conflicted society.
We put our trust in our different shoes.
I can imagine what idiot liberal social engineering leader came up with that brilliant concept. I’m sure its the same one that only cares if thier social ethnic group gets the most attrention and privilege over all others.