DC Examiner Scoops The MJM, Again
By Greg L | 17 March 2008 | Illegal Aliens, Prince William County | 12 Comments
The DC Examiner apparently has the ability to research the stories about Prince William County that our own local paper seemingly can’t manage to figure out, and is reporting that other jurisdictions in Northern Virginia are seeing an increase in mid-year ESOL enrollments, many of which can be directly traced to Prince William County, while Prince William County has seen a drop in ESOL enrollment. I guess if you really want to figure out what’s going on in Prince William County, you have to read a newspaper from the District of Columbia (or a blog) rather than a newspaper that claims it covers local news in Prince William County and is actually published in Manassas.
The ESOL population in Arlington County rose 115 this year, including 56 students directly from Prince William Public Schools, schools spokesman Frank Bellavia said.
Neighboring Alexandria typically experiences a midyear drop in its ESOL population, but instead has seen a midyear increase of 92 ESOL students, at least some of who are arrivals from Prince William County, school spokeswoman Amy Carlini said. Anecdotal reports and some data from Fairfax County show there has been an increase of about 200 students, according to Fairfax spokesman Paul Regnier and ESOL Coordinator Teddi Predaris.
“We have experienced more students coming in from Prince William County than in previous years,” Predaris said, citing Parklawn Elementary School as an example.
However, while the Fairfax County ESOL population increased about 500 students before the school year began, its population actually dropped 100 students from September to January.
Loudoun County and Stafford County reported flat ESOL populations, and Fauquier County traced eight new ESOL students from Prince William County this year, including two in March as the crackdown began.
Now here’s the minor window of opportunity for the Manassas Urinal-Massager to explain why they can’t seem to put two and two together, when it doesn’t add up to the result of zero that they’re desperately hoping for:
The Prince William County school system does not track where its students go, spokesman Ken Blackstone said.
Yes, if our local government is deliberately refusing to collect information that might be of use in planning, programming and budgeting, it is kind of difficult to yell at those who report this information that they’re not giving a complete picture here. The DC Examiner seems to be able to peer through the fog of misdirection that the Prince William County Schools are manufacturing, because they actually try to engage in the novel practice of fact-checking. Hopefully the DC Examiner or some other credible news source can dig through this inane statement as well.
I can’t imagine that Ken Blackstone really expects us to swallow such baloney, and someone is going to dig this out. You bet the Prince William County School System tracks where their departing students go. I get reports frequently from parents and those within the school system that they’re personally seeing this information get collected. They collect that information from parent when the students withdraw in a longstanding effort to prevent truancy. I would not at all be surprised that collecting this information is required under state law, since every other jurisdiction appears to be regularly collecting this information as a matter of course.
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The American Council for Immigration Reform just scored the VA House of Delegates: 10 Ds in the House voted for all 18 anti-alien bills that came to the floor: Armstong(Henry County), Bouchard(Virginia Beach), Bowling(Tazewell), Bulova(Fairfax), Howell, A.J.(Norfolk), Marsden(Fairfax), Mathieson(Virginia Beach), Miller, P.(Norfolk), Nichols(Prince William), Valentine(Lynchburg). It should also be noted that 41 Ds voted for 2/3rds of the bills. Unfortunately ACIR did not list the R votes on the bills.
The schools need to start counting the number of illegal aliens they’re enrolling. Everyone is guessing at what the total cost of failing to enforce our immigration laws. Our Supervisors can’t give a number when asked. It’s time to start requiring proof of citizenship when enrolling in a school and keeping track of the number of students who either cannot or refuse to provide such proof.
Same with the ERs too Advocator. Additionally, things like WIC, foodstamps, subsidized housing should all require adults to provide “proof”. Using anchor babies to get benefits (foodstamps) just does not cut it (it bi-passes the legality check)! Only adults should be able to apply (after showing proof).
I guess the games can begin now. It will be interesting to see how long it takes the local jurisdictions to make the transition from “Sanctuary City” to “Racist Xenophobes”. What will we do with all the money being saved on ESL instruction? Build roads?
The bigger story here is the continuing decline in the quality of the MJM/PN as a source for news, and it is directly attributable to the editor Susan Sivhilk. In the last few weeks she has allowed stories and editorials to run with false information, or report very biased primary source information with out any context and no effort made to correct this. A few examples:
Op/Ed on Manassas City elections: Incorrect filing deadline reported MONTHS after it had passed.
Op/Ed and story on Greg being named to SPLC “Nativist” list: Too many factual errors to report in the SPLC profile, and these were reported as “facts” by the MJM and used as a basis for subsequent editorial on the same subject.
Time for Svihilk to go. She has sufficiently turned this paper into a laughing-stock.
It would be good to print the address of the parent company here so folks can start writing some letters. I canceled my subscription years ago, but I didn’t let anyone know why other than the editor. I’m sure the letter that I sent went right into the circular file.
Johnson said on 17 Mar 2008 at 3:50 pm:
“I guess the games can begin now. It will be interesting to see how long it takes the local jurisdictions to make the transition from “Sanctuary City” to “Racist Xenophobes”. What will we do with all the money being saved on ESL instruction? Build roads?”
That’s a start, Johnson.
For those wishing to express displeasure with the quality of our local print media, please direct your letters and phone calls to:
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Media General Publishing Division
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(804) 649-6000 mediageneral.com
Publisher: Bruce Potter
While we’re calculated the savings in lower ESOL students (estimated at 6 million dollars) lets get a report from the local hospitals.
Could it be that the 4-8 hour wait at the hospital emergency rooms has recently improved?
Could it be that people who are insured no longer have to wait in line at the ER behind an illegal that is uninsured or has no intentions of paying the tab,
yet they walk in holding their chest and receive red carpet treatment ahead of insured U.S. Citizens. I’ve seen it firsthand.
Could it be that someday health insurance costs could be reduced because hospitals become profitable again?
Oh the possibilities….
“You bet the Prince William County School System tracks where their departing students go.”
They obviously know where the send the school records.
Just spent 6 hours at PWC Hospital emergency room for a non-life threatening condition. As soon as it started to get dark, a large number of Latinos began queueing up with kids in tow. None looked like they had a true emergency (IMHP).
Then what were you doing there if your condition wasn’t life-threatening?