Montgomery County needs to own up to its faux progressivism

 
In today’s volatile social climate, it seems like people worry more about being called racist than about racism itself. While the majority of society rightfully condemns overt acts of discrimination, implicit racism is a much more normalized part of our daily lives. Nobody is exempt from perpetuating this culture of casual racism, including those who may work the hardest to appear outwardly “woke” — the white progressive elite...

...As a result, white liberalism breeds a culture of implicit racism and performative wokeness.  

Growing up in Bethesda, Maryland, I’ve experienced this phenomenon firsthand...

...In addition, white people think simply claiming the label of “progressive” or “Democrat” is sufficient to show that they are not racist...

https://dbknews.com/2020/09/04/white-progressive-antiracist-montgomery-country/

Are your children getting a free public education in Montgomery County?

Did you know that the Maryland Constitution guarantees a free public education for its students?

The Montgomery County Board of Education still has not read the document.  Imagine running a multi billion dollar public school system, and not knowing about state law.

Truly amazing.

As our annual tradition, below is the list of  fees "approved" by the Board of Education for middle school students.  If you cannot pay or choose not to pay, simply tell ask the school to waive your fee. Your child cannot be excluded from class for not paying a fee.

And why hit the arts classes the hardest?  How many times per semester does the school get their band uniforms dry cleaned?  And - can't they use a discount dry cleaners?  Or have the kids wear white shirts and black pants?

Remember, you are the taxpayer.  Ask questions - and if you do pay these fees, treat them as a donation to the school, not a mandatory fee, because we all know that mandatory fees are not allowed - right?

High school fees will be posted shortly.

2015 Middle School

Blair HS and Lessons in Deficit Spending - Part 2 on Graduation Fees

From the MBHS Listserve - finally a breakdown of those pesky and illegal senior fees.

Note to Blair - the bus transportation is clearly optional and can cut down the assessment significantly. So are the flowers.

And, in case you are wondering, yes, in fact, the school administration admits that graduation is optional. These fees are not covered by the MCPS Curriculum Fees policy. Students don't have to pay, and if a student isn't "sponsored" by a generous member of the community, the student will not be able to attend.

Wow. 

Here is what the law says:

The Maryland State Constitution provides for a free public education.  Article VIII, Section I.   The Court of Appeals has said that it "means that schools must be open to all without expense." State of Maryland ex rel. Clark v. The Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, 87 Md. 643, 661 (1898).    

Even the US Supreme Court has weighed in:

"In this society, high school graduation is one of life's most significant occasions, and a student is not free to absent herself from the exercise in any real sense of the term "voluntary.""  Lee v. Weisman, 505 US 577 (1992). 

I don't see an exemption for Blair High School, do you?

Graduation MBHS March 12