Update on my fight with the Duval County School Board cretins.

[KyndCulture]

Background of the story here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4989265&mesg_id=4989265


I have 2 children that are opted out in this school district. I spoke with the district elected school board rep yesterday, complete waste of my time. She was so far up the republican's asses about the war she wasn't even hearing me. Soooo feeling completely unsatisfied I woke up today and got on the phone with the Office of the State of Florida Education Commissioner. Didn't get the commish but a very nice lady who was completely understanding and let on a bit that she also thought this policy was an outrage. She took down my bitter complaint and I also lodged a new one that I think this is race related and that I think they are using Duval County as a test case to make this a nationwide policy of NCLB. Sorry but no tinfoil needed when the asshole in chief's little brother is the Gov. Duval County has 3 times the number of black students as any other county in Florida... To me that makes it the perfect little test case to funnel our children into the military machine.

Anyway, I'm awaiting, hopefully a call back from the State Education Commissioner...

Next up: I'm going to the National Teachers Union.

I'm fighting the good fight on this one, folks. These are my babies! They've got one pissed off anti-war mom with a big mouth to deal with here!


Edit to say THANK YOU To Keith Olberman for naming the Duval County School Board Cretins as the Worst Person in the World last night!!

[nono]

1. Good Work

Jacksonville needs help.

[KyndCulture]

4. In more than one way! that's for sure.

I was born there. I don't live there right now, but am planning to return next year, but my children are finishing high school there with Dad. This will not stand, not if I got something to say about.

[Arugula Latte]

2. Good luck!

We're with you. I'm going to go call those assholes right now!!

[madmom]

3. wishing you all the luck in the world from another

madmom who's fought with school's it's not easy and they always think you're a trouble maker for not going along with the flow. Hang in there!!!:yourock:

[KyndCulture]

6. My son deserves his NAME on his baseball roster,

his honor roll, and his senior pic in the yearbook. This is such bullshit!

[DanCa]

5. Good luck

if i can help in any way let me know danny.

[converted_democrat]

7. Did you see, last night on Countdown, Keith labeled them the worst people

in America? And he made a crack about how he thinks this is the way they do it in Iran. It was quite funny.

[KyndCulture]

10. Yes I sent him a big thank you!

National attention might help.

[magicoflife]

8. I wish you luck

and agree with what you are doing, completely!
I just want to give you my experience before you use up so much energy. First, my son does not go to a public school. Second, I signed a form refusing any information about him to be given to the military.

With that said, he still gets mail and phone calls from all branches of the military. In order for my son to get any government college money he needs to register with the "come and get me group". (Please someone tell me what it is called) or he will be denied grants, loans etc... I guess the point I am trying to make, is, one way or another the military finds out about our sons. Even if you win your battle they are still coming. Scary aint it!

For all of us Moms with military age children, I stand by you, I wish I could help you as you are helping us, good flippen luck! Take care and try to keep your sanity, as I am trying.

[KyndCulture]

9. Oh I know, he's opted out by HIS choice...

he wants nothing to do with the military... but I'm fighting this policy because it is NOT part of NCLB, they made this shit up and they know it.

[MildyRules]

12. It's called

Selective Service.

[spuddonna]

20. The 'come and get me group' is Selective Service...

My hubby registered with them looooong ago to get loans, and was never bothered by recruiters.

But then again, it wasn't during this 'regime'! :(

[gratuitous]

11. My nickel's worth of free advice, and worth every penny

First, you're right in your stance, and I applaud your efforts to change this. Don't lose sight of that, and don't feel you have to force school officials to grovel in the dirt before your declare victory.

All you want, really, is for the school district to change a stupid policy they've decided on. Keep in mind this is a policy decision, not something Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai after having a personal face-to-face with the Almighty. If necessary, remind the school officials of this very point. A policy decision can always be reviewed and changed, unlike holy writ. If school officials feel backed into a corner, they're liable to start confusing the two, and you could have a real fight on your hands, which isn't going to serve either side.

Propose a reasonable alternative, and stick to it like grim death. "Opting out" of being on the military recruitment list isn't, or shouldn't be, a declaration of opting out of all of life. Life is surely more than the military, its recruitment goals, and the school's cooperation with the military in meeting its goals. Make your alternative proposal as calmly and reasonably as you can, and force school officials to explain why that alternative isn't acceptable. Why can't the school differentiate between scholastic life (including team sports, yearbooks and all the rest) and the military? Or do they consider local schools merely an adjunct of the military, a minor league training ground for young people to become soldiers, sailors, pilots and marines? If such is the case, you might say that you surely wish the Pentagon, with so many billions of dollars at its disposal every year would spend a little more on schools.

It appears that your local school board official (who you might remind ever-so-subtly may be considering a run for re-election, and voters will remember what she does at this time) and school officials are insensitive to your complaint. Let them know that you're in conversation with the State Education Commissioner. Those kinds of headaches, they probably don't need.

Hang in there, keep us updated, and we'll do what we can to support you, KyndCulture!

[KyndCulture]

13. I've been very nice and to the point.

I did mention the election and she did stutter on that. I didn't tell them I was in contact with the state.

It's upsetting my child therefore it is upsetting his mother. It might not be the end of the world, but to a high school student this little stuff really does mean the world.

Everybody needs that dorky yearbook photo to look back on 10 years later and go EW! hehehehe..

[gratuitous]

17. Excellent

Keep righteous outrage in reserve for the proper time. Until then, maintain all reasonableness and kindliness. No less than your son's future embarrassment at his high school awkwardness is at stake. Oh, and maybe his life, too, but the prospect of a little embarrassment down the line is always a good motivator.

[MissB]

27. Excellent advice!

:applause:

[Shine]

14. Excellent work, KyndCulture!

I was really disturbed by that story yesterday and am really glad to know you're out there, raising hell. My son is almost 12, so on behalf of both of us, I thank you for your time and energy "fighting the good fight". We need more people like you to stand up and speak out.

You go, girl! :yourock:

Keep us posted,
Shine
:hi:

[ewagner]

15. Good work

I don't know how to leagally tie in the 14th Amenedment (Equal Protection)but it just rings true to me to do so......

[porphyrian]

16. Isn't the Jacksonville Police Department in the top 5 most corrupt...

...law enforcement agencies in the nation on a regular basis? Not that it has anything to do with the county school board, but it might.

[Whoa_Nelly]

18. Awesome, KC! Also, here's the info/link for your local ACLU

Am thinking they should be contacted as well.

Jacksonville Chapter (Including the counties of Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau and St. John's)

Chapter Chair: Ken Hurley
Media Contact: Ken Hurley
Phone: [phone]

http://www.aclufl.org/take%5Faction/chapters/jacksonville/

[etherealtruth]

19. I am so sorry for the stress and pain these a$$ holes have caused you...

Parents everywhere will be thanking you for helping to protect children from politically motivated punitive policies and from myopic school districts that do not have the well being of the kids they serve in mind.

As a mother of 3 I thank you.

[spuddonna]

21. You rock!

I had no idea they would extend this to even the graduation ceremony... this is outrageous!

Why should these kids be punished for deciding that they don't want to be bothered by recruiters?! Unbelieveable... ok, with this admin., I take that back...

Have you thought of going to the local press at all? Maybe to the reporter who did that original story? She'd probably love a follow-up story!

And have you talked to other families to get more support, or is the area 'red' as far as the eye can see? :)

Hey, even if you are the only one, know this. My mom fought the school district in my hometown growing up - she was a lone voice in the wilderness and became known as 'that woman on XXX Rd', but she made a difference in our hometown. And I was so proud of her! :)

Keep fighting!

[KyndCulture]

25. The policy itself extends to EVERY SINGLE...

public mention or possible public mention of the child's name.

That includes, commencement, serving on committees, community service, awards and recognition of any type, sports rosters and programs, commencement programs, drama production programs and awards, honor roll and national honor society awards, Internal school events such as broadcasts, any and all pictures of the child including the yearbook, newspaper photos of sporting events... the list goes on and on and on.

When opting out my child, it was NOT my intent to erase him and that is what this extortion boils down to.


Those things are part of the high school experience, being recognized for events and awards.

[spuddonna]

28. You're absolutely right, it's extortion...

Wonder what happens if the valediction/salutorian 'opt-out' - do you think they'd keep them from giving their addresses? I doubt the district could take the honor away, but they might keep them from the ceremony...

[gkhouston]

29. So I'm imagining school plays where the progam can't list who's

in the cast because none of the actors opted in and very strange articles about last Friday's football game that only discuss the players by their numbers because their names can't be given. :crazy:

What complete and utter bullshit. Me, I was contrary enough in high school that I would have enjoyed mocking this policy at every turn, but it's the sort of thing that would really have hurt my niece's feelings.

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. Good luck. :^D

[gkhouston]

23. you might want to drop KO a line to thank him, update him on

your struggle, and let him know it's not just the yearbook and the honor roll but commencement, too. Also, I wasn't aware of the racial makeup of Duval County yesterday so perhaps he wasn't, either. That puts another interesting twist on the story.

By the way, :yourock:

[Obamanaut]

24. Splendid! Sent LTTE Times Union last night. nt

[KyndCulture]

26. Excellent thank you!!

I did one this morning as well.... I'm hoping to become such a thorn in their butt that they actually take these complaints seriously.

[6th Borough]

30. Your math appears to be incorrect by a long shot re black enrollment.

First, let me say that I find this policy reprehensible, and quite possibly legally shaky.

Since I live in Broward County, I just had to check the demographicks for myself...3x the number of enrolled black students just didn't sound right to me. I only looked up Duval and Broward, so I can't compare with any other counties.

The Duval County School Board lists 133,376 students total, of which 42% are black, for a total of (by my calculations) 56017 enrolled black students.

The Broward County School Board had easier to access diversity figures, right on the front page, so I just copied and pasted:

Diversity Breakdown 2005-06
(Latest Figures)

Percent Number

White
32.61 88,353

Black
36.94 100,072

Hispanic
24.67 66,836

Asian
3.2 8,661

Multi-racial
2.5 6,499

...and about 500 Native Americans.

I'm not trying to nitpick; having lived in Broward County for so long, I just had too check out the demographics for myself.

[6th Borough]

31. Total students in Broward Public schools is 272,691, BTW /NT

[donsu]

32. kicking - more power to you

nt

[jumpoffdaplanet]

33. Good battle to you