Neglected By The Elected: Henrico County Public School Board Continues Its Efforts To Disenfranchise Parents and Advocates While Longwood University offers a historic and, what appears to be sincere, apology for its involvement with The Massive Resistance Movement that denied fundamental educational opportunities to communities of color, Henrico County Public Schools has planted its feet deeper in the spirit of Massive Resistance as the administration and school board members continue to systematically disenfranchise parents, advocates, and students. For nearly a decade, Henrico County Public Schools has been repeatedly cited by The Virginia Department of Education for its failure to educate students of color and students with disabilities at the same level as their white and non-disabled counterparts. The citations, while symbolic in nature, did require the district to set aside monies to address the “achievement gap” that exists between African-American, Hispanic-American, students with disabilities, and their white and non-disabled counterparts. For decades, Henrico County Public Schools has systematically denied the required resources and professional support that is prevalent on the West End of the district to the East End students and families, who are predominantly of color, with no qualms or apologies. In recent years, advocates and parents of both, students of color and students with disabilities have increased in education and empowerment as it relates to advocating for our children. In response to this increase in parental engagement, district officials and administrators have responded in abusively hostile and aggressive manners that are straight out of The Massive Resistance Era. Parents, students, and advocates report being illegally banned from the school grounds after “asking excessive questions,” “engaging in excessive visits to the school in order to observe their student,” and “questioning, disagreeing with, and/or challenging the decisions of school administrators.” Parents, students, and advocates also report instances of being “blacklisted” from the district’s email systems when they send emails documenting abuse, neglect, and civil rights violations committed by school district employees. Parents of special needs students have reported instances of being criminally prosecuted, as a retaliation and intimidation tactic, after refusing to consent to or comply with educational plans illegally developed by the district that are detrimental to the overall welfare of their students. educationviews.org/neglected-elected/
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:42:54 +0000
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