Another Perspective

I recently read where Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has set up a hotline for parents and others to report concerns about teachers defying his directives, as well as an opportunity to express other concerns. While I am optimistically pessimistic that any positive comments about our educators would be shared by the governor’s office, I want to provide him with an opportunity to prove me wrong. I, truly, hope that he takes me up on it. Since he likes pizza, someone get word to his office that I’ll treat him to Melting Pot Pizza if he proves me wrong.

I highly encourage any and all parents of our public school children to share their experiences (positive as well as negative) with our Governor. He should hear and consider all sides, as should we all. In all fairness, perspective is good, so long as people are honest, not using half-truths, manipulated statistics, narrative driven rhetoric (regardless of your narrative) or (dare I say) made up gibberish, just to make themselves feel good about their narrative, and/or to simply get others needlessly rung up.

The email to provide feedback is helpeducation@governor.Virginia.gov. I strongly encourage parents to cite “any” instance of one of our teachers or even counselors finding the time to teach anything other than pre-approved and respected curriculums, to include Second Step SEL. This program is only controversial because of the misinformation currently spread around our county about it. Our counselors and administrators have gone to great strides to ensure that any hint of divisive rhetoric will not be part of this curriculum, and that all parents maintain the right to opt their child out if they so choose.

I would only, respectfully and kindly, encourage parents to actually familiarize themselves with the curriculum, ask their school admin/counselors questions about which areas you have concerns, and then form your own opinion, as opposed to an emotionally driven one based upon misinformation provided by those with a political agenda.

Once you humbly and graciously come to the conclusion that all that our Warren County Public Educators (to include our Amazing Counselors) are doing is encouraging our children to respect one another, to include themselves, and try to have a civil conversation with something other than their thumbs, then perhaps you will graciously consider using the tip line to report the truth about Warren County Public Schools, as opposed to continuing to believe and use confused and misguided, divisive rhetoric against our caring and compassionate professionals.

Finally, also consider using the resource “#ThankATeacher” in your social media posts.  While we are far from perfect, we actually admit this. We don’t have all of the answers.  We want, and desire, your involvement in your child’s education.

We truly love all of our children in Warren County and, like you, want them moving forward in life with good reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. If we happen to have the luxury to share and encourage kindness, compassion, and treating others with the same level of grace and dignity with which they would want themselves to be treated (and use a well-respected rubric to do such), please kindly support us in these efforts as well. Not all children in our beautiful county have the luxuries which so many of us (including myself) take so easily for granted.

Respectfully,

Michael S. Williams
Lifelong Youth Advocate
Front Royal, Virginia