Tag: James Sherlock
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UVA at the Intersection
by James C. Sherlock UVA has forged yet another academic/political merger and named it, with characteristic modesty, the Karsh (major donors) “Institute of Democracy”. To those who say the university has more “institutes” and “centers” than bricks, I say give this one a chance until a closer look. The executive director is Ms. Melody Barnes.…
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CDC Has Three Recommendations on the Masking of Children. None of Them Match.
And the Governor’s Executive Order will outlive the Virginia law that directs schools to adhere to CDC guidance, even if they think they can figure out what it is. by James C. Sherlock Many quote the “science” that favors their opinions. Virginia law requires: …each school board to provide such in-person instruction in a manner…
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Cages in the Senate of Virginia
by James C. Sherlock Once again, a picture is worth a thousand words. Many of us are hoping that the General Assembly will consider serious legislation this term. And consider it seriously. We need to discount those hopes as we take into account the cages into which Senators have been put. They were erected at…
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Child Masking – Where is the Offramp?
by James C. Sherlock I have two important questions for my friends who insist on mandates for masks for children in schools. Is the child mask mandate permanent? If not, where is the offramp? I will cede for purposes of this inquiry that you are sincere in your concern for the vulnerability to COVID of…
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Dean Wormer Lives
by James C. Sherlock On Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Scott Brabrand auditioned successfully for the role of Dean Wormer in an unannounced remake of Animal House. He has ordered the out-of-school suspension of any student intentionally removing or refusing to wear a face covering indoors on school property or transportation.…
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A Compelling Case for Campaign Finance Reform – Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys
by James C. Sherlock Remind me why, exactly, Virginia permits massive out-of-state campaign contributions to dominate local races. I can’t hear you. Because we do, an out-of-state organization is by far the biggest donor to Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorneys races in elections of local prosecutors. Justice and Public Safety PAC, based in Washington D.C., utterly dominates support to the…
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A Campaign Finance Reform Lesson – the 2021 Elections for the Virginia House of Delegates
by James C. Sherlock Money in politics matters for a lot of reasons. Most of them are unsupportive of a republican form of government. The majority of the Virginia political class is addicted to unlimited campaign donations, a powerful incumbent protection mechanism. They do not blush when they contend that transparency is all that is…
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The Board of Education Should Investigate “Privilege Bingo” at FCPS
by James C. Sherlock Hard to sweep this under the rug. Pat Herrity of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors yesterday released on his Twitter account this picture of a teaching aid used in a Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) classroom. There is no indication yet of the grades in which “privilege Bingo” is being…
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Are School Grades Misleading Parents?
by James C. Sherlock Virtually all parents pay close attention to their children’s report cards. That is, however, a fruitless exercise if the grades do not reflect actual learning. I spoke the other day to a senior school official who related to me his own story. One of his children, a second grader, brought home…
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Hearing Footsteps in Loudoun County Public Schools Administration
by James C. Sherlock Word has made it to the Loudoun County Public Schools Board that the new Attorney General is coming to investigate. Something about the handling by the administration of rapes in two different schools by the same male student. And not properly reporting the first one. Seems that not only responsible leadership…
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The Road to Hell in Virginia Telemedicine
by James C. Sherlock The road to hell really is paved with good intentions. The current Virginia State Telehealth Plan was published just less than a year ago. The purpose of the Plan is to promote an integrated approach to the introduction and use of telehealth services in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2020, the…
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An Unmistakeable Odor of Corruption
by James C. Sherlock The data offered by the Virginia Public Access Project in Money in Politics have long left a perception that privileged access to Virginia elected officials is for sale. Perception matches reality. It is for sale. No one denies that: a republican form of government is based on a rough equality of…
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General Assembly Education Bills of Interest in 2022
by James C. Sherlock I have reviewed the bills on the subject of education filed in this session of the General Assembly. Interesting and important legislation there, no question. As you might expect, most of the high profile legislation was filed in the newly Republican House. I am listing only highlights here. I have not…
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Youngkin’s Reform Goals Threatened by the Board of Education
by James C. Sherlock Jim Bacon yesterday was relatively pessimistic about the prospects of Governor Youngkin and his administration rolling back regulations. The number of regulations not mandated by federal or state law is miniscule. A mandate in law is not the only test of a regulation. The current Virginia Board of Education’s regulations have…
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Loudoun County Public Schools Bravely Faces Its Past
by James C. Sherlock The Loudoun Times-Mirror has run a story headlined, “Report detailing LCPS’ handling of sexual assaults complete; Title IX coordinator replaced.” “Replaced” in this case does not mean the official was fired. The official in question is still chief of staff. The Title IX assignment was kicked down the food chain to…