Angry parents speak out after another Virginia school allegedly abolished high school merit awards to promote “justice” policies.
Carrie Lukas and Asra Nomani discussed Langley High School’s decision to withhold the awards that recognize students for academics prior to college applications.
The school became the second in the state to present the awards months later than usual.
“We now have two high schools in the same school district — in the school district that was just nakedly political, nakedly focused on things that aren’t about promoting the interests of the kids, but about this idea of equal outcomes for everyone,” he said Lukas Fox News presenter Ashley Strohmier.
“They want everyone to be equal. That means they don’t want the top 3%.”
Carrie Lukas, a parent, criticized Langley High School’s alleged decision to abolish high school merit awards to promote “justice” policies
The school is the second in the state to be accused of pushing “justice” policies and delaying awards to protect the feelings of non-recipients
Langley High School principal Kimberly Greer apologized to some parents for the delay in an email last week and told them her student had received the award.
“I am pleased to report that your student has been designated a dedicated student by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation,” she wrote.
“I must apologize that these students did not receive their report cards in the usual manner last fall. I am deeply sorry for this mistake.’
Lukas did not take the apology lightly, blaming the school administration for not wishing their children success.
“What does this mean for these children? That means the school doesn’t want them to succeed, and it certainly doesn’t want the Superintendent and the Fairfax County Public Education Board to do so,” Lukas said.
Meanwhile, Nomani called the delay a “tragedy” not only at the local level.
“On a national level in terms of this war of merit that’s going on, but in the private lives of children,” Nomani told the news outlet. “They’re just waiting for responses from colleges and what was missing was that key data point, which is that amazing honor of being in the top 3% of kids across the country.”
Asra Nomani also condemned the school’s decision, calling it a “tragedy”. Nomani claimed the school didn’t care about the success of the students
The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax, Virginia
The Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology policy was the first school in Fairfax, Virginia to withhold awarding awards of merit to protect the feelings of students who did not receive them.
Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears said politics was “not the way to go” during an impassioned appearance on Fox and Friends last week. “This isn’t America,” she added.
Parents have demonstrated outside the school demanding the firing of Principal Ann Bonitatibus and Student Services Director Brandon Kosatka, who they say are responsible.
Lt. Governor Sears has called for an official investigation into the allegations against Thomas Jefferson High.
“I’m amazed, and if these allegations are true, you know, I’m just furious,” she told Fox and Friends on Tuesday.
“I get angry because you imagine that as a parent you say to your child, son, study hard, daughter, work hard, do well. That’s what these kids are trying to do.
“And how dare some of these educators jeopardize the future of these children like that.”
“You don’t take bread out of one child’s mouth for another child. We did that in America. It doesn’t work,’ she said.
Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears said during an impassioned appearance on Fox and Friends that Thomas Jefferson High School’s science and technology policy is “not the way forward”.
Parents at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology demonstrate outside the school in December
The prestigious National Merit Scholarship Award is given only to 50,000 out of 1.5 million high schoolers who have done well on the PSATS — a SAT precursor usually awarded in 10th grade.
It’s not the first time officials at the Fairfax County Public School network — which includes 198 schools and centers — have come under fire for guidance they touted as progressive.
In 2021, the school and its board found themselves in federal court after changing their admissions requirements to limit the number of Asian American students enrolled in order to improve the chances of admission for other students regardless of academics.
Billed as a means of promoting equity, the policy immediately sparked controversy over getting rid of merit-based approvals — and was subsequently found to violate federal law.
In February, a federal judge found Fairfax County school officials guilty of racial discrimination. However, plans to overturn those rules have been shelved thanks to a successful legal challenge by her supporters, and a court will consider an appeal next year.