Opinion

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OPINION

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Fauquier Times | July 1, 2020

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dissent and its consequence

Those of you who follow the news know that, not too long ago, protesters/rioters marched through night-time streets to destroy a symbol they associated with suppression and tyranny. Of note; they hid their faces behind masks, some even wearing disguises, suggesting their goal was vandalism rather than a redress of grievances. And, when property was destroyed, they proclaimed the result as regrettable but justifiable. In truth, however, it was an attempt to spark popular dissent against lawful governance.

The government responded with a law and order approach. It put soldiers in the streets to disperse crowds, impose curfews, and make arrests. All was done to curb dissent and maintain the support of the populace.

The majority of the people, however, backed the protesters and judged that the moment cried out for action. While some deemed that action as being too destructive; most believed that when laws and policies violate basic human rights, we must grant the protesters our understanding, even if we cannot grant them our full approval.

And thus in 1773 the Sons of Liberty, in masks and Indian disguises, held their Boston Tea Party and tossed 342 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor. And, as they performed this act of destruction, they professed their right to legal equality, “No taxation, without representation.”

They stood up to the overwhelming power of the British government … a government that suppressed and denied them equal representational government. In the beginning, these ruffian patriots were a pitiful minority; but they had one thing on their side that elevated their cause … they had right on their side. Their message of defiance to a deaf parent government would kindle the fires of the American Revolution and gain liberty for most … but not for all Americans.

History can be an inconvenient and annoying reminder. But it can also offer enlightenment to those who seek it. One hundred and fifty years ago Victor Hugo said, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” Is it not now finally that time … a time to set right past injustices and fully implement the concept of equal justice under law for all Americans?

DON BACHMANN

Marshall

Shelly Norden was one of the few teachers that saw me past my learning disability. She was one of those teachers that pushed me to get out of my comfort zone by persuading me to take one of the journalism classes. I have never been good at writing, but she didn’t care. She taught me skills that I now use in my profession.

She pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and try new things with my education. Shelly was and still is one of my biggest role models.

Taking her away from a school that she had done so much for over the years was wrong but what is really upsetting is that she was taken from the classes that she thrives in. She was my ninthgrade English teacher but then later I had her in Yearbook 1 and Journalism 1.

Journalism is her expertise and she has been replaced with a teacher with no certification or professional journalism experience.

As a career and technical education teacher myself, this is beyond frustrating. We need qualified teachers who have the educational background for the content that they are teaching.

There needs to be a change, either give her the job back or fill the position with someone as qualified as her. These students deserve the best education that they can get, and they were getting that with her there. Don’t short the students because of a political disagreement!

CARLEY PAVAN

Nokesville

Keeping expecting mothers and newborns safe

Letters to the Editor

The Fauquier Times welcomes letters to the editor from its readers as a forum for discussion of local public affairs subjects.

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Letters to the Editor 41 Culpeper Street Warrenton, VA 20188 Editor 540-349-8676 news@fauquier.com

Letters must be signed by the writer. Messages sent via email must say “Letter to the Editor” to distinguish them from other messages not meant for publication. Include address and phone for verification (Not to be published.) Letters are subject to editing for clarity and length. Personal attacks will not be published. Long letters from those with special authority on a current issue may be treated as a guest column (with photo requested). Due to volume, letters cannot be acknowledged. All letters are appreciated. Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for Wednesday publication.

When will the WARF reopen?

I have been a member of the WARF for more than seven years. I use the facility on almost a daily basis. It is vital for both physical and mental well being of senior citizens like myself.

At least three other gyms in town are opening and serving their clients. What is the delay? If other gyms are open why is the WARF still closed with no published reopening date?When will the WARF open? Former student: Teacher should be back teaching journalism

BRIAN MCMULLEN

Broad Run

Reader laments loss of civility

I think I'm just getting tired.

All I see on the news is “Black Lives Matter” signs; statues either being torn down or mutilated; and people rioting.

What happened to the signs that say “All lives matter,” which means black, white, yellow, brown and red? I don’t recall seeing any of those signs.

What happened to respect for other people’s property; including our historic statues which belong to everyone? What happened to “Oh, excuse me,” “Sorry,” “Can I help you?” “No, after you,” “Please,” “Thank you.”

I guess I’m just getting tired.

NANCY J. ANDERSON

Warrenton

Pregnancy always comes with its share of anxiety and fear, but the COVID-19 pandemic has added a new layer of concerns for expecting families. If you will be delivering a baby during the pandemic, you likely have many questions about how delivery in the hospital may be different right now and how you can keep yourself and your baby healthy.

Fauquier Health has always taken great pride in caring for expecting mothers and their babies and making sure that our community has access to great OB care. This dedication to our region’s growing families has continued throughout the pandemic and will go on long after this health crisis has passed.

We are committed to making sure that all moms and babies have the safest birthing experience possible, and we are taking every necessary precaution to protect our families in labor and delivery from exposure to COVID-19 and ensure the risk of infection expecting mothers and new babies is extremely low. Our extra precautions mean that some aspects of delivery will be as expected, but some may be a little different. The two main changes most families will experience are visitor restrictions and limited entry points to the hospital.

As part of our COVID-19 preparedness efforts, we have moved to a strict, limited visitor protocol hospital-wide. Laboring and postpartum mothers are limited to one consistent support person for the duration of their stay. Their support person must be a healthy adult and will be required to pass all screening protocols upon entry into the hospital. Visits from the baby's siblings and other loved ones will have to wait until Mom and baby leave the hospital.

Our COVID-19 preparedness efforts also have limited entry to the hospital, closing some of our typical entrances. This means that expecting mothers and their support person should plan to access the facility through the front lobby. This entrance is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside of those hours, the only entrance will be through the Emergency Department.

Additional measures Fauquier Health is taking to support and ensure the safety of our expecting mothers and newborns include: • Isolating any COVID-19-positive patients away from expecting mothers. • Negative pressure rooms available for labor and delivery. • Personal protective equipment available for laboring and post

partum mothers. • Remote lactation support. • Any NICU protocols/guidelines, as appropriate.

These measures have been implemented with great care, and we will continue to update them with the health and safety of our expecting mothers and families in mind.

In a time of uncertainty, the one thing all of our expecting families can be sure of is that our experienced OB staff members stand ready to help you on your journey to bring new life into the world. We are here to support you and keep you safe – today and every day the future holds.

You can find more information about COVID-19 and how Fauquier Health is responding at fauquierhealth.org or by contacting your care provider.

BARRY ARON, MD, OB/GYN

Fauquier Health OB/GYN, Warrenton

Providing an alternate viewpoint on race relations

I take this opportunity to express a counter view to all the virtue signaling in the letters published here over the past few weeks.

I am a white woman not claiming any "white privilege," other than being blessed to have been born in America - a granddaughter of legal immigrants from Germany. Like my grandparents and parents, I have worked hard all my life to be a successful member of my community and country. I was raised to treat all people as I would want them to treat me.

I am going to take a guess, but I bet that most, if not all of the authors of the letters recently published talking about their white privilege, equality, etc., never were bussed across town as a child to a predominantly black elementary school as I was. These same virtue spotlighters probably never experienced having their black schoolteacher in first grade walk me to the principal's office so I could be sent home with the paperwork necessary for my widow mother to complete so I could qualify for a reduced/free school lunch.

I was raised where one of my best friends in elementary school was a black girl who actually was better off economically than me because both her parents worked full time jobs and actually owned their own home, whereas I lived in apartments. I wasn't jealous of her. I actually loved going to her home to play. We were best friends - not black or white friends, but friends.

I grew up in a diverse community where there were Black Americans, Cuban Americans, etc. I even babysat for a woman from Surinam when I was in high school.

And these same virtue signalers are probably the same people I have encountered over the years here in Warrenton who, when I mentioned that I work in D.C. and ride the Metro to work, would say words to the effect of ‘How can you do that? Isn't it dangerous? It's D.C.’ Yes, without coming out and saying it, they were implying that I was surrounded by dangerous Black people in the city. Oh, the horrors and hypocrisy.

I have seen my share of inappropriate behaviors by young Blacks and watched the transit police do nothing over my 20-plus years of riding the Metro. So spare me the platitudes about how I should feel ashamed or guilty at being white when you have no idea of what I have experienced in my life when you are really the ones enjoying your white privilege having never experienced any of my hardships and only excel at mouthing platitudes about equality, etc.

I also grew up in a country where there was something called due process. And to read a member of the Warrenton Town Council imply that ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is guilty of murder and in effect, deny him due process to be judged by his peers in a trial regarding the events that resulted in thedeathof George Floyd, without all the evidence being presented, is sad.

Per the criminal complaint against Chauvin, Floyd did not die of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation. According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, Floyd’s death was the result of being “restrained by the police, his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system.” Their report also listed other significant conditions, including arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease, fentanyl intoxication and recent use of methamphetamine." (Source: Minnesota.cbslocal.com)

And all the talk of Juneteenth. It's been around since 1865 but no one seems to have ever heard of it until now and it's suddenly all the rage. As someone who has worked in D.C. for almost 25 years, I am veryfamiliar withJuneteenth as it is a holiday for D.C. employees. That's it. Where have you all been these many years?

ARLENE KARNISON

Warrenton

School board members request more data before approving plan

SCHOOL, from page 1

learning one day a week with remote learning four days a week; two days a week in-person and three days a week remote; a week in the classroom followed by a week remote; or 100% remote learning.

About 5,000 parents and 85% of staff members returned the surveys. About a third of those choose 100% remote learning, but most responses favored the two-days-a-week in the classroom and three-day remote option. Data in hand, staff members set to work to consider how that might work.

Under that scenario, half of students would attend in-person classroom learning the first two days of the week while the other half participated in distance learning. Wednesday would be a planning day for teachers and offer an opportunity for kids learning remotely to ask questions and get some extra help. It also would provide an opportunity for custodians to do some deep cleaning in the school buildings. Thursday and Friday, the two groups of children would swap places – half receiving in-classroom learning and the other half learning remotely.

The compelling reason for that option was made clear when the board was shown an example of how a socially distanced classroom would look. “This is my least favorite slide,” said Jeck. “It’s sad.” The photo showed each child’s desk 6 or more feet distant from every other, so, of course, fewer children could be accommodated at one time.

Frank Finn, assistant superintendent for student services and special education, pointed out that the

coronavirus is spread through faceto-face contact, when people are not socially distanced, so it’s important not to have too many children in each classroom.

A chart indicating how children might be seated on school buses showed one child in each seat; they’d alternate one at the window and one on the aisle to maximize the distance between each. In this scenario, all children would have to wear masks. The state Department of Education recommends that children sit in every other seat, but Jeck acknowledged that would be unworkable; each bus would only be able to seat seven children. He said the state is open to considering other ideas presented by school districts and that most other districts are asking for similar school bus exceptions.

Meals were another problem to be considered. To prevent too many children in the cafeteria at one time, some children might have to eat in their classrooms.

Remote learning presents unique issues; Jeck said that teachers learned new ways to teach in the spring when The school board meeting Monday was managed with social distancing; only 50 people were allowed in Fauqiuer High’s cafeteria.

TIMES STAFF PHOTO/ROBIN EARL

schools were closed, and the school division was forced to quickly adopt a remote-only learning model. But he pointed out that the fall would be different. “The spring was basically optional. This fall we will be presenting new material.”

Teacher training for remote learning is ongoing – particularly in Blackboard and Google Classroom – and teachers are adapting, he said. Parents, too, can get instruction in online learning so they can help their children while they are home and away from their teachers.

What about parents who both work, asked Stephanie Litter-Reber (Lee District). And what about teachers who can’t be home with their children because they are teaching in the classroom? How can they help their children navigate remote learning?

Litter-Reber said, “Many households are under huge amounts of stress. They are trying to work from home while trying to keep their kids happy and engaged. And some of those parents are now being called back to work.”

Donna Grove (Cedar Run District) said, “Every parent I’ve talked to wants to see their children in school four days a week. We’d like to get as many kids back in the classroom as possible.”

A four-day in-person school week wasn’t one of the options on the survey sent to parents, and school board members thought that option should be more thoroughly explored. They asked Jeck to gather more information through a new survey. The question they wanted answered: are there enough parents willing to embrace all-distance learning so that a four-day week in-classroom scenario would be doable for the rest?

“We’d like to gather more data,” said Susan Pauling (Center District) after the meeting.

The school board did vote to amend the planned first day of school, saying that school will not start before Aug. 19. Under the twoday in-classroom and three-day remote scenario, Jeck thought the schools could open on the 19th, but the need to re-survey parents with different options could push that date back further.

The school board is next scheduled to meet July 13; an emergency meeting may be called before that to consider the new survey data once it has been gathered.

Whatever is decided, the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District’s epidemiologist Daniel Ferrell and the district’s medical director, Dr. Wade Kartchner, will review the plan to make sure it is adequate to prevent the spread of the virus. Once they get feedback from the health experts, school administrators will be able to submit the plan to the state for approval.

Reach Robin Earl at rearl@fauquier.com