I missed this original post, and it’s kind of late to respond now, but I am the individual who believes in fair play and in sharing ‘the other side of the story’ so that we might have more than just one viewpoint to examine when shaping our opinions.  Apparently Mr. McDermott would have us believe that the incarcerated are all guilty until proven innocent, and undeserving of having all the evidence presented in order to ensure a fair trial. 

Despite Mr. McDermott’s ridicule of my comment, I have continued to request and obtain information and responses to charges from the vocal few.  I am pleased to say that it appears that the Superintendent’s Notes blog file on the school website will be revived very soon, and responses to a number of the charges/questions levied and unchallenged here, will be posted in that public forum for all to see. Hopefully this will include the recent AP presentation from Mrs. Ball that does an excellent job of showing “the other side of the story.”  The vocal few made a big deal of the number who did not pass the test, but failed to mention how many more students took the tests, and that despite this large increase, the percentage who failed was only 3% more than the prior year.  This is actually very good news.  The vocal few also fail to point out that regardless of the AP test results, those who take them invariably do better in college, as indicated by the College Board.  Folks, ‘the other side of the story’ is often worth hearing.

Dr. Underwood requests that questions be provided in writing and she will do the best she can to answer them in a reasonable time period.  She has always answered my questions, and she always thanks me for asking.  It is clear that I am one of few who does so.

I met Mr. McDermott at one of the forums this week and he called me the “Armchair Anarchist.”  It took me a moment to ponder this, trying to determine whether I was being ridiculed again, but I decided I liked the moniker.  However, I think I’m going to get out of the armchair from time to time and try to be more involved in my community.

My primary goal is civility and fairness.  I never see religious leaders step in and try to promote these concepts here.  Of course, like Hannity, Sharpton and other TV commentators, their primary reason for existence would disappear if we all got along.  They must promote separatism and the idea that we are all inherently evil in order to maintain their positions of power.  This is all part of the cultural heritage that our society is finally rebelling against. This, I believe is what the Tea Party, the Arab Spring, the UK Riots and the Occupy Movement are really all about.  There is an underlying sense of “dis-ease” that permeates our society as we ponder why 7 billion people who all say they want love, peace and harmony are singularly unable to have it. Pardon my pontification, but I think this is the global conversation that we all must engage in if we are to figure out who we are, how we got here, and what we expect to do about that.

One last note - and I will continue to harp on this.  Some time ago, Mr. McDermott called Dr. Underwood a “cancer that must be removed.”  I consider this to be a horribly unkind thing to say and an insult to every patient who has suffered from this awful disease. Mr. McDermott, I would really like to see a public apology from you on this.  Until that happens, I will have a hard time respecting you - and believe it or not, I do agree with you on any number of issues.  You often have good ideas, but please consider a little more civility and fairness as you participate in our community.

Why do innocent people fill our jails?  We have all seen the news programs where inmate after inmate proclaims innocence.  Who are these evil judges and juries whom fill our prisons unnecessarily?  Whose perception of the truth is real, and whose is false?

A Goochland citizen recently wrote, “unless someone like me picks up a phone or a keyboard, asks for information, and then shares ‘the other side of the story,’…” referring to their perception of truth regarding Goochland County Public Schools (GCPS) versus the continued public outcry against current GCPS conditions and needed change.  I liken this individual’s actions to believing the aforementioned prisoners’ innocence proclamations with no knowledge of the crime, the evidence or the trial!

Lately, as elections near, the three incumbent GCPS School Board members seeking new terms have been quoted in this newspaper. 

District 1’s representative Haskell – “…class sizes are increasing…”  This is what happens when we cut over 20 teaching positions in the past two years without cutting any administrative positions.

District 2’s Miller, who has “served 30 plus” years – “I’m running for reelection because I’m not finished.  There is still work to be done.”  How long did it take Noah to construct his ark…are we there yet after 30 plus years?

Finally District 3’s Mattox - “Superintendent Underwood is doing the job the Board wants her to do.”  That was some nice work recently on the High School Student Parking Pass prattle and the “Pay to Play” debacle…according to Mattox she was just “following orders.”  Whose orders did Mattox follow to have Federal Tax Liens filed against him for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 totaling $55,948.86?

Left to no other “reality,” what should voters believe, if not the hollow words echoing in print?

Attending public meetings is the highest level of governance reality.  Next would be listening to the recordings, which lack body language visuals and “death stares,” followed by reading the minutes, which are expurgated and abridged.  Better yet, I’ll just sit in my easy chair and call GCPS administration and ask them why this year’s Advanced Placement (AP) enrollment is up 150% when last year’s AP test pass rate was a dismally paltry 27%.

At last week’s NAACP candidate’s forum, GCPS District 1, 2, and 3 School Board challengers Michael Payne, Kevin Hazzard and John Lumpkins treated the audience to their refreshing educational management perspectives. 

However, don’t just believe me, come see for yourself as our Goochland Chamber of Commerce holds a School Board Candidate Night Wednesday, October 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Goochland High School Auditorium.  If you have children, their educational future will be “on display.” We’ve seen what the incumbents offer, and it is time for change.