The Observer Newspapers |

July 18, 2008

CAPS Lawyer Has Unkind Attitude Toward Students

To the editor:

Steven David Stone, the attorney for the Fairfax Coalition of Advocates for Public Schools (FairfaxCAPS), has a "let them eat cake" attitude toward poor children in Fairfax County. I would be ashamed to be associated with his assertions if I were involved in the lawsuit against the Fairfax County School Board.

To state that there is no proof that children in poverty have greater academic needs is absurd. Mr. Stone should emerge from his protective bubble.

Mr. Stone argues that many people in Virginia have grown up poor and still become successful, "and they didn't get anything extra." Let's level the playing field completely. I would propose that the "affluent" children who attend Westfield or Oakton high schools shouldn't get anything extra either. Eliminate the arts and athletic programs, the AP program and the extra curricula activities that parents insist are needed for college applications. Since every child would have access to the same programs in all schools, there would be no need for the supposed social engineering that Mr. Stone fears.

Last winter, I attended the redistricting meetings held by the county. I was shocked at the disrespectful, immature behavior of the adults toward school employees and the South Lakes High School students who attended the meetings. That these same parents have hired Mr. Stone to be their mouthpiece only reinforces my belief that this nasty brawl has been about race and class and little more.

Marguerite Leishman

Reston