September 3, 2014  



Ken speaking at a Virginia Education Association (VEA) training event. 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News
Commentary

Back to School
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 

Although it has been many years since I was a teacher in the classroom, I still get a nervous stomach around Labor Day each year in anticipation of the beginning of a new school year. Teaching is the hardest work I have ever done in my life including being a legislator. I taught before the era of Standards of Learning (SOLs) and massive standardized testing. The challenge I and my colleagues had in our time was to recognize, nourish and expand individual students' knowledge, talents and abilities. Today's teachers have unfortunately been forced to teach to standardized tests that do not recognize individual student's knowledge, talents and abilities nor do the tests or the assessment process of teachers recognize their unique skills and talents. 

 

I attended the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) recently where Sir Kenneth Robinson, noted author and speaker, spoke about the need for revolution--not reform--in public education. (Interview with Sir Kenneth Robinson) He expressed concern that schools are organized on an industrial model--I have described it as a factory--where all the children are expected to come out alike at the end of schooling. At the same time we recognize in society the special talents individuals may possess, the orientation of many schools for too many years has been to ignore individual differences and to have identical expectations for all students. Schools cannot operate successfully as a factory of the past where every student becomes the same widget, but schools need to adopt a mass customization model where every student is recognized as a unique being. 

 

As Sir Kenneth Robinson expressed it, "education is meant among other things to develop people's natural abilities, and I believe it really doesn't do that...To focus on them in the traditional school setting, very many brilliant people are weaned away from the very talents that excite them." For Robinson, schools should focus on awakening creativity and developing natural curiosity. "Much of the present education system in the United States fosters conformity, compliance and standardization rather than creative approaches to learning," he says. 

 

Clearly the standards and testing programs have gone too far, and fortunately the push back from students, parents and teachers is finally being recognized by legislators. The General Assembly reduced the number of SOL tests required, and a commission established to look at the issue is likely to recommend even more reduction. Graduation requirements need to be made more flexible in order that students can more fully develop their individual talents. Sir Kenneth Robinson's curiosity and creativity need to be rewarded in the classroom. 

 

The anticipation I feel with back-to-school time is shared by parents, students and teachers alike. The excitement needs to be recognition of the great things that happen in classrooms every day. The managers of that process--the teachers--deserve our gratitude, recognition and better pay. When you talk with a teacher, please join me in thanking them for their dedication and hard work.  

 


Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28

Virginia Report

Tune in to Ken's weekly television program,

Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming (Verizon Channel 1981). Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference.

  

TONIGHT - Wednesday, September 3 at 10:30 p.m., Sandra Cook, Virginia Organizing 

  

Tuesday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday September 10 at 10:30 p.m., Senator Janet Howell, General Assembly Special Session on Medicaid Expansion   

 

Virginia Report is also available online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266 for viewing on your computer or iPad.

 

Bulletin Board

Provide Input on Proposed FY 2016
 Transportation Alternatives Projects

Fairfax County will hold a public meeting on September 15 to solicit comments on the proposed FY 2016 Transportation Alternative Program projects. The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, 4050 Legato Road, Suite 400, Fairfax. At the meeting, county staff will make presentations about the program, followed by a question-and-answer session. Visit Transportation Alternatives Projects for more details. 
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Deadline to Pay Car Tax
is Monday, October 6

To pay by phone using any major credit card, call 703-222-6740. A 2.5% service fee is charged by a third-party processor and will be shown as a separate transaction on your monthly credit card statement. To pay online using any major credit card, go to Using Credit Cards to Pay Your Fairfax County Taxes. The 2.5% service fee also applies to online payments. You may also pay by phone or online using a debit card. If using a VISA debit card, the service fee is $3.95. If using a MasterCard debit card, the service charge is 2.5%. For more details go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/.

Calendar of Events

Saturday, September 6, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., ChalkFest, at Reston Town Center, Market Street, between Library and Presidents streets, open to everyone of all ages and artistic abilities for the joy of creating street-art with chalk and prizes offered in various categories. More information is at ChalkFest.

Saturday, September 6, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Reston Community Yard Sale, (rain date September 7). Location: Reston Association, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive. Nearly 100 families will be selling a variety of items. Vendor space is SOLD OUT. In case of rain in the forecast, call 703-435-6577 the morning of the event for a recorded message. No calls for space please.  

Saturday, September 6, Plum Family Picnic, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., North Hills Picnic Pavilion, North Village Road and Hollow Timber in Reston. Call 703-758-9733 for more information. 

Saturday, September 13, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Northern Virginia Parents of Multiples fall children's consignment sale at Luther Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Fairfax. Details are at consignment sale.

Saturday, September 13, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Three Birds Foundation presents the Northern Virginia Sustainability Fair, at Frying Pan Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon. Free event,  click here for more information. 

 

Sunday, September 14, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., Touching Heart's Kids on a Mission Fun Run, at South Lakes High School. To register or donate, visit Kids on a Mission Fun Run.   

 

Sunday, September 14, Mobilizing Against Gun Violence, simple meal at 12:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF), followed by a vigil at National Rifle Association headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. For more information, contact John Monroe at jmonroe@uucf.org or download a flyer. 

 

Monday, September 15, noon, Harmony Heritage Singers at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2589 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna. Hosted by Shepherd's Center of Oakton Vienna. Cost is $10 per person; reservation and prepayment required by September 8. Call 703-281-0538 to register, then mail your address and payment to SCOV, 541 Marshall Road SW, Vienna, VA 22180. Call 703-281-0538 if you need a ride. 

 

Thursday, September 18, 10:00 a.m. to noon, Open House at Shepherd's Center of Oakton to learn more about Fall 2014 Session of Adventures in Learning Classes, at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF). Printed registration forms may be mailed any time during the term with payment. Location, class schedule and registration form are available at www.scov.org/ail.   

 

Saturday, September 20, Dulles Day Family Festival and Plane Pull, at Dulles Airport. Gates open at 10:30 a.m. Schedule, directions and other information are at Plane Pull.   

   

Saturday, September 20,11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., free event commemorating the War of 1812, at Historic Blenheim and the Civil War Interpretive Center, 3610 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Call 703-591-0560 for more information. 

 

Sunday, September 21, 11:30 a.m., People's Climate March in New York City. Sign up and details at People's Climate March. 

 

Tuesday, September 23, 11:00 a.m. to noon, Pirate Party for ages 3-5, at Reston Association, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive. Registration required, RA members $4; Non-members $6; Contact Ashleigh@reston.org or call 703-435-6577 to register.

 

Saturday, September 27, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the 14th annual Reston Multicultural Festival, at Lake Anne Plaza. Rain or shine. Contact the Community Events Director at 703-390-6166 or kevin.danaher@fairfaxcounty.gov if you need more information.   

 

Saturday, September 27, noon to 5:00 p.m., Oak Hill Mansion Open House, a free event for the whole family, 4716 Wakefield Chapel Road in Annandale. Details are at Oak Hill Open House. 

 

Tuesday, September 30, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., What You Need to Know About Transportation program and reception, Capital One Auditorium, 1680 Capital One Drive, McLean. To register and for more information click here.

 

Friday-Saturday, October 3-4, 2014 Virginia Environmental Assembly at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. To register and find more information, visit Virginia Environmental Assembly.    

 

Friday, October 17, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Asian American Business Summit & Expo, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Learn more at Asian American Business Summit.    

 

Saturday, October 18, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., 5th Annual Latino Festival of Reston, Southgate Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston. For more information, or for a table, food vendor or performer application, call 703-860-0676.

 

Tuesday, October 21, The Virginia Wine Summit at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond. Tickets to the day-long event, priced at $199, are open to the public and include entry to the post-summit reception where guests can end the day with a selection of sparkling Virginia wines. To register for the event and for more information, visit www.virginiawinesummit.com.   

Saturday, November 8, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Fairfax County History Conference, "Fire, Flight, and Fury," admission $20 per person, download brochure and registration form here.  

 

Registration is open for the 2014 Governor's Transportation Conference to be held November 12-14 at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Exhibitor booths and sponsor packages are available. See details at vatransconf.org.  

 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia

 



Fairfax County Public Schools has a mobile app for parents and students to provide easy access to individual school and district information.

Download from iTunes here.

The Google Play version is available here.

            

 

 

 

In This Issue
Commentary "Back to School"
Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
 and paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum.