March 23, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

 

Commentary  
 
Redesigning Our Schools 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
My first experience in Fairfax County came as a result of being placed as an intern teacher by the University of Virginia in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). My history/political science undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University did not provide me the necessary credentials to teach; the M. Ed. program allowed me to continue my studies in history while completing a year-long supervised internship. The school in which I was placed scheduled me for three periods of the most challenging students in the school from whom I could learn to teach.
 
That year and the additional two years I was in the classroom before moving into administration continue to be the hardest work I ever have had to do. And I learned a lot from the students. I prided myself on being able to work with the most difficult students, but even I faced challenges I could not meet. One student in particular who had been removed from every class in which he was enrolled was finally removed from my class as well. Years later after I had become director of adult education for FCPS and responsible for the night high school I saw that same student graduate from high school. He had settled down, gotten a job, and many of the complexities of his personal life had been resolved. He was married and seemed very happy.
 
I was thinking of that student and many others that I may have helped rescue with the alternative schools I helped to start for students who could not make it in the regular school environment when I read an article in the Washington Post recently about a speech from a top school administrator on the school to prison pipeline. Her speech is part of a debate that I am pleased is occurring about the way discipline is handled in the schools.
 
Zero tolerance policies simplify discipline. You break the rules you are automatically out--no need for administrators or school boards to be concerned as to whether there is a better way. Confusing school discipline with criminal behavior helps shift the burden from the school principal to the school resource officer/cop to take care of the problem. Suspending children as young as four or five may provide some relief in the short run but may contribute to bigger problems in the long run. Enforcing a system of standardized testing based on rigid standards increases anxiety for teachers and students alike, and it may not be the best way to educate children. Assuming that one can teach someone all they need to know for a future decades from now is foolish if we are not teaching the skills of problem solving and learning rather than isolated bits of information.
 
The simple solutions of the past never worked as well as many would have hoped, and they sometimes led to greater problems. The school model of the past will not meet the diverse needs of children today. I am pleased that discussions are taking place about new models for schools. I am just as pleased that my student of the past found his way back to school after being turned out. 

Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
  
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, March 23 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Senator Janet Howell about the recently-adjourned General Assembly session
    
Tuesday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 30 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Rob Gehring about Criminal Justice Reform

Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at
www.youtube.com/watch. Previous shows can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266. 


Bulletin Board  

The Best of Reston

Tickets are still available for the Best of Reston Awards Gala on April 7! Click here to purchase individual tickets or tables or make a donation. Learn more about the Gala and the award winners at Best of Reston.
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VCU's Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute's
Minority Political Leadership Institute
is now accepting applications for its 2016 cohort. 



To learn more and to apply 
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Reston Founder's Week
April 3 - 10
Visit Founder's Week for schedule and details.

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Reston Kids Triathlon Seeks Volunteers


The Reston Kids Triathlon, to be held on Sunday, August 7, is a community event that encourages healthy and active youth. The event is from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. with varying volunteer positions throughout the day. To learn more and sign up to volunteer, visit Reston Kids Triathlon. 

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Library Board of Trustees Public Engagement Initiative 
As directed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees is undertaking an interactive project to solicit public and staff input about the types of services and programs Fairfax County Public Library could offer in the future. The project is scheduled for completion in summer or fall 2016 and is guided through a unique process represented in the Project Roadmap. Details on the initiative, including opportunities for public input, is at Public Engagement Initiative.  



Calendar of Events      

Tomorrow: Thursday, March 24, 6:30 p.m., Screening of documentary film "Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston" at the National Building Museum. Register at Another Way of Living.

Saturday, March 26, Last day to donate formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags, scarves, shawls, and accessories to Diva Central. Drop off at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Download a flyer here. 

Thursday, March 31, 11:00 a.m., "Destination Rides" Information Session, NV Rides-Reston will host a one-hour information session to learn about issues facing non-driving seniors in our community, at Reston Community Center, Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston. This is a free event; you will not be asked to make a financial contribution. For information or to RSVP, contact NV Rides at 703.537.3070 or GinaC@NVRides.org. More is at www.NVRides.org.

April 1-3, SingStrong a cappella music festival, at South Lakes HS Arts Center, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston. Details are at SingStrong. 

Saturday, April 2, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Spring Cleaning of Our Parks, a partnership between the Nature Conservancy and Fairfax County Park Authority to pick up trash at eight locations in Fairfax County. For more information or to register online, click here.

April 5-7, Environment Virginia Symposium, at VMI's Center for Leadership and Ethics, one of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Virginia Green Convention and Conference Centers. Find more information about the symposium and register at Environment Virginia Symposium.

Thursday, April 7, 5:30 to 10:00 p.m., Best of Reston Awards Gala, at Hyatt Regency Reston. Details are at Best of Reston.

Friday, April 8, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Empty Bowls fundraiser to help fight hunger and food insecurity in our community. At Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road in Herndon. Further details are at Empty Bowls.

Saturday, April 16, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Living Well, Aging Well Summit, at Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Free event, for older adults & people with disabilities. Download a flyer here. Register here.

Saturday, April 23, noon to 6:00 p.m., Diva Central Event, at Reston Community Center Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza. The one-day event is open to any current high school student who is in need of a prom dress and other accessories. Everything is absolutely FREE. Limit one dress per person. Download a flyer here. 

Saturday, April 23, 6:00 to 11:00 p.m., FISH Fling Gala, at Hyatt Dulles Hotel, 2300 Dulles Corner Boulevard in Herndon. Download a flyer for the event here. For more information on FISH, visit herndonrestonfish.org.
April 23 to 30, Historic Garden Week, House & Garden Tours Offered Statewide. Learn more at vagardenweek.org

Sunday, April 24, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Reston Citizens Association (RCA) 2015 Reston Citizen of the Year Award presentation, at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, Community Room, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. More information is at Citizen of the Year.

April 25-26, National Reduce Tobacco Use Conference, showcasing the latest in tobacco-use prevention, reduction, and cessation with youth and young adults. For more information, visit reducetobaccouse.org. 

Saturday, April 30, Fairfax CASA Run for the Children Race, Starting Time: 8:00 am., at the Fairfax County Courthouse complex. Features music, food, prizes and raffle items. Raises money to help Fairfax CASA volunteers advocate for those children under the court's protection. Details are at Run for the Children.   

Sunday, May 1, March for Babies, Family teams, company teams and people walking with friends to raise money for babies in our community. To register, learn more, or ask questions, visit March for Babies. 

May 21 to 22, 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., Relay For Life of Reston, at South Lakes High School. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement symbolizes hope and our shared goal to end a disease that threatens the lives of so many people we love. More information is at Relay for Life. 
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 
In This Issue
Commentary..."Redesigning Our Schools"
"Virginia Report"
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
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