Appreciates good mowing job
Editor:
Kudos to the crew who mowed the shoulders of Etzler Road last week. I have lived here for over 30 years, and this is the cleanest, most professional-looking job I have seen in a long time. I hope the same folks will be back to do it periodically, whether they are from VDOT or contractors. They must have just sharpened all their blades and inspected the equipment because it left no uncut chunks as past jobs had done.
I appreciate the effort and the well-groomed result!
Sue Aleshire
Troutville
Wants CRT curriculum rejected
Editor:
I attended the June 10 county school board meeting, which was incredibly eye-opening, particularly considering The Roanoke Times comments Dr. Russ, the superintendent, made after the meeting. Several taxpayers spoke against the Critical Race Theory (CRT) curriculum sweeping the nation and Virginia, hoping to preempt its usage in Botetourt Public Schools. The speakers clearly had researched CRT, providing its history and background in their comments to the board, so Russ’s adjuration in The Times that “people inform themselves about…critical race theory before making judgments” is insulting, implying that citizens objecting to CRT at the meeting spoke from a position of ignorance.
Russ went on to state, “As a superintendent of a school division, my main focus is doing what’s right for kids…that doesn’t mean that parents will always be in agreement with that.” A government official arrogantly expressing his will over parents’ and taxpayers’ on such a widely controversial topic, rather than heeding the expressed wishes of the taxpayers, is outrageous. Russ has not been hired to parent, but to administer the schools.
Critical Race Theory addresses so-called systemic racism in American society, government, laws, and economy, but what it actually does is instill racism in children and youth by teaching them to judge others primarily or solely on the color of their skin. It uses curricular activities like forcing first-graders to identify their privilege or separate themselves into groups of oppressors and oppressed, pushing fifth-graders into recreating Black Power rallies to free a Black Panther radical held in prison on murder charges, and forbidding students from using the terms “mom” and “dad” for their parents because it claims these words foment misogyny, homophobia, and create an environment of non-inclusion.
Lastly, Buchanan board member Michelle Austin indicated that Botetourt would lose $26 million in state funding if Botetourt County Public Schools (BCPS) did not implement the curriculum passed by the legislature; I can clearly see where BCPS’ priorities are: in the pocketbook, not with the children. Principles and values are worth more than money, especially when it comes to shaping children.
I would like to see more parents at the school board meetings, standing up for their children; I would like to see every school board member removed who refuses to stand up against actual racism by rejecting CRT curriculum (call and email your member before July 8, their next meeting!); and I especially would like to see Dr. Jonathan Russ expelled from his position as school superintendent in Botetourt. The time to stop this racist curriculum is now, Botetourt!
Leigh Martell
Fincastle
