Lawsuit to open schools
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A lawsuit has been drafted and will be filed soon against Arlington Public Schools regarding their refusal to provide high quality education for my daughter.
The Virginia constitution directs that “high quality education” should be provided. There has been considerable legal debate over the years regarding whether that is a strict measurable requirement but it is absolutely at least aspirational. Distance “learning” is an absolute failure for most. IF there are students who are thriving in this environment, then they are the exception, not the rule. My once highly motivated, and above average child has regressed, as have so many. Willfully choosing a path of low quality education is a clear violation of the constitution. At this point, the pandemic is not a new phenomenon. Very substantial data has existed for quite a while demonstrating that closing schools does not have a significant effect on slowing the spread of the virus.
The case focuses on the damage already and continuing to be done and demands schools be reopened and not shut down again on such a dubious basis. The lawsuit demands an acknowledgement that the shutdown was a violation of the constitution which will send a strong message that such a lockdown of several months is unacceptable. If this fiasco of shutting schools down for several months is acceptable what comes next? This has been a very clear attempt to move the Overton window regarding what is acceptable and that needs a major resistance!
While it seems very logical that this would be done as a class action suit that option is not available under Virginia law. Even without it being a class action, if this case is successful for one individual then the remedy benefits everyone. While this is focused on Arlington the precedent could be beneficial statewide. It would make sense for so many parents who could benefit from this precedent to assist with the legal expense and I welcome that.
Please consider donating and sharing with others. Thank you for your consideration.
The Virginia constitution directs that “high quality education” should be provided. There has been considerable legal debate over the years regarding whether that is a strict measurable requirement but it is absolutely at least aspirational. Distance “learning” is an absolute failure for most. IF there are students who are thriving in this environment, then they are the exception, not the rule. My once highly motivated, and above average child has regressed, as have so many. Willfully choosing a path of low quality education is a clear violation of the constitution. At this point, the pandemic is not a new phenomenon. Very substantial data has existed for quite a while demonstrating that closing schools does not have a significant effect on slowing the spread of the virus.
The case focuses on the damage already and continuing to be done and demands schools be reopened and not shut down again on such a dubious basis. The lawsuit demands an acknowledgement that the shutdown was a violation of the constitution which will send a strong message that such a lockdown of several months is unacceptable. If this fiasco of shutting schools down for several months is acceptable what comes next? This has been a very clear attempt to move the Overton window regarding what is acceptable and that needs a major resistance!
While it seems very logical that this would be done as a class action suit that option is not available under Virginia law. Even without it being a class action, if this case is successful for one individual then the remedy benefits everyone. While this is focused on Arlington the precedent could be beneficial statewide. It would make sense for so many parents who could benefit from this precedent to assist with the legal expense and I welcome that.
Please consider donating and sharing with others. Thank you for your consideration.
Organizer
Russell Laird
Organizer
Arlington, VA