Left-Wing Indoctrination Thrives in FCPS
A recent article by journalist Stephanie Lundquist-Arora should be read by all who are concerned about political indoctrination in Fairfax County public schools. See “A Is for Abortion: Public High School Teaches ABCs for Women’s History Month.”
The article documents a blatant example of left-wing propaganda in the hallways of West Springfield High School. Allegedly in celebration of Women’s History Month, a series of posters, prepared with sophomoric sophistication, lists the “ABCs” of women’s interests, starting with “A Is for Abortion” (with a picture of a coat hanger), and proceeding with “F Is for Feminism,” “H Is for Hope (with a picture of Kamala Harris), “J Is for Justice (with pictures of the Statue of Liberty with a raised fist and photos of a transgender flag and the Palestinian flag), “L Is for Liberty” (with a picture featuring Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Michelle Obama), “Q Is for Queer,” “T Is for Transgender Women,” etc. Although some might think that “P” should stand for “Preserve Private Spaces for Girls,” the ABC display uses that letter to highlight Patriarchy and Persecution.
FCPS has a Controversial Issues Regulation that requires objectivity, balance and political neutrality, but it is routinely ignored. See Regulation 3280.4. Among other things, the regulation provides that “whenever there is doubt about the controversial nature of any particular topic, teachers, students, or student groups should consult with the principal,” who is then required to determine whether the material complies with FCPS policy. Did West Springfield’s principal determine that the ABC display is objective, balanced and politically neutral?
Imagine what would happen if a group of conservative students prepared a presentation that opposed open borders, criticized the Black Lives Matter organization, opposed biological males in female locker rooms, advocated equal opportunity rather than “equity,” and held up Donald Trump as a champion of justice for all. Would that be permitted in the hallways of Fairfax County public schools? The answer is obvious. The outrage from left-wing organizations (teachers’ unions, “sanctuary” advocates, transgender lobbyists, civic organizations like 4PublicEducation) would be instantaneous and furious, and the display would be ripped down within 24 hours.
The School Board and FCPS administrators like to pretend that the real ABCs are the focus of education in Fairfax County public schools, but displays like “A Is for Abortion” demonstrate that political ideology permeates the school system.
Concerned parents of West Springfield students should voice their concerns by phone calls, emails and demands for meetings with the school principal, the Superintendent’s office, the Ombudsman’s office, and other FCPS officials. Whether anything will be done about the ABC display is questionable, but the responsible FCPS employees should at least be forced to go on the record.
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Outrageous. One more reason that school choice must prevail.
Why not have conservative students put up exactly the kind of posters touting conservative values, record them being torn down and conservative content being repressed, and then sue the County under violation of the First Amendment? I’m sure there are several legal groups that would love to take that on.
My kids had the teacher who is likely responsible, if not instrumental, for this display in school. She is an outright left-wing activist who was focused on LGBTQ issues in her history classes. She compelled student speech in many ways, stifling those who disagreed with her views, favoring those who agreed, and introduced the use of “preferred pronouns” at the beginning of each year.
Please see the letter I wrote to the acting principal of WSHS:
Ms. Fawcett,
As the acting principal of West Springfield High School, did you approve the display in the History hallway titled, “The ABCs to Me”? If not, then who did? This is in direct violation of Controversial Issues Regulation (Regulation 3280.4) that requires objectivity, balance and political neutrality. The display needs to be removed AND an apology needs to be made to the ENTIRE student body for turning their place of learning and discovery into a leftist propaganda machine to indoctrinate and normalize the ideas of a progressive agenda that is not shared by all. School hallways and classrooms are supposed to be teaching reading, writing and math. “Decorations” such as these are true distractions from actual learning. Fairfax County test scores are plummeting and *this* is the focus of your so-called educators? Congratulations: West Springfield High School just made it on the radar of social media, and not for Good News. News media will pick up this story next and regardless of your personal political opinions, this kind of press is not good. I don’t want my children in the limelight, and it is your job to protect them from that. You allowed a teacher to shove her (I’m making an assumption that this was made by a woman) personal ideologies down the throats of all students passing that display in the hall making those who do not share those ideologies to feel outcast, unwelcomed and as my son said, “small”. We are a devout Catholic family and abortion is the murdering or an innocent human life, no matter how inconvenient that life is. Celebrating abortion with a sophomoric image of a coat hanger and positive pregnancy test exemplifies the banality of evil. It also tramples on our family’s sincerely held religious beliefs. This is unacceptable. I am angry about this display. Please call me to let me know when you have removed “The ABCs to Me” and also ensure that nothing of this nature will ever happen again at this school. You now have a controversial, political and religious liberty hot mess on your hands. I am praying actively for all who are within the walls of West Springfield High School.
“A is for Adoption.” -Matthew Fisher on 3/17/25
Dr. Margaret Fisher
Thank you, Margaret. Your letter undoubtedly expresses the feelings of many.
As a former WSHS parent I was appalled upon reading this. I wrote an email to the acting principal as well as the Superintendent and cc’d Governor Youngkin as well.
I just heard back ftom Reid’s office that they forwarded my email and their response to me Area 4 .
Thank you Mark for bringing this to the attention of the community.
I feel sorry for parents who are fearful of retribution and remain silent.
T
Zoe: Thanks for taking the time to do what you did.
A is for Abhorrent… D is for disgusting… F is for Failing our children..
Unfortunately, most students are too afraid of being singled out as a bigot or homophobe or a racist – to counter the radical leftist faculty members who pretend to be educators, but are actually vicious, angry Marxist soldiers.
It is difficult to have a civilized conversation with these people- but as was pointed out above, they are in fact- violating the guidance they are supposed to adhere to -and if enough parents draw attention to it, it might be taken down…temporarily at least.
Stephanie Lundquist-Arora was on the Laura Ingraham show on Fox earlier this week. She actually showed the bulletin board in the main hallway of the school and that made an impact. It’s shocking, and ill-advised especially in view of the Controversial Issues Regulation. After events of the week, my first reaction to A is Astronaut as a brave and accomplished scientist and astronaut was returned to earth after a very extended time on the Space Station as she occupied her time with more experiments and two walks outside the spacecraft. How about we try to elevate children minds rather than involve them issues which are more important to adults and activists than high school students.
We sadly too were sent directly to the Superintendent who finally responded after four emails as she clarified that the VDOE did require her to look into the matter. That upon further investigation, this project supports critical thinking and stems from the teacher’s training received from the Humanities Institute for teaching women’s history at the New York Historical program this past summer. In conclusion, this effort has her full support. Regardless of the project’s origins or her biased support, it directly violates FCPS Regulations (thank you for sharing their policy). What can be done to hold them accountable?