Virginia Lt. Gov slams top public school for withholding merit awards

's lieutenant governor decried one of her state's top school's decisions to withhold handing out merit awards to protect the feelings of students who didn't receive them.

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears said the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's policy was 'not the way,' during an impassioned appearance on . 'This is not America,' she added.

The Fairfax, Virginia, school came under fire after parents learned it had intentionally handed out awards for 'commended students' from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation two months later than was typical, and too late for many students to note the accomplishment on their college applications.

Parents have demonstrated outside the school, and called for the firing of Principal Ann Bonitatibus and Director of Student Services Brandon Kosatka, who they allege are responsible.

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears said the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's policy was 'not the way,' during an impassioned appearance on Fox and Friends

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears said the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's policy was 'not the way,' during an impassioned appearance on Fox and Friends

Principal Ann Bonitatibus
Director of Student Services Brandon Kosatka

 Principal Ann Bonitatibus (left) and Director https://srikandijepara.com/ of Student Services Brandon Kosatka (right)

Lt. Governor Sears called for an official probe into the allegations against Thomas Jefferson High.

'I'm astounded, and if these allegations are true, you know, I'm just livid,' she told Fox and Friends on Tuesday. 

'I am hopping mad because imagine as a parent you tell your child, son, study hard, daughter, work hard, do well. This is what these children are trying to do. 

'And how dare some of these educators keep these children's future in jeopardy like this.'

'You don't take the bread out of one child's mouth for another child. We've done that in America. It doesn't work,' she said.

The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax, Virginia

The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax, Virginia

The school's policy was uncovered by parent Shawna Yashar, who said Kosatka revealed to her that awards were intentionally withheld from students.

She said the confrontation transpired in mid-November, after her son was awarded a letter of commendation - two months removed from the when the awards are typically handed out in September.

Yashar said she tried to confront Bonitatibus but that the principal was unavailable, and instead Kostada spoke on the matter.

When questioned, Kosatka, according to Yashar, explained that staffers had wanted to hand the letters out 'discreetly' to avoid hurting the feelings of students who failed to garner the distinction. 

'There's not a lot of kids who didn't get either award, and we didn't want them to feel bad about it,' Yashar credited Kosatka as saying.

Shawna Yashar, one of the parents who was part of the effort unearthing these allegations against the Fairfax County Public School system

Shawna Yashar, one of the parents who was part of the effort unearthing these allegations against the Fairfax County Public School system

Sears did not buy the policy, saying it 'makes no sense' and sets a terrible example for students.

'Equal outcomes in the school. What does that mean? Is it everybody in the school gets an A? or is it everybody gets a B because the A students are gonna get the B, and the c students are gonna get a B?' 

'It teaches them that in school anyway, you get a participation trophy for everybody, but life is going to hit them and hit them very hard because life isn't waiting for anyone,' she said.

'We don't have time for this nonsense.'

Parents of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology demonstrate outside the school in December

Parents of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology demonstrate outside the school in December

Only awarded to 50,000 of 1.5million high-schoolers who scored well on the PSATS - an SAT precursor usually administered in the 10th grade - the prestigious National Merit Scholarship award helps students compete for scholarships, honors accolades, and college admissions. 

It is not the first time officials the Fairfax County Public School network - which encompasses 198 schools and centers - has come under fire for guidance touted as progressive.

In 2021, the school and its board found itself in federal court after it changed its admission requirements to limit the number of Asian-American students enrolled to improve the chance of admission of other students regardless of academic.

Billed as a means to boost equity, the guidance immediately sparked controversy for scrapping merit-based admissions - and was subsequently found to be against federal law. 

In February, a federal judge ruled Fairfax County school officials guilty of racial discrimination. But plans to overturn those rules have been put on hold thanks to a successful legal challenge by their supporters, with a court set to consider an appeal next year. 

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31/01/2023