We Can, and Must, Do Better

Posted on March 24, 2024March 24, 2024 by Jenny

I was born and raised on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, attending Worcester County public schools. Worcester County is rural and working class, with a median household income that is roughly half that of my current home of Howard County. More than half of Worcester County’s student population county-wide receives free and reduced-price meals. Thirty years ago, Worcester County public schools had modest offerings. My high school offered only five AP classes. There was no orchestra, only...

Perspective

Posted on September 21, 2023September 21, 2023 by Jenny

When I was a teenager, I was up before the sun every morning. I’d put on my shitkickers and take my flashlight out to the barn, where I’d feed animals, muck out stalls, and collect eggs. In the winter, I’d be out there breaking ice on water buckets and checking for frozen pipes. Then, I’d grab breakfast, get ready for the day, and make the 8 ½ mile trek into town to get to school by 8 AM. On the weekends – and all summer long – I had to be up even earlier to make it to my job in town by 7:30...

Kids’ Lives are at Stake in the Board of Education Race.

Posted on May 16, 2022May 16, 2022 by Jenny

"One of the charges thrown against the book was that it promoted pedophilia — based on a single panel depicting an erotic ancient Greek vase. Others simply called it pornography, a common accusation against work with themes of queer sexuality. Queer youth are often forced to look outside their own homes, and outside the education system, to find information on who they are. Removing or restricting queer books in libraries and schools is like cutting a lifeline for queer youth, who might not yet...

Disenfranchising the Students

Posted on December 18, 2020December 18, 2020 by Jenny

Buckle up, folks; I'm feeling salty tonight. Why? Because this controversy over the Howard County Student Member of the Board of Education is getting on my last nerve. This week, Howard County parents Kimberly Ford and Traci Spiegel filed a lawsuit to challenge the SMOB's voting rights. As I've explained in great detail before, the SMOB, Zach Koung, is authorized by law to vote on Board of Education motions with some exceptions. Because a recent vote on school reopening did not give Ms. ...

Update: (River Hill) Money (Still) Makes the World Go ‘Round

Posted on October 24, 2020October 28, 2020 by Jenny

I wrote back in late August that of the $167,000 raised thus far by Board of Education candidates and PACs in the 2020 election cycle, roughly half of it has come from a single high school catchment area - River Hill High School. I surmised that River Hill was putting its financial might into a slate of anti-redistricting candidates. Another round of campaign finance reports are out as of yesterday, and that story hasn't changed. Except that the numbers have become even more mind-boggling....