Editorial Board re-endorses Lynne Harris for Board of Education
By Silver Chips Editorial Board | Oct. 28, 2020, 8:27 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
After extensive research and a forum held by the Silver Chips Editorial Board with both candidates, the Editorial Board is proud to endorse Harris for the At-Large seat on the Board of Education, upholding the decision made in May. As a champion for student voices and an experienced MCPS teacher, Harris will bring necessary perspective to the Board table, ensuring that students are at the forefront of all conversations.
Blazers of Note - Asher Labovich
By Cal Tobias | Oct. 16, 2020, 11:52 p.m. | In Print Culture »
Every four years, large swaths of the nation come together to cast their ballots and pick their leaders in a great ritual of democracy. But one group has consistently failed to show up on Election Day: young people.
Blazers of Note - Maceda Berhanu
By Cal Tobias | Oct. 16, 2020, 11:37 p.m. | In Print Culture »
When a student returns to school after being suspended, they may face a number of challenges. They may have missed several classes and fallen behind. They may face humiliation. And they may not have the structures and support they need to reintegrate effectively.
The Pandemic and pollution
By Sean Li | Oct. 16, 2020, 10:31 p.m. | In Print Features »
For the past seven months, our world has been one with cleaner air and fewer cars on the road—hallmarks of a sustainable, eco-friendly future that society has imagined for decades.
Going on the record: classrooms on camera
By Samatha Rodriguez | Oct. 16, 2020, 10:02 p.m. | In Print Features »
As schools settle into a routine of online classes, the requirement for teachers to record lessons has caused controversy among teachers, parents, and students over privacy rights.
Q&A with Rahman Culver, Blair's new Diversity and Inclusion Instructional Coordinator
By Renata Muñoz | Oct. 16, 2020, 9:48 p.m. | In Print Features »
Why was the Diversity and Inclusion Instructional Coordinator position created specifically this year?
Do blue light glasses work?
By Luther Voltaire | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:51 p.m. | In Print Culture »
Many who wear the popular glasses fall into a false reality.
Silver Chips 2020 Election Voter Guide
By Rekha Leonard and Marijke Friedman | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:22 p.m. | In Print News »
Meet the candidates and learn about the issues on this year's ballot!
MCPS teachers' contract moves to mediation
By Grace Walsh | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:13 p.m. | In Print News »
On Aug. 28, the Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) and the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) jointly filed a formal notice of impasse with the Maryland Public Schools Labor Relations Board (PSLRB). The filing marked the first time in over twenty years that the two sides were not able to reach a contract agreement before the existing one expired. The two sides have since started a mediation process, as outlined in the current contract.
Ebbing enrollment
By Jasper Swartz | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:08 p.m. | In Print News »
Following an announcement from MCPS on July 21 that students would not return to in-person school for at least the first semester, a large number of MCPS families opted to unenroll in favor of private education or homeschooling options. At the Montgomery County Board of Education (BOE) meeting on Oct. 6, MCPS revealed that the enrollment total for the 2020-2021 school year is 161,150 students, marking a drop-off of more than 4,100 students since last year, when enrollment totaled 165,267.
Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg dies at 87
By Luther Voltaire | Oct. 16, 2020, 4:05 p.m. | In Print News »
On Sept. 18, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of pancreatic cancer at age 87 at her home in Washington, D.C. She served as one of the nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court for more than 27 years.
For the people or for the privileged?
By Rekha Leonard and Maia Egnal | Oct. 16, 2020, 3:50 p.m. | In Print Features »
While neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night prevents the post office from delivering the mail, the federal government aiming to defund it might. Over the past few months, President Donald Trump has expressed his opposition to funding the United States Postal Service (USPS) on the grounds that he fears voting by mail will increase voter fraud.
County council considers removing police from school
By Cal Tobias | Oct. 16, 2020, 3:43 p.m. | In Print News »
Community leaders, such as Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando and former MCPS Student Member of the Board (SMOB) Nate Tinbite, have called for the reduction or elimination of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, which installs Montgomery County police officers in county high schools.
Adam's Analysis
By Adam Chazan | Oct. 16, 2020, 3:38 p.m. | In Print News »
Questions C and D on this year’s ballot have sparked vigorous debate in Montgomery County, as the looming census report and redistricting are amplifying concerns about fair representation on the county council.
The duality of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
By Anika Seth | Oct. 16, 2020, 3:35 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been a critical piece of my own political socialization. She showed me and so many other young women that we have a place in this world––not only as lawyers and jurists, but as strong advocates and leaders, too. Ginsburg fought for and secured a number of women's rights, including—but not limited to—the ability to take out credit cards in our own names and to purchase and lease properties without a male co-signer. At the same time, I have to recognize that Ginsburg was not the perfect progressive she is often idolized as.
Broadening the beltway
By Samantha Rodriguez | Oct. 16, 2020, 3:31 p.m. | In Print News »
Governor Larry Hogan’s controversial highway expansion plan, which includes adding four toll lanes to Interstate Highways 270 and 495, will, if enacted, cut into Blair’s athletic fields and affect the entire capital suburban community.
From the SAC to the steering wheel
By Annie Goldman | Oct. 16, 2020, 2:46 p.m. | In Print COVID-19 »
When the bell rang at 11:00 a.m. on a normal school day, the lunchtime rush began. Students made their way to the Student Activity Center (SAC), forming long cafeteria lines as they waited to receive their food.
Personal Column: No decisions about you without you
By Lynne Harris | Oct. 16, 2020, 1:32 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
I’ve spent the past 12 years immersed in Montgomery County Public Schools, starting in 2008 when my son started kindergarten. I went to my first PTA meeting, raised my hand to volunteer for something, and then kept raising my hand. Taking on more volunteer roles, leading the PTA, stepping up to work as a leader of the countywide PTA (the Montgomery County Council of PTAs, or MCCPTA)—those things together provided many opportunities to study issues, listen, learn from leaders, and connect with communities.
Personal Column: Five myths about reopening schools and what we need to do right now
By Sunil Dasgupta | Oct. 16, 2020, 1:27 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
The final decision on reopening MCPS lies with the county’s chief health officer. The Board of Education’s role—and mine, as a prospective member—is to tirelessly plan for the moment the light turns green. Rather than emphasize careful and transparent planning and identifying needed resources, MCPS has contributed to anxiety and confusion. That, and poor communication, has led to five myths about school reopening.
When do the social media accounts of MCPS employees go too far?
By Kathryn LaLonde | Oct. 16, 2020, 1:22 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
Kathryn is Silver Chips' Ombudsman. To connect with her, email ombudsmansilverchips@gmail.com.
Employees matter. MCPS should treat them as such.
By The Silver Chips Editorial Board | Oct. 16, 2020, 1:14 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
From maintaining schools, to distributing food, to teaching on Zoom, MCPS employees are continuously going above and beyond during this pandemic. Now, MCPS is hanging them out to dry.
Overriding the veto on our future
By Marijke Friedman | Oct. 16, 2020, 1:10 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
Joe Francaviglia struggled for years with getting mental health resources for his students. “I taught 33 eighth graders my second period, and the class had at least eight kids with serious mental health needs,” Francaviglia, a former teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools and current Executive Director of Strong Schools Maryland, said. “We had one school psychologist who was there part-time. My class alone would have filled her caseload.”
Summer health? Not so sick.
By Jasper Swartz | Oct. 16, 2020, 1:06 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
When Norah Lesperin, a sophomore at Albert Einstein, took health over summer break to get the required graduation credit out of the way, she encountered hateful comments about her identity and a sexual assault lesson so insensitive that it made her feel nauseous.
Affirmative action infraction
By Leila Faraday | Oct. 16, 2020, 1:02 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
This fall, as seniors scramble to submit their college applications, many find themselves checking off a box to indicate their race—wondering what their answer will mean for their admission prospects. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) apparently has a very good idea of that.
It's time for Title IX transparency
By Sofia Roehrig | Oct. 16, 2020, 12:56 p.m. | In Print Opinions »
TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains non-graphic descriptions of and information about sexual abuse and trauma. Where only first names appear, names have been changed to protect the identities of the sources.
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