Parents of Jeffco, we hope you’re paying attention because your children are being used. Evidence continues to mount that the student protests in Jeffco are anything but student-led. Rather, it has become clear they are being entirely orchestrated by the union in service to their obstructionist, anti-reform agenda. 
We offer the latest evidence to bolster our case:
Exhibit A: The Jeffco Stand Up Facebook page, the online focal point for protestors that is allegedly run by “students.” The description of the group contains a lengthy rant about changes to teacher pay in Jeffco. It also sites an obscure 2008 salary negotiation between the union and the district. How many students do you know who care about or are even aware of teacher pay issues on this level? The answer is none.
That same description and Facebook page also contain odd inconsistencies, writing at times from the perspective of “us students” but then suddenly changing to the viewpoint of someone who is taking into consideration “all of our children.” Given that students themselves are children, we’ve got a fresh hundy for anybody who can find one that writes using the “all of our children” angle.
Exhibit B: Organizers of the student protests were very concerned about butts in seats on pupil count day, which is the day that districts report how many students are in attendance for funding purposes. Few people outside of teachers and school administrators have ever heard of pupil count day, so the movement’s sudden awareness of its importance leaves us wondering who is really calling the shots.
Exhibit C: The Campaign for a Strong Colorado, a self described “communications consulting firm providing surrogate development, press relations and message advancement to its partners,” was curiously feeding 9News information and scoops about walkouts early on. Considering their strong ties to pro-union forces in the state, their involvement is highly suspicious.
As the mainstream media continues to cover the saga of Jeffco students, we hope that they will take a serious look at who is really behind these demonstrations.
Louis Sisneros The 'Mission Accomplished' banner was in reference to the carrier groups' mission. But you already knew that, didn't you/
As a student close to the protest, I can firmly say that this article is full of nothing but conjecture and lies. I actually know the STUDENTS who run the Jeffco Stand Up page. You would be surprised at how many of us are aware of the current situation and the past issues of this board. We are doing this because we care about our education. Period.
I love reading the comments here! Most times at the Peak there are few comments on any story. Wonder who sent all the commenters here to carry the union water…
While I could find myself logically and passionately wanting to debate the use of terms such as spar vs. logical discussion and hunt vs. opposition to unethical action….
I will respect your desire to not continue in this dialouge, despite my clear and honest intentions to engage you in meaningful and fact based discussion.
I congratulate your son on his achievement! I was also recently inducted into a nationally recognized honors society in college. It takes hard work, dedication and critical thinking skills to achieve such an honor! Education and the teachers who inspire such learning are to be commended!
Have a wonderful evening!
All, I apologize that I won't continue to spar on this subject, especially since I really have no dog in the hunt, have much better things to occupy my time and am clearly not as passionate about this as many others of you. Threatened? Not in the least.
I must go get ready for my son's induction into NHS now (CCSD). Have a nice evening.
Ray Randolph I can understand your frustration here and would say with certainty that the quote you provided was very logical and well thought out. Douglas Adams appears to have provided a clear and logical platform with which to build your opinion about opinions on. There is nothing wrong with utilizing the logic of others to help build your own understanding, logic and opinion.
This is my hope and intention here. To provide the logical platform needed to understand and shape opinions that are rooted in factual logic instead of any stereotypical assumptions or unsupported accusations.
Amanda Benson Sorry to derail the discussion…. I just hate that "my opinion is as valid as everything in the universe because opinions are magical!" nonsense. I would like to see a response to your post as well.
Gregg Bergan I am willing to provide you with the time needed to "brush up on your logic skills," but do honestly look forward to your thoughts regarding my last post.
I would also like to suggest that when attempting to criticize one's use of quotes as "the absence of original thought," that you not provide one yourself as a rebuttal. While you admit to seeing the irony in doing so, for which I applaud and can respect you for admitting, It only provides an amusing and admittedly humorous comment that in no way helps others to understand your logic and find any factual truth to your accusations.
While I continue to be optimistic in my attempts at engaging you in a logical and fact based discussion in the hopes of providing you with the information and resources needed to arrive at a fact based opinion rather than relying on illogical assumptions, I do fear (and assume) that with your use of humor you may be feeling threatened and using humor as a defense mechanism. It is not my intention to inspire these feelings in you and so I encourage you to take the time needed to review what we have discussed on your own time. I am available should you desire to continue this dialogue.
Gregg Bergan I can try to use smaller words if it makes you more comfortable, but I learned the word "pedantic" in the public school system — so yes, like our JeffCo kids, a true academic.
Ray Randolph Pedantic? Spoken like a true academic. Please pardon me while I brush up on my logic skills, and ponder this: “A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought.”
― Dorothy L. Sayers, Gaudy Night
And yes, I do recognize the irony.
Gregg Bergan On the contrary. To quote Douglas Adams: “All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated and well supported in logic and argument than others.” If you're going to run about being all pedantic, you need to take your logic 101 skills up a notch. It is quite possible to find all sorts of fault with all sorts of opinion.
Gregg Bergan, To have an opinion solely informed by historical experience, when relating to stereotypes, would be inherently flawed because you are attempting to define a current opinion about a fluid set of ideas, practices, or individuals with past stereotypes, which by definition are fixed and oversimplified. (See definition above).
1) Any form of stereotyping, be it current or historical, often results from and leads to, prejudice and bigotry. Prejudice can be spread by the use of propaganda and inflamed by demagogues. (a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument – https://www.google.com/#safe=active&q=demagogues+definition)
2) I could argue this point philosophically by saying "If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound?” However, I will refrain from using philosophy to argue this point. Instead I will turn to a basic example of the judicial system in an effort to make this as clear cut and understandable as possible.
a) Accusations are brought against you by a coworker that does not agree with the political and religious ideologies of your entire family. In an attempt to condemn and slander your entire family, this coworker accuses your wife of influencing you to commit (in the extreme) murder but is unable to provide:
i) any evidence that your wife influenced this action;
ii) any evidence to show that you actually committed the act.
The only form of evidence provided by your coworker is a historical experience that he underwent at the hands of others that shared your political and religious ideologies.
Logically, the fact that the external influence was not recorded does not provide an infallible argument that the external influence was not present. However, it does not adhere to the American Standard of being "innocent until proven guilty." Nor does the use of his historical experience provide infallible evidence that the act was performed by the you (the accused).
Amanda Benson So, to be clear, if my opinion is informed by any historical experience, it is stereotypical? 2.) If any external influence is not recorded, it is not capable of being factual?
Gregg Bergan The logic I provided you did not state that having a mind of your own was proof that their actions were independently motivated and entirely unswayed. (i.e., "Having a mind of your own and engaging in the ability to use it would logically suggest…").
1) I would be happy to provide you with direct links to the evidence that I mentioned, however, being that we are debating the ability to do individual research and reach your own conclusions, I was under the assumption that you would prefer to look into this matter without my motivation guiding you. 🙂
2) As for your statement in regards to "knowing what you do about unions and their tactics…" I would provide you with the definition of Stereotype – a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. Logically utilizing a stereotype to define your position is flawed and would not provide you with the facts needed come to a logical and factual conclusion. It also does not provide any evidence that "undocumented classroom discussion took place." This lack of any factual evidence would not hold up in any serious discussion of the accusations being made.
Mr. Bergan-Thank you for correcting my smart phone's erroneous grammar. I have more important things to do.
Amanda Benson Students are capable of using their own minds, but that's not proof that their actions are independently motivated and entirely unswayed. Personally, I have not delved deeply into the evidence (and your link takes me to a general page) so my opinion is anecdotal at best. I do not have a child in JeffCo and am hardly motivated to learn all about their politics. But knowing what I do about unions and their tactics, it's not hard to surmise that they had something to do with the student protests, if only by leading the children to that conclusion through undocumented
classroom discussion.
Hi Gregg Bergan. May I first express how excited I am for the opportunity to engage in an actual dialogue with you! I would disagree that no logic was offered. I will attempt to explain.
1) Students have minds of their own and are capable of using them.
2) Having a mind of your own and engaging in the ability to use it would logically suggest that students are not following or being influenced by any individual that maintains a district or association position.
3) Prior public comment, recorded at http://www.boarddocs.com/co/jeffco/board.nsf/public, would provide the evidence required to come the conclusion that Jeffco students have been involved in, and shown discontent with the action of this Majority Board long before the protests began. It would also help to provide you with evidence that the majority of our Jeffco students are quite intelligent and capable of expressing concerns that were clearly developed by their own research.
Amanda Benson It would be impossible to find fault with one's opinion, as it is by definition a personal view. As far as finding fault with your logic, you offered none, so there is no fault to be found.
Why do people believe this? Probably because it's fun to not live in reality.
CEA put a call out in July for temporary organizer jobs. This entire mess was union-organized. They used our children to further their ends.
CEA put a call out for temporary organizers in July. This entire mess was union-organized. They used our children to further their ends.
Again….let's all take the word of this man…..just cause his logic is sooooo concrete.
I saw fifteen staff members and there were msny more adults. Are you trting to tell me none of them were teachers, yup you have a o be right. And the "admins" I spoke to that yid their lanyards, those weren't teachers on an off hour, either? If all security and admin left the building to four hours, who was running the school? Of yeah it mua have been the kids, yup you're all right. I have land in Florida for dirt cheap, too.
They didn't want anyone to know they were staff, but they wore their lanyards? I don't think so. I was back at the school that day. No one had an empty classroom; teachers were in teaching the kids who had chosen not to walk out (a choice many kids made). As for the guy in the golf cart–he's one of our campus security guys.
Easy to make Exhibit with text .. any actual evidence of this? or are you just meme'ing for the board? Because your logic is seriously flawed and doesn't fit the facts or the recent history at all.
Thank you. I think I've made my point and you played the part remarkably well! 🙂
No this is not the official letter head. More subversive and unethical tactics being used to support the lack of any real evidence.
Odd that we are supposed to take the word of a man who can only come up with a fear mongering assumptions about anyone providing water to students on a hot day.
I have yet to see any evidence to support any claim you have made. Besides that of a photo showing individuals ensuring that our students stay hydrated.
Individual's
It must be fun to find fault in an individuals grammar and spelling when you can't find fault in their logic and opinion. 🙂
Columbine students actually did this over their own lunch hours. Wasn't is only responsible that security make sure they were safe?
This is exceptional propaganda. It offers no real proof of any of its accusations. The only thing that seems truly odd, they describe an operation that sounds more likely perpetrated by conservative groups….
This post carries the Jefferson County Schools logo. Is this a legitimate communication from the school district?
Odd that when I approached all staff that weren't administration covered their ID on their lanyards with the palm of their hand. I was there Paul. Were you?
John, the people escorting the students at Columbine were the administrators and school security. ALL of the teachers were in the building teaching. Ask the principal before you make stuff up. Why do you care, you're in DougCo?
"Their," not "there." But I did get a chuckle out of the "faulty" leaders comment. Did you skip out on a few classes yourself? 🙂
More "facts" like we see on Fox "news". Lies, half-truths, and complete fiction made up by the conservative party desperately trying to be relevant as the future walks away from them.
This article is just silly. It doesn't have any real "evidence" in it. I'll give you a "hundy" if you can back any of your accusations with real evidence. Where is your journalistic integrity?
"Mission Accomplished" complete with package enhancing flight harness. 'Nuff said.
I submitted a CORA request for all public records that Julie Williams and/or Ken Witt had that indicated that the JCEA was involved in the student walkouts – the response I got: There are no responsive documents. 'Nuff said.
Absolutely horrendous article that is complete supposition.
This is the most inaccurate and unprofessional piece of writing I have read in quite a while. These students have minds of there own and are using them. They are not blindly following faulty leaders.
Hmm… If parents don't know about Oct. 1 count day then the author of this article must think they are really dumb because many schools send out emails or letters to parents telling them about the day. Most parents and students do know about the count day and window.
Teachers caring enough about students to provide them with water on a hot day!! How dare they! SMH….
This entire "report" is chalk full of fear tactics and biased opinion but I guess that counts as evidence these days when you have nothing else to go on or don't want to highlight real facts like those on record at http://www.boarddocs.com/co/jeffco/board.nsf/public
Every one of your exhibits demonstrates merely opinion as "evidence", I'd pay more attention if you could provide proven facts instead.
in re Exhibit B – KCMS sent a note out to parents about the importance of attendance on pupil count day in advance of the recent protests. I can only assume other schools informed the parents in a similar manner. That said I am convinced that some teachers must be watering the seeds of the idea that bloomed into the flowers of walk-outs.
in re Exhibit B – KCMS sent a not out to parents about the importance of attendance on pupil count day in advance of the recent protests. I can only assume other schools informed the parents in a similar manner. That said I am convinced that some teachers must be watering the seeds of the idea that bloomed into the flowers of walk-outs.
This is not really a surprise is it? I mean we have our own President "staging" or "manipulating" events for his own benefit.
"It also sites [sic] …" — that would be "cites".
site — Fix or build (something) in a particular place
cite (in the sense in which you used it above) — Mention as an example
http://completecolorado.com/pagetwo/2014/10/01/emails-show-union-school-representative-organizing-sick-outs/
Columbine staff not only escorted the kids march of 1.4 mile to the "Bridge to Nowhere" but also provided cases of bottled water for the "protesters" in a gold cart the entire way!
Nailing themselves to the tree… Good!