TJHSST PTSA Hosted Its First "Jacobin" Assembly

Only Thing Missing: The Guillotine

On Thursday, November 11, the Parent, Teacher, Student Association of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJPTSA) hosted its first in person general membership meeting since the pandemic hit. The meeting was convoked with the specific purpose to elect a new president in view of the forced resignation of its democratically elected president, Dr. Harry Jackson.

In reality, it was a farce to legitimatize the actions of the Virginia PTA, which imposed itself in the internal affairs of our PTSA, imposing an illegal and oppressive probation regime while threatening to revoke our charter and confiscate our funds. The Virginia PTA used its coercive influence to force the removal of democratically elected President Dr. Harry Jackson, and hold a “new election” to install as new President, Ms. Yvette Rivers, who ran and lost against Dr. Jackson in the REAL election in May. In sum, it was a well-orchestrated coup. Maduro in Venezuela or Lukashenko in Belarus could not have managed it better.

For a good overview into the intricacies of the ongoing drama within the TJPTSA and the role of the Virginia PTA, that can rival any soap opera, click on the link below, it will also provide also an insight into Ms. Rivers’ excuses for supporting the overthrow of a democratically elected President, Dr. Jackson.  https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2021/07/thomas-jefferson-ptsa-president-ousted-state-group-threatens-to-revoke-charter/

The meeting also offered a good example of the extremes of MOB DEMOCRACY, in which the pro-River’s crowd resembled the Jacobin’s actions during the French Revolution: incensed parents yelling, applauding fanatically, supporting outrageous and illegal motions, harassing, and bullying minority dissenting voices. When Mr. Brian Davison, a TJ father, valiantly filed pertinent motions, such as one to discuss the structure of our membership fee which is the highest in the State of Virginia, they tried to silence him with their shouting. In all honesty, I was relieved that by the end of the session, I had my head still on my shoulders. I am glad that the TJPTSA Executive Board’s Robespierre, Ms. Laura Marschoun, the implacable Secretary, did not dictate my execution!

I was accompanied by Mr. Brian Davison, and two other TJ courageous parents, a wonderful couple, who escorted me to enter the building as we envisioned a scenario by which I could be prevented from entering. I was illegally expelled from the TJPTSA by a decision of the President of the Virginia PTA, Pamela Croom, a DEMOCRAT - appropriately during the Halloween weekend. How about that for a '“trick or treat”? Ms. Croom’s illegal and arbitrary decision came after I requested the minutes of a secretive meeting she hosted in coordination with Ms. Marschoun to plot the sacking of Dr. Jackson on October 20. Her official argument is that my opinions and beliefs from her perspective do not comport with the purposes and mission of the National PTA. More about my particular case in another post but it begs the question whether it is part of the National PTA’s mission and purposes the plotting of coups, the hostile take over of PTSAs under financial coercion, and the illegal expulsion of its members.

To our relief, I was allowed to enter the building! The meeting took place at the school cafeteria.  The organizers set up tables at the cafeteria entrance where they checked IDs and issued green ballots.  Since it was an election, I had to produce an ID and my name had to be in the list of members of the TJPTSA.  I produced my ID and my name was not to be found in the list.  By virtue of Ms. Croom’s capricious decision, I was DISENFRANCHISED: I was not given a ballot, I could not vote and I could not file any motion.

The cafeteria was packed! Luckily everybody was masked. Refreshments were provided - nice touch and an interesting way to expend funds. During the course of the meeting, TWO school police officers wearing Kevlar vests entered the cafeteria at a certain point and stayed there for a while! I noticed their presence during the counting of the voting while in recess in particular. I honestly speaking felt happy that they were there.

In all fairness, I attended the meeting just to tell Virginia PTA and Laura Marschoun that they do not intimidate me and they would not silence me. When proceedings started and the parliamentarian hand-picked by Ms. Croom, Mr. Steve Berke ( whose emoluments have to be covered by the TJPTSA) discussed the rules for the election, I raised my voice and denounced that, "I am not able to vote because I was illegally removed from the PTSA by the Virginia PTA." The crowd (the mob) quickly booed me and the issue was not discussed.   

In order to go through the motions and rituals of a “democratic election”, the parliamentarian Mr. Berke asked for the names of candidates. Of course Ms. Rivers’ name was submitted to the race. Ms. Christine Kleiber threw the hat as well. To my shock, someone proposed Jun Wang, the second vice-president as a candidate. I have filed a complaint against him for his discriminatory treatment against my persona. Up to know, I have not received a response to my claim.

The courageous parents I was with and others supported a motion to have a round of questions for candidates, just FIVE minutes per each candidate. The crowd/mob opposed it! By the way, per our bylaws any individual in the community can join our PTSA. I was told that, in the lead-up to this meeting, the anti-Dr. Jackson crowd went out and enrolled 200 new members into the PTSA to ensure its control. 

There were 277 ballots cast. At our table, one lady (white) was trying to hurry Mr. Davison while he was substantiating one of his pertinent points. When I asked her not to interrupt and if she was in a hurry, she became livid and said she was because her mother was in the hospital. Although I felt sympathy for the lady, I did wonder why this woman was at a PTSA meeting if her mom was seriously ill and could use her at her bedside. What was really striking though was her hateful look! She had a yellow signs with a message in black: “Vote for Yvette!” One of many present fervent believers in Ms. Rivers.

 I knew in advance that Ms. Yvette Rivers would win. She aggressively campaigned on social media and enjoys the favor of the school administration, the Virginia PTA and most importantly, has the blessing of Ms. Marschoun.  Out of the 277 ballots cast, 222 went for Yvette Rivers, 32 went to Christine Kleiber (my favorite!) and 23 for Jun Wang whose sole candidacy was an insult to me at a personal level.  

My small group voted for Ms. Kleiber, a very impressive candidate! We nominated Mr. Brian Davison who denounced the COUP that was taking place, read from statements by Ms. Rivers, urged parents to vote for Ms. Kleiber and withdrew his candidacy. 

I did heckle Jun Wang during his five minute speech. I was, frankly speaking, insulted that he had the audacity to run after illegally cancelling me! One incensed attendee, a woman of Asian completion, come from behind, pull my sport sweater and told me in stern terms: You should show respect! Another parent sitting next to me, a white guy who indicated that he was an attorney asked me respect for Mr. Wang. In response to both, I pointed out to them that they should show respect to DEMOCRACY as we were witnessing a well orchestrated COUP!

After the coronation of Ms. Rivers, the mob went to the extreme to try to insert an election of a president-elect even though it was not included in the agenda. Many parents had left and it was 9:20 pm - 20 minutes passed the official closing time for the meeting! The presiding parliamentarian, Mr. Berke, overruled the motion on the basis of a basic notion of fairness. The mob insisted to approve it by 2/3 majority.  It was not until pleas from a student, parents and even the same Rivers, that the mob conceded that it was NOT JUST AND FAIR to host a last minute election.

Why should the reader care about the account of an election of a president of a PTSA? We all should remember that participation at a PTSA is the first echelon of our democracy at the local level. If our democracy crumbles at its foundation, we should not be surprised that it crumbles at the highest levels.