Now that the school redistricting vote is over, it's time for Howard County to do some self-reflection. Ask yourselves some hard questions. Examples: /1

Ask yourselves if you disparaged or turned your nose up at a high-FARMs school and/or its neighborhood. This is especially important if your kids are now going to that school. /2

Ask yourselves if you perpetuated model minority myths or negative stereotypes about poverty and working-class citizens and their values and priorities. /3

Ask yourselves if you showed concern for students receiving FARMs or other racial groups only when it served your own interests. Then, ask yourself if you will continue to show that concern, and to act on it, now that the vote is over. /4

Ask yourselves if you booed, groaned at, or rolled your eyes at BOE members when they spoke in favor of equity and balancing FARMs rates. Then ask yourself - honestly- why. /5

Ask yourselves if you told lies or half-truths, made gross exaggerations, or if you misrepresented data, to bolster your case against redistricting. /6

Ask yourselves if you claimed that changing schools would be detrimental and harmful to your child, while suggesting that other kids should move instead. /7

Ask yourselves what messages you conveyed to your children, directly or indirectly. /8

Ask yourselves if you're upset that you don't feel heard or if you're really just upset that you didn't get your way. /9

Ask yourselves these questions and then reflect. I'll be reflecting on my own incivility too. /end