Dear TJPTSA members,
It has been brought to our attention that a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) opinion article has raised serious concerns of the TJ administration as well as TJ parents.
In an article titled “Virginia Dad Takes on the School Board”, the author stated that “The father of a Thomas Jefferson High School Sophomore, he had signed up to address the board about sexually explicit material in the school library, including work he and other parents say normalizes pedophilia.” It appears to us that the school library of TJ was referred to. However, according to the FCPS record, TJ library never subscribed the two books that were mentioned as inappropriate in a recent FCPS board meeting.
Moreover, Mr. Harry Jackson was quoted in the article that “I am glad to see we agree there is pornographic material in the library”. Apparently, TJ library was referred to again, and this statement is not factual either because no pornographic material has been found in TJ library, to the best of our knowledge. Most concerningly, Mr. Harry Jackson was cited as “not just any parent. Earlier this year, he was elected president of the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association, or PTSA.” In fact, none of the other TJPTSA Executive Committee members was consulted about the opinions expressed in this WSJ article, which has fomented unnecessary unrest in the whole TJ community. For example, threats and harassment toward TJ staff and administration has been occurring these past two days as a direct result of this article with increased security on TJ campus.
Given the severe impacts of the controversial statements to the TJ community, the TJPTSA Executive Committee has requested an explanation from Mr. Harry Jackson about his role in the WSJ article. Mr. Harry Jackson informed us that he never had reviewed or approved the article before it was published, and the author, not him, has the responsibility to fact check. In addition, Mr. Harry Jackson has requested WSJ Editorial Office for a correction to the article.
We will continue to investigate this issue and to keep the TJ community informed once more information is available.
TJPTSA Executive Committee