Black principal takes only black students to see black rocket scientist on field trip...

[posty]

Racist or not??

 

http://www.annarbor.com/news/black-student...mentary-school/

 

An Ann Arbor elementary school principal used a letter home to parents tonight to defend a field trip for black students as part of his school’s efforts to close the achievement gap between white and black students.

 

Dicken Elementary School Principal Mike Madison wrote the letter to parents following several days of controversy at the school after a field trip last week in which black students got to hear a rocket scientist.

 

“In hindsight, this field trip could have been approached and arranged in a better way," Madison wrote. "But as I reflect upon the look of excitement, enthusiasm and energy that I saw in these children’s eyes as they stood in the presence of a renowned African American rocket scientist in a very successful position, it gave the kids an opportunity to see this type of achievement is possible for even them.

 

“It was not a wasted venture for I know one day they might want to aspire to be the first astronaut or scientist standing on the Planet Mars.

 

“I also think it’s important that you know that I have talked to the children who did not go on the field trip, and I think they have a better understanding of the purpose of the AA Lunch Bunch now, as I hope you do. I’m sorry if any kids were upset by the field trip or my discussion afterwards with them, and I have let them know that.

 

“The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students as has been reported, but rather to address the societal issues, roadblocks and challenges that our African American children will face as they pursue a successful academic education here in our community.”

 

A handful of parents have complained to district administrators about the trip, the group and Madison. More than a half-dozen parents contacted AnnArbor.com to raise the complaints, but none would agree to talk on the record, citing concerns of reprisals to their children by Madison.

 

While there’s no clear agreement between the two sides about exactly what happened, most of the controversy centers on a field trip taken last week by the Lunch Bunch for African American boys and girls to hear a black rocket engineer talk.

 

District spokeswoman Liz Margolis said after the trip was over, those who went returned to their fifth-grade class and were greeted by boos by those who didn’t go on the trip. Margolis said Madison, who is black, heard the boos, and went to talk to the class. She said he and the class had a “discussion” about race issues.

 

“He wasn’t yelling at them. He was very passionate about it,” Margolis said.

 

Parents have complained he was yelling at the class and belittled a Muslim girl who said she also had experienced racism and discrimination.

 

The program itself began earlier this year after the school received its latest achievement results. Margolis said the Lunch Bunch came from the school’s School Improvement Team and is tied to that team’s goals. She said several other schools in the district have similar programs targeting specific subgroups of students who are at risk.

 

According to meeting minutes, Madison introduced the club to the PTO in February as part of the school and district’s equity work.

 

Parent Vicki Haviland, who is white and has three children at Dicken, said she is supportive of the overall program. Haviland is the secretary of the Dicken PTO and has filed papers for the open school board seat.

 

“I think the African-American Lunch Bunch is totally in line with the district’s equity work,” she said. “I think the field trip was a fine idea.”

 

She said she hopes the school and the district would “do a better job in talking about (race in education). Clearly there are people who don’t feel heard about it.”

[Puddy]

 

Paging BeeR

[driveby]

Pretty timely as my wife and I were discussing last night how to close the achievement gap between african-american males and the rest of the school population.

 

I'm sure this trip can't hurt but I doubt it will have much of an effect on the intended targets.

 

I don't have a problem with it.

[wiegie]

I think it might have also been helpful for the white kids to visit with a successful black scientist.

[T-Scorp]

I am not approving or disapproving of what happened but....

 

Put it this way if a white principal in MN had taken a group of only white kids to meet with Toby Gerhart to show that white kids can be NFL runningbacks too would that be racist?

 

AL and Jessie would be all over it screaming racism..... there would be calls for the principal to be fired etc.....

[Ursa Majoris]

The outing was specifically for the African-American Lunch Bunch. How many whites are members of that? There's legitimate arguments to be made as to whether such a group should exist at all but it's difficult to argue that whites should have been on the trip.

[Ursa Majoris]

Pretty timely as my wife and I were discussing last night how to close the achievement gap between african-american males and the rest of the school population.

FWIW, IMO only black students and their parents can fix that issue. White liberals and black "leaders" can run around all day wailing about affirmative action but, as always, the answer to the problem lies in the hands of those most affected.

[driveby]

FWIW, IMO only black students and their parents can fix that issue. White liberals and black "leaders" can run around all day wailing about affirmative action but, as always, the answer to the problem lies in the hands of those most affected.

Sorry, that's not an option.

[Savage Beatings]

I really don't care at all if a black Principal wants to schedule an all-black field trip. But since they would crucify any white Principal that did the same thing with white students, then no, it should not be allowed. No double standards.

[Delicious_bass]

I dont have a problem with a black principal taking black kids to hear from a black rocket scientist. In fact, I think that is a good idea.

 

That said, I think it should have been done outside of school hours (if possible) to help avoid any drama. Taking some kids on a trip while the others are in school is just asking for trouble. It shouldnt be that way, but it is.

[wiegie]

I dont have a problem with a black principal taking black kids to hear from a black rocket scientist. In fact, I think that is a good idea.

 

That said, I think it should have been done outside of school hours (if possible) to help avoid any drama. Taking some kids on a trip while the others are in school is just asking for trouble.

bingo

[Puddy]

I dont have a problem with a black principal taking black kids to hear from a black rocket scientist. In fact, I think that is a good idea.

 

That said, I think it should have been done outside of school hours (if possible) to help avoid any drama. Taking some kids on a trip while the others are in school is just asking for trouble. It shouldnt be that way, but it is.

Hmmm...field trips happen all the time for different grades, groups, etc. during school hours.

[dmarc117]

Hmmm...field trips happen all the time for different grades, groups, etc. during school hours.

 

 

to exclude one group because of skin color is not good, imo.

[darin3]

Hmmm...field trips happen all the time for different grades, groups, etc. during school hours.

Yup. While I am hughly into the whole double standards / reverse racism thing, this doesn't seem like it's all too big of a deal. Now, if this black principal pulled ALL of his black students out unilaterally, then it'd be a different story. But this appears to be a group/club of young black leaders.

 

Meh.

 

Now, the whole Cinco de Mayo American flag t-shirt story... now that's something completely different.

[Puddy]

The outing was specifically for the African-American Lunch Bunch. How many whites are members of that? There's legitimate arguments to be made as to whether such a group should exist at all but it's difficult to argue that whites should have been on the trip.

 

 

Hmmm...field trips happen all the time for different grades, groups, etc. during school hours.

 

 

to exclude one group because of skin color is not good, imo.

 

Well...Ursa's point above is a pretty good reason why the white kids weren't invited to the outing. They aren't members of the group. Next time the football team has a pep rally, I'm going to be damn pissed if non-football team students aren't allowed on the field to be cheered as well.

[Puddy]

And where the hell is BeeR to bring some much needed common sense to the discussion.

[Delicious_bass]

Hmmm...field trips happen all the time for different grades, groups, etc. during school hours.

Yeah, but dont they usually include the whole class, though? I mean, if sixth graders are going to the science museum for a field trip, its usually the whole 6th grade, isnt it? And if its just a selection of the students or "club" then its usually outside of school hours, isnt it?

[Puddy]

Yeah, but dont they usually include the whole class, though? I mean, if sixth graders are going to the science museum for a field trip, its usually the whole 6th grade, isnt it? And if its just a selection of the students or "club" then its usually outside of school hours, isnt it?

I assume if the NHS wants to visit GVSU to sit through one of wiegie's classes to get their loins on fire for a career in economics they'd be allowed to go. Not sure though.

[The Holy Roller]

Today, as part of the Physical Education curriculum, our entire 7th grade (135 kids) will be going BOWLING! We are only taking those children that are in the 7th grade, even the kid in the wheelchair and our one Hindu.

 

Tomorrow the 8th graders are going.

 

No problem.

[Delicious_bass]

I assume if the NHS wants to visit GVSU to sit through one of wiegie's classes to get their loins on fire for a career in economics they'd be allowed to go. Not sure though.

Yeah, that's true. Everybody's got a chance to be in the NHS, though. Its exclusive only in its higher standards...

 

As I said before, I dont personally have a problem with a black club going on a field trip. I think a lot of good can come from that, actually. I just think they could have set it up better(ie after school) to avoid any hassle. Maybe that wasnt possible for this particular trip, though. I dont know.

 

I do agree with what Savage said earlier, though. If a white principal took a group exclusive to white kids on a trip during a school day and all the students of color had to sit in class, there would be all kinds of outrage. Jesse and Al would be demanding heads roll and the "R" word would be flying all over the place...

[Savage Beatings]

Today, as part of the Physical Education curriculum, our entire 7th grade (135 kids) will be going BOWLING! We are only taking those children that are in the 7th grade, even the kid in the wheelchair and our one Hindu.

 

Tomorrow the 8th graders are going.

 

No problem.

 

Gradist.

[dmarc117]

Well...Ursa's point above is a pretty good reason why the white kids weren't invited to the outing. They aren't members of the group. Next time the football team has a pep rally, I'm going to be damn pissed if non-football team students aren't allowed on the field to be cheered as well.

 

 

then the group itself is wrong imo. u cant exclude people based on skin color. football lets everyone tryout and be on the team, no?

Edited May 6, 2010 by dmarc117

[bpwallace49]

I joined the golf team in high school. We routinely missed school on Fridays for tournaments and meets. The rest of the school had to stay in class. So part of a school activity (like the lunch bunch in question) had the blessing to miss class to take part in said activity. I guess we also discriminated because we were the MENS golf team, and women could not be on the team. Yet claims of sexism were not raised.

 

I guess all the white kids need to start a caucasian american lunch bunch to make posty happy?

[bpwallace49]

. u cant exclude people based on skin color.

 

Try and join the NAACP and let me know how that turns out for you . . .

 

Then why do they have separate mens and womens athletics?

[Azazello1313]

I dont have a problem with a black principal taking black kids to hear from a black rocket scientist. In fact, I think that is a good idea.

 

That said, I think it should have been done outside of school hours (if possible) to help avoid any drama. Taking some kids on a trip while the others are in school is just asking for trouble. It shouldnt be that way, but it is.

 

whether it's before school, during, after....it's still a racially exclusive group. that, to me, is a bad idea. I mean, maybe it's more palatable to some people if it's after school, maybe it's more technically "legal", but it still represents a fundamentally flawed idea -- that the way to work toward racial equality is with more racial discrimination. "separate but equal" doesn't work. never has, never will.