Earlier this month in Ann Arbor, MI, Dicken Elementary School Principal Michael Madison became the center of controversy when he arranged a field trip for black students only in which they got to hear Alec Gallimore (a black rocket scientist) speak at the University of Michigan. Understandably, the parents of students who were excluded were upset. In an effort to address their concerns, Madison sent a letter home to parents which said:
“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.”
I believe it is time for an NAAWP!!!! I would love to hear from anyone that might know how and where to start this organization. Can you imagine what an outcry it would have been had it been ONLY WHITE kids!!!!!!! Oh my gosh...I am soooooooooooo sick of hearing how the blacks are discriminated against. THAT IS JUST A LIE!!!!! It is time for white people to make a stand so our grandchildren do not have to put up with this bull!!!!
Everyone knows that this racist principal is the product of affirmative action --- benefits derived from racial preferences. I'm sure that's how he got into college, and equally sure that's how he got his job. No honest person can imagine this idiot is where he is today by merit. He's just passing on the belief that blacks get special treatment to his little kids. God save the poor kids in Michigan public schools who are defenseless against this unionized educational corruption.
This just reinforces why liberals should never be allowed to have close contact with children. Not in our schools, not writing books, not in day care, not as scout leaders. If we are going to take our country back, it has to start with the kids, at every level. Don't let an Obama supporter mow your grass, don't let them collect your garbage, pull them out of their class at school. Don't let them coach your baseball team, and if a liberal applies where you work, make sure they don't get the job. It's war, and they are the enemy.
Let me also add that this story is being incorrectly painted solely as a "racism against whites" issue. As of September 2009, 53.8 percent of Dicken's 379 students were white, 18.5 percent black, 8.7 percent Asian, 5.8 percent Hispanic and 2.1 percent Middle Eastern. The remaining 11 percent were listed as "multiethnic" or "other" on the district's website.
Now we get to Arizona, which has been on a roll as of late. On May 11th, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill banning ethnic studies in public schools. The law, which takes effect Dec. 31, bans classes that are designed for a particular ethnic group, promote overthrow of the U.S. government, foster resentment toward a particular race or class, or "advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals."The bill leaves it up to the state Board of Education or superintendent to decide whether a school violates the law. A school that does not comply could lose 10 percent of its state aid each month, and school districts can appeal the finding.
If there are ethnic studies teachers in AZ with questionable methods, they should be handled on an individual basis. Howver, banning ethnic studies in public schools entirely is not the way to go. When I was in high school, I took a class called Minorities in the U.S. I saw it as an opportunity to learn about things that weren't being taught in my other classes. The fact that my Minorities in the U.S. teacher was fine as hell was just an added bonus! One thing I remember is that there was one white student in the class. He may have been the only non-black student in the class for that matter. His name was Scott and if the term "nice guy" was in the dictionary, you'd probably see a picture of him next to the definition. There were never any incidents where Scott was the target of resentment by me or the other students in the class. He was there to learn just like we were and that was the bottom line. I have no doubt that there are "Scotts" today who would welcome the chance to take ethnic studies classes.Below is a clip from CNN in which Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and author/radio host Michael Eric Dyson debate the issue.
Although different on the surface, both the Dicken Elementary School incident and the new AZ law banning ethnic studies are very similar. The former deprived and the latter will deprive students from learning about others who don't share their background. Should the situation arise again, I hope that Principal Michael Madison will give students regardless of their race a chance to learn from someone like Alec Gallimore. Hopefully, the powers that be in AZ will realize that all students can gain something from taking an ethnic studies class.
12 comments:
I recently heard a news report that quoted statistics from the Anne E. Casey Foundation stating that 3rd grade children who are not able to read are significantly less likely to graduate from High School. According to this study, Michigan is tied for last place (along with Louisiana & Wisconsin) for African American children who are able to read in the 3rd grade. However Michigan placed 33rd when all students were factored in. I do agree, Malcolm, that all children could have benefitted from hearing this inspiring speech, but perhaps this principle was not so far off base.
A few thoughts:
Only inviting black students on the field trip is incomprehensibly wrong. It ties into the butt whipping Dr. Michael Eric Dyson gave that clown from Arizona. Students should want to learn about other cultures and in general about those who differ. There is nothing wrong with white students taking African-American studies or black students taking Latino studies or men taking women's history courses.
Whenever black people reach high positions in society there is bound to be some person who will brand them with the Scarlet Letters "AA" for affirmative action (because blacks, in their eyes, are not good enough to do it on their own).
Arizona has just gone nuts. It shows how far to the right the far right is moving and how people now are having to move even more to draw support (Rand Paul and John McCain are too good examples).
Anyway, a few thoughts.
I disapprove of anything in America that "teaches" difference under the guise of eventual equality.
To me, that's one of the most moronic stances in human history. It seriously makes me question if real, highly educated teachers are working to design platforms for learning, or if it's just more union bullying and other-cheek-turned PC nonsense.
Not all ethnic studies classes are divisive, for sure. But just the separation it teaches in title is considered by some to be contary to America's intended message of one big melting pot rather than multiple little stewpots lingering around on their own side of the stove.
And it does say a lot that majority (white) teaching is assumed while minority teaching needs a special category. It's a sign that things being better are only relative to learned tolerance.
That's not the least bit logical nor is it sustainable.
Intellectuals have huddled around for centuries and theorized of a better global society. They're seriously 0'fer infinity.
Everything they do singles out groups by race, religion or social class. Then they work in reverse to go backwards with a forced illusion of change.
How brilliant.
Ann: The principal is probably aware of those stats you cited (they are both scary and sad) which is why he did what he did. There are many people who are calling for his firing, but I think that's over the top.
Sandy: Dr. Dyson did tear Mr. Horne up pretty good. One of my favorite parts was when he called out Horne for restating one of his talking points about MLK.
It's been interesting to watch how far to the right candidates have had to go in order to keep the GOP base happy. I don't know if this is going to be successful for them in the long run.
Josh: In a perfect world, there wouldn't be a need for classes that focused on ethnicity, gender, etc. I don't know if schools are already doing it, but it would help if the faculty educated students so that they knew ethnic studies classes are for everyone.
It seems to me that the principle wasted a good opportunity to share a good African-American role model with the entire class. This would have been a good way to cross racial barriers.
I agree with Josh's statement that America is supposed to be a melting pot and not many different stew pots living in this country. I do think learning different cultures is good but not under the guise of promoting one ethnic group over another. We need to see everyone as Americans instead of looking at each others skin color.
Malcolm, it makes sense. And I'm morally torn on these subjects. Being only one race, and I can't put myself in another's shoes and see the world through that prism (more correctly, I can't look through anyone else's eyes, regardless of race...).
However, if you were to weigh positives and negatives, it becomes much more efficient to just teach under the label of world and include ethnic specificites instead of teaching ethnic-specific courses in a multi-cultural country and then saying that everyone's invited in.
Even that, although logical on its immediate face, becomes counterproductive, because, like it or not, they do teach racial differences.
And another bad aspect of some ethnic studies classes that ties in with the previous point is the infiltration by some separatist radicals.
A person with a radical agenda can easily get into these classes. And the problem with this is, of course, they're infinitely harder to get out.
Sure, radicals pushing idelogy on children can get into any classroom and disrupt and corrupt young minds. But when you're dealing with an ethnic studies teacher, the fear and loathing and race baiting and union bullying is at an all-time high.
You're not only speaking against the teacher, you're speaking against the particular "group" being examined within.
For America's future, we need universal education instead of specific titles that allow open doors for everyone.
Teresa: Thanks for commenting. You see (in regards to your first paragraph), you and I can share some common ground.
I'm not sure if it was feasible, but the ideal thing would have been to have the rocket scientist come to the school and speak so the entire student body could hear him.
Josh: The problem lies with the fact that many World History courses aren't dealing with ethnic studies. As I've said for years, if they were, there wouldn't be a need for classes that focus solely on an ethnic group.
What I'd like to know is if the Arizona powers that be consider European History to be under the banner of ethnic studies. If they don't, it would be interesting to find out why because there's the chance that a European History instructor could be a George Lincoln Rockwell wannabe.
Malcolm, I have written posts about both of these topics. First of all, you did not mention that the group that took the trip, while it GOAL was to erase test score disparities between Black students and other students, ALL children in the school were allowed to participate in the Lunch Bunch IF THEY CHOSE TO! The wimple fact is, only Black children CHOSE to participate in the group, and THEN wanted to claim bias when they were not invited on the trip sponsored by that group!
Joanna: In every story I read on this incident, The Lunch Bunch was a blacks students only support group. If you have sources stating otherwise, I'd love to see them.
To be honest Malcolm, I cannot locate the first story I read about this incident, which did say that the Lunch Bunch was open to all students but only Black students CHOSE to participate. I cannot verify if that is true or not, but that was the ORIGINAL story that I read.
But, even if it WAS a group of Black students only, I do not see what the problem is. Saying that other students are being discriminated against is being ridiculous! Why when Black people start doing for themselves do white people all of a sudden want to get involved, when every other day out of the year they do not want to be bothered? If you want, you can read my post about how I feel, since I am too tired to type it all again...LOL
My post
Joanna: Thanks for responding. I have no issue with the purpose of The Lunch Bunch; I feel it was a mistake for it to be disbanded. I'll be interested to see if there are any follow up stories regarding Principal Madison, this school, and test score disparities.
Thanks for linking to the post you wrote. As you may already know, I checked it out this afternoon.
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