White students forced to stay at failing school

Originally posted by OutKast Searcher
reply to post by Larrelye

 

If I move into a good neighborhood with a good school system, my child should be allowed in that school as long as we live in that district, which is (I believe) the way most schools do. Unless of course the school is too white or too black or too asian, because that was the neighborhood the school was built in.

And from what I understand...you can.

This law/provision is just about transfering students to schools outside of your district.

I apologize. You're correct.

Originally posted by Larrelye
reply to post by OutKast Searcher

 

While I can't argue your logic, I believe the real point is "race" should not be included period. No student should be able to transfer or not allowed to transfer because of race. This is racist to any person who is negatively effected in that their skin color is what disallows them the same advantages of another.

Do you not understand the history behind this law and why it was/is neccessary???

We have people in this thread...in 2012...saying that the school probably just wants the white kids to stay because they are the smart ones...we have others saying segregation should be perfectly legal if "that's what the parents want".

Unfortunately...we have a racist past...and continue to have a racist present and that is why laws like this are neccessary.

reply to post by OutKast Searcher


Laws on the book stating that no person can be denied entrance into a school based on color is perfectly acceptable. I would even extend it to not allow students to travel outside of their school district to attend school. Which would mean that if you live in a certain school district you can go to any school in that district, end of story. Of course private schools and homeschooling are an option for some.

I do not like the idea that there are people out there who would chose to not send their kids to a school they feel is "too black". Personally, I want my children to be exposed to all sorts of people and all types of cultures. But I can not control what people think and I can not attempt to. The only thing the government should be allowed to do is to make sure that people are not being excluded based on color. If you chose to send your child to a "better" school in your district, whatever that means to you (grades, location, or heaven forbid, even race) you should have that right. The government can only set guidelines. They can not tell people how to feel. Reversing racism does not eliminate it. It simply changes the so called "victim".

BTW: I very much appreciate your input in this thread since you are, so far, the only one with an opposing viewpoint.

These kids are being denied access to different schools based on race.

It's racist.

Now, if it was simply a district issue or what not then too bad. But they are clearly being excluded due to the color of their skin.

Repeat after me: that is racism. Lol

reply to post by Larrelye


Even a cursory investigation into the matter reveals that your assessment is incorrect; please see the link below for the actual Rayville Elementary population demographics:

www2.globalscholar.com...

In a Parish where nearly 2/3 of the population is African American (Wikipedia), an elementary school having an 87% African American population is statistically significant. It proves, conclusively, that within this subsection of the Parish, African Americans predominantly reside, and predominantly attend this particular elementary school.

However, there is more to this story than just standardized testing, or the assignment of labels of "white scores" or "black scores"; the heart of this issue lies in the grading system that was assigned to the Louisiana school system for primary and secondary education. The following link will take you to Oklahoma's state grading policy for their school system: ok.gov...

As you can see, their system grades schools based on four different weighted criteria, with individual students achievement (i.e. standardized testing) accounting for only 33% of the entire equation. This link will take you to the proposed grading system for Louisiana's schools: www.lae.org...

As you can see, Louisiana's grading system is clearly defined, but not clearly explained. Their school grades have not been justified by the same standards as other states, and seem to indicate that grades for Louisiana schools are attained almost exclusively by increases in student achievement rates. It should be noted, however, that the grading scale for each state varies, and is set by the state Board of Education. For another controversial state, see New Mexico, where their failing grade percentage begins at a staggering 39%. It may very well be that Rayville Elementary "Failed" simply because they did not INCREASE their standardized test scores by a predetermined amount over the previous year's scores for each grade. That is neither a black nor white issue; that is a bureaucratic issue that happened to affect a predominantly black area, and happened to call to attention an antiquated piece of legislation that may or may not have any effect whatsoever on the 13% of students who happen to be white in that elementary school.

Originally posted by AshleyD
These kids are being denied access to different schools based on race.

It's racist.

Now, if it was simply a district issue or what not then too bad. But they are clearly being excluded due to the color of their skin.

Repeat after me: that is racism. Lol

It's not racism...the law is written and applied evenly across all races.

For it to be racist...the law would have to single out one race...and it does not.


Now what is racist...which I see you fail to point out...are the people in this thread making the claim that they don't want the white students to transfer because they are the smart kids

My daughter in gr9 failed maths, and her report stated: she must work harder.

The class average was 40%, and it transpired that the teacher hadn't been teaching the class at all. This was in a standard of 10 classes, with 40 kids per class. My daughter was the only white in her class, there is no other school that we can apply to.

I posted a recent thread on kids who have it even worse than us. Not a single reply.

Spend time with your children, your time and attention is worth a million times anything the school day gives them them. Remind them that they are gold, despite the school being a sh!tty shade of brown. We know these things.

The paradigm has shifted, and our "high" standards are being undercut purposefully, its not a bad reflection of your child, although again, you have to make up the shortfall

peace

What other examples can you point out?

I would be very disturbed to receive a letter from my son's school that basically boils down to 'This school sucks. In fact it sucks so bad that we need to open the doors to other schools so we can improve education. But please don't get too hopeful. Your child's race prohibits him from being eligible and will remain in this school that sucks.'

Now let's all form a circle, get naked, hold hands, and say it together: That is racist.

From what I read even the school has had to come forward and acknowled their embarrassment over this is but that their hands are tied due to an antiquated law.

If one supports denying a child access to school based on skin color then I can't help.

Originally posted by preezy120
reply to post by Larrelye

 

Even a cursory investigation into the matter reveals that your assessment is incorrect; please see the link below for the actual Rayville Elementary population demographics:

www2.globalscholar.com...

In a Parish where nearly 2/3 of the population is African American (Wikipedia), an elementary school having an 87% African American population is statistically significant. It proves, conclusively, that within this subsection of the Parish, African Americans predominantly reside, and predominantly attend this particular elementary school.

It does appear that I misread the demographics and instead relied on the image on the page previously linked. The only reason I bring the % of each race into it was because of comments from others stating that the grade would go up with fewer black students which is not the fundamental issue in the letter but instead a side topic. I can not argue the grade will go up or down and I do not intend to.

The letter specifies that some students may transfer to a better school while others may not based on the color of their skin.

Regardless of how the grades are received, is this school considered a "failing" school? Does this letter state that some children may transfer out of this failing school and others may not, based on their color? Should ANY child be forced to stay in a school that is currently considered to be failing?

The other issue brought up in the letter was the idea that instead of improving the quality of education, we should attempt to shift demographics and make schools appear to be doing an adequate job. No matter how you look at it, this letter is in fact racist. Towards both white students who must stay in the failing school or by implying black kids need to leave to improve the school. But, in actuality, the discrimination is against the children, none of whom will receive a quality education.

reply to post by AshleyD


i just have to say, i love your sig.

reply to post by OutKast Searcher


You have multiple posters making racist statements while complaining about the school being racist. It is so ridiculous and backwards...Can they not see the irony?

Judging how the letter was worded proves to me the school is the reason for these students failure as well as their parents.Think about it if that letter was worded to mimic the actual law would there be a problem?A minority at another school cant transfer to a school where he/she is the majority.Simply but these yocals had to say "White Students" rather than quote the law.

reply to post by RealSpoke


I do not appreciate or condone racist remarks. The difference is that individuals have the right, whether we agree or not, to make those statements. Governments and government offices do not have that right and must remain unbiased.

Even though we disagree, I am grateful for your input.

I need to head out for a bit and will not be able to respond promptly.

reply to post by rbmgang


And to add, if the school had been providing a proper education this would be a non issue as the letter never would have been sent.

reply to post by RealSpoke


You have to understand that racists never see themselves as racist and never see anything wrong with their racism. EVER.

That's why antisemites always whine when people call them that, as one example,

Originally posted by OutKast Searcher

Originally posted by AshleyD
These kids are being denied access to different schools based on race.

It's racist.

Now, if it was simply a district issue or what not then too bad. But they are clearly being excluded due to the color of their skin.

Repeat after me: that is racism. Lol

It's not racism...the law is written and applied evenly across all races.

For it to be racist...the law would have to single out one race...and it does not.

You are correct it is not racism as that implies the belief that one race(s) have an inherent superiority or inferiority to the others. I know you can make the issue seem like it by using your script but let's lay off it for a while shall we?

What this law is...is discriminatory as it penalizes or rewards an individual based on his or her race. One could certainly argue that being forced to attend a school that is failing to provide an adequate education because of one's race is indeed a negative consequence with long term implications on a child’s future. Discrimination on the basis of race is illegal in the US.

The wording of the law was carefully chosen by the legislators to ensure that society doesn't appear to be segregated either bay law or - gasp even by individual choice. It’s a feel good law that changes nothing but appearances. See if they take away individual choice, which is a violation of a person’s rights to life liberty and pursuit of happiness. If a parent doesn’t like the quality location or tone of their child’s assigned school is it a negative impact on their quality of life? What about the child – what if they can’t get into being a minority? The purpose of the law is simply so they can claim society is changing and desegregation is making people think differently.

We all know it isn't changing. It is getting worse in fact or would you argue that too in opposition to your own claims that things are getting worse regarding race relations?

The intent of the law is clear - to legislate the "appearance" of voluntary integration by choice or an improvement on in our society that is wholly different than actually exists.

The "appearance" is all the legislators really want - actual results are indicative that forced integration only makes the problem worse. I think someday liberals will realize you can't legislate or control thought. People like to associate with other people who think, look and act like they do and that share their values. If they really had the children’s best interest in mind they would allow them to attend the school that best fits their needs - even if that makes a school more "white" or "black" than the PC police would like. I mean it would be about what is best for the kid’s education - that is the purpose of the department of education is it not to educate our kids? Or is it to attempt to indoctrinate them? Seems to me it's the latter rather than the former.

I went to a school with busing. Guess what? The races are still separate they don't integrate even under force of law. All it does is take two groups of people with different values and ideals and put them in close enough proximity to create actual conflict where there was none before other than maybe in thought. Trading a racist thought for a racist action - whose agenda would that suit?

So if the intent of desegregation is to force integration and acceptance I think about 40 years of demonstrable failure ought to be enough for even the most staunch of rational people to see it hasn’t worked. What is insanity? Doing the same thing and expecting a different result - sure I guess we could throw more money at it in hopes that will make people think differently?

People are different, they seek out sameness - it is a fact of human nature no laws are going to change human nature. Even ones that are enacted with the best of intentions.

Truthfully the desegregation laws need to be eliminated. This is one of the largest reasons for our poor performing schools. A desgregation ruling in many towns have literally destroyed them. Cleveland being a prime example. There is and never was a good reason to bus kids from one side of town to another. You should be attending school in the neighborhood where you live. Switching schools didn't improve Cleveland education it destroyed it.

Originally posted by RealSpoke
reply to post by getreadyalready

 

Yeah, because we all know white kids are all little angels that get good grades.

The white children are the extreme minority in this school. Their ratings are not going to make a difference.

Then why the special distinction?

I'm trying hard to not make it a racist issue, but the majority of failing schools are in impoverished areas with mostly black or Hispanic populations. The public schools in primarily white districts are usually A schools.

I don't think it has anything to do with actual race, I think it has more to do with culture of unwed and/or single parents, and lack of supervision. A lot of kids in impoverished areas are left to fend for themselves and raise themselves, and a lot of parents really expect the schools to teach them everything from calculus to manners and shoe-tying.

A lot of grandparents are raising children in these neighborhoods, and they aren't as energetic and involved as they ought to be, and they aren't up on current technology and requirements for school like they ought to be.

I realize it is an ugly subject, but if we don't talk about it, then what? They already pay the teachers a HUGE premium to take jobs in these areas, and they forgive student loans, and they recruit heavily, and even with all of that, they can't make the grade. What are we supposed to look at? It isn't the budget, it isn't the teachers, and current thought is "there are no bad students," so all that is left is parenting and culture.

Originally posted by KeliOnyx
Truthfully the desegregation laws need to be eliminated. This is one of the largest reasons for our poor performing schools. A desgregation ruling in many towns have literally destroyed them. Cleveland being a prime example. There is and never was a good reason to bus kids from one side of town to another. You should be attending school in the neighborhood where you live. Switching schools didn't improve Cleveland education it destroyed it.

Kids that played sports at our school had to leave the city at like 0400 and didn't get home until sometimes 2000 in the evening. All so they can change the demographics to make the school seem non-segregated. Sad, neither side liked the crap. Doesn't do any good.