legal question about race info

manc

[manc]

I received a form today from the school board of St Johns county FL asking me many questions regarding my kids. One of the questions which I am wondering about is when they ask what the race of my kids are. Do I have to answer this by law or can I leave it blank?

To me I see no bearing what the color of my kids are and anyway arn't we supposed to be color blind like MLK wanted.

There are other questions which struck me weird , questions like have I ever gone across as state line or county line or look for work as a fisherman, farmer or in dairy. What his nickname is and what language is their primary and secondary.

Now my oldest was told who is in 5th grade that he has to bring it back to morrow and if he doesn't he receives detention and will do for every day the form is not returned.

This just strikes me as a little draconian that my kids get punished because they never brought the form back that next day and the question about race I thought was not important.

Appreciate any answers on this please

[Cyber Liberty]

Tell them to be surprised. Tell them to pi$$ up a rope.

[sheana]

You answered the questions the same way I always did, just randomly. One of th questionaires my daughter had a question about mental illness in the family, my answer....the whole bunch is crazy. rofl On race I always checked the other box and filled it in... Viking.
My daughter used to hate to give me anything from the school.

[Gaffer]

My daughter used to hate to give me anything from the school.

My kids would really dread bringing these home. I don't think their teachers thought very nicely of me and they hated it. They laugh at it now, though.

[PeteB570]

Mark “Other” and write in Nordic American.

[SouthTexas]

Texan.

[Gaffer]

Well, if you listen to ‘Cartman’ on TV’s South Park, you Jews got ‘Jew Gold’ in little bags around your necks!....just kidding....this was without a doubt one of the funniest SPs they did (the one where they ran a powerboat into a beaver dam and flooded a neighboring town -—— the news people 20 miles outside of town were reporting ‘millions of deaths’ (not actually having seen anyting - Katrina)......

[rfreedom4u]

I answer every question pertaining to race on government forms with “human”

If they don’t like it they can stuff it. I tell my kids to put the same thing. Never had a problem yet.

[hoosier hick]

I was taught in an industry seminar about interviewing not to ask a question unless the answer would be used in the decision to hire. The point was to avoid “illegal” questions by keeping this rule in mind. I would look at this and conclude that they intend to use this information for some purpose (that I might not agree with).

In most cases, answering such questions is entirely voluntary. After all, what can they do to you if you do not answer? They are walking a very thin line in trying to force an answer....

hh

[Verginius Rufus]

I had to fill out a questionnaire recently at work because the government has redefined the categories. There is now an option for “Alaska native.” As a native of one of the lower 48 states, I felt discriminated against.

[library user]

There is no box for "honky"?

[Tainan]

Its all about the money...Federal funds to the school administration. Federal Control of the schools.

[grellis]

I refuse to answer any questions about race or household income when the school district gets nosy, as school districts do. In Michigan, they want every kid possible to qualify for some extra funding, which never makes it to the classroom. Screw 'em. After several years of this, they don't even send me the forms anymore, just make sure the medicals are up to date.

[chimera]

Well, being an expatriate Jerseyan, I'd put something like Americana Lenni Lenape. In Ohio we have chief Tecumseh or the warrior Blue Jacket and the great wise chief Leatherlips (for his honesty), so I could be triba American Leatherlip, or Tecumseh Yankee Miamis.

Whatever. Let the bureaucrats figure it out. I'm just tired of being in the Unprotected Class (white American male). If they're going to play these games, I'll play them just to screw them up. Time to stake a claim to the New American Dream (protected, aggrieved, victimized class). Throw it back in their ugly faces.

[Dianna]

I plan on not answering the question and if I do get a call I will be asking them why the color is important and(play the liberal handbook) I find it racist and insulting that you want to know the color of my skin as I do not see it important.

The race questions are because of testing requirements. Schools are required to break down groups of students every conceivable way and compare their scores to averages. They want to make sure that no group is being slighted.

As for detention, it is harsh. But many parents are lazy idiots who won't follow through on anything unless something for their kid is at stake. The information must be gathered because they are accountable for it so they threaten you to try to make sure you cooperate.