Posted on 05/04/2010 4:06:51 PM PDT by Altura Ct.
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.”
Can you imagine what might happen if they had a field trip for white students only?
Maybe they’ll schedule a field trip for the White kids, to where Toby Gerhart is training. That way, they can get encouragement that they too can become white running backs in the NFL.
Separate and unequal... How liberal of them.
I would have been P!ssed beyond measure if my daughter had been left out of a field trip to see a Rocket Scientist.
What kind of bigots are these people to deny those students this trip, solely on their race?
Martin Luther King is rolling in his grave.
Yes, I do. I would have heard the shrieks and screams all the way down here in Texas.
No public school should have any difference in what they do for their students reguardless of race. If he wanted thses kids to see the guy the whole clkass should’ve went not just the black students.
I like the next line...
“He wasn’t yelling at them. He was very passionate about it,” Margolis said.
BS, he yelled at them. They got chastised for being ripped off a field trip and Margolis accomplished JUST what he wanted. The non-black kids are now less than the black.
Ummm, isn’t that segregation?
This is so stupid, it makes me sick! Damn, we black people have some FOOLS in charge. If the FOOLS had thought about it a little better, then they would have taken all of the kids. White kids could have benefited by hearing from a Black rocket engineer. Think about how that would have helped race relations. Don’t let ANYONE dumb your child down in the name of “equality” or “progress”!
Can you imagine what might happen if they had a field trip for white students only?
Rev. Sharpton, Rev. Jackson, and every other Afro-Racist would be looking for rope and a strong tree to string up some white folks...if they had a whites only field trip
Need to start calling blacks, Hispanics...when they commit racist acts...as “racists”. Time to get some backbone...and cut out the wimpy political correctness
Wow, even them?
Separate, but equal?
The soft bigotry of low expectations.
Bush was right, about this, and apparently several other things.
I missed that! A defensive admission. Sounds like the parents have given the school an earful, and rightfully so.
racist, racist, racist
She told them that some pigs are more equal than others.
I heard many parents refused to comment to the media, because they were afraid of the backlash from the schools.
I know someone that volunteers at an aftershool science program for minority students at a local college. If they stick with the program until college they get free tuition (if accepted by the school). Fourth grade: 30+ students. By sixth grade there were only 2. If kids aren’t motivated or have significant parental involvement they just won’t do the hard work. You can’t just shove them into a program and hope it sticks.
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