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Posted on 02/04/2013 4:53:50 PM PST by posterchild
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The federal government's push for drastic reforms at chronically low achieving schools has led to takeovers by charter operators, overhauls of staff and curriculum, and even school shutdowns across the country.
It's also generated a growing backlash among the mostly low-income, minority communities where some see the reforms as not only disruptive in struggling neighborhoods, but also as civil rights violations since turnaround efforts primarily affect black and Latino students.
"Our concern is that these reforms have further destabilized our communities," said Jitu Brown, education organizer of Chicago's Kenwood-Oakwood Community Organization. "It's clear there's a different set of rules for African-American and Latino children than for their white counterparts."
The U.S. Department of Education's civil rights office has opened investigations into 33 complaints from parents and community members, representing 29 school districts ranging from big city systems such as Chicago, Detroit and Washington D.C. to smaller cities including Wichita and Ambler, Penn., said spokesman Daren Briscoe. Two additional complaints are under evaluation, and more cities, including Los Angeles, are preparing their filings.
Last week, Secretary Arne Duncan fielded complaints at a public forum in Washington. The forum was attended by some 250 people who boarded buses, vans and planes from around the country to demand a moratorium on school closings and present a reform model that calls for more community input, among other items.
The recurrent theme is that communities are fed up with substandard education, but want solutions that will not create upheaval at the schools, which are often seen as pillars of stability in neighborhoods where social fabric is fragile.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
It’s not clear where the ‘backlash’ is coming from other than perhaps community organizers and others who might have a slight bit of vested interest in failure.
I’m guessing that holding students to standards and requiring results to move ahead is considered an “upheaval”. As is instruction in Standard English, and not accepting Spanglish or “Black English” grammar and pronunciation. . .
“It’s clear there’s a different set of rules for African-American and Latino children than for their white counterparts.” Well White children have been aware of this for decades, but I think Jitu Brown is more than a little confused as to how those standards have been applied. Apparently now that African American and Latino children(and why were they capitalized and white not, perhaps to diminish them?) are being required to meet standards and not just be given a pass they are upset!
Teachers unions.
“minority communities where some see the reforms as not only disruptive in struggling neighborhoods, but also as civil rights violations since turnaround efforts primarily affect black and Latino students.”
In these situations “some” is always one or two big-mouthed jackholes who ruined there life, blamed it on everyone else and now wants everyone to suffer like they did.
The parents and "community leaders" are being influenced by the teachers and administrators. Otherwise they would see how stupid they sound.
Let's recap. Your child is in a miserably failing school system and it's never been an issue worthy of parental concern of this level before. Now, your beloved government is coming in to significantly revamp the teachers, principles, administrators and or go to a charter system and NOW its not right? Trying to fix the problem is not fair?
Then they complain that the white schools and districts don't have these problems with lack of parental involvement. Really? If a white person had made that statement, they'd be racists. But somehow the failing schools are "society's failure". That's rich.
Now, I dare you to try and convince me that real parents are the source of the outrage in these lawsuits. Try TEACHERS UNIONS. That fits a little cleaner and makes more sense.
The teachers have the time and energy to go energize the parents to potentially save their jobs but they can't energize the parents to get involved in their own kids educations.
Bingo!
It's like going to a school for kids with Muscular Dystrophy and expecting top notch highly paid coaches to bring the kids up to the athletic level achieved by perfectly healthy kids.
School failure is disproportionately caused by minorities. The truth that dare not be spoken.
Plenty of kids are coming out of those same schools prepared for productive lives and college if they want it. It's just the averages that make them look like failures.
It's the child's responsibility to learn -- not society's to teach him.
Be interesting to "follow the money" on who paid for this.
The crime here is that the teacher unions maintain that environment to solicit money and gain power. It is never the fault of the teachers or students or work ethic, it is racism and economic disparity that causes failure.
You nailed it. Can’t have a bunch of educated uppity minorities threatening the local political powers. The motto of the Progressive powers is keep them stupid, poor, and hooked on something.
Without the forcefully imported suburban white kids sacrificed at the alter of “diversity”, the minority neighborhood schools can't continue the pretense that its normal for children to be unable to meet neutral minimum acceptable group behavior and learning standards due to skin color. Yes indeed, the problem is entirely culture, not color. So failing inner city communities can either change their culture, or continue to fail. The whole color issue is no longer an excuse.
Bio: “Jitu” is an African name given to him in 1995 meaning, “A giant among men.” Not only is Jitu known for his talent in the school of hip hop, he is an organizer with the respected Kenwood Oakland Community Organization on the south side of Chicago.
generated a growing backlash among the mostly low-income, minority communities where some see the reforms as not only disruptive in struggling neighborhoods, but also as civil rights violations since turnaround efforts primarily affect black and Latino students.
We wants then to remain iggorant.
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