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Field trip for black students sparks controversy at Ann Arbor elementary school
AnnArbor.com ^ | May 4, 2010 | David Jesse

Posted on 05/04/2010 6:24:57 AM PDT by Darren McCarty

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.”

(Excerpt) Read more at annarbor.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: annarbor; racism; schools; segregation
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This is a public school, not a private school. This is a direct violation of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative. If there is an achievement gap, you work on it by building black students up, not by excluding other students. This field trip was open to 19% of the students, and the sole criteria was skin color.
1 posted on 05/04/2010 6:24:58 AM PDT by Darren McCarty
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To: Darren McCarty

“The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students”

which is exactly what these idiots did


2 posted on 05/04/2010 6:26:21 AM PDT by silverleaf (Karl Marx was not one of the founding fathers ....)
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To: Darren McCarty

Nothing but racism.


3 posted on 05/04/2010 6:27:19 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Darren McCarty
Field trip for black students...

As soon as you make choices based on race, that's racist.

“The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students...

Maybe, maybe not, but that was the method, and that is racist. It is long past time the left stops throwing around the "racist" label as a political means, so we can get back to identifying that which is truly racist: basing decisions on race.

4 posted on 05/04/2010 6:28:00 AM PDT by ThunderSleeps (obama out now! I'll keep my money, my guns, and my freedom - you can keep the change.)
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To: Darren McCarty

Too stupid to think that white children would have benefited from hearing a black scientist speak?

This is madness.


5 posted on 05/04/2010 6:28:41 AM PDT by Carley (WE CAN SEE NOVEMBER FROM OUR HOUSE)
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To: Darren McCarty
...this type of achievement is possible for even them.

The words of their OWN school principal. Without a doubt, that is the most racist statement I have heard, read or seen so far this year.

6 posted on 05/04/2010 6:28:45 AM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: Darren McCarty

That’s a weird full-circle — back to segregation!


7 posted on 05/04/2010 6:29:09 AM PDT by hemogoblin (Obama - The Potentate of Parasites)
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To: Darren McCarty

All parties responsible for this irresponsibility should be fired immediately

Public edcuation will continue to fail as long as racist idiots continue to be in charge. Only terminations will change that so the message gets thru loud and clear.


8 posted on 05/04/2010 6:29:33 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat
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To: Darren McCarty

“close the achievement gap between white and black students.’

More ‘diversity’ crap.


9 posted on 05/04/2010 6:29:40 AM PDT by Leg Olam
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To: Darren McCarty

““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.”

Typical LIBTARD Racism, here. This guy should be fired and then severely beaten.


10 posted on 05/04/2010 6:29:48 AM PDT by Howie66 (I can see November from my house.)
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To: Darren McCarty
I'll confess to mixed opinions here ...

I agree the selection of students AND subject matter was primarily skin color, yet .. the intent was (as stated) to show black kids THEY could achieve high positions also.

If white kids had gone on the trip as well, the effect of targetting (failing/below average?) black kids would have been lost ... at the least, diluted.


Personally, I don't see why this became controversial in the first place.

11 posted on 05/04/2010 6:29:50 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: Darren McCarty

Just for the heck of it, someone at that school needs to starta “WA Lunch Bunch” and see how well it goes over...

;-)


12 posted on 05/04/2010 6:30:02 AM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: WayneS

I noticed, and the principal who said that is black.


13 posted on 05/04/2010 6:30:10 AM PDT by Darren McCarty (I don't look for leaders. I follow my own path, my way.)
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To: Darren McCarty

This EXACT same thing happened to me in High School circa 1994.

I asked to go on a particular field trip and was informed by a guidance counselor that it was designed for “African American” students.

She didn’t prohibit me from going but strongly persuaded me not to go.

Cincinnati Public Schools = FFA = Future Felons of America


14 posted on 05/04/2010 6:30:22 AM PDT by TSgt (We will always be prepared, so we may always be free. - Ronald Reagan)
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To: ThunderSleeps

Any policy that treats people differently based on their race is BY DEFINITION racist.


15 posted on 05/04/2010 6:30:38 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: Leg Olam

I don’t hear anyone bemoaning the “achievement gap” between white and Asian students.

Oh... right... that doesn’t “fit the template”.


16 posted on 05/04/2010 6:31:25 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: WayneS
...this type of achievement is possible for even them.

Not if they're wasting time on field trips instead of working on reading, writing, and math. By all means, let all the students see a rocket scientist - on video in the classroom. Have them take notes on the presentation and then produce compositions about what they heard. There's no pedagogical benefit simply from recognizing the existence of an engineer or scientist of any race.

Without a doubt, that is the most racist statement I have heard, read or seen so far this year.

It's definitely in the running.

17 posted on 05/04/2010 6:32:28 AM PDT by Tax-chick (It's a jungle out there, kiddies; have a very fruitful day.)
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To: Darren McCarty

Dicken Elementary School Principal Mike Madison

18 posted on 05/04/2010 6:33:53 AM PDT by magslinger (Tagline impounded as a threat to national security.)
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To: Darren McCarty
WHAT IS WRONG WITH BLACK KIDS WANTING TO BE ROCKET SCIENTISTS????
19 posted on 05/04/2010 6:34:11 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Host The Beer Summit-->Win The Nobel Peace Prize!)
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To: TSgt

“I asked to go on a particular field trip and was informed by a guidance counselor that it was designed for “African American” students”.

...and if a field trip were for whites only we all know what would’ve happened.


20 posted on 05/04/2010 6:34:45 AM PDT by albie
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