The Segregated Classrooms of a Proudly Diverse School

New York Times ^ | 4/3/2005 | JEFFREY GETTLEMAN

[JustRight]

The Segregated Classrooms of a Proudly Diverse School By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN

Published: April 3, 2005

MAPLEWOOD, N. J., April 1 - Columbia High School seems to have it all - great sports teams, great academics, famous alumni and an impressive campus with Gothic buildings. But no one boasts about one aspect of this blue-ribbon school, that its classrooms are largely segregated.

Though the school is majority black, white students make up the bulk of the advanced classes, while black students far outnumber whites in lower-level classes, statistics show.

[JustRight]

Long article, so I excerpted. Use Userid: w3r5s password:12345 if you aren't registered.

"The student uproar is now forcing district officials to take a hard look at the leveling system and decide how to strike a balance between their two main goals - celebrating diversity and pushing academic achievement."

One of the school's two main goals is celebrating diversity? You would think it would have something to do with education.

[Steve_Seattle]

"One of the school's two main goals is celebrating diversity? You would think it would have something to do with education."

If they were really celebrating diversity, I might be for it, but we all know that "diversity" is a code word for a highly-authoritarian, secular, one-worldism which sees traditional Christianity as perhaps it's most formidable opponent.

[sasafras]

Im with you - Diversity is being pushed by business as well, citing bogus statistics that it improves profit - because I have a personal interests in this subject I have researched most of the statistics only to discover that they are extremely biased (conflict of interest) or completely unfounded.

Make no mistake - the term "Diversity" is being used to create an atmospher which is hostile to white males and Christians. Speak out against what they call 'tolerance' and you will be labeled as combative, racist or probably unemployed. Companies should be in the business of maximizing profit not social engineering - diversity training only focuses on the latter.

Someone on this board has a great moniker which says - Diversity is where everybody looks different but thinks alike, true diversity about thought not race, gender, sexual preference.

[PeterPrinciple]

their two main goals - celebrating diversity and pushing academic achievement."


Diversity is the Peter Principle in Action. I am surprised that academic achievement is even mentioned.

[econ_grad]

If some people can cite that diversity is good for business, I am sure others can cite instances that segregation is good for business. Businesses need to respond to market forces, not superficial ones.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Statistics for this year show that while a Level 5 math class, the highest, had 79 percent white students, a Level 2 math class, the lowest, had 88 percent black students.

Presumably there is no Level 1, because students at the bottom would get their feelings hurt if they were in Level 1. Fortunately, their math skills are so poor that they fail to notice that they're at the bottom, as long as the school calls it "Level 2".

[Riverman94610]

I work in one of the most diverse places in this country and all I can say is that now instead of whites backstabbing whites or blacks gossiping and undermining other blacks the two groups can now share their petty ways with Filipinos,Asians and Latinos!So now we have a Rainbow Coalition of the mundane and the bitchy!

[MortMan]

Though the school is majority black, white students make up the bulk of the advanced classes, while black students far outnumber whites in lower-level classes, statistics show.

Interesting that the author apparently believes that being present at school should be equated with achievement. Affirmative action at its finest - destroy the achievers, lift up the rest, and pretend that statistics are as important as the exercise of one's abilities. Sheesh!

[Ron in Acreage]

In other words, the school needs to dumb down the curriculum so whites don't learn any more than the blacks. It's the Bell Curve they just can't seem to accept.

[coconutt2000]

To each according to their ability.

In this case, the students who achieve get moved up, and those who don't get moved down.

I took a lot of Advanced Placement courses in my high school, and I would've been very upset if political correctness forced my school to either do away with the classes, or to fill the seats with less advanced students, thereby saturating the teacher's ability and time to teach the advanced students at a faster pace.

I also had a very liberal 4th grade teacher who canceled all of my advanced coursework and put me back with all the rest of the students. My grades went from straight A's to B's and C's... I was bored to death for two years until my classmates caught up with me.

I am not white.

[El Gato]

Though the school is majority black, white students make up the bulk of the advanced classes, while black students far outnumber whites in lower-level classes, statistics show

And anyone who believes this is due to some sort of deliberate discrimination on the part of the staff or district, has hit the old bong a few times too many. Educators are the most liberal folks you could imagine. (In general, but there are exceptions, few of which are likely to be found anywhere near New York City.

The only contributions teachers and staff are likley to make is one of lower expectations for the black and/or hispanic students. In general, liberals are big offenders in this regard. When black and hispanic students are held to high standards, they meet those standards.

[sasafras]

"If some people can cite that diversity is good for business, I am sure others can cite instances that segregation is good for business. Businesses need to respond to market forces, not superficial ones."

You make a logical and valid point, however logic is not driving these racist indoctrinations. So called "diversity" training is about the unsubstantiated claims promoted by racists or liberals to further advance their divisive viewpoints - all of this is driven by emotion especially guilt. Opinions which are contrary to those being taught are not welcome.

Also remember that most of these "diversity" programs use terms like inclusiveness or open minded or nonjudgmental. Who wants to be labeled as close minded or judgemental?

Additionally, diversity training session are taught in a group setting where individuals are less likely to speak out. People walk away thinking "this must be the case since I didnt hear anybody else refute what they were saying".

This isnt about logic its about emotion and 99% of the time arguments based on logic will lose to those based upon emotion. For those that disagree, how do you account for liberals getting elected in the first place, most of the positions pushed by liberals are illogical and invalid but they continue to get elected regardless.

[GovernmentShrinker]

I think these classes which are segregated by ability level are a good idea, but it is problematic that the lower level classes often get stuck with the lower level teachers, thus creating an additional obstacle to moving up, for students who are mostly from the sort of homes where parents aren't going to be much help with academics.

[starfish923]

Educationese:
diversity means anything NOT Euro white and Christian

It's all race and has NOTHING to do with brains, discipline, achievement or hard work.

Result: One ASSUMES white excellence and applaudes, celebrates and otherwise puts in on a pedestal, worshipping, ooh-and-ahhing non-white excellence. as if it's something so extraordinary and worthy of celebration--SIMPLY because it IS non-white. The kicker is that this non-white excellect is sometimes suspect it because it might be just from affirmative action, lower standards or dumbed-down exams.

That is educationese.

It's all a load.
People achieve, or don't achieve, regardless of their race. They achieve if they are smart, work hard and have self-discipline.
Parents are part of the deal. No parents make it just that much harder for ANY student of whatever race, etc., to succeed.

That 75% of black children in this country are born out of wedlock makes it that much tougher for those children, not impossible, just tougher.

SCHOOLS CANNOT REPLACE PARENTS but educators are too arrogant and stupid to admit to that fact.

If the black community wants that to stop, it has to look in the mirror for the blame, the solution and the resolution to change. If they want to change, then they have to do things they've never done before.

Lol. That last sentence was from John Agee, believe it or not.

[coconutt2000]

Lower level teachers are allowed to keep their jobs because of unions.

An underperforming teacher at my high school would be fired.

Teachers should not be allowed to form permanent unions. Mediocrity in teachers should not be considered acceptable.

If pay is a problem, raise the pay and benefits and attract more qualified, more effective people from the private sector to teach.

One good teacher is probably worth half a dozen poor ones.

Private school teachers are motivated. I should know, I went to private schools. Attending a public University was a shock.

If teachers want job insurance and protection, let them earn it... from the people whose kids they teach.

[freespirited]

"She's got an entire black population that wants to get rid of the leveling system and an entire white population who would leave this town if they did that," he said. "What's she supposed to do?"

Let the computer decide who gets assigned to which class based on their test scores and grades to date. If kids dont like it they can call the computer racist; they'll feel better, and the computer wont have hurt feelings.

[jocon307]

"...their two main goals - celebrating diversity and pushing academic achievement."

Didn't the author or editor realize how stupid this sounds? I'm sure the school staff would say their goal was "fostering" or even "managing" diversity, but not "celebrating" it. They are so far beyond paroday that even their champions sound sarcastic.

It's mind boggling what this world has come to, and if you are a high acheiving student in that school, black or white, I'd say GET OUT NOW! Because the CELEBRATING is about to put the kibosh on the ADVANCEMENT.

[jocon307]

Here, let me quote the person who made the most sense in the article, and good for the author for including him. It makes up for the silly statement at the start of the piece.

"Stewart Hendricks, a senior whose father is from Guyana and whose mother is Swiss, said that some teachers do seem to have lower expectations for black students but that he did not let them get him down.

"The purpose of high school is to prepare you for the real world," he said. "And in the real world, you can't listen to other peoples expectations, because in the real world, people are just waiting for you to fail."

Because of his mixed racial heritage, he said, "I guess you can say I'm in the middle of all this."

And in a way, that is why he sympathizes with the principal.

"She's got an entire black population that wants to get rid of the leveling system and an entire white population who would leave this town if they did that," he said. "What's she supposed to do?"

That's the whole end, I didn't want to leave any of it out, as it is almost all a direct quote from this kid. Who sounds like a cranky teen in a way, but that's a heck of a lot better than being an hysterical adult.