Kathy Culbertson declined to speak at a contentious Aug. 21 board meeting.
Dallas Morning News
Posted on 08/30/2006 4:57:37 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
EVERMAN, Texas — A high school principal has left her position two weeks after singling out black students' poor test scores over the school's intercom system. The Everman Independent School District announced Kathy Culbertson's departure in a Tuesday statement. It said her comments had overshadowed district achievements. During an address on the first day of classes at Everman High School, Culbertson said black students who failed math on the state's accountability test had caused the high school to be rated unacceptable.
The remarks set off a racially charged debate at the suburban Fort Worth campus, which is about 59 percent black. "Neither the district nor Ms. Culbertson believes in the isolation of any student group or that students are solely to blame for campus performance," the district said in a statement. "Nevertheless, Ms. Culbertson believes the best way for Everman High School to move beyond the distraction caused by the announcement is for Ms. Culbertson to relinquish her assignment as the principal." Low math and science scores among black students on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills reduced the school's rating to academically unacceptable this year. About 33 percent of black students passed math, and 32 percent passed science.
Under the state's accountability system, a school fails if any subgroup of students, by race or ethnicity or those who are economically disadvantaged, does not meet standards. Culbertson, a 29-year educator who was starting her fourth year as the Everman High principal, said she announced over the intercom that eight more black students needed to pass math for the school to meet state standards. "I was trying to use it as a motivational factor to let the kids know that we were so close," she said. "It was not derogatory in any way. It was not racial. It was just common knowledge of the TAKS breakdown."
Culbertson apologized to the school four days after her comments. Superintendent Jeri Pfeifer said Culbertson's remarks were true, but shouldn't have been made over the PA system. "The first order of business is to restore the students' confidence," Pfeifer said. "I want them to know how capable they are." Netia Tunson, the parent of a high school student, said Culbertson should have resigned immediately. "You can't put this school's performance on one race," Ms. Tunson said. "I think she should have worked with her staff (on the test scores). It starts with the staff." Lester Bell, a 16-year-old junior, said he wasn't offended. "I know I passed my tests," he said. "If it was us, it was us. I can't be offended."
Hmmmm...did Tunson's child fail the TAKS?
"You can't put this school's performance on one race," Ms. Tunson said.
Ms. Tunson, who's fault is it then that the scores were low? If all students across the board had performed poorly, then the finger could be pointed at the staff. However, apparently it was the scores of the black students that were low. So, is it possible the black students are not motivated from home to study and apply themselves at school? Could you, Ms. Tunson, be part of the problem? Please explain.
We ALREADY know that, thanks to the test.
High-stakes testing and universal high school education are not compatible, and one or the other is going to have to go.
If you've ever been to Everman, you already know the problem.
"You can't handle the truth".
"They are just giving in to the MAN".
I have no objection to her statements- but we can't say the truth in public can we (that is what the students learned from this now)
I already know the problem very well.
I don't need a site visit.
The horror of having failing students know that they're failing.
Special money must be spent to 'repair' the confidence and self-esteeem of the failing students.
Superintendent Jeri Pfeifer said Culbertson's remarks were true, but shouldn't have been made over the PA system
Oh, now, wait a second. I was thinking it was an incredibly stupid thing for her to say. But that's before I knew that the system itself singles out by race. If it's rigged this way, you could have 100% passing scores from all the other children and the school will still fail. If the test results came back eight black students shy of a passing grade, it's going to say it that way explicitly. Why shouldn't she pass that along?
Make the tests easier! So everyone can pass! /s
Sounds like a sensible fellow - and a budding Republican.
She should have helped them feel good about themselves. Maybe a dance to celebrate the test scores.
I read here locally, in Mobile, that the failing grades of the 'Katrina' students have been exempted from any schools over-all test results. (We'll all just look the other way and not mention it)
Kathy Culbertson declined to speak at a contentious Aug. 21 board meeting.
Dallas Morning News
AMAZING!
A school's performance is RATED and BASED on a pass or fail with RACE of students factored in. I think the real problem here is not the complaints of parents or students- I think the real danger was having a principal that brought this little nugget into the public "know"...
If there were a problem in a certain classroom, or schoolwide- you can blame the school- but when we stick our heads in the sand over the treatment of successful blacks, or Bill Cosby's statements, etc....and then see the black kids are failing- I actually applaud a principal who is holding these kids to account.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO!
Why? There's no reason these kid's can't learn and also demonstrate that they have.
Outcome based Education = Stupid and proud of it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.