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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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To: Darren McCarty
The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students...

Unless some white children of Boer ancestry were allowed to go on the trip, or unless the entire field trip happened by accident then this statement is 100% false.

Where human beings are concerned, the word "segregate" MEANS to separate or divide-up by race. You divided up the children by race and took children of one race on a field trip while leaving the others behind.

Thus, your INTENT was to segregate the students and exclude some of them from the trip.

21 posted on 05/04/2010 6:36:20 AM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: Gay State Conservative
WHAT IS WRONG WITH BLACK KIDS WANTING TO BE ROCKET SCIENTISTS????

Nothing. The question is why exclude the whites, Asians, and Mexicans?

22 posted on 05/04/2010 6:37:29 AM PDT by Darren McCarty (I don't look for leaders. I follow my own path, my way.)
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To: Carley
Too stupid RACIST to think that white children would have benefited from hearing a black scientist speak?

I think that's a little bit more accuarate.

23 posted on 05/04/2010 6:37:44 AM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: Gay State Conservative
WHAT IS WRONG WITH BLACK KIDS WANTING TO BE ROCKET SCIENTISTS????
24 posted on 05/04/2010 6:39:35 AM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: magslinger
I think they have a better understanding of the purpose of the AA Lunch Bunch

African American Lunch Bunch???

Segregation all over again don't ya think?

25 posted on 05/04/2010 6:40:27 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: WayneS; Carley

The same mentality states that a black constituency must be represented by a black elected official,
a black community must have a black superintendent,
black students can only learn from a black teacher.

Stupid, racist, and self-defeating.

Seriously, if they want to “close the white/black achievement gap”,

ASSIMILATE

the “black culture” into the more successful general culture.

Ooooo... that’ll make leftists’ heads explode.


26 posted on 05/04/2010 6:41:19 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: Gay State Conservative

A lot is wrong with anyone’s “wanting” be a scientist, if he’s being systematically deprived of the basic academic skills needed even to imagine higher education in the sciences. In many public schools, the lower-achieving students can’t read basic texts, write a sentence, or do multiplication without a calculator. How are they helped by seeing that *someone* is an aeronautics engineer or a physicist?


27 posted on 05/04/2010 6:41:47 AM PDT by Tax-chick (It's a jungle out there, kiddies; have a very fruitful day.)
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To: Darren McCarty

From the article: “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...”

I bet they did. Bravo to those who booed!


28 posted on 05/04/2010 6:41:49 AM PDT by sand lake bar
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To: knarf

I could not disagree with you more.

This is a clear case of Ann Arbor Schools displaying and promoting racism.

How about reflecting on the look on non-black kid’s faces displaying a sense of injustice?

How about reflecting on the empty expression of non-black children being told skin color does not matter except if you are of “color”?

This is just one clear example and is just the tip of the iceburg. Do you think if the “nuanced” educators can openly run this type of segregation and favortism that it stops at field trips.

And this BS has been a part of AAPS for years. It is part of the deeply cultural process of chosen demographic groups by color or gender.

No matter how this is described using educational buzzwords, it is BS.


29 posted on 05/04/2010 6:42:07 AM PDT by Voter62vb
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To: Gay State Conservative
Is there a Caucasion American Lunch Bunch?

Is there a Asian American Lunch Bunch?

Is there a Mexican American Lunch Bunch?

Is there an Illegal Alien Lunch Bunch?

Is there a Gay American Lunch Bunch?

30 posted on 05/04/2010 6:42:38 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Darren McCarty

What happened to the mixed race students?


31 posted on 05/04/2010 6:42:43 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: sand lake bar
She said he and the class had a “discussion” about race issues...”

Discussion my ass. It went something like this, guaranteed:
You whities are "privileged", now just shut up, because YOU'RE guilty of racism because you're white.

32 posted on 05/04/2010 6:44:00 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: Darren McCarty

He should have shown them this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6xJzAYYrX8

It would have raised their self esteem.


33 posted on 05/04/2010 6:44:23 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Live jubtabulously!)
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To: MrB

That’s Asian kids who just showed up the U.S. or their parents did. Why does that race not have a problem?

Reverse the races on this story and (1) Would make every network’s news — first story, Nightline (2) marches would take place in protest and (3) anyone involved fired.


34 posted on 05/04/2010 6:44:54 AM PDT by TigerBait
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To: ilovesarah2012

Maybe they could “self-identify” as “African-American” if they wanted to skip class, or as “European-American” if they wanted to stay in class and hopefully learn something. Or as “Asian-American,” for the best odds of actually becoming scientists of any kind ...


35 posted on 05/04/2010 6:45:14 AM PDT by Tax-chick (It's a jungle out there, kiddies; have a very fruitful day.)
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To: WayneS

I think the AA in AA lunch bunch means Ann Arbor

How stupid was the Principal to think that the black kids wouldn’t understand they were singled out because they were black AND under achieving?

He needs to be fired.
I see nothing of value for the students, black or white in doing what he did


36 posted on 05/04/2010 6:45:29 AM PDT by RWGinger
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To: TexasCajun
May Responsibility - to respond when appropriate; to be accountable for one's actions

I pulled that from the website where I got the pic.

37 posted on 05/04/2010 6:46:05 AM PDT by magslinger (Tagline impounded as a threat to national security.)
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To: ThunderSleeps

It was the multi-syllabic words that confused the school administration.


38 posted on 05/04/2010 6:46:35 AM PDT by muawiyah ("Git Out The Way")
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To: Darren McCarty
An Ann Arbor elementary school principal used a letter home to parents tonight to defend a field trip [exclusively] for black students as part of his school’s efforts to close the achievement gap between white and black students. . .

Dude, I've got a great idea. Why don't you just give the black kids their own school? Oh, wait . . .

39 posted on 05/04/2010 6:47:12 AM PDT by SamuraiScot
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To: Darren McCarty; All

I am sick of hearing about the so-called “achievement gap”. I don’t have the specific reference but I read about a school that implemented some new teaching methods, and both black and white students increased their test scores by the same rate - 4%. A black “leader” indicated that this did absolutely nothing to close the gap - disregarding the fact that all students improved. So if the white students regressed and the black students stayed the same, that would make the race hustlers happy, I suppose.

This is WHY there is white flight and de facto segregation, and why it will continue until the black community stops blaming white success for their failures.


40 posted on 05/04/2010 6:49:30 AM PDT by AbeKrieger (If you believe in manmade global warming, you lack the gift of reason.)
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