In Minneapolis Schools, White Families Are Asked to Help Do the Integrating

NYT ^ | 11 27 2021 | Sarah Mervosh

[yesthatjallen]

When Mauri Friestleben learned that Minneapolis was rolling out a new school integration plan — and that the school she led, a predominantly Black, low-income high school, would soon include white students from some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in town — she looked around and proudly considered all that her school had to offer.

The hallways at North Community High are a tapestry of blue and white, the school colors, and the mascot, a polar bear, seems to roar around every corner. The curriculum had been updated to expand access to advanced placement courses: U.S. history, physics, art and design. The school had a new athletic field, and on the first floor, a radio studio.

But in some phone conversations with potential new families, Ms. Friestleben, the principal, sensed deep skepticism.

Parents peppered her with questions. Exactly how many A.P. courses did her school offer? Was Spanish the only language option? Would their children be safe walking from the bus? Some even wondered how she had gotten their number and asked her not to call again.

Ms. Friestleben, a mixed-race woman who identifies as Black, knew that her school had its challenges, including a history of struggling enrollment and low test scores. But she was working hard to serve the needs of her students and had little interest in adjusting her focus to woo white families.

“At times,” she said, “it was demeaning and humiliating.”

SNIP

[yesthatjallen]

To the north, some, like Ms. Crockett, of the alumni association, are on the lookout for signs of gentrification. She described the addition of lacrosse — popular among affluent, white families — as a red flag.

Another experiment in education and integration. The use of children as lab rats continues.

[OpusatFR]

Lambs to the wolves.

[devane617]

“sensed deep skepticism”

I would love to hear those conversations.

[Skywise]

“Ms. Friestleben, a mixed-race woman who identifies as Black,”

facepalm

[bk1000]

Got it. Anything blacks don’t like is racist.

[alexander_busek]

“At times,” she said, “it was demeaning and humiliating.”

Hey, parents! You're letting Principal Friestleben down! Try to be "less White," you racists!

Regards,

[unixfox]

And the sheeple will dutifully obey.

[JonPreston]

I’d definitely do this.

[throwthebumsout]

“... a mixed-race woman who identifies as Black ...”

Of course she does. Whatever provides her the most advantages. Would not be surprised if she is a mix of White and Asian.

Note that she discounts the concerns of the new families as if they don’t have a right to be concerned. She considers addressing these concerns as demeaning and humiliating.

I hope that these incoming families immerse themselves into the school’s operations, take over the PTA and make her life a living hell.

[Fai Mao]

I would tell them to go Biden themselves

[throwthebumsout]

NYT + Paywall = https://archive.md/OnzD7

[Tupelo]

RE: “including a history of struggling enrollment and low test scores.”
Does sitting next to a white student help bring up a black student’s grades? Or bring down the white student’s grades?
And which is the goal?

[BookmanTheJanitor]

How she sees herself.

[SIDENET]

I remember hearing a rule of thumb that any school over 20% black was essentially a "black school". True or not, I would have to agree.

I went to a large high school that was 18% black, and it was already a total zoo. We had Bloods and Crips cruising the campus and just tons of violence in general.

Sending white kids to a mostly black school for whatever stupid reason will yield bitter fruit.

[SauronOfMordor]

Within a year, any disparity between white and black performance would be declared “racist” and would need to be “remediated”. With the only feasible way to do that being to cripple white kids performance to bring it down to black levels.

[AnthonySoprano]

.
Indoctrination Camps.

.

[sport]

Parents: If you do , your children will pay a hell of a price. If you love your children, you won’t do this. We will see what happens.

[yesthatjallen]

Note that she discounts the concerns of the new families as if they don’t have a right to be concerned. She considers addressing these concerns as demeaning and humiliating.

We've seen this thousands of times.

Someone identifies a problem (blacks failing in school). They come up with a personal theory and their own fool-proof plan to make it work. They implement the plan. It doesn't work. Blame the White kids and the White parents because they didn't believe in the plan.

They are literally using kids as lab rats in their education experiments.

[PGR88]

LOL - why must they have white people around?

[sport]

You are correct. And the wolves are hungry.