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NPR & my own addled brain ^ | 8.14.02 | Michael King

[mhking]

I appeared on NPR's "The Tavis Smiley Show" this morning to talk with Tavis and Angelo Anchetta from Harvard's Civil Rights Research group about a new study that insists that schools across the nation are resegregating themselves.

I say leave'em alone. Pretty decent interview (at least I thought so), and I sounded pretty lucid for 7AM (coffee is your friend!).

You can either go to the show page or link to the program segment and listen (Real Player/Real One required).

[headsonpikes]

Congrats! bttt

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[BenLurkin]

Great news! Call it like you see it and let the marketplace of ideas go to work.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Very well done! You successfully corrected the unstated assumption that this "resegregation" is due some sinister intent and correctly identified the true causation as merely being due to changing suburban housing trends (all in your opening statement!). Having failed to frame the cause, your host then attempted to mischaracterize the effect. You then diffused this by explaining your personal situation and how parental involvement overcome any lack of educational diversity. You had already won by the time you explained how increasing diversity at colleges were countering this whole effect in the high-schools. I only wished the interview had continued into discussing the merits of all African-American colleges. I'm glad you are on the conservative side!

[AppyPappy]

They are missing that Integration brought money to the schools in the black community which was missing before. Screw diversity. It's about money. But there is one key difference: "white" schools ebb and flo as whites move around. In my former hometown, we have closed many "white" schools as whites moved out of the city and opened new "white" schools in other locations. Blacks, however, tended to stay in the same area. As a result, their schools tend to degrade over time. But the vast majority of spending is on new schools which blacks don't receive.

If the government really wanted to entice diversity, they would let the dollars follow the minority kids. The more you have, the more money you get. Then the schools would "recruit" more minority kids.

[Gumlegs]

Thanks very much for the ping. Outstanding interview.

[Illbay]

I'm just astounded that you seemed to have been treated with any degree of respect by Smiley and the guy from Harvard.

[mhking]

Blacks, however, tended to stay in the same area. As a result, their schools tend to degrade over time. But the vast majority of spending is on new schools which blacks don't receive.

You're only part right - in many cases when predominantly black schools degrade, it's not as much about the amount of money that flows into the school district, as much as it is about corrupt and inept administrators of those districts. The money flows in, it just does not flow down to the building level. This happens most in urban systems. And since most of those urban systems are run by liberal black administrators, the unspoken implication is allowed to fester.

[Re-electNobody]

A good example is the City of Atlanta schools, which are spending $13,000 per pupil. No telling how much waste there is.

[AppyPappy]

That's because liberal leaders (both black and white) only care about promises. They don't care if anything gets delivered as long as someone feels their pain. Plus if the problems gets fixed, they will have to find another crisis.

Our situation was better. They only hired white administrators. The admins had to have the support of the black commissioners or they would get ousted by the few conservatives. Watching them jump through hoops at the request of the black politicians was one of the chief sources of entertainment. "Mr. Administrator, on behalf of the black community, we would like to request that you eat this bug".

[xJones]

You are good! Congratulations!

[What Is Ain't]

Well done, Michael. I thought the overall discussion was quite civilized and informative. Also, it's good to see Project 21 get a national plug.

[farmfriend]

Bravo!!!!

[panther33]

Post from Ronaldus Magnus to mhking: I'm glad you are on the conservative side!

Bump!!

[Katya]

Agreed.. I think Tavis has had to tone down overall.....particularly since NPR is the home of the sensitive, slow low-key voice. Kudos to you Michael...you were very impressive and sounded like a professional pundit.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Treating a migraine.. I'll definetly go look as soon as I'm well. Thanks friend!!!

Sending this link to my e-mail as a reminder!!! Can't wait!!

[stainlessbanner]

Way to go, mhking! Keep up the good work.

[mhking]

Treating a migraine.. I'll definetly go look as soon as I'm well. Thanks friend!!!

Get better! I get my share of migraines; I feel for you...

[condolinda]

You sounded great, Michael! Congrats!!!!!