Affirmative Action and 10 year olds? What!
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Posted By: torin ellis on May 08, 2010 FEATURED Content Here's the skinny around the article: a field trip is taken by a group of 30 elementary aged students in the Detroit, Michigan area. The students, all African American fifth graders, were selected to be a part of a "motivational experience." According to Public School officials, the trip was intended to inspire them as part of a bigger push to close a persistent gap in test scores between black and white students. Here's the problem: some of the students and parents of students that DID NOT attend the trip were angry that they were excluded. While the Ann Arbor school system defends it's intentions to encourage African American students to reach higher, it is reviewing it's policies. Read the complete article and then answer my question of the week. The question: does this fall under affirmative action? If so, is it okay if events and/or trips will raise achievement levels of our - and perhaps all - children? Link to the full story: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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torin ellis
From baltimore, MD Member Since December 2008 |
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I am often approached by parents who say that public education does not address the academic needs of African-American students. I think any school that attempts to encourage its divers student body to excel, is far ahead of many other schools in the United States. If a field trip encouraged my child to want to become a rocket scientist, and to pursue his/her dreams, I say thank you; job well done. As far as this act being a form of affirmative action, I'm not so sure that it is. Our class rooms, like our country is becoming more divers every day, and our schools should be committed to addressing the academic needs of all of its students. Sunday, May 9th 2010 at 9:37AM |
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I believe that this is part of the fear of the Tea Party and Obama Backlashers, now hitting our children. African Americans make up 18.6% of that school's student body according to the article, thus the lunch bunch is an appropriate vehicle to harness their collective strengths to motivate those falling behind. This groups has been meeting all school year, yet no one complained until a field trip came up. The principal stated he wanted to help improve the acheivement gap in the school through peer motivation and activities for the African American kids. If he did not have a specific plan for helping those students we would consider him part of the problem. I believe his solution was and is positive, and I support his efforts. There are many opportunities for him and teachers, and parents to organize field trips for all races of kids to be inspired by rocket scientists of all colors. What a mess they made of nothing. See it for what is really is, fear of the next generation of African Americans raising above the office of president. Don't be fooled.
Tuesday, May 11th 2010 at 9:59PM |
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I am not surprised by the ones that are putting up a fight and in turn attempting to place themselves in our shoes (African-Americans). We as a community have gone through and are still going through many hardships that our Caucasin counter parts have no understanding of. Our children have role models that are and few and far between. This is not a form of Affirmative Action. There is a greater percent of white children that have someone to look up to on a professional level our children do not often have that priviledge. Black children face many more obsticals than they should and if there is a group in place to try an help them look to a bright and better futrure than why can't everyone embrase that. Those that are fighting it are the ones that our showing us their true colors and do not want the gap to be closed. If you believe that every child should have the oppurtunity to do better than why would you fight they oppurtunity when one is given? That is because they do not truly care if the gap is closed they are simply afraid that they won't be able to stay ahead of the game. For those that are reading my comment if you do not understand what I am trying to say then here it is in a nutshell. "Our Black children (African-American children) need role models and they can not always find those role models in their community, as parents we offer our children all we have to give just as you, but not all of us are blessed to have an attorney, teacher, doctor, or rocket scientist in the home, family, or community so when we luck up and find one we have to embrass him/her and believe in our African wise tell "It takes a village to raise a child. You are not able to be the role model for our children so please don't stand in the way." We are not trying to cause a racial divide and I know that was not the purpose of this group we are simply trying to catch up so please don't be afraid for us to survive. Thank You and God Bless Mrs. Flowers of Milwaukee, WI. Wife, mother, teacher, and child of god. Friday, May 21st 2010 at 12:54PM |
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