One of the longstanding core values of our community is that there are no "bad" schools in Wake County. The school a student attends should not define if she is rich or poor. Can our community have any goal other than every school being an attractive place to teach and learn? That core value is under attack. The so called "community school" means that “you” can’t come into “my” community.
It is time to pull back the curtain. The opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools. Inequality creates isolation and barriers to success.
Diversity alone does not make schools strong. Teachers and principals make schools strong; however, teachers know that there are more challenges and less parental involvement in high poverty schools — proximity to a school does not overcome those challenges.
If education is, as we believe, one of the most compelling obligations of a democracy, then how can candidates for a board of education be opposed to the best opportunity for all students? There are candidates who expect you to believe that creating high poverty schools will improve student achievement. Wrong. There is a vast amount of data from across our country showing that high poverty schools are costly — in financial and human terms.
As former members of the Board of Education, we urge voters to see through the false rhetoric. We commend The N & O’s endorsement of Lois Nixon, Rita Rakestraw, Karen Simon, and Horace Tart.
We strongly agree that there are continued improvements to be made in Wake County. We look to these fresh faces to make the Wake County schools better. But we trust that the changes will be positive and that those elected to the Board of Education will be advocates for all students, not only their neighbors!
Roxie Cash
Beverley Clark
John Gilbert
Rosa Gill
Judy Hoffman
Casper and Mary Holroyd
Linda Johnson
Charlotte Martin
Tom Oxholm
Carol Parker
Susan Parry
Kathryn Watson Quigg
Jean Schilawski
Wray Stephens
Roy Tilley
Jeff York
Comments
In other words, WCPSS knows
Tue, 10/06/2009 - 15:07 — grantncsuIn other words, WCPSS knows what is best for the children. Stop resisiting our agenda, or we will start calling you racists. We already have the local media carrying our water for us, and they will gladly portray you as hayseed rednecks if we need them to.
Not only does their "diversity" policy serve to stifle parental involvement, it completely removes the community from the schools, since the neighborhood is no longer tied to a school. This has worked well for the overall agenda. They are well aware that the community holds values that just aren't well informed or up to date. The schools would never get community support for the craziness that is occuring in schools (homosexual agenda, environmental nut agenda, defacto unionization of teachers, etc.), so they decided to remove the community altogether.
Past leaders showing guilt
Wed, 10/07/2009 - 04:45 — redriverThe letter from the past leaders shows a tinge of guilt. Any time any group comes out so strongly for keeping the status quo there is always many questions to be answered. The fact that so many are tired of the status quo is the answer to this letter. If in fact the leaders are elected to bring improved performance on behalf of the voters, then this letter means nothing. If the past leaders were in touch with the community, this conversation would not be relevant. Therefore, their opinions, just like their past work, is a non issue in this election. The only issue is the will of the people. That is what makes our country great, the will of the people, right or wrong, is always the direction we must take. Nothing else is relevant.
ASTOUNDED
Sun, 10/04/2009 - 14:13 — joybohamI keep reading and reading and just sit hear in DISBELIEF!!!! My child went to a school with predominately lower income children, children of mixed races....let me tell you - THERE IS NO diversity going on there. When there is ONE Caucasian boy and three Caucasian girls in a class of 28 - please - how is that DIVERSE?!?!?!?! Did she receive a good education there - yes. Was I pleased with how she performed yes.
NOW GUESS WHAT - she was RE-ASSIGNED. NOT across town - so I don't have that argument that she's too far away - but she got re-assigned 2 miles up the road. FOR WHAT? Did they need a little Caucasian girl in that school to balance something out that happened when another school converted to year-round or traditional - OR WHAT THE HECK EVER?!
Did my daughter care that she was one of the few Caucasions in the class - NO - but did she care that she is now going to a school where she had to meet a whole new bunch of kids...and had to leave all her friends behind --- YES OF COURSE. And guess what - Mommy was upset that I just was getting the hang of the ins and outs of one school - and now I have to go learn another one.
The "diversity" plan is suppose to help underprivileged children...great. It is also said that parents need to play larger roles in their child's education...well PLEASE someone explain to me - how college educated individuals believe that now that they've bused some underprivileged children across town, how their parents (whether working 2 jobs, no consistent modes of transportation, or even single parents juggling jobs and children in different schools if they have middle school kids AND elementary aged children) are now suppose to somehow find more time, more transportation to get to their children's schools to play MORE IMPORTANT ROLES!? How can children participate in after-school activities in their new school across town if moms and dads have a hard time getting there? How do young children start to foster any of those special friendships with their classmates if they aren't the ones that live up the road, or attend church with or attend extra curricular activities with (karate, gymnastics, local ball leagues)....
Seriously folks - coming from a parent (not a well-to-do one and not an underprivileged one -- YET a college educated one) I just can't understand how anyone can talk about the busing, diversity and see that there are so many cracks in it - we're losing children through those cracks ALL THE TIME.
Finally, someone has spoken the absolute truth on this issue...
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 17:31 — fearorlove"If education is, as we believe, one of the most compelling obligations of a democracy, then how can candidates for a board of education be opposed to the best opportunity for all students? There are candidates who expect you to believe that creating high poverty schools will improve student achievement. Wrong. There is a vast amount of data from across our country showing that high poverty schools are costly — in financial and human terms."
I live in a nice neighborhood, my kids are very successful in WCPSS, and I support diversity, busing, and mixing of different classes and races because I know they will benefit and be able to contribute to our future society in an effective manner. Stop the fear people. Poor kids' whatever is not going to rub off or transfer by osmosis to your precious little sheltered kids. However, it may teach them how to interact well in a world where everyone does not look like them or come from the same backgrounds as them. I think the kids are fine and will continue to be fine. It's the parents who need to get a grip!!!
You miss the point
Sat, 10/10/2009 - 09:01 — woodstockYou miss the point entirely if you think this is a matter of fear or race or diversity. Do you care that only 54% of economically disadvantaged graduate in Wake County? Do you care that only half of black males graduate? Are these children really being provided the "best opportunity" by the Wake County school system? I do not think that they are. I think children of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds can achieve academically, and it is finally about time to give them the resources that they need.