The Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, fired a heated attack on neighborhood schools and the new Wake County school board majority at an event honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
At an interfaith breakfast in Durham on Monday, Barber argued that the educational research proves that maintaining socioconomically schools makes schools stronger. As a result. he said it's really about "class and race" with neighborhood school supporters wanting resegregation.
"What many mean by neighborhood schools is the school where the price of admission is the ability to pay a gigantic mortgage," Barber said. "What they want to do Governor is to take the money of this state and essentially create private schools paid for with tax dollars.
"Now they claim it won't be true resegregation like the old days, 100 percent, because they can handle it if a handful of the kids got a little dark skin. It's ok if the vanilla is sprinkled with a little cinammon. But what they really want are highly resegregated private schools paid for with public money where their children mix only with the children in their posh neighborhood and somebody ought to say not on my dime."
Barber drew repeated ovations during his keynote speech at the 30th Annual Martin Luther King Triangle Interfaith Breakfast. The breakfast was sponsored by Capitol Broadcasting with CEO Jim Goodmon introducing Barber.
Click here to watch the video of Barber's speech on WRAL's web site. Capitol Broadcating owns WRAL.
Many of the same arguments that Barber used to praise Wake's diversity policy are echoed in an op-ed piece today by Timothy Tyson, a Duke University professor and member of the executive board of the N.C. State Conference of NAACP Branches.
Both Barber and Tyson point to the coverage the diversity policy received in the New York Times Magazine, the doubling of the percentage of black students performing at grade level and that 86 percent of students attend schools within five miles of home.
Critics will counter that the racial achievement gap has widened since the state renormed tests and that the proximity to school figure is based on the as-the-crow flies distance study by staff.
Comments
"Barber argued that the
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 15:08 — Caryite"Barber argued that the educational research proves that maintaining socioconomically schools makes schools stronger."
Mr. Barber's concern is strong schools.
Thanks WRAL and Jim Goodman
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 14:35 — shank56Thanks WRAL and Jim Goodman for streaming the COW meeting going on right now.
All This Speculation On Resegregation
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 13:37 — RMC10And not one student has been reassigned anywhere yet, not one Magnet school in a low income area has been restructured or closed yet. At the very base of this whole debate is the question of why low income areas HAVE TO BE or BECOME low "areas of achievement." Is it because NAACP groups and Rev. Barber keep telling students and their parents they are indeed underachieving, and that somehow the rich folks in the big houses are at fault, and that by merely sitting in a different school, in the same county, that teaches the same curriculum with the same books, with the same per capita student spending (or higher) the outcome would be different. Rev. Barber is keeping a dream alive for sure - the dream that it's all someone else's fault. He should focus on changing those perceptions within his groups. He should build up the expectations, preach parental, social, and fiscal responsibility for their own children. Rev. Barber is in the perfect position to provide mentoring to both parents and students, but when he continues to stand in the news and blame diversity or lack of diversity, he actually is endorsing diversity as an EXCUSE for the Black communities.
Are Barber's comments and
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 13:34 — carson79Are Barber's comments and Tyson's op-ed in any way related or just within a few days of eachother?
I think it would be better to have them as separate blog postings. Tyson's piece is overshadowed by short comments from Barber when he wrote a longer piece. It basically call sout Jenman and others like her who use a few in the minority community who are nostalgic for segregated schools to justify policies.
It basically call sout
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 14:08 — jenmanIt basically call sout Jenman and others like her who use a few in the
minority community who are nostalgic for segregated schools to justify
policies.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are you talking about? Nobody is 'nostalgic' for segregated schools. My concern has always been that we are busing some children so far away that their parents can't participate at all. They can't even get to the school to pick up their kids if they are sick. In recent years, low income kids have been getting bused out of already healthy schools in order to raise the F&R of a far away school. This makes no sense and is not helping any of these kids.
The SES diversity policy is NOT about helping kids. Its about making schools look good so they can continue to be 'economic tools'. It's really quite disgusting.
If this is true, where is
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 14:19 — carson79If this is true, where is the outcry from these families? And actually you are wrong - some are nostalgic for segregated blacks only schools. Did you read Tyson's piece at all??
you seem to have a problem with isolated assignments and support diversity overall but advocate alongside those that do not believe diversity or balanced schools have a place in our school policies. how do you reconcile this?
It's clear that you have been personally effected by magnet policies that you argue favor ITB in that your child or children were denied admittance to the magnet of your choice - correct? So choice matters for you right? Ok, well if the parents of kids who are bused out of high poverty areas to go to another school want their child to go there - do you support this? or does your apparent knowledge of what they think and believe take precedence over their own vote as evidenced in the last elections and those years before that?
You've been asked before - but I'll ask until you answer:
What is WCSA position on diversity?
This is the problem
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 19:44 — SDR256This is the problem with getting all your information from the media and 'community leaders'. You don't get the whole picture.
Where is the outcry? Go to
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 15:09 — jenmanWhere is the outcry? Go to a neighborhood where the kids are getting bused 15 miles away and you'll hear parents say its too far. I was there when nodes of lower income kids were set to be bused out of our already healthy school to a school much farther away. The parents of those kids were upset because the school was too far away. WHy don't we hear the outcry? Why aren't they organized and fighting the reassignments? Several reasons: they are just too plain tired to fight it (that goes for middle to upper income families too), they don't know how to fight it, they do make their opinions known and they are ignored, etc etc.
I have yet to hear a outcry of parents saying that they LIKE being bused 12, 15 or 18 miles away. Especially when there are 'healthy' schools closer to home.
Did I read Tyson's piece? Yes. He talks about how you don't have to go too far to hear AA wax nostalgic for segregated schools, yet he doesn't cite anybody. Its just like all the invisible people that you talk about who are against diversity and think that everybody should go to their absolute closest school. I haven't met them yet.
"you seem to have a problem with isolated assignments and support
diversity overall but advocate alongside those that do not believe
diversity or balanced schools have a place in our school policies. how
do you reconcile this? "
Well, the people that I have been advocating alongside don't believe as you state they do. I have not worked with anybody who doesn't believe that some balancing is ok. If the new board votes to eliminate all consideration of diversity from the assignment policy, how will I reconcile it? Previous boards have been asked to PLEASE stop the long distance assignments. Those requests have been ignored and Chuck D has said that the distance doesn't really matter because low income parents won't participate no matter how close they are to the school. Previous boards have been asked to objectively look at what is and what is not working with the current 'diversity policy'. They have refused. The new board may not do what I would do, but reason has not worked with previous boards or WCPSS in the past so I'm willing to try something new. We cannot continue down the road we've been on. Current policies are NOT working.
My own children have never been denied admittance to magnets. (Well, our oldest got denied his 1st choice of middle school but we got into our 2nd and are happy there.) Choice does matter greatly to me. If a parent from downtown wants their children to be bused 18 miles away to Green Hope, then I have no problem having an option like that. I have always said that there are probably low income parents who would like to send their kids to schools like GHE and that we should implement some way to let them have that option. I don't proclaim to know what all low income or all minority parents want, but I've met enough of those parents to know that they aren't all happy with current policies.
What is WSCA's position on diversity? We value diversity. We do not advocate strict neighborhood schools. This has all been hashed out for months and months and months. Frankly, it doesn't matter what we say because you are going to believe what you want to believe. We have more important work to do than to try to convince you that we are who we say we are.
Did I not say denied to your
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 19:28 — carson79Did I not say denied to your choice of magnets? That's what I meant.
Your answer to the question about WSCA's position on diversity is truly telling and extremely disappointing. "We value diversity" "We do not advocate strict neighborhood schools" then what the heck DO you advocate???? Why does everyone I know that DOES advocate abandoning diversity support your group??????
DISCONNECT.
And actually if you all had any leaders from my side of town or people of color on your website - I would believe it, so please don't make assumptions about people! Transparency would be your friend if your group was truly diverse. All of the leaders except you are from Cary, Holly Springs, Apex, right? I might not have known all their names but hte ones I did lived there and you are North Raleigh so not exactly down the street from me.
"to know that they aren't all happy with current policies. "
No duh! I don't know any way to make this simpler for you to grasp - nobody ever said that ALL BLACK PEOPLE OR ALL POOR PEOPLE OR ALL SOUTHEAST RALEIGH RESIDENTS supported balanced schools!!
But you keep referring to these phantom people who - correct me if I'm wrong - are NOT members of your group - and who haven't mobilized their community in any visible way NOR have they gone to the voting booths! And haven't we heard it so many times lately - "An overwhelming mandate" "parents were heard" etc etc well those folks have been heard too, no?
Or wait I guess you are saying you know better than the voting public in those areas does?
Hm interesting.
You need to get out more if you don't know anyone who says everyone should go to their closest school!
I gotta go with SDR/Sarah on
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 20:36 — jenmanI gotta go with SDR/Sarah on this one--she got to it before I was able to. I'm in the middle of making dinner for my family. ;-)
I'm sorry that my answer was not detailed enough for you, but I've 'known' you long enough here on the blogs to know that there is no point. You are not interested in actually engaging in honest, productive dialogue on the subject. If you were, you wouldn't resort to your petty, snide remarks. If you are really interested in reading about WSCA's beliefs, thoughts on diversity, etc, you can read through the previous year's worth of blog entries. You've been absent for a long time and I personally have no desire to catch you up. Its exhausting and I have better things to do.
As for 'your side of town', from what I remember when you were here a couple of years ago, you grew up in N Raleigh and went to Lynn Road elem. I don't know what your side of town is now.
Although Ciulla, Stocking, Redpath & Backhouse emerged as the leaders of WSCA, there are very active members from other areas as well. Knightdale and elsewhere in Eastern Wake, Garner, ITB and SE Raleigh. I would say that we have more active members from the districts that were up for re-election this year, but that's usually how it goes. Most people don't get involved unless it impacts them directly.
LAUGHABLE. "MORE FROM THE
Wed, 01/20/2010 - 12:22 — carson79LAUGHABLE. "MORE FROM THE DISTRICTS UP FOR RE-ELECTION"
LOL
How many do you have from SE Raleigh?
WE ARE WAITING!!!!!
Actually Sarah Redpath said that the blog is not the right forum to discuss WSCA's position on diversity - but you decline to explain it and refer me to the blog - perhaps you 2 should pow wow? or just freakin put your position on the website and list your SE Raleigh leaders!! and anyone ITB for that matteR!! It's not hard people!!
Do you really think
Sat, 01/23/2010 - 01:01 — SDR256Do you really think people would like to be identified to someone who overuses capitalization and has a track record of using personal names on a public blog? Think about it. No way in hell would I divulge sensitive relationships to you, honey.
Personal names on a
Mon, 05/03/2010 - 15:20 — carson79Personal names on a blog?
what in the heck are you talking about?
I missed this when you posted it back in january but just for the record, she has no idea what she is talking about and probably posted after too much wine (hence the unfortunate use of "honey" as a pejorative)
And guess what, this should come as no surprise, but the group still has not proven they have SE Raleigh members!
Aggressive
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 00:17 — SDR256What I was talking about was your aggressive style on these blogs. I don't know your name but you freely banter mine about and point fingers and criticize personally - making suggestions about too much wine because I used the word honey . What the heck for sure.
If you really want to build bridges I suggest you take a friendlier approach. Until then, honey, I stand by what I said before.
Like I said
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 19:50 — SDR256I really liked what you wrote Jenman. And like I said before, this guy - who knows me or thinks he does but I think I know him better - has no intention of having a civil dialog. Disconnect. Exactly what I think we should do with this one. Let's talk to real people.
Thanks. :-) BTW, Carson
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 20:37 — jenmanThanks. :-) BTW, Carson is a woman. One of those confusing last name as first name deals. :-)
I do not know you, I know
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 19:57 — carson79I do not know you, I know you a leader of Wake Schools Commuty Alliance named Sarah Redpath. That's all.
It's telling that you are so uncomfortable with questions from people not in WSCA. It's just sad and really disappointing, I was hoping for more dialogue since your group is so powerful and has basically (IMO) changed the future of Wake schools.
I can guarantee you don't "know him better" :)
Inflammatory
Wed, 01/20/2010 - 11:47 — SDR256Your inflammatory language, snide stratifying comments, all caps and punctuations and continual reminders that you know people by name is so inviting. Yes, I can totally see where you wanted to work together and how it would be so productive to continue to invest in this thread. NOT.
There are too many real problems in our educational system for this nonesense.
If you wanted to be
Wed, 01/20/2010 - 12:25 — carson79If you wanted to be anonymous why did you out yourself?? I will stop using your name if you wanted to be anonymous?
But I'll still call you out when you anonymously bash any new parent groups forming as I saw you do earlier (accused them of an us/them mentality in contrast to WSCA)
Maybe you should come up with a new screenname?
I can't wait to hear WSCA's plans to help low income students!!
Wrong
Sun, 02/07/2010 - 14:36 — SDR256I did not 'out' myself btw. It was a small malicious act done by others on this blog . I consider it a byproduct of speaking out, however, it wasn't unexpected, and I can see why others would hesitate to speak out or share personal information because there are many people on this blog who are not kind. I consider you one of those people. Nonetheless, I see that you ironically have become uncomfortable with people asking you personal information. I understand your discomfort.
Why eliminate the diversity policy all together then?
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 15:33 — LiveInWestCaryPer Jenman: If a parent from downtown wants their children to be bused 18 miles away to Green Hope, then I have no problem having an option like that. Just curious, do others who support eliminating the current diversity policy feel the same way as Jenman about this?? If so, I haven’t read any of you admit to that...way to go Jenman!! I wonder if the new school board would be open to making a modification to the diversity policy instead of doing away with it all together.
If ED parents want their children to attend schools where the majority of students are NED then why not allow this? Data can be sliced and diced many ways to get the results that we on opposing sides want. So ultimately, it is my opinion that even if a handful of children are positively influenced by being in an environment where NED students are EXPECTED to perform then that is a handful of children that has benefited from this policy.
Yes, I feel the same way as
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 16:05 — Eric_BYes, I feel the same way as Jenman about this. I believe we should have a suburban diversity magnet program where ED students can choose to attend low F&R suburban schools. That way, ED students have some choice rather than giving NED, middle class families magnet choices and forcing ED students into long bus rides.
I've mentioned this before on this blog. In his recent book comparing Syracuse and Raleigh, Gerald Grant mentions a similar successful program called Metco that works this way. Do a Google search for "Boston Metco program" and read about it.
It's possible to give families choice yet still have diverse schools. The current diversity policy in WCPSS with little choice and SES discrimination doesn't work.
I can buy into that.....Give
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 16:11 — shearertwI can buy into that.....Give suburban parents and students the community schools they want, need and deserve and give ED students living in high poverty areas the choices. Those choices should NOT however involve 18 mile bus rides. They should be within a reasonable distance. Unlike the supposed traditional "options" placed on the suburban MYR refuges.
Why would you care whether
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 16:22 — LiveInWestCaryWhy would you care whether or not it "involved 18 mile bus rides" if the parents don't? I know, I know...it's YOUR tax dollars generated from YOUR posh neighborhood that's being used to generate the funds to support this, right?
Such is life...fact is, some of us take up the slack for those who are less fortunate.
So...
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 17:37 — Bob_SconceWhat makes you think that parents don't care?
The point is to give parents realistic options. We didn't apply for magnet schools because the magnet options are too far away. If the options were closer, we would definitely consider it.
Meaning, parents of children being bused
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 17:44 — LiveInWestCaryI meant if the parents of the children being bused are okay with it then everyone else should be.
What is the point?
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 20:01 — SDR256What is the point of these long expensive bus rides again?
So, sure...
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 17:54 — Bob_SconceI have no issue with the folks in my neighborhood who are willing to have their kids get up before 6am to catch a bus and then a transfer bus to get to their magnet school downtown. More power to them.
The problem is that saying "You can go to a magnet school if you're willing to have a really long commute" really knocks magnet schools out as an option for most families.
So, even though there are a few people willing to endure an 18-mile bus ride, it would be much better if the bus ride were, say, 8 miles. The 18-milers would still be interested, but so would a lot of ther people.
I agree with you and
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 20:40 — jenmanI agree with you and shearer. Its not that I'm opposed to 'poor' kids getting into certain schools. Its that there are good options closer than 18 miles away.
What I've never understood is that there are low income nodes IN Cary. If the old boards and Chuck believed it was necessary to 'diversify' schools like Green Hope, why couldn't the kids come from Cary? Its a heck of a lot closer than downtown Raleigh.
Its not that I'm opposed to
Wed, 01/20/2010 - 12:27 — carson79Its not that I'm opposed to 'poor' kids getting into certain schools.
Really???? No way!!! lol
I'm kidding but come on, are you saying that there are low income nodes in Cary that are NOT diversifying Western Wake schools?? Please explain.
I think your issues are so specific that you should apply for Chuck D's job - I have no idea how WSCA's stated mission reflects your opinions you express on this blog.
"The problem is that saying
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 20:31 — user12345"The problem is that saying "You can go to a magnet school if you're willing to have a really long commute" really knocks magnet schools out as an option for most families. "
We should not really have a magnet program unless we want to attract people to do something against their interest like endure a long bus ride. If all the ITB schools are running at capacity than there is no reason for them to be magnets. Nor is their a reason to have magnets in the suburbs if those schools are already filled with kids. Magnets cost more and should only be used as a trade off for building new schools and drawing kids to under capacity schools.
That's why I think running magnets as YR makes sense...
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 21:58 — raleighlauraIf we can get 4300 more kids into a voluntary program that people will stand in line for, and not have to build another school or buy even one more trailer, why not?
If they can figure out a way
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 22:07 — jenmanIf they can figure out a way to deal with electives on the yr calendar, I'm all for it.
there's always a hitch isn't
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 22:09 — AngelaWthere's always a hitch isn't there?
I'm coming from the
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 17:52 — shearertwI'm coming from the perspective of the ED parents having good, high quality choices that are also convenient. I cannot advocate giving everyone unlimited choices as that would lead to chaos. If were going to provide choices, I cannot think of a logical reason why one of them would be 18 miles from where they live. I don't want it to be a difficult choice or one that involves significant sacrifice. That's not a true choice in my book. Your tax dollar arguement is also not a bad one, I just didn't think of it right off.....
Well Said Jenman!
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 15:23 — JanisTangoWell said Jenman! I do know some of the outraged parents. I know of two families from our school that moved out of the area because they didn't want their kids bussed to a new school. Their kids were doing well at our school and it was important to them that they could walk to school since they didn't have a car!
Janis--I often think of the
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 15:46 — jenmanJanis--I often think of the Myanmar refugees who so desperately wanted to stay at Sanderson (I'm pretty sure that was the HS they were at) because they and their children could walk or bike there easily. I wonder how they are doing at their new HS. I remember they were concerned about being able to participate in after school activities and sports since they were going to be much farther away. These families valued education and wanted to be close to the school--so much for Chuck's theory.
That Is The Example I Use Often!
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 16:22 — JanisTangoI use that example often because I was at the CEM where their church sponsor spoke on their behalf. The other side of the issue was many of those kids worked after school to help repay for the money that was spent to relocate them to this country. They wouldn't be able to do that after they were moved. I remember telling my neighbor that if there was ever a case to make a change to the plan that was it. Of course they were told their 3 minutes were up and they got reassigned to Leesville!
We must have been at the
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 16:26 — jenmanWe must have been at the same meeting, Janis. :-) I remember the loud applause that their speaker received from everybody else in the audience. I agree--that was a compelling case for changing the plan. We must be too soft though, since it didn't work on Chuck or the board. ;-)
"Now they claim it won't be
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:30 — shearertw"Now they claim it won't be true resegregation like the old days, 100 percent, because they can handle it if a handful of the kids got a little dark skin. It's ok if the vanilla is sprinkled with a little cinammon. But what they really want are highly resegregated private schools paid for with public money where their children mix only with the children in their posh neighborhood and somebody ought to say not on my dime."
Like I said yesterday, I love it when this guy talks! At some point, you diversity supporters are going to have to pull a Rev. Wright on this guy and kick him off your team (ref Obama/Rev Wright 2008 presedential campaign). Since this was at the MLK breafast, I wonder what MLK would have thought about all this race-baiting from the "Rev"?
I really love this line - "....paid for with public money where their children mix only with the children in their posh neighborhood and somebody ought to say not on my dime."
Hello! Its not your dime Rev Wright. Its the tax payers dime! Guess who the tax payers are? Yes, thats right, those people living in the "posh neighborhoods"! Guess what comes with a "gigantic mortgage"? Yes, a gigantic TAX BILL!. That being said, I've not heard one person on this blog or in my community talk about restricting access to their schools. Us "vanilla" and "cinammon" people are simply looking for common sense solutions that start with building communities, not neighborhoods. Guess what else, we're like to do more for the low income students in the next 4 years than you have done in your entire life!
Keung, Can you tell us where
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:04 — sstarksKeung,
Can you tell us where the NY Times and/or Mr. Tyson came up with the data that shows the doubling of African Americans on grade level? Thanks!
The figure is essentially
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:16 — KeungHui (author)The figure is essentially correct, with a few caveats. You can get it off the state's ABCs web site:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/reporting/leaperformancearchive/
It was first used in the New York Times article in 2005:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/education/25raleigh.html
It's been tweaked since then to reflect the renorming of the math tests. That's why they stop in 2007. The later reflection of the reading results wipes out the gains they cite.
Don't see it...
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:51 — Bob_SconceIn 2006-2007, Math & Reading composite among grade 3-8 black students in Wake County was 48.5%; in 2007-2008, it was 33.4%. (I include both because it's unclear which '2007' to use.) In 1997-1998, that composite score was 55.2%
The scores for other districts in the state that don't bus for socioeconomic diversity are similar. (Compare Guilford, for example). Now, it's possible that the students are actually doing better but that changing standards make them appear to be worse. But, the key metric is how WCPSS does compared to other, non-busing, districts. And, in that, it seems that Wake's approach had no net benefit.
What you're going to want to
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:04 — KeungHui (author)What you're going to want to do to get the numbers they had is look only at the reading EOG composite in 2007 compared to 1997.
Ahhh, now we're getting down
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 12:36 — sstarksAhhh, now we're getting down to it. Just reading scores! Okay here are the 1997 scores:
black females passed at 58.7, males at 45.9, white females at 90.6, white males at 86.9. So there was 41% gap in reading for males, and a 35% gap for females.
2006-2007 scores on a different test:'
blacks: 80.3, whites 95+. So that does look somewhat impressive with quite a narrowing of the gap (of course throw in the math scores and you've got explaining to do, with EOG composite for blacks at 48.5, with whites at 87.9, almost a 40% gap)
However, look at 2007-2008 scores when reading is renormed:
Now blacks score at 40.2--40 points lower! and whites score at 81.4, 15 points lower.
What does that say about previous tests! And why would Dr. Barber and Mr. Tyson ignore the latest data (why indeed), not to mention why the News Observer did not issue any caveats on this opinion piece!
Now
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 13:38 — TrailerParkGirl"So there was 41% gap in reading for males, and a 35% gap for females. "
"Now blacks score at 40.2--40 points lower! and whites score at 81.4, 15 points lower."
Exactly, and the gap between 40.2 and 81.4 is 41.2. In other words the gap has not narrowed at all since 1997.
Also, pre re-norming, passing was getting about 1 in 4 questions correct. After renorming, it is still only about 1 in 3 correct to pass.
Individual test scores may
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 13:23 — woodstockIndividual test scores may or may not be relevant, but I do know they don't mean a thing if students do not graduate. No employer is going to say, "I see here you didn't graduate, but that was sure a nice test score you had back in 07. You're hired." Graduation is akin to winning the lottery in terms of the future opportunities it will provide in having access to aditional learning opportunities and jobs.
There is a systemic problem in Wake County, mostly due to a lack of focus on the mission at hand: education. The graduation rate for low-income students in Wake is descreasing and now stands at 54%. That is below the state average in a state that does not rank well nationally. Barber refuses to acknowledge that reality and discuss how it can be overcome. Instead, he wants to promote himslef, spew insults, and point fingers. His oafish antics only incites overblown rhetoric and does not advance solitutions.
I am so proud of the new BoE majority's composure and focus in the midst of this destructive onslaught from opposing forces intent on maintaining the failures of the status quo. Their determination to ensure that positive, education-focused, and family-friendly change take place is admirable.
What a farce!
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 13:00 — Bob_SconceSo, the problem, of course is that the tests were so easy that it was impossible for the gap not to narrow -- white kids can't get about 100%.
The problem is that over the same time frame, the gap narrowed in every other county as well.
Talk about cherry-picking results.
One of the most fascinating
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 14:31 — sstarksOne of the most fascinating things about this whole test score thing is what some are trying to do here in Mecklenburg County. A young woman argued with me that CMS is doing a terrible job with poor and minority students. When I pointed out that test scores were gradually improving for these students she said I had no way of really knowing if these students were doing better than in the 90's under busing because the tests were not the same--couldn't be compared.
Here are CMS's 1996-1997 test scores for reading:
Female African Americans , 47%; Male AA 34.8%, White females 84.3%; white males 77.8% (this was after more than 20 years of busing). Almost 40 points difference for females, more than 40 points difference for males
2008-2009
Female African Americans 58.6%, AA males 48.7%; female whites 90.1, male whites 87%, 32 points difference white and black and females, about 28 points difference between white and black males.
So Tyson and Barber are arguing that scores have gone up since 1997 because of busing. In Charlotte they're claiming scores are going down because we're not busing. Yet it appears to me that Charlotte has done more to narrow the gap during that time period.
I thought Charlotte still
Tue, 01/19/2010 - 19:34 — carson79I thought Charlotte still bused somewhat - magnets, choice, etc?
Is that wrong?
Also, how are the poor and minority kids in high poverty schools doing compared to those in balanced schools?