Supporters of neighborhood schools are not wanted on the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children's listserv.
Calla Wright, the coalition's president, acknowledged that she recently "banned" from the listserv known supporters of neighborhood schools. This includes people from groups such as Wake CARES and the Wake Schools Community Alliance.
Wright said support for neighborhood schools goes against the diversity policy and providing educational opportunities for all children.
"I felt all the members on the list should be pro-educational opportunities for all children and not pro-neighborhood schools," Wright said.
Among the people who were kicked off the listserv were Kristen Stocking, founder of the Wake Schools Community Alliance.
Stocking had been removed soon after she had contacted another person on the listserv who had posted concerns about high suspension rates at some schools.
Wright said Stocking wasn't specifically emoved because of the message she sent. But Wright did say "I don't feel [Stocking] had the interests of black children at heart."
The leadership of the CCCAAC has repeatedly argued that going to a system of neighborhood schools will result in resegregation.
Stocking said it's unfortunate she was removed from the listserv. She said she had joined in order to have conversations with other parents about how to help at-risk students.
Stocking said it's "very hypocritical" to push away help being offered by parents.
Comments
A quote for Calla
Sat, 11/28/2009 - 20:40 — woodstockI ran across the following quote; it seemed appropriate for the Calla Wrights of the world:
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance -- it is the illusion of knowledge."
Daniel J Boorstin
Tent
Fri, 11/27/2009 - 10:54 — Doctor_FeelgoodIt appears the empirical data on the success of Wake County's 'Diversity Policy' is ambiguous at best. What is certain is that Wake County had a population explosion without adequate resources to handle it. (Remember the water and the explosive rate increases we now suffer under).
Parents were told they were in specific base school nodes which impacted their choice of housing only to find out that growth necessitated some elasticity in that regard. For this and other reasons they were able to coalesce with other parents with similar gripes and take Wake County's ineffective way of dealing with growth to task. This crossed party and racial lines. Think about it we had over a 100 people moving into Wake County a day at the peak of the growth period. All told one thing about our school assignment policy by the real estate industry affecting their choice of housing location.
Calla would be well advised to stop taking the narrow view of the 'home girl', realize the disappointment of the families that made a housing choice based on a fluid assignment policy that was not known to them and add in the fact that our black children, especially our black boys, had a target painted on their backs the minute they crossed the school house threshold. The system was unable to deal with all of this not to mention the arrogance of staff thinking they were god-like in their decisions to the point of adding accelerant to those that were affected by our inadequate growth management policies.
Wake County has a great future but only if we band together rather than segregating ourselves. Calla, for all her anti-segregational chatter now wants to segregate her ideas, her people from others. We lead by example.
Capisci,
wow... what do they have to hide?
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 22:36 — mike_caryKeeping information from the public... What do they have to hide on that listserve?
Do they get any public funding, grants, etc????
So sad
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 21:53 — SDR256We honestly tried to connect several times early this year and it was very clear there was no interest in dialog, only political control. Its very sad for these children that these community leaders are more interested in their own egos than in honestly creating partnerships with concerned people. There was a lot of positive intention there and it was squandered. I hope there will be another way to bridge this discussion. Stonewalling only leads to less understanding, not more. Even if you don't agree, its better to communicate about it to learn why there is no agreement. It appears that Calla assumes she knows what others are thinking, and that's always a dangerous and small minded assumption. Not one a mistake a true leader would make.
Hui, where did Wright
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 17:04 — carson79Hui,
where did Wright "acknowledge" this? How was it reported originally other than on this blog? Or is this the newsbreak? Could we have some context of the original "banned" quote? I find it pretty inflammatory and not sure how it's necessary.
Why is this news and Aiken's education degree wasn't? What about a comparison of the performance of black low income students in CMS schools that shows that those in high poverty schools do much worse than those in econcomically integrated schools? Somebody just wrote into the paper about it.
Thanks.
I was told about people
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 17:21 — KeungHui (author)I was told about people being removed from the listserv. I contacted Wright and she confirmed the rumor. She removed people she knew to be supporters of neighborhood schools. Wright said people weren't removed because of any specific listserv messages, just because of their known positions on neighborhood schools.
If you'll notice, this is a blog post. It's not an online story or a print story.
As for that letter to the editor you referred to, there were some holes in that observation. For instance, Myers Park High has lower EOC scores for black, Hispanic and low-income kids than West Charlotte High. But I suspect more people would rather g to a place like Myers Park.
by holes, do you mean
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 17:28 — carson79by holes, do you mean exceptions to the generalization or was it factually wrong? I cant remember if it was about EOC or gradutation rates, but an analysis of this would be interesting.
So you were "told" about the listserv removal - by whom? This sounds like gossip and somebody upset about getting removed! No big deal, just rang a little weird to me.
It would be gossip if it
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 17:41 — KeungHui (author)It would be gossip if it was unconfirmed. Wright acknowledged that she removed the people from the list. It's a worthwhile blog item. I'd blog if the WSCA or some pro-neighborhood school group systematically removed from its mailing list supporters of the diversity policy.
About the Charlotte analysis, overall the higher poverty schools did do worse, especially on the EOCs. But there were exceptions across the board. But even the lower performing Charlotte high schools still generally did better overall than Wake among those minority groups even with much higher poverty rates.
I think I understand, it
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 17:48 — carson79I think I understand, it seemed kind of a private matter and I guess Stocking sent you an email to complain or something similar. I do see that you would blog about it if the tables were reversed.
"I guess Stocking sent you
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:27 — Apexter"I guess Stocking sent you an email to complain or something similar. "
You seem to do a lot of guessing. I didn't read anything in what Mr. Hui wrote that said that Ms. Stocking reported this to him.
I'm sorry, he did not deny
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:35 — carson79I'm sorry, he did not deny it and there were 2 parties involved - Stocking and Wright. who else could it have been since Ms Wright did not contact him clearly? I made an assumption, that has yet to be denied and is the likely conclusion IMO. That is why I said "I guess"!
I don't know about Stocking,
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 13:40 — shearertwI don't know about Stocking, but I get tons of Spam. If I were on there listserv, I'd thank them for removing my name. One less junk email to delete.
A listserv is something
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 17:07 — carson79A listserv is something these folks signed up for so that they could make sure they received all the emails from the group. so it's not junk email. I get tons of spam too but it's not spam if I specifically signed up for it.
Anyone know why she was on the listserv in the first place if she's not a member of the group? It seems to be a reach out effort. I'd like to know more about the email that asked questions about suspensions? What was this about.
Anybody can sign up to be a
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 19:16 — jenmanAnybody can sign up to be a member of that group. I am, unless Calla threw me out too. I joined Calla's group about 2 years ago--membership is basically signing up for the yahoo group. I was really hoping to read some opinions and thoughts--real discussion. Its really just announcements from Calla on events that she puts on. (She does put on worthy programs for parents). There is no discussion there.
Its sad that Calla resorted to banning people from her website. I haven't seen the message in question, but I know Kristen Stocking and I cannot imagine that she was argumentative or disrespectful.
groups throwing out
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 22:26 — AngelaWgroups throwing out people? volunteer groups? wow, seriously?
I guess
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 22:45 — SDR256I guess if someone showed themselves by their own words and actions to be counter and negative to what the group wanted to achieve, in other words wrote their own dance card, then I could understand where a group might ask someone to leave because it was clear they didn't like people or didn't like the efforts of the group. This was not the case in this particular situation.
....
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 23:23 — SideburnsOr maybe they just didn't attend the right party?
Get over yourself.
Clear
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 00:09 — SDR256Sideburns - I'm so surprised to have elicited your response, whoever you are - you're normally so reticent.
Get over myself? What do you mean?
I said: "clear they didn't like people or didn't like the efforts of the group "
I thought I was pretty clear.
What I meant was that if someone expressed feelings about someone personally such as.... they didn't like them very personally, up close, emotionally, reactively, allergically, couldn't get along, could never approve of their efforts no matter what - for no other reason than power and/or control - then that would be a real reason to think that a group could never work with that person. Do you need more information?
To my knowledge Ms. Stocking never did that with the CCCAAC or anyone for that matter. She has been and continues to be very generous, straightforward, HOPEFUL, POSITIVE, honest and careful in her interactions.
...
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 08:44 — SideburnsI don't think you really want to make this into a blog argument. Do you?
Using someone's privately expressed feelings against them is sickening -- especially when that person poses as a trusting friend. You seem to have no issue with lying, foul-mouthed anger or bullying with other people. You definitely need all the hope and positivity you can find. Good luck -- whoever you are.
Truth and anger
Mon, 12/07/2009 - 00:53 — SDR256Privately expressed feelings that are manipulative. Too bad.
Lying - never
foul mouthed - try not to, but am sometimes guilty, and not in evidence here.
anger - only when justified
bullying - never
hope - always
positivity - I live it
good luck - I hope
you are - yes I am.
....
Mon, 12/07/2009 - 07:53 — SideburnsDrinking and blogging is not a good mix -- so I've been told.
I would say your knowledge
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 08:42 — trollwatcherI would say your knowledge in this area is very limited.
"To my knowledge.....
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 08:14 — AngelaW"To my knowledge..... anyone for that matter"
'nuff said.
" in other words wrote
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 22:49 — AngelaW" in other words wrote their own dance card,"
or the dance just changed
Forewarning
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 22:16 — SDR256Just sayin' if she knows you have anything to do with WSCA you will be banned. And you're right. Kristen did nothing other than invite Calla for coffee - and was hopeful about the conversation - and basically listen. Argumentative? Disrespectful? I think there was nothing other than listening and asking how we could help. Very telling. Very sad. So suspicious, so insecure.
Carson, Sorry, I
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 14:28 — shearertwCarson,
Sorry, I understand what a listserv is.....I was trying to make a joke as (IMO) all the email this group could possibly send out would be JUNK!
did i miss where she
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 13:29 — carson79did i miss where she exhibited pride in the graduation rate? is that you stocking? haha
If it is not pride that
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 13:38 — woodstockIf it is not pride that Calla feels, what is it? Satisfaction? Acceptance? She certainly does not seem interested in improving it. The graduation rates for low-income students went down again this year and Wrigtht appears to have no interesting in talking with those to want to implement changes to improve it. So much for tolerance and working together.
so because the group
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 16:59 — carson79so because the group opposes de facto resegregation you then say that she is satisifed with low graduation rates?
So it's your way or no way it seems by a review of your posts...are you completely opposed to voluntary integration efforts that a community supports to balance schools by socioeconomic background? just trying to see where you are coming from here.
Any suggestions of
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 07:25 — woodstockAny suggestions of "resegregation" mystifies me. To compare the oppression of actual segregation to what is being proposed with neighborhood schools is ridiculous and is just a tactic to inflame.
No, it is not "my way or no way." It is about the current way not working and the recognition that new approaches are needed. Calla Wright seems determined to continue status quo approaches even when presented with mountains of evidence that the very students she claims she wants to help are failing at ever increasing rates. Now, she wants to shut our those who have dedicated themselves to improving education for ALL students. It appears Wright and her followers are more concerned about politics than education.
BTW, I have no problem at all with "voluntary integration efforts" as you call it. I just don't believe that the time, money and sacrifice required to achieve someone's notion of proper socioeconomic balance has been paying sufficient dividends. In fact, I believe that the over-emphasis on that has hurt our school system because in the process we have taken our focus away from education. If a parent in Cary feels their child absolutely has to go to Ligon to get a proper education, then fine, approve the transfer ...just don't ask me to fund the transportation.
You should research de
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:06 — carson79You should research de facto segregation for some insight on this. Or talk to a black person in Raleigh who was born here and is of a certain age - they know all about it! I do understand the point of folk who are not from here not relating to segregated schools or seeing it as something to fear when races go to separate schools based on housing patterns. But it is segregation - whether by housing patterns which are driven by economics which still track by race - so ultimately if it looks like a duck and quacks....well please try to see our side why it is so nauseating to think of schools divided by race and income. (before nayone says it yes I know there are elementary schools in the county which are like this but compared to similar sized counties Wake is more integrated.) Have you visited a racially identifiable black school in north carolina? I have been to 4 in the past year - try Dudley in Greensboro it's not that far of a drive.
And I think you would all be well advised to look at it from this group's POV - Diversity opponents are offering "reach out" efforts it seems from Apex or wherever while at the same time pushing a plan that would FORCE SouthEast African American kids back into the schools that their grandparents used to be segregated into (you know Ligon's history right????) and AWAY from your kids. If Wright made a somewhat aggressive move in response to efforts she felt were disingenuous well I can darn well understand that and support her efforts to do what she feels is best for her group and the kids they are fighting for.
Your groups are free to do the same! And maybe think about why they would not trust people who want to "help" whose main goal THEY SEE is to kick the low SE kids out of their schools into "neighborhood" (projects) schools. This will seem inflammatory to you all but I think its necessary sometimes to show a point of view that is rarely if ever mentioned on this blog. Just put yourself in their shoes and ask what will change in their lives - kids going from a "good school" that they are likely happy with and have bonds with teachers and fellow students of all sorts of backgrounds, to a "bad school..." this is what is feared and I hope everyone can understand why this would not be anticipated with as much excitement as the Apex parents who expect to become entitled to shorter bus rides, wealthier schools, less reassignment, all of the expensive classes now taught in magnets moved out of raleigh into their schools, etc.
"You should research de
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 09:10 — woodstock"You should research de facto segregation for some insight on this. Or talk to a black person in Raleigh who was born here and is of a certain age - they know all about it!"
It is presumptuous to think I don't have that perspective. Believe me, I do and I repect the views of someone who has experienced struggles that I personally and thankfully never had to endure. In my view, that struggle can often cloud perspectives moving forward. Times and dynamics change and at some point perspectives need to be updated.
When companies and organizations face difficult internal challenges, they often bring in outside expertise to gain perspective on what is going on. The intent is to get an unbiased, unvarnished assessment as to what is occuring and to develop effective solutions. To some extent, this what is happening in Wake County.
For me, it all boils down to
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 08:53 — woodstockFor me, it all boils down to the fact that after decades of effort and sacrifice to achieve a narrowly focused ideal of socioeconimc diversity, we are left with a graduation rate for low income students of 54.2%. How do we get to a point where we can all agree that something different has to happen? When do we get past the inflamatory rhetoric and ask what are the special challenges at-risk students face and how do we address them in a practical and meaningful way?
Then why?
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 14:05 — SDR256Then why did the late Vernon Malone fight early on for neighborhood schools in SE Raleigh? Just curious. Don't you think there must be more complexity and subtle variations on this theme than this 'us vs them' tiresome tailchasing? Don't you think that stereotyping and putting assumptions in place of other people's words are part of the problem? Don't you think dialog would help? That's what this whole post is about. The refusal to communicate because of assumed stereotypes. For as hard as one side has fought not to be stereotyped, its very sad to see the quick revert to doing that exact thing to others.
"You should research de
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:25 — Apexter"You should research de facto segregation for some insight on this. Or
talk to a black person in Raleigh who was born here and is of a certain
age - they know all about it! I do understand the point of folk who
are not from here not relating to segregated schools or seeing it as
something to fear when races go to separate schools based on housing
patterns."
Yeah --- if only there were an organization of people like that who were willing to communicate with others. If not a genuine dialogue, at least allowing others to listen in to their concerns; perhaps via allowing subscription to a listserv.
Oh, right. Well, so much for that.
Seriously, I believe Ms. Wright is a very poor excuse for a leader. Prejudice and racism are ugly, no matter which direction they're pointed. I don't see why this woman is automatically given a bully pulpit because she had declared that she speaks for African American parents. I'm reminded of Dr. Seuss's Lorax, who spoke for the trees, because the trees couldn't speak for themselves. Were I in the group she proclaimed herself to speak for, I would be speaking up loud and clear, and declaring that I was quite capable of speaking for myself.
I hear you and I have seen a
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:37 — carson79I hear you and I have seen a lot of criticism of the group and it's leaders on the blog, you are not alone and it would be great if all the groups didn't have such a "pick sides" feeling like if you aren't with us on this one issue then we don't even want to communicate with you.
Resegregation? Voluntary?
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 19:18 — Dadof3Resegregation? Whoa, I was unaware that the local government was forcing students into select schools based on race. (Reference: Brown vs Board of Ed)
Voluntary participation? You mean like the random selection of students school assignments based on income?
Just trying to see where you are coming from here.
school assignment in wake
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:12 — carson79school assignment in wake is not random.
Schools that become racially identifiable are evidence of de facto segregation.
It is segregation that happens IN FACT althought not required BY LAW - guy if we were talking about segregation forced by law (your reference to Brown) - this would be a whole different conversation! I think most people understand the difference between de facto and de jure segregation.
Semantics here matters
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 13:48 — Dadof3I'm assured that there's a very complex procedure for determining which students get reassigned, which is all nice. But for the families picked by this dazzlingly complex, and unfathomably profound procedure, they do not have a hand in that process. Call it a lottery, call it whatever, but it isn't elective. What would you call it?
No, not really. And, rhetorically, this obscures rather than clarifies. So it goes with "framing the language." Ironically, Brown was about the students NOT going to the closest schools.
Brown v Board of Ed
Fri, 11/27/2009 - 00:28 — TrailerParkGirlExactly, it was about people demanding the right to attend their NEIGHBORHOOD school instead of being bussed to a school further away. The plaintiff lived in an integrated neighborhood, but the daughter could not attend the closest school due to her race. Under the "diversity" policy there are students here being denied the right to attend their neighborhood school.
Seems to be more
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 18:58 — TrailerParkGirl"So it's your way or no way"
Seems to be more a case of it's Calla's way or no way. She's the one who removed people who disagreed with the current assignment bussing policy. It would be one thing if the policy had clearly raised academic achievement, but it has not. Why so narrow-mindly ignore that, cling to it and absolutely refuse to interact with anyone who has a different viewpoint? That is the opposite of diversity and seems hypocritical.
As not all African-Americans or all people who are concerned about A-A children support the current policy, it seems she may need to consider a name change. It seems the group represents a specific mind set - maybe something like Coalition of Concerned Citizens Who Oppose Neighborhood Schools (or support bussing) for African-American Children. That way those who are concerned but support a different solution to raise academic achievement because bussing hasn't worked won't be confused.
Their group's mission
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:13 — carson79Their group's mission statement includes reference to support for diversity in school populations - I think that a strict proximity based assignment policy is counter to that and she must have perceived no benefit to her group of having people who are against its mission as members of the listserv.
Just guessing but that would make sense to me.
The word is control. Calla
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 13:50 — CaryCurmudgeonThe word is control. Calla is afraid that someone from outside her group might work with some members to accomplish something good, and that people will realize that genuine progress can be made without Calla being part of the equation.
I do not believe it is
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 10:50 — RevHiDI do not believe it is "control."
Ms. Wright is genuinely concerned about African-American students. So am I. But we do not believe the diversity policy is the problem. I think underfunding and a system too geared toward suspensionhave more of an impact on the graduation rates and test scores. I also believe that testing is not the only (or best) measure of success. We need to also examine long term measures of success, such as the Queens college study which showed Charlotte students were less prepared for college.
Shortening the bus rides for a few students will not help on its own. We need better relevance that prevents discipline problems, and better management of the problems that do occur. For that we need money for instructional support, technology, and for programs like magnets that are tailored to meet specific needs. Savings on fuel will not be enough, but WSCA doesn't want to look at increased funding.
Although I don't like the assumption that Neighborhood school advocates don't care, the CCAAC has the right to restrict it's list to people who believe that segregation by housing value is still segregation, even though it isn't technically segregation by law. They need to discuss how to advocate for their cause, not debate the need for it, especially now that neighborhood advocates have the upper hand.
That's all fine and dandy if
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 21:03 — CaryCurmudgeonThat's all fine and dandy if Calla's mission is diversity. If her group is about improving education, then she marginalizes their/her effectiveness and credibility by kicking out people who support neighborhood schools. I do not know a single "neighborhood schools supporter" who believes that moving back to that model solves all of our problems -- especially for minority and at-risk students. She owns the door, and she can choose to close it. We will find other people to work with.
"Ms. Wright is genuinely
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 15:04 — woodstock"Ms. Wright is genuinely concerned about African-American students."
"Concern" is irrelevent if it is not backed up with effective solutions. Right now Wright seems very determined to continue her fight for the continuation of failed policies; we don't need that kind of concern.
But Wright did say "I don't feel [Stocking] had the interests of
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 13:05 — ncmpgjrblack children at heart."
Spoken by Calla Wright - head of the 54.2 Coalition.
Gosh Calla, only 46% drop out of school? You should be so proud.
Where can I send you the congratulatory plaque?
It would have been better
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 10:56 — RevHiDIt would have been better for her to say that the group needs to keep the discussion to those who believe that low income students will fare far worse if we segregate by wealth. They need to advocate for their position now that those in power may limit school access by the neighborhood you can afford.
This group is a joke!
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 21:29 — g88ky07End of story!
Thanks for the insightful
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:15 — carson79Thanks for the insightful reply!