Since some of you guys have concerns about there being too many posts, I'm consolidating into one post by alphabetical order the takes on Tuesday's Wake County school board vote by Chris Fitzsimon, Bob Geary and John Hood.
In a column today, Fitzsimon, executive director of the liberal N.C. Policy Watch, calls the adoption on first reading of the community schools assignment resolution as a "vote for resegregation." He writes that the board majority showed a "refusal to thoughtfully consider the ramifications of their decisions."
"The members of Gang of Five made it clear again Tuesday night that they will let nothing stand in the way of their rigid right-wing resegregationist march, regardless of what it does to our students or our community," Fitzsimon writes.
In a blog post Tuesday night, Geary of the liberal Independent weekly, also accuses the board majority of voting without full consideration of the resolution's impact.
Geary says the new board majority is taking the approach they can "just ram it through and the hell with anybody who doesn’t like it." It ties into his front-page cover story in this week's Indy with the colorful title of "Wake County goes to hell."
In a column today, John Hood, president of the conservative John Locke Foundation, writes that "the new school board majority is following through on its campaign promises." He wrties that critics "need to settle down, grow up, do their homework, and get back to business."
Hood notes how Charlotte-Mecklenburg's low-income students outperform their Wake peers on some state exams.
"I'd close by speculating that these critics’ real purpose in continuing to defend the indefensible must be to sacrifice the interests of Wake County students on the altar of their own political agenda, but that would be stooping to their level," Hood writes. "Instead, I’ll assume that they do genuinely care about educational progress and are just misguided.
Comments
Keung, was Dr. Kahlenberg in
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 23:01 — DrActualFactualKeung, (OT) was Dr. Kahlenberg in town today?
I don't know if he's in town
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:33 — KeungHui (author)I don't know if he's in town right now. He will be in town March 20 for the Great Schools in Wake Coalition forum.
Margiotta: Wake Co. parents are " animals out of their cages"
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:55 — commongoodI heard Margiotta say ( live)," Here come the animals out of their cages." Here is a reference to it on WRAL:
http://www.wral.com/news/education/video/7159211/
Instead of clapping at board
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 22:13 — user12345Instead of clapping at board meetings, people should growl and bark for Ron's benefit or give names like John Cat, Sue Dog, when they speak.
Oh Lord...
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 22:13 — supportwcpssI have to go to the bathroom! LMAO
It amazes me that you defend this guy.
Give Ron credit for being so
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:39 — shank56Give Ron credit for being so smooth.
He could have pulled a Forrest Gump line for the cameras.
Doing their homework indeed
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:51 — LongtimeLurkerI never thought I would agree with someone from the John Locke Foundation on a public policy point. But he's right - they should do their homework.
I lost a lot of icons at last night's board meeting. I'm not surprised when people, especially children, join in public hysteria. Its the nature of crowds. But until last night I had some faith in the ACLU (I've got a membership card right here in my wallet), and the Unitarian Church (I have family among them), and the NAACP.
I expected that these groups would make some attempt to get an understanding of the facts before joining the hysteria, attaining virtual certainty, and (above all) calling people these awful names. They have all lost their minds. They make me ashamed of my liberal affiliations. They clearly have no understanding of what is going on in this county in recent years. I can't imagine anyone with the facts swallowing this "resegregationist" nonsense but they clearly are. And the hysteria is getting dangerous.
How can we move from where we are at, say Brentwood Elementary school, in terms of percent FRL and overwhelming minority population, TOWARDS segregation? At Brentwood we have ARRIVED at segregation. What system dedicated to "diversity" would maintain a school like that? Or a race and income sorted "school within a school" like Enloe? Or allow the sorting of high scoring minority kids out of the best courses when tracking takes place? Why would the ACLU defend that and scream "racist" at people who want to see a change to a system where low income and minority kids have a equal chance at education?
The lies told by the current school administration about this school system's education of the poor, the delivery of privilege to the middle and upper class, the achievement gap, their so-called busing for "diversity," the racial and economic distributions in the various schools seem to have taken.
To the ACLU: please wake up - you are defending the very people who have sold the poor and minority kids down the river. Do your homework.
I just hope someone doesn't get hurt by impressionable fools thinking they are acting on the side of clear moral righteousness. Think of what you are doing when you target public figures with these nonsense epithets. You're putting them in danger. It has to stop.
Never in a million years would I have expected a display like that from the head of the ACLU. I expect the ACLU to be level-headed, analytical, legalisitic, and fact-oriented. They have an important function and it does not include running with a mob. I won't be rejoining ACLU while this clown is in place.
How distressing all of this is. It feels like finding out the local "Right to Life" chapter is running an abortion clinic out the back door of their headquarters or the "Woman's Choice Movement" is abducting young pregnant women and selling their babies. Everyone needs to slow down and get some facts about what is wrong with the system now and what will be the effect of the proposed changes.
Watching the crowds after
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 22:54 — aquaman4life68Watching the crowds after Barber spoke and did his "I wanna be like MLK Jr." show, amazed me. How easily people are suckered in to this stuff!?!?! I am also a little tired of that one Enloe student that comes into the meetings that "spreads flowers , etc" about how wonderful and meaningful diversity is for her at Enloe and how she couldn't imagine life without it, etc. I have seen her speak 2 times during public comment, she's also in the WRAL tape on diversity and saw her on a clip last night holding hands or looks like it, holding hands with ole Rev. himself chanting. I don't care what you say, when you are 17 YOU DO NOT see the world how it is. You do not have the life experiences that say a 35 year old or a 50 year old has of how the world turns. That is someone I hate to see all caught up in this "scare" tactic of segregated schools, she doesn't have a clue to the whole picture of what's going on in Raleigh, Wake County, the state of NC and our Nation. Yes, i know she is a smart child at Enloe, but hey, they are still kids and don't know it all, like they think.
You might want to ask
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 14:21 — caseyferrellYou might want to ask yourself why there are no children in the county school system speaking out against the diversity policy at board meetings. You might want to ask yourself if there exists the possiblity that the children we are teaching do have something to say on the subject, and you may want to listen. The silence is deafening.
Children are going to speak
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 20:38 — aquaman4life68Children are going to speak the views of their parents and of the people that they are around and see on tv. Sorry, children do not have the life experiences that adults have when speaking of big issues like this. I am speaking of adults on both sides of the fence of this issue.
???
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 22:42 — duvalYou obviously have not spent a lot of time around middle and high school students. They are very clear on what is right and what is wrong.
They might understand the
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 23:23 — aquaman4life68They might understand the surface of an issue, but they do not understand the depth of an issue. Life experiences, work experiences, people skills, etc. all play a part in understanding why someone is for and against something. Any adult will admit to that. However, I know today's teenagers know "a lot" about things.
ok I'm with you on the depth
Fri, 03/05/2010 - 00:48 — carson79ok I'm with you on the depth but not on the speaking the views of their parents...
Hmm
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 23:29 — duvalClearly you have been far removed from being a teen.
Yes, as adults we have gained so much life experiences and have the depth of many experiences. But students have the clarity of the here and now that they are living today. They do not have so much baggage clouding their judgement.
Until you realize
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 22:47 — Voice_of_Reason_The ACLU, the Unitarian Church, and the NAACP all have a Communist agenda, you won't get it until that is added to your reasoning. Look at the tenants of those groups, then look at the tenants of Communism. You can support all of them and not be a Communist yourself, just be aware a lot live in those organizations. Communism is not compatible with our Constitution, we all need to realize that. Don't discard me a a conspiracy theory nut, read for yourself and draw your own conclusions. The public education system is their crown jewel.
calling others communist, is counter-productive
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 22:48 — Athey01and reflects poorly on you.
Actually
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 00:01 — LongtimeLurkerActually there's a redeeming value in that comment. I was really feeling pretty down about all of this and Voice of Reason made spit on my screen laughing out loud. Laughing is healthy.
I didn't call anyone that
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 23:31 — Voice_of_Reason_I said the organizations and others have been heavily infiltrated, whether the members know it or not. I am dead serious, I wish I wasn't. Really wish I wasn't.
BTW- I encourage you to do your own research on my claim.
Congratulations
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 23:40 — chaboardYou win "most thoroughly disconnected from any semblance of reality" poster of the day award. Did you fall asleep at a Bircher/Klan meeeting in 1962 and wake up today Riop Van Winkle style?
Laugh Chaboard that is exactly why this is not funny
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 08:08 — Voice_of_Reason_OK, I hesitated saying it because I expected the reaction you just had. I actually don't blame you, a few years ago I would have had the same reaction . This is exactly what they want. But discount it at your own peril. Where do you think these people live today? You think they dont exist? You cannot deny it, only close your eyes and pretend they don't exist. Some are a lot more open about their beliefs these days. Some even openly call themselves communist. Nobody is chasing them down while they do their work, it's actually legal since the days of McCarthy. You see, most people have no idea how they work or how they gradually change societies. People don't think they are evil anymore, how do you feel about China? Never mind the millions of their own people they murdered. Funny about that, history books don't teach too much these days, hmmmm.
Enjoyed your laugh. BTW - Go to CPUSA.ORG and continue laughing, I hope your kids can.
Have any stats for us???
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:40 — LiveInWestCaryVOR--
Sooo, tell us approximately what percentage of the population do you allege are communists? How is it that you are privy to information about these communist groups? Do you really believe that groups like the ACLU, the Unitarian Church, and the NAACP are commies who are trying to indoctrinate the general public into their world. Good grief...I've heard it all!
Confused
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 22:25 — user12345"How can we move from where we are at, say Brentwood Elementary school, in terms of percent FRL and overwhelming minority population, TOWARDS segregation? At Brentwood we have ARRIVED at segregation. What system dedicated to "diversity" would maintain a school like that? "
So, you are saying because one of the 150 school has not been diversified that everything needs to be scrapped? The kids might have liked to move to an more affluent school but those schools were already complaining about the few low income kids they already had to take. So, now Brentwood will be the model for the new board to grow more school of the poor.
Off Topic
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:40 — chaboardCan anyone tell me what time it was or describe who was speaking when Margiotta made his "animals" comment? I want to hear it for myself on the DVR, don't really want to watch he whole show, can't hear his audio while forwarding. Thank you in advance.
Go to WRAL website-and there
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:56 — shank56Go to WRAL website-and there is a link to all the proceedings. They divide up the entire day into segments and define them by number adn agenda.
Ron's comment is in the 1st Public Comment/Hearing portion under Part 7. It is after the Bill Randall speech- at approx. 30:53 on the WRAL feed.
You also ought to watch the feed from the COW meeting- the first 25 minutes that started the day at noon. VERY revealing as to how Ron intends to conduct things from here on out.
OT: AP Spam
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:37 — supportwcpssJust got spammed from Americans for Prosperity. They asked me to call Ron (and gave me his number) and thank him for his leadership.
One phone call convinced me to change my registration to unaffiliated ;-).
Are they sending emails to
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 05:48 — red_balloonAre they sending emails to non-members?
yea ... I got the call from
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 22:11 — user12345yea ... I got the call from woodstock too saying the board was feeling bad the day after and needed some stroking so please call them so they could pretend what they did as good and honorable.
Amazing
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:27 — bmort11Isn't it amazing that all these people are crying the way this BoE is "ramming these decsions" down everyones throats. It was always ok when the old BoE did whatever they wanted and rammed their policies down everyone's throat.
Sucks when the shoe is on the other foot doesn't it????
Yawn...
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:35 — supportwcpssThis is an old and overused angle.
Does it make it right when the new board does what you claim the old board did?
almost as overused
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 23:52 — loriacIt's almost as overused as 'the new board members were only elected by some tiny % of the population in Raleigh' so that does not equal a mandate.
Since we have to put up with it, I guess you do too.