Gov. Bev Perdue has weighed in again on the Wake County school diversity fight, saying she is worried about the negative impact "The Colbert Report" segment may have on North Carolina's image.
In a meeting Thursday with the Greensboro News & Record editorial board, Perdue said she's concerned all the national publicity may cause businesses not to come to the state. She also complained that schools shouldn't "stuff all the poor kids in one school and all the rich kids in another school."
“Now, I’ll tell you, on the other question about the school system, I was unhappy we were on Colbert, watching what was YouTubed around the world," Perdue said. "I was unhappy about that and this morning I read the comments from the executive director of the Raleigh-Wake Chamber of Commerce and I read that Harvey [Schmitt] said this is not good because if this stuff keeps getting said about Raleigh and not so much Charlotte but Wake County, if you’re a business leader, you don’t want to come in to an area that schools are in disarray.”
Perdue, a critic of the Wake school board's elimination of the socioeconomic diversity policy, added that the subject of public schools typically comes up in business recruiting meetings.
"This is problematic," Perdue said. "Somebody is going to have to stand up and get real. Our state has a constitutional guarantee, it's one of the few states in the country, our constitution pledges to every child in North Carolina that we will provide them with a free, public, basic education.
That’s just a constitutional mandate. And that doesn’t mean stuff all the poor kids in one school and all the rich kids in another school.”
Perdue had also taken shots at the Wake County school system during Monday's MLK Interfaith Prayer Breakfast in Durham.
Perdue on AmEx, Wake County from Mark Binker on Vimeo.
Comments
I was comparing to Wake
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 10:02 — user12345Provided by:The World's Happiest Countries
agree
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 12:03 — loriacUnfortunately the previous board didn't recognized that social cohesion is important- they were doing their best to prevent it with the constant reassignments and breaking up of neighborhoods with different school assignments and calendars. Heck, even families didn't always get the same calendar or school assignment. I'm glad the current board majority does care about this.
You can not base your life
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 13:13 — user12345You can not base your life on the previous board ... they did you wrong (bitter?) and we heard that ... that is the past... move on ... and it should be factor in not replicating policies that do it with the new board ... we should be civil, care about all kids and have social cohesion whether we live in the same neighborhood or are on the same calendar or not... besides those things are so external and superficial to a community that cares and works together for the greater good. Personally, I am amazed that you were so affected by past assignment turmoil and now are ready to jump in again and push a bunch of kids around again.
It really isn't difficult to
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 14:56 — willynillyIt really isn't difficult to see this.....think about it. The "old board" policies are old.....nope, not true. Look at the problem the new board is having making changes they were elected to make. If you think for a minute that old board polices (not to mention the status quo in the WCPSS) have simply vanised with the old board and a new superintendent, well, just look at this diversity/busing/zones/neighborhood schools stuff. It's not going away easily.
Willy, the new board's fatal
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 16:07 — user12345Willy, the new board's fatal flaw is pride coupled with lack of leadership ... they thought they could dictate everything and so they did not invest in explaining the problem / their suggestions and getting consensus but chose to ram it down the opposition's throat. Plan A was to ram thing through 5-4 and not waste any time or energy listening or learning. That failed and so they have taken their ball and gone home. On top of that, you have Ron who resented being a minority member and has used the last year as political payback which has done nothing for education or our kids. It is one man's personal vendetta that has polarized the community. At this time we all want a better educational system. I am not sure how committed the newbies are to the poor and minority kids since the don't have a PAC. The plan for improvement now is to move the poor and minority kids out of the affluent schools which does not make logical sense since these kids should be educated in what ever school they reside in now and not have to be reassigned to get an education.
Your points are valid and I
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 17:15 — willynillyYour points are valid and I don't disagree with you on all points. I do see that the electorate of Wake County decided they wnated something different and I see that election being pushed to the back row so to speak. Sure, the new board could be more diplomatic, but they were elected based on their promise of neighborhood schools.
Are you suggesting a change in the governing model ?
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 19:30 — Solon77Sure, the new board could be more diplomatic, but they were elected based on their promise of neighborhood schools.
Are you suggesting we change our governing model to go from campaign promise straight to law skipping everything in between ?
Patience and Eye on the prize
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 18:31 — Dove314If you truly want neighborhood or community schools or to change the schools, then you find the patience to take some time and do it in a way that works for the majority of children and which informs people about more than just the topic title and why you think it should be done. You have to do more than say old was wrong and new is right. How many times have biased politicians served up that line? Acting like the new bully on the block just pisses off a different set of people from those angry with the old bullies. And then the cycle perpetuates.
Collective pout
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 16:26 — Dove314The collective political pouting displayed by Margiotta, Tedesco, Malone, and Prickett is particularly unappealing. Never mind their initial bullying style pissed people off. The "take their ball and go home" and wait for the Nov. elections attitude is particularly unappealing in a group of adults elected to do their best for Wake County students to achieve.
Get off your stump - who are
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 13:34 — loriacGet off your stump - who are you preaching to? I already said I'm glad the new BOE reps care about this. Period. The rest is all your, and only your, rantings.
A student recently returned
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 10:08 — willynillyA student recently returned from Denmark, she had studied there for a semester last year. One of the reasons these countries WERE doing so well is that they had no worries about "diveristy." Now, in Denmark, there are people who are sucking the financial system dry. In Denmark (I was there for a few weeks when I as active duty navy) has the craddle to grave system of social security. A news story on 60 minutes or another news show showed how these poeple did not worry about paying over 60% of their pay into the government. The reason? People who were on the gvt payroll so to speak still contributed to the society by doing some form of work. I am not sure of all of the details, but Jesse (the young lady that was studying there) said that even people who are welfare are "expected to work." Now, however, many people learning of the system of Denmark and other countries are moving there and simply "feeding from the gvt trough" and are not contributing to that society. The system is starting to fall apart.
I hear you but when you were
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 11:15 — user12345I hear you but when you were there was 20 years ago?? and you predicted failure and they have managed to survive and have whole generation of happiness compared to their US counterparts ... maybe it will catch up with them since every country spends to excess and has to pull back ... thinking about the US where we spend to excess and are unhappy, it makes you wonder what we are getting for that money (e.g. more tanks?).
Fortunately for me I have my
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 11:22 — willynillyFortunately for me I have my words above to back me up when I say I never predicted failure. I said the system IS failing. Yes, I was there 20+ years ago (I try not to think about how many years exactly) and Is aw the "window shopping districts" and I saw open use of drugs in the streets, etc. However, Jesse was there last year. The immigrants who are infiltrating the country now and sucking the system dry and crime is a very seriosu issue. Crime has been a serious issue there for a long time. BTW Australia and some of the other countries listed are also on the birnk of bankruptcy, similar to what Greece is enduring now. I am not predicting failure.....it is happening.
Perdue and the NC Constitutional mandate
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 16:40 — papillionThe NC constitution doesn't require just that education be free, public and basic. It also says, "and wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students." Diversity policy aside, we hardly provide equal opportunities to all students. For instance, my children don't have a equal opportunity to attend an elementary school that offers a foreign language, or a middle or high school that offers Logic, for example. But nobody, including the Gov., seems to be concerned about this general lack of equal opportunity when it comes to the needs of those who actually want to learn something.
Do we have to get the attention of comedians before anyone will show concern for this? Wow, this certainly speaks to the failure of our public school system to educate!
Did I miss something.
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 22:16 — drecj56And your point is that white kids in rich districts "actually want to learn something," and poor inner city kids who don't have access to foreign languages either don't want to learn? Please tell me I missed your joke!
Her statement is right; her reasons are wrong
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 00:00 — pmWake School Diversity Fight May Hurt State's Image
Technically she is correct; this fight IS hurting our image. However, I think that the damage is being done because opposition to neighborhood schools are using race in the dialogue.
I have been a long time supporter of the diversity policy, but my support comes from the idea that I think economically diverse schools builds better and stronger schools. It doesn't have one single iota to do with the racial makeup of the school, the neighborhood or the students themselves.
While I disagree with the folks who are asking for neighborhood schools as a better solution to education, I understand their argument. And again, it has nothing to do with race.
The shenanigans that the Rev Barber and his organization have involved themselves in is utterly beyond the pale. THAT is what is causing this damage to the State's image.
Are we making sense
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 22:27 — drecj56So how do we create diverse schools without using race as a factor. It has to include racial groups to make it diverse, right! If there is no mixture of black, red, brown, green then it is not diverse. I don't understand your argument,its flawed at best and misleading at it's worst. And it's is not Barber and his organization that hurting the states image, but the tactics of the Tea Party who is trying to get a foothold into our school system so they can use it as a testing site to disintegrate schools around the country.
Tea party???
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 23:03 — Voice_of_Reason_- The Tea Party didn't even exist when this take over of the school board was plotted by parents of WCPSS children. Democrats and Republicans. Pure and Simple.
- Diversity as defined by WCPSS is socio-economic class diversity (mixing rich and poor), it has nothing to do with race
- Testing site?? Wake county is one of the only school systems in the nation that has used socio-economic diversity for assigning students.
Get your facts straight.
No, you are not making any
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 22:49 — woodstockNo, you are not making any sense; I have no idea what you are even talking about.
Thank you pm. I absolutely
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 15:26 — jenmanThank you pm. I absolutely agree with you.
Re: Beverly Pardue's Statement
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 11:27 — acsimsHow sad that Mrs. Pardue's voice and opinion is just not right! I watched Garner over the last 10 years be totally abused by the WCPSS. In fact, I believe they pulled off the biggest coup of the century. While Raleigh was busy touting that they had the best schools in the Nation as far as their diversity, I would think that in that same Wake County, Garner had to be at the bottom. There is simply no diversity. During the growth explosion there were thousands of homes built N. of Garner inside the city limits of Raleigh, but no schools were built to accomodate this growth. No one ever talks about it. Doesn't look too poor to me. But, if you ride Rock Quarry Road, Barwell Road, New Hope Road, Poole Road, you can see a sea of homes. I believe most of these home are owned by minorities and hispanics. Finally after a lot of arguments and years later, Barwell Elementary was built. There is no Middle School and no High School. Even though some of these subdivisions are right across the street from SE Raleigh Magnet, these neighborhoods are being bussed to Garner. After all, isn't it better to protect the status of SE Magnet than Garner's Magnet's Status. But the best part is how they built elementary schools in Garner to accomodate the explosive Growth in Raleigh. So, yes Mrs. Pardue you can stuff low income kids in one school. Well, gosh the WCPSS can stuff low income kids in a whole town. By the way, the growth in SE Raleigh has a population that is larger than the whole town of Garner. Gotta love it. I believe the News and Observer and I do have every article has touted Garner as being so poor. I believe the people who live here don't believe it. Parents who choose to live in Garner just quietly drop out of the system by either going to private schools, home schooling, etc. These parents may be the smartest in the County.
Sick article
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 22:32 — drecj56What a sick article! You and your self righteous language is what is wrong with our city, state and nation!!
Spot on! You can add
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 10:01 — CaryCurmudgeonSpot on! You can add Harvey Schmidt, Jim Goodmon and Steve Ford to your list.
One reply: Voting
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 08:48 — stansburyI have one response, voting, or rather NOT voting for her in the next election. Ever since she gave Barber that award in December, I've totally dismissed her. Doesn't seem to me to have good judgement and I think she has actually contributed to "inflamming" the issue even more.
Bev was dismissed long before the pinecone fell
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 11:50 — FSandYOUand hit her in the head. When she chose not to debate, she proved that she can't deal with conflict and prefers to avoid the hard stuff. Why did she
shortenchange her name, was it too hard to spell? After her dismal and "inflaming" one-term performance, she will be gone in the next election NO MATTER WHO runs against her. Ask the teachers if they'll vote for her again!She consistently ranks as one of the WORST Governors in the entire country and has damaged our image all on her own with that little treat. She robbed the farce known as the education lottery, she is the one who ran to Washington and asked for the handouts that have added to the massive shortfall that she is currently avoiding dealing with, she sides with and pats Barbar on his big butt in another image damaging maneuver, she fails to privatize the booze system and now the legislature may go around her on that, yeah, it's pass the buck Bev at every turn. I won't even mention her horrible southernnnnnnnnnn drawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Good grief, ever heard of media school Bev? Her interviews hurt our image all by themselves!
She's going to wish she could hide under those pinecones before this year is over. NC should brace itself for possibly the worst year in the history of the state because we have a leader who doesn't know what to do and certainly doesn't want to deal with any of it. I have no doubt taxes are about to change dramatically. Can you say
IllinoisNorth Carolina tax hike?Yes sir, she was dismissed long before that pinecone ever fell and hit her in the head.
Illogical position
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 09:08 — Dove314We have to get past the voter temper tantrum mentality. It is illogical to decide who one will vote for in advance of knowing the alternatives to her. There is no guarantee at this point as to whether her opponents will represent a better or worse overall option for residents of the state as a whole. "Protest votes" are mostly a knee jerk reaction and not well thought out. The person elected will be involved in more than one issue and will be in office for a while.
That is not they way I view
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 11:25 — woodstockThat is not they way I view what you call "protest votes." I see them more as we-told-you not-to-jerk-us-around-but-you-did-anyway votes. They a great tool for reminding elected officials who they work for... some RINOs and a whole lot of Democrats felt the impact of that in last year's elections. It may take a couple cycles to for the candidates to get it, but in the long run it is what is best.
Upside down
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 13:10 — Dove314That logic is upside-down but does explain a lot. Such a vote is by nature then always looking backwards at the past rather than forwards at what is to come. In each election, the candidates should be judged based on what they propose and will do in the future taking into account the past, both good and bad. It is invalid to assume that "anybody else but XX -- Gov. Perdue in this case is an improvement". That hypothesis has been proved wrong many times on all sides of the political debate throughout time and several times in some pretty recent history. For a supposedly educated population to always react in anger instead of in thought seems very illogical. But it does help explain the ever more polarized aspects of politics and lack of consensus with a "one, two, maybe, if you're really lucky, three strikes you're out" mentality combined with holding an entrenched grudge.
One note -- it would be a falacious assumption to think I like Bev Perdue. I detest the woman.
Dove then using your logic
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 13:35 — Voice_of_Reason_In each election, the candidates should be judged based on what they propose and will do in the future taking into account the past, both good and bad.
That is what the new school board majority was doing. So I guess they should be judged well as politicians.
But I do agree with your logic. I held my nose and voted for McCain/Palin last general election. I did even though I though Bush didn't do that great of a job the last four years. Obama IMHO, wasn't qualified to run. McCain was the lesser of two evils.
Were they?
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 13:44 — Dove314Working from the theory proposed by those already voting against Gov. Perdue, the only reason Prickett, Malone, Tedesco and Goldman won their elections was really more of a collective protest vote of dislike toward previous Board of Education members from parents and voters in the districts where votes happened and had little or nothing to do with what Prickett, Malone, Tedesco, and Goldman personally represented. Which would explain why so many are surprised by so many of their individual and collective actions upon election. Certainly much of the posting here for months after the election was centered more on how previous boards were bad and less on constructively understanding the good and bad of that point in time to sort out the best ways forward.
I don't think the "only"
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 18:34 — CaryCurmudgeonI don't think the "only" reason the newbies won was that parents were voting against the status quo -- but it sure did help. How much, we'll never know. I have no doubt that Prickett would have won under almost any circumstances. Karen Simon was not a very good candidate, and did not seem to offer any new ideas, just a message of keeping what we had going. Prickett was a strong candidate with education experience and significant ties to her constituent community.
That assessment doesn't make
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 14:09 — woodstockThat assessment doesn't make sense. Remember, those elected were running against other candidates. In a few cases they actually ran against multiple other candidates, yet the winners all shared a similar platform -- admitedly it was merely a "stated" platform in Goldman's case and one that she has since proven to be a lie. If the voting public was just voting against the previous board as you claim, why did the results reflect such an obvious desire for specific type of change?
Assignment
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 14:58 — Dove314although there are additional arguments and reasons, it seems that one of the major reasons that many voted the way they did, indeed even bothered to vote, was because they were angered by past assignment policies and the unwillingness of past BoE's to review, consider, and implement alternatives that would result in fewer reassignments. As you stated above, it was a "we-told-you not-to-jerk-us-around-but-you-did-anyway" vote.
It wasn't just about the
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 15:37 — woodstockIt wasn't just about the assignments. It was about the burdens and sacrifices forced on students and families to meet the complex node-system criteria and -- this is the important part -- the lack of value/benefits received from those sacrifices and budrens and the blatant inequities that resulted.
Temper tantrum?
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 11:07 — nancyncNo, when I cast any vote for any publicly held office, I look at it one way now, after decades of voting.
If what we have in place now is not worthy of the position, I believe in using what I call the "churn" approach. Vote in the alternative, give them one shot at it, "churn" them at the next election too if they didn't perform as needed as well.
Churning elected officials, one term, you're out, eventually would get the message that they have to meet the needs or show every effort to do so (talk is cheap) or they get the ax and the next one gets a shot.
We cannot expect to see term limits for a single term as that requires them to set their own term limits, we know that won't happen. So as voters, we use our votes as term limit measures, it's our only hope.
Actually no
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 13:08 — Dove314Actually not as it is based on a fallacious assumption. That logic always assumes that "some other person" is better than the person in office. There is absolutely no basis in truth for that assumption short of the person in office being a convicted serial killer of people (not programs), especially when you don't even know who that "some other person" will be. There is a reason why we consistently doubt the ethics and abilities of politicians at all levels of government and from all sides of the spectrum -- we've been proven right all too often.
I Think She Has It Exactly Backwards
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 17:03 — chaboardA term limited politician is a politician accountable to no one. The only serious lever of power we the people have over those we elect is their desire for our votes....lame ducks aren't really accountable in any serious way. Corruption levels would go way, way up if everyone got a single term. Not only are you eliminating the negative incentive against corruption of electoral accountability....you're adding a positive one for it - "I've only got one shot here, I better cash in now instead of trying to do good"
And that's not even the worst problem with term limits. The biggest problem is that you run the knowledgable, talented people out of office - what private company would do that? "I'm sorry Mr. Jobs we know you've made us a fortune here at Apple but your time is up, we need some new unknown quantity just because the calendar changed". And that, in turn, makes the lobbyists much more powerful.
Never Mind
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 17:07 — chaboardre-read nancy's post and realized she wasn't acually arguing for term limits but rather the power of the ballot box.
Thank you
Sun, 01/23/2011 - 12:43 — nancyncI was reading your intitial response and wondering how you missed my intent :)
Whew - I agree with what you posted, only it wasn't my point and I'm glad you understood what I indeed meant.
She would never get my vote
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 09:59 — CaryCurmudgeonShe would never get my vote anyway. I look at her as a relic of one of the most corrupt state governments in the US, maybe on par with Lousiana. It probably goes back further, but I trace her line back to Meg Scott-Phipps shaking down fair vendors all those years ago. Jim Black represented a stain on our government that will not easily go away. Mike Easley was corrupt, and she was his Lt. Governor. And, most importantly, she cast the deciding vote in a rigged decision to establish a state "education" lottery. Read NC PolicyWatch, they did a really good analysis demonstrating that the bulk of the money going into the lottery comes from the poorest counties in our state -- no surprise there.
The Republicans now get their chance behind the wheel. Who knows, maybe they will be worse. Then again, maybe they will reestablish integrity in our state government. With Perdue, we know exactly what we are getting. I hope Pat McCrory runs again.
Maybe, but we voters will
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 09:28 — loriacMaybe, but we voters will remember this, and may even remind folks when the time comes. Buh-bye Bev.
She's just picking her side of the argument
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 18:34 — nancyncWhen she addressed a church congregation on MLK day, she wasn't adding to the divisive talk, was she?
Of course not, it's everyone else who disagrees with her stance.
No harm for her to add to the dialogue, it's just all those other folks.
Governor Bev Perdue also compared Wake County's debate over school diversity to Dr. King's civil rights movement.
“If you live in Wake County, [Dr. King's] work is not done,” she said. “Education is the thing America promises for all of us, even in Wake County. Education is synonymous with equality. Education was what Dr. King understood would be the fundamental promise of opportunity. I believe if Dr. King were here, he'd tell us to stand up, suck it in, and fight harder; fight against the things you know and I know are going on in North Carolina.”
OOOH and you (BEV) add so
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 17:59 — luv2teachOOOH and you (BEV) add so much prestige to this state?!?!?! Stop flapping your lips...geeez!!!!
Many School districts - including Charlotte do this
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 17:15 — wakepta123I still can not see why the politicians and Media are acting as if this is Wake OCunty doing this alone when many other school districts do this. Also, those other school districts are not accused of "stuff all the poor kids in one school and all the rich kids in another school.” and like wake county is violating our constituional mandate to provide a free sound basic education to all kids.
Come on poeople!
Keung, I would expect the N&O to help keep this in perspective but sensationalizingt his issue sells newspapers and gets us to read the blog and post here. It would help if your organization would show how this is not just a Wake County issue - you can do that and still editorialize against this change.
This comment from the Governor is ridiculous and over-exaggeration.
What a great point! The
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 17:26 — shearertwWhat a great point!
The truth of the matter is that Wake is a relic in the fact that it still does busing. Most folks realized years ago that busing is a waste and has not effect on performance.
Keung, this is getting embarrassing (for you and the N&O, not Wake Co.). What good are journalist if they do not hold politicians in check? If you're afraid just say so...
Guys, it's newsworthy when
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 17:43 — KeungHui (author)Guys, it's newsworthy when the Governor comments on the actions going on in a specific school system.
Gov. Comments About WCPSS But Not In A Disparaging Way -
Mon, 01/24/2011 - 08:49 — RMC10She should remember she has spoken negatively about WCPSS in two or three very public meetings.A very inappropriate one on MLK day, when she just had to shadow speak Meeker. When all this controversy is going all over the nation about us, she should be running damage control for her state, not in such a disparaging way. She's done nothing (public) to attempt to do damage control over NAACP (oh yes there was that LongBranch bestowment - might not look good to reign him in) nor against AdvancEd and SACS. It very hard to tell if she's for NC, or against damage control when it's falling apart on Colbert.
Since she was a public educator, she could be in on cleaning this witch hunt up and bringing dignity and decorum to our failing state.
why i sit newsworthy?
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 23:23 — FJ2009KeungHui, yes it is newsworthy when the governor addresses a specific school system. But you must admit that your (N&O) coverage has had a significant role in elevating the opposing side of the issue and promoting the inaccurate portrayal of re-segregation, that has specifically grabbed national attention. No one will claim that the N&O has been fair to the elected majority or the people who voted them in since the first day. This storyline has gotten so out of context that it is impossible far anyone to support or consider the neighborhood idea without being labeled a racist. Is the governor suppose to go on record against a national pseudo-journalist/comedian with no interest in the topic, who has accused a Southern state of re-segregation and defend the school board?!? that would be political suicide.
Every story, including this one, mentions the perception and image of Wake and NC and how damaging this has become. But there is very little honest coverage about the lack of results of the past policies. And when the board brings that up, they are ignored.
This school system is suffering from lack of results, not an image problem. And if the media, the governor and the opponents think that "image" will fix education, than it truly is a lost cause and we may as well let the jesters run the state.
Awesome Post FJ
Sat, 01/22/2011 - 10:32 — choice4allIf anyone has ruined the image of this County it would be Rev Barber.
A news source has no
Fri, 01/21/2011 - 23:54 — Andrew95A news source has no obligation to be unbiased, but I believe Keung has done the best anyone could at simply reporting what happens. I will claim that (maybe not the N&O) but Keung has been entirely fair to both sides. I don't believe that someone who supports neighborhood schools is inherently a racist either, and this is pretty much my only source for coverage. I think you're seeing what you'd like to see.