Some local African-American leaders are planning to publicly state their support for Wake school board candidates who back the diversity policy.
The details are being finalized, but it's looking like a Thursday press conference will be held involving groups such as the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association and the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children.
In advance of the press conference, the RWCA's PAC has already made its school board endorsements. The 77-year-old civil rights group is backing Rita Rakestraw in District 1, Horace Tart in District 2, Karen Simon in District 7 and Lois Nixon in District 9.
You've basically got the same slate of candidates being endorsed by the RWCA, Wake NCAE, BiggerPicture4Wake, the Independent, the News & Observer and the Wake County Democratic Party.
Comments
Irony? Or just another shade of human.
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 21:09 — SDR256Did ya know that the chairwoman of the CARY Women's Republican Club is a very conservative, inspiring and articulate African American woman? WHAT was I saying about shades of grey earlier? Was ANYONE listening? I just am not going to listen to anyone who wants to use black and white labels anymore to put things in a neat little corner. Human life is just not that clean. I'm going to call this state of defying labels - shades of human. And, frankly, Democracy is a messy, contentious business which could use more shades of human. Celebrate the messiness of it all! As my mother says - its better than the alternative. Personally I never colored inside the lines.
Question for Hui
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 20:19 — DrActualFactualMr. Hui-This is the first I've heard that the RWCA has a PAC--did they hold a forum and invite all candidates to speak? Did their PAC endorsements include $$$ backing for their endorsed candidates--if so, will we see the list as we did for WSCA? Does the CCCAAC have a PAC as well?
I don't know the process
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 20:37 — KeungHui (author)I don't know the process they used to make the endorsements. None of the candidate reports show donations from the group. The state terminated the PAC because of failure to file a mid-year report. This means the group can't accept contributions or make expenditures until the report is filed.
a
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 20:06 — NOFANOFWAKEMADNESSa
....
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 18:48 — SideburnsWhat's wrong with these 2 sentences? (And I don't mean spelling errors.)
everything
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 19:59 — loriacThis reminds me of when I first visited here - it was 1988 and we were thinking of moving here. We checked into the hotel. and the lady at the counter pointed out that 'there was a black convention going on'. What in the world is a black convention? We were taken aback then, and I am even more taken aback now that people still talk about 'white groups' and 'black groups'.
We're all American, people - let's stick to the problem of how best to educate our children.
Well Said Loriac!
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 20:38 — MamaLynnWell said Loriac....when I moved her in the mid 90's from the west..people told me that they were still fighting the civil war in North Carolina. I thought naw...can't be true! I thought NC was more progressive than that. I sometimes wonder though!
They only have 150 parent supporters?
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 16:32 — fiestamomDoes somebody know how to capture screen shots? The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children, website admits they only have 150 parent supporters. How can they claim to represent all AA kids in Wake County?
I'm shocked AND stunned that their endorsements match those of the Democrat party.
Take all these groups with a
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 18:33 — user12345Take all these groups with a grain of salt ... everyone says they are cross county, diverse group with thousands of members representing ALL children ... The fact that 150 black families support something is what is important and should be taken into consideration along with the other endorsements...
Screen shot
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 16:52 — g88ky071.Press the Print Screen key on your keyboard. It may be labeled [PrtScn]. 2.Open an image editing program, such as Microsoft Paint. 3.Go to the Edit menu and choose Paste. 4.If prompted to enlarge the image, choose Yes. 5.Optional: Use your image editor's crop tool to crop out unnecessary portions of the screen shot. 6.Go to the File Menu and choose Save As. 7.Navigate to the folder where you want to save the image. 8.Type a file name for the image. 9.Select a file type, save it and then post it EVERYWHERE!
pawns.....
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 16:21 — mike_caryIt's all about being a pawn of the status quo.....
Statistics are CLEAR. The agressive busing is NOT HELPING anyone. The drop out rate is almost 50% for these groups!
The status quo old-timer board members and staff continue to do a dollar-wasting dis-service to the groups that they claim they are helping.....
It's all a shell game that wastes tax dollars and student's time (1000's of transportation hours a year). The busing simply makes the district appear better on "average" - - its not providing additional services to needy kids. The kids and the status quo are failing... CHANGE NOW
“Statistics are CLEAR.
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 18:38 — user12345“Statistics are CLEAR. The agressive busing is NOT HELPING anyone. The drop out rate is almost 50% for these groups!”
Are you confusing drop-out RATE with graduation PERCENT? 50% is a high RATE ...
Let’s talk graduation rate which is a function of drop out rate … go look at the report and see what the reason for dropping out is ….
72% Attendance - don’t come to school any more...
7% Academics
I guess WCPSS could give away iPods each day to bribe them to attend …
Giving away iPods - some places give laptops
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 20:59 — TrailerParkGirlOne of the districts in my home county gives every student grades 7-12 a laptop (actually think I recently read they got some sort of grant so extended it to grades 5 and 6). They also have free after school programs. They are offering those things to encourage students (both those that live within the district and those that live in neighboring districts) to attend there. It's part of a schools choice program where school districts compete with one another for students and the related funding dollars.
Before you go on a "well that's not fair because they are a more affluent district" binge, their demographics are very similar to the surrounding districts with which they compete for students (i.e. way less affluent than here).
I asked my wife why her
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 07:37 — user12345I asked my wife why her ED students drop out and she told me:
I think the VoTech plan is the way to address some of this … I am thinking if a student could take all of his (or her) NC classes (e.g. English 1-4, academic level) in the first two years in their base HS, than transfer to the VoTech HS their Junior and Senior years and be trained and certified in a profession that would really make a difference in their pay, they would stay. As long as we have college-educated leaders, who think everyone wants to follow in their footstep we will continue to prepare 100% of the kids for a future they will not and cannot take advantage of.
BTW, she also mentioned that the free breakfast and lunch (which many here despise) plays a part in keeping kids in school. She said is not the food really that matters but that someone cares which brings them back each day.
Here we go again
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 11:31 — TrailerParkGirlYou have this rational, sensible post going with which many would agree and then you ruin it by throwing in some ignorant, baseless comment like "which many here despise."
You think VoTech is a way to address some of this - agree and another reason to support WSCA candidates.
People do NOT despise providing free or reduced breakfast and lunch to those who need it.
What people do not agree with is that before receiving said breakfast, the student is on a bus for more than an hour, which regularly shows up late and then the student has to still get the breakfast and bring it to class to consume it before being able to be fully engaged in LEARNING. I've heard the announcements a number of times myself after the bell while volunteering - 'the XYZ bus is late, students will be going to the cafeteria and then bringing their breakfast to class.' Meanwhile, the other students are starting class work. At that point, the kid's (and I'm talking six year olds) have been up for at least two hours already. Do you consider that a good start to a day of learning? Don't you think that puts that student at a disadvantage compared to his classmates who live closer to school and are able to be fully engaged from the bell?
What we are trying to work towards is building a good school in that students community (that can be the catalyst for building up a community), so they can get to school in time to have that breakfast and be ready to LEARN when the bell rings. Don't tell me it can't be done because it has and is being done elsewhere.
Being in the same school as Biff and Muffy hasn't addressed the reasons your wife's ED students drop out has it? These kids aren't just looking at Biff and going I want to be like Biff are they? Do you think continuing to do the same thing will suddenly give a different outcome? I am telling you we have GOT to find another way to change these kids', families' and communities' perspective on education and reengage them because THAT is the equalizer and just shuffling them from here to there will never get us there.
Who Despises Free Breakfast? Show of Hands Please!
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 08:00 — JanisTangoBoy...you are stretching it L'user...I've never heard anyone say they despise free breakfast!
Last week I was visting my son's class and two of his classmates that are bused from way across town were late (they said they get on the bus at 7:30AM and they arrived at 9:30AM). Both of them were starving. My son's teacher asked me to take them to see if we could locate some food! We did thankfully. Two hours...WOW. Their bus ride is typically 1 hour and 30 minutes! That is way too long IMO!
Why!?
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 16:32 — woodstockI certainly respect the civil rights movement. It served as a powerful voice for change and made a tremendous and much needed positive difference in the lives of millions. But what happened? How did that movement turn into a force for maintaining the status quo?
What is so sad and perplexing is that the "local black groups" support candidates that have no answer to the unacceptable graduation rates of ED and minority students, and a system that tries to disguise the problem rather than addressing it and helping to improve it. These groups should be outraged and demanding change, not asking for more of the same. It makes no sense.
We should be talking about the best way to impart knowledge to young minds and identifying the resources students need to succeed. When does that discussion take place?
So now there's one voice for
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 10:16 — jenmanSo now there's one voice for blacks and one voice for whites? How would you explain that the president of the SE Wake NAACP is endorsing Debbie Vair in District 1? Yes, he works with her on the slave cemetery issue but she is against the diversity busing. Is it not possible that blacks can actually have differing opinions?
Also, aren't RWCA and CCAAAC just 2 more special interest groups? You've said yourself that those types of groups don't represent the real people, only those who have the money and power to get their particular interests heard.
Irony
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 21:02 — SDR256Did ya know that the chairwoman of the CARY Women's Republican Club is a very conservative, inspiring and articulate African American woman? WHAT was I saying about shades of grey earlier? Was ANYONE listening? I just am not going to listen to anyone who wants to use black and white labels anymore to put things in a neat little corner. Human life is just not that clean. And, frankly, Democracy is a messy, contentious business. Celebrate the messiness of it all! As my mother says - its better than the alternative. Personally I never colored inside the lines.
Great job making it a black
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 08:55 — changewcpssGreat job making it a black / white issue. Just what we need. More of the same for Wake County North Carolina. Why should anyone expect things to have changed since the Civil War? How can we move forward with such backward thinking? And just who is segregating? Amazing.
When can we expect the *local white group endorsements* to come out? (sarcasm in case anyone is dim enough to think that is a serious question) Ridiculous.
white and black groups?
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 08:39 — loriacReally? I thought we were people.
Line up like good little sheep
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 22:01 — rainforestIt seems like sheep to me. How about independent thoughts for a change?
I think that White groups
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 08:19 — user12345I think that White groups like WSCA should defer to these concerned parents of color when it comes to issues like AA graduation rates and how to help their community since they are closer to the issues ... listen to the parents ...
Uh. Uh. Uh. Tut. Tut. Tut. User
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 20:57 — SDR256Be careful there, your prejudice is showing.
SDR ... nothing prejudice
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 21:37 — user12345SDR ... nothing prejudice about listening to people who know more than you do ...remember your moto ... listen to the parents ... if you want to know about AA graduation rates talk to Black families and kids who don't graduate ... (tip, they are not in your neighborhood)... if you want to send ED kids back to their neighborhood school talk to them first ... they may want to remain at the School of Excellence they already attend ..
How do you know?
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 06:14 — fiestamomHow do you know they're not in my neighborhood? Aren't you being a wee bit prejudice yourself to assume that a black family wouldn't live in the same neighborhood as a genius like fiestamom? BTW, unfortunately, there are white kids in my neighborhood who don't graduate either.
I, too, have just about had it with all the racial segregation. Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Concerned citizens of AA kids. Ugh, thought we were all Americans, here.
“How do you know they're
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 07:14 — user12345“How do you know they're not in my neighborhood?”
I feel very comfortable that your neighborhood is NOT the center of the AA dropout rate mentioned above … I feel comfortable that most people here don’t even know the reasons for the high drop out rate they seem so concerned about … that is why it is good to include the affected folks in the discussion (bigger tent) so it is not all a theoretical, suburban, coffee time discussion but included real information from the people affected.
Of course you are comfortable with this tact
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 10:06 — Dadof3Of course you're comfortable constructing your own imaginary opponents. You continue to do so. Otherwise we all could have an honest debate, something you have consistently worked against having.
Stop feeling comfortable
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 09:18 — fiestamomStop feeling comfortable, and stop feeling smug, buddy. Stop making generalizations about people you know nothing about. You don't know me, you don't know my financial situation, you don't know where I live.
I agree, user12345. And if
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 13:56 — jeannie84I agree, user12345. And if they support continuing and improving existing policies, then maybe something is going right afterall for the children that WCSA keeps lifting up in its argument against the "status quo."
Maybe The Status Quo Needs To Give A Little.....
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 14:17 — JanisTangoMaybe the status quo needs to give a little as well! If they sat in a room and listened to all the ideas that parents have, you might be surprised.
Of course if you have the power you don't have to listen to anyone and that has been the 'policy' of this current board. The CEM meetings were a waste of time. They were going to rubber stamp the plan. They made a few minor changes so they had the appearance of listening! That is why parents are fed up! In fact many of them left the public schools all together!
Could you please just stop the divisive stirring the pot junk?
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 10:24 — TrailerParkGirlCould you please just stop the divisive stirring the pot and stereotyping junk? That is NOT diversity BTW.
1) WSCA is not a "white" group.
2) I've spoken to concerned people of color and they share my concerns that the status quo is not working to close the achievement gap.
3) I've spoken to people of color and they do not support all the "white people" are this way and "black people" do this stuff. They, like me, believe we should just be people without prejudging expectations based on skin color and/or income levels. They understand that each person is a unique individual and not all white people do this and not all black people do that, etc. I think I've heard that somewhere else - oh yeah, IN DIVERSITY TRAINING.
4) I've spoken to people of color who support community schools.
There are people of color as baffled as I am at some of the stereotyping (such as one my personal big pet peeves - that people of color shouldn't enjoy reading too much because that's being too white). There are people of color as baffled as I am at the resistance to setting the same expectations for all and moving toward innovative solutions to close the achievement gap.
This is not just a local issue. On the national level, there are Dem. people of color (Al Sharpton for one) who are surprised at the resistance by some within their own party.
So, which viewpoint represents 'parents of color'?
Wow, you really are
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 10:02 — woodstockWow, you really are incredibly ignorant and offensive.
Disgusting
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 09:35 — Dadof3Calumnibot, non-stop.
WSCA is not a "white" group.
That Frees Me Up!
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 08:54 — JanisTangoI guess I can expect these 'people' to come to my school and help the little 'black' children that I help tutor! I guess I can expect them to be volunteering at the class field trips so they can help keep on eye on the little 'black' children in my kids classrooms! I really don't want to overstep since they are closer to the 'issues'. I guess the WEP and others can get out of the way too.....since most of them are WHITE! Thanks for clearing that up!