Wake County school board member Chris Malone is firing back at the "54.2 percent club," the name he uses to label the opponents of the new board majority's efforts to end the socioeconomic diversity policy.
In a statement released today, Malone says the 22 former school board members at last month's press conference and all the other critics "were nowhere to be found" when test scores and graduation rates dropped. He said efforts to blame the declines on lack of resources is "to blame those they are trying to help and other governmental bodies."
"To put it succinctly, they are relinquishing their responsibility, denying their legacy, calling us names, and boldly declaring our guilt!" Malone writes. "Man I have to get me some of that kool aid they are drinking! Their audacity is astounding."
Here's Malone's statement:
There the Wake County School Board's predecessors stood; their pedigrees duly trumpeted by what media showed up. They read a two page statement which was described by one journalist as a diplomatic statement. Just before they attacked us. They, like the Greater Wake Schools and so many other organizations, have just since November crawled out of the woodwork with self-anointed nobility to tell everyone in the county whom they disagree with how wrong we all are. So let’s strip this nonsense bare, shall we?
Many of these groups were nowhere to be found while part of the student population was slipping from excellence to mediocrity to dropping out of school. Nobody protested in black shirts, or threatened to sue that a segment of society was receiving an unjust, unequal and generally sub-par education. These ex-school board members hid these children in “healthy schools” and declared themselves successful. They need to be held accountable by the same standards they are trying to apply to this nascent board. They are the architects of a system that allowed the decline of educational achievement for so many of the socio-economically disadvantaged. Call it the 54.2 percent club and let's name them to the steering committee. Their response to shrug off their own culpability by stating it’s a "national trend" and that they weren’t given enough "resources" is to blame those they are trying to help and other governmental bodies. To put it succinctly, they are relinquishing their responsibility, denying their legacy, calling us names, and boldly declaring our guilt! Man I have to get me some of that kool aid they are drinking! Their audacity is astounding. William Blake's quote “the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom". I think their excess has lead us down a hard road. Humility in place of hubris on their behalf might lend itself to a community coming together, hopefully this time they can make the grade.
Comments
RESEARCH
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 08:58 — willynillyI have seen so many here "quote" so much research that says that the WCPSS is doing what works and has been. In education I have found that "research" is a very loose term. So again, I would like to see three studies that show hard data that what has been done is successful. That means that the research is based upon a foundation of other research that supports ideas and theories. Not like the research that says NBPTS are good or bad.....because that research is suspect. The research is paid for by the people forwarding the ideal.
In medicine and many other areas research has to be validated. Take for instance some research done to support Middle Start initiatives that state that "giving children a lowest grade" will increase performance. However, if you follow these selected schools you will find that these "practices" do not have legs. So I will be open and read any research that "has legs" and shows that what the WCPSS has done works.
Chris Malone Becomes Articulate
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 08:46 — king1234So, Mr. Malone, why are the schools that you represent doing so poorly? Why are the dropout rates at East Wake High schools so high (the highest in the system) and the test scores for your economically disadvantaged students so low? I don't know of any students who are bussed from other areas of Wake County to Wendell, so aren't these "neighborhood/community" schools?" Could it be that when too many students who are struggling are in classrooms together, they don't succeed?
Oh wait, this is the model you are supporting for all of Wake County schools. So,
let's look to these community/neighborhood schools to see how successful this model will be for all of us! I'm looking, and I don't see much success!
And, it is good to know that you can write so much better than you can speak! (You don't really think we believe you wrote this, do you?)
I keep hearing that Mr.
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 08:15 — carson79I keep hearing that Mr. Malone is from New Jersey - can anyone confirm or tell where he is from?
Great. Lets bring those New
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 13:38 — zandeGreat. Lets bring those New Jersey ideas and values here to Wake County. They all worked so well there.
Aahh..
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 14:31 — Bob_SconceSuch an erudite comment.
New Jersey schools have a number of things going for them. In some NJ districts, kids are getting much better public educations than they could ever hope for in Wake County. And, in general, NJ districts have not been nearly as hit by the economy as Wake County has.
Has your anti-northern bigotry blinded you to the fact that places north of the Mason-Dixon line may have good ideas also? Are you one of these "Welcome to Raleigh. Thanks for building up our high tech industry, but don't even think about voting here" people?
Bob just because it came
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 15:51 — user12345Bob just because it came from NJ does not make it the best answer ... given that we have three newbie who want to make Wake look like NJ of their youth makes people wonder ... why not FL, or CA or WY ... surely, with 50 states there must be some really good systems out there besides just NJ ... but our choices are Wake or NJ ... given the people are evacutating NY/NJ area, it make you wonder why they would try to replicate the same failed plans here that that failed there .... and I won't entertain any comparison that does not look like 130k kids county wide and $8500/student or what ever the latest Wake cost is ... nor will I listen to how some 1000 kids town system is doing something great and why Wake should break into 130 - 1000 kids systems since it is not going to ever happen.
So...
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 19:37 — Bob_SconceI wasn't trying to make a comparison. But, I'm annoyed at the whole "New Jersey?? Eeewww. Who wants to be like that Yankee hellhole?" attitude. People are leaving New Jersey for a lot of reasons -- you can't blame it on the schools.
There are certainly good school systems in other states, but New Jersey seems to be the whipping boy. I suppose that's OK -- they're probably saying "Well, at least we're not North Carolina. Their schools are a mess."
And, no, I'm not from New Jersey.
We don't want to be guidos
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 22:12 — user12345The newbie’s wanting Wake to look like NJ of their youth reminds me of refugees who are forced out of their country by a dictator, junta, or civil war and come the US and criticize democracy and our way of life and want the US to look like the failed state they were forced to leave. Wake is a large county system with lot of diversity …. It is not a small NJ town where you can exclude people by race and income from your town schools. For better or worse, we are all (poor, rich, Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, etc.) in this together.
I'm finally getting caught
Mon, 05/10/2010 - 12:58 — KeungHui (author)I'm finally getting caught up today with this thread. You didn't have to uss the word guido to get your point across. All things like do is get people talking about wording choices and not the gist of one's argument.
You are correct ...
Mon, 05/10/2010 - 15:28 — user12345You are correct ...
"Guidos?" Really?! Wow! Just
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 09:31 — woodstock"Guidos?" Really?! Wow! Just how far are you going to go with the use of offensive and entirely inappropriate ethic slurs? How to you refer to the black and hispanic members of our community?
Now it is obvious you don't
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 11:19 — user12345Now it is obvious you don't have kids who watch Jersey Shore. Actually, the tone used determines its meaning.
Uh...
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 17:42 — Bob_Sconcehttp://italianaware.com/blog/2009/12/08/mtvs-jersey-shore/
It's a derogatory term.
I wonder how many folks will
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 11:36 — woodstockI wonder how many folks will accept your rationalization.
You say the "tone" matters. Is that like blacks using the n-word with each other but it is not acceptable when others use it. I don't accept that argument. Offensive is offensive.
Double Standard
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 12:42 — user12345You were the one Mr. Hui had to censor for making "fat" jokes?
LOL That's your argument?
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 18:57 — woodstockLOL That's your argument? And, to clarify, I did not make "fat jokes," I made insightful observations on the uncommon proportions of a local rabble-rouser.
Whenever see "LOL" or some
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 19:58 — zandeWhenever see "LOL" or some other silliness in the recent comments I just know who it was. WS you are so predictable.
LOL @ zande. You know what
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 20:44 — woodstockLOL @ zande. You know what is getting predictable? You following me around making inane comments, that's what.
According to your profile, you've been a poster for 1 day and 10 hours. You make it sound like you have observed me for longer. Isn't that interesting? Are you familiar with the term "stalker?"
The term is..
Mon, 05/10/2010 - 06:46 — FrabjousWoodstock,
I think the term you are looking for is "lurker". :)
It does not really take that
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 21:01 — zandeIt does not really take that long to read the posts on a blog. I have only observed your posts. I have not observed you. That would be creepy. That would be stalking. Reading your posts is just listening to what you are publically putting out on the internet. If you can't take the heat.....
Heat? Hardly.Reading is
Mon, 05/10/2010 - 08:08 — woodstockHeat? Hardly.
Reading is one thing. Senselessly commenting is another. I am not asking you to stop, just pointing out the behavior.
tracker
Mon, 05/10/2010 - 09:04 — stepbystepNow, tracking posters' minutes/hours/days is definitely a behavior to note--OCD maybe? I'm sure Zande is already enjoying the delicious irony of Woodstock's posts. To give Woodstock credit, it is pretty impressive that he can craft irony in posts that lack substance.
Interesting...
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 22:48 — Bob_SconceI disagree with your premise -- that the new directors want Wake County to look like the "New Jersey of their youth." Did JT even go to school in NJ? I thought he was from Pittsburgh.
I think of them more as Boris Yeltsin, minus the vodka, or Lech Walensa.
You must be completely out
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 08:22 — woodstockYou must be completely out of arguments. This nonsensical rambling of yours is just not cutting it. I am going to have to ask you to up your ante a bit if you want to keep playing with the adults.
And, what is it with this use of the word "junta" today?
YES
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 08:57 — mommy59He told me himself that he if from new jersey.Graduated high school there in 1976.
I think I read that he's
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 12:01 — jenmanI think I read that he's lived in this area for about 20+ years now.
Which means...
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 12:36 — Bob_SconceThat he's been here for longer than about 1/2 the population of Wake County.
Audacity is astounding
Thu, 05/06/2010 - 22:26 — SatchHHActually, Mr. Malone's hypocricy is astounding. He claims to be so upset by the low graduation rate of ED students, yet he is taking action after action on the new board to assure that it drops even lower. Delaying building of a new high school in an already overcrowed area (oh, and won't that drive students to charters and privates, his buddy's schools), claiming that student acheivement and student assigment are separate issues (What world is he living in? - clearly not a research-based one), and setting students in poor areas up for being concentrated in schools just when there are absolutely no extra resources to assist, keep good teachers, good principals, etc. I don't believe Malone really wrote this post (except perhaps the kool-aid line), but it speaks to such unprofessionalism and hypocricy given his actions that I'm floored. How idotic does he think Wake County residents are? Very - obviously.
I suggest that when you are
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 07:56 — woodstockI suggest that when you are sitting around red-faced and stewing because things aren't going your way that you refrain from posting. It will eliminate the possibility that you will produce -- for all to read -- a nasty, hate-filled and inaccurate diatribe like you did above.
BTW: If the needs of individual students are addressed and resources are where they need to be, student assignment should not be a factor in student achievement. Charlotte has a proximity-based assignment system and ....well you can read the information below:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Named One of Five Top Urban School Districts in America; Second-Time Finalist for $2 Million Broad Prize
2010 Broad Prize Finalists The 2010 Broad Prize finalist school districts are:
•Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, N.C.
•Gwinnett County Public Schools outside Atlanta
•Montgomery County Public Schools, Md.
•Socorro Independent School District, El Paso, Texas
•Ysleta Independent School District, El Paso, Texas
LOS ANGELES – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools was named today by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation as one of five urban school districts selected as a finalist for the 2010 Broad Prize for Urban Education, guaranteeing the district a minimum of $250,000 in college scholarships for its students. The Broad (rhymes with “road”) Prize for Urban Education is an annual $2 million award—the largest education prize in the country—that honors the urban school districts that demonstrate the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among poor and minority students.
Every year, 100 of America’s largest urban school districts are automatically eligible for The Broad Prize; they cannot apply or be nominated. This year’s five finalists were selected by a review board of 18 prominent education researchers, policy leaders, practitioners and executives from leading universities, national education associations, think-tanks and foundations. The review board evaluated publicly available academic performance data that was compiled and analyzed by MPR Associates, Inc., a leading national education research consulting firm, and then selected the five districts.
Didn't you earlier write that awards were irrelevant?
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 11:18 — festusGood for CMS. Wake has won many national awards and much national recognition for its success in defeating segregation (no easy task) and in creating an outstanding school district, on the cheap. Are those awards as relevant as this CMS award? Why not?
Why not? Because Wake's
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 14:16 — woodstockWhy not? Because Wake's performance, especially the critical area of graduating low-income students and some minority groups, is declining and CMS's is rising.
Wake IS NOT an outstanding school sysyem for our most vulnerable students. When nearly half of the low income kids in Wake start their adult life with no high school diploma we cannot claim to be an outstanding system.
facts
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 14:20 — carson79This is not correct - please see below - CMS only beats Wake with one minority group, Hispanic, and one exceptionality, LEP. and they have a lower grad rate for ED students.
It's telling that you take the below data and don't come away thinking we immediately need to find a way to get the ESL kids to graduate in 4 years. (It's not that only 52% of CMS kids graduate, it's that this is the number who graduate in 4 years, if you take an extra semester or year, you count as never graduating in this figure).
A chart was posted on April 26th by bnartist that showed where the worst weakness in WCPSS' grad rates was(it was the post about WakeCares praising Tedesco):
Four-Year LEA Cohort Graduation Rate by Exceptionality 2008-09
Wake CMS
54.2 52.0 Economically Disadvantaged
84.4 73.9 Not Economically Disadvantaged
38.9 54.4 Limited English Proficient
80.6 67.1 Not Limited English Proficient
56.8 39.1 Student with Disability
81.2 68.7 Not Student with Disability
78.4 66.1 Total
Four-Year LEA Cohort Graduation Rate by Ethnicity 2008-09
Wake CMS
86.7 62.5 American Indian
88.3 78.8 Asian
63.4 55.5 Black
51.1 57.6 Hispanic
81.2 55.3 Multi-Racial
89.4 81.1 White
78.4 66.1 Total
Source:
North Carolina Graduation Results Web Site
http://apxcd.schools.nc.gov/graduatedata
Thanks for that post Carson.
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 13:41 — zandeThanks for that post Carson. I find that these new school board supporters run fast and loose with the facts.
I also think that the award
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 13:15 — danofncI also think that the award goes to systems that are mostly minority students, which makes WCPSS ineligible for consideration.
Wake beats CMS in every
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 08:14 — carson79Wake beats CMS in every graduation sub category except ED Limited English Proficiency students...to hold CMS up is to hold Wake up even further.
Wake is in decline
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 14:20 — woodstockWake is in decline educationally and CMS is on the rise. I don't think that should be ignored.
what specific stats are you
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 14:23 — carson79what specific stats are you comparing? I've seen a lot of breakdowns in which CMS has TANKED over the past 10 years. We may be looking at different figures though.
Thank you
Thu, 05/06/2010 - 22:02 — RKCurtrightThank you, Allison for your constructive critism. I will certainly try to be more prudent. I am no expert, just a mom and wife who cares about our school system. I hope someday you might come to know me for truly who I am. You sound so angry in your posts, though I appreciate hearing your honest feelings.
Woodstock, again, please tell me what you think I've been up to where I seek decsent and am up to something? This is your chance to tell us all what I have done to make you so hostile toward me? It is a form of bullying behavior when you accuse someone of something and cannot explain in detail what that person has done. It is not good for either of you to be so angry at people.
We all have a right to our thoughts and opinions and I would hope you would show some respectful dialog. I am very interested in hearing what you are talking about. I am supportive of constructive critism and will listen. If you choose not to then I suggest we move forward to more prudent matters.
Goodness gracious, I don't
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 14:39 — woodstockGoodness gracious, I don't know what you are talking about. Hey. I am just a regular ol' husband and father trying my best to take care of my wife and kids. I am also someone who cares about eduction and understands how essential it is that students find success. Now, here you are calling me hostile and a bully. What have I ever done to you? Although I appreciate you expressing honest feelings, why are you attacking me. This is your chance to explain your passive-agressive behavior and tell everyone what specifically concerns you about my statements to you. I am a reasonable person and am supportive of contructive criticism and will listen. If you choose not to respond to my questions, I understand.
(Fun game, eh?)
Change from blue
Thu, 05/06/2010 - 18:50 — RKCurtrightThanks Bob, for the color advise. I have appreciated all your posts. I actually have gone back to the beginning posts and started reading them all. ( Up to 2009 now) and have learned a lot about all the people who have posted these past years. I may not agree with all your post but i think they are all worthy for debate and learning from one another.
Mr. Woodstock and Aliison. It appears you cannot present to me any honest dialog and you have not taken my invitation for a constructive dialog. Neither of you have given me anything to point out how you have come to your opinion of me. It does no one any good to make someone feel badly for no good reason and falsely accuse anyone. So my best to you both. I believe you have shown how much you are willing to meet in the middle.
Woodstock, regarding LES administration. I wonder how you would know how they all feel about me? I've been at the les campus for many years and have great friends there and mutual respect for most everyone. You would do yourself good to try talking to me instead of believing rumors and what someone else might say about me. I suspect they do not know me. I would ask you both to try to get to know ME and not what you think you know of me. And I do think you care what I say or you would not be so hateful. Bringing hateful words and lies to dialogue wastes time and is non-productive. Is this your intention?
"constructive dialog"
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 09:56 — g88ky07Is that what all this is called? Give me a break.
More like "constipated drivel"!
Let's see, "constructive dialog" or more forced changes. One will not lead to the other and that I'm sure of, but in a few shorts hours we'll know which SOME prefer.
Isn't "constipated drivel"
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 10:40 — CaryCurmudgeonIsn't "constipated drivel" an oxymoron?
...
Thu, 05/06/2010 - 20:22 — SideburnsOh please. You make it sound like we've just met. I've been bantering with you for the past three years. I've always been open to constructive dialog. You just haven't added anything prudent to the conversation. Same ol', same ol'.
And try black text like everyone else.
Thanks...
Thu, 05/06/2010 - 19:28 — Bob_SconceI think you're nuts if you pay much attention to what I say, but thanks.
THe brown color is certainly much easier on the eyes.
LOL You are relentless in
Thu, 05/06/2010 - 19:28 — woodstockLOL You are relentless in your desire for legitimacy, I will give you that. But, too many people, however, know what you've been up to. You seek descent, not cooperation and everyone that matters knows it. You hitched your wagon to the wrong horse.
Descent?
Thu, 05/06/2010 - 22:36 — SatchHHDid you mean Dissent?
Woodstock, nothing I see in Rcurtright's posts merit your ugliness. I hope Rcurtright is NOT hitched to the current majority. The pendulum always swings. The majority is setting an awful prescedent for future boards' actions.
Your problem Satch, is that
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 14:44 — woodstockYour problem Satch, is that you are buying into Curtwright's words and not her actions.
What are the actions?
Fri, 05/07/2010 - 14:51 — carson79What are the actions? Those of us on the blog don't know what yall are talking about. So she had her kids wear Sycamore Creek Tees to school...whoop tee doo, that can't be a big deal and she could even spin it as a positive effort for her new school...
SO, what is it this lady has done that is bad? If yall are going to have it out here on the blog at least give us the backstory so we can follow along.
Carson, you crack me up with
Sat, 05/08/2010 - 01:24 — woodstockCarson, you crack me up with your questions.
glad I can keep you laughing
Sun, 05/09/2010 - 14:51 — carson79glad I can keep you laughing - I would much rather listen to you support your accusations but I've seen you on the blog to know that is not part of your job.
what's funny is the inconsitency in your story of your "childrens" bus ride pick up timing and the ages you've said they are.