Field trip for black students sparks controversy at Ann Arbor elementary school

[oberliner]

An Ann Arbor elementary school principal used a letter home to parents tonight to defend a field trip for black students as part of his school’s efforts to close the achievement gap between white and black students.

Dicken Elementary School Principal Mike Madison wrote the letter to parents following several days of controversy at the school after a field trip last week in which black students got to hear a rocket scientist.

“In hindsight, this field trip could have been approached and arranged in a better way," Madison wrote. "But as I reflect upon the look of excitement, enthusiasm and energy that I saw in these children’s eyes as they stood in the presence of a renowned African American rocket scientist in a very successful position, it gave the kids an opportunity to see this type of achievement is possible for even them.

“It was not a wasted venture for I know one day they might want to aspire to be the first astronaut or scientist standing on the Planet Mars.

“I also think it’s important that you know that I have talked to the children who did not go on the field trip, and I think they have a better understanding of the purpose of the AA Lunch Bunch now, as I hope you do. I’m sorry if any kids were upset by the field trip or my discussion afterwards with them, and I have let them know that.

“The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students as has been reported, but rather to address the societal issues, roadblocks and challenges that our African American children will face as they pursue a successful academic education here in our community.”

http://www.annarbor.com/news/black-student-only-field-trip-sparks-controversy-at-ann-arbor-elementary-school/

Not sure what to make of this story.

[TwilightGardener]

1. I think ALL the kids would have benefitted from going to hear the rocket scientist.

He meant well, but the execution was poor.

[oberliner]

3. Apparently there were a limited number of students who could be accomodated

Other articles indicate that too many invitations were issues accidentally and several students, all of them female, were "uninvited" to attend the event.

At least that's what someone wrote in the comments to the article.

[bluestateguy]

2. An ill-advised policy

Sets a risky precedent.

Next thing you know it's special field trips for Hispanic kids, or girls only, or poor kids only, or even white kids only.

And in a public school, this is of questionable legality.

[Texasgal]

4. Where is the equality?

ALL of the kids should have gone. Separating them, especially young children breeds contempt.

Sometimes adults can be so stupid!!

[Dramarama]

5. Indeed

[The Northerner]

9. +1

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Long thread on this yesterday with lots of posters who don't understand

No Child Left Behind mandates that schools improve achievement of 4 specific groups of students (subgroups):

Minorities
Special Education
English Language Learners
Free and Reduced Lunch (poor kids)

If any of those groups don't score at a specific level on standardized tests, the school does not make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). In other words, every other kid in the school can score at the highest level possible but if your African American kids fail, your school fails.

Schools are also given opportunities to apply for grant money to develop programs to increase the achievement of their subgroups. This field trip would definitely qualify. So this principal could have received federal funding for this field trip.

If this outrages you, be angry at a ridiculous law, not at the school or this principal.

[oberliner]

7. Do you have a link to that thread?

Thanks!

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8279141

[Texasgal]

8. Do we know that the principal

received federal funding for this?

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. No we don't

But I am betting my paycheck that he booked the trip as part of his school plan to increase test scores of his African American kids.

[Texasgal]

13. Well, since we don't know

that part of the story... my opinion is that this principal did a very irresponsible thing.

FYI: I am very pro-teacher. I come from a family of teachers. I honestly appreciate teachers. This person? Not so much.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. It doesn't matter where he got the money

The reason for the trip is what matters.

[Texasgal]

17. actually it would matter

if it wasn't funded federally and he had no other reason to separate these kids other than race, then YES... it does matter.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Once again. The reason is NCLB.

Did you even read my post??

[Texasgal]

19. Perhaps we are not understanding each other.

Sorry.

[pnwmom]

12. And that is one of the problems with that law.

If you're in a group that has been "meeting the standards," they don't care if you're learning to your potential. All that matters is pulling up the groups whose scores are below-standard.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Amen

[unabelladonna]

16. field trips???

how does that improve learning? reading, writing and arithmetic...the basics....teach them the basics. anything else is superfluous and unless all students are included in those trips it's discriminatory.

[oberliner]

21. Is this sarcasm?

Do you really not believe that a field trip can be a valuable educational experience?

[Coyote_Bandit]

20. It would seem that

sometimes racism is expressed in a manner that benefits one racial group at the expense of another. I'm glad these kids got to go BUT the Asian, Hispanic, white, etc. kids should have had the same opportunity. Each group faces their own unique "societal issues, roadblocks and challenges."