Club of black students at Ann Arbor school goes on field trip, other students offended - Polidicks

[quote=AnnArbor.com] An [B]Ann Arbor[/B] 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 [B]Mike Madison[/B] 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. [IMG]http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2010/05/Mike-Madison-thumb-250x165-38865.jpg[/IMG]Principal Mike Madison is shown at Forsythe in this 2005 file photo. “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.” A handful of parents have complained to district administrators about the trip, the group and Madison. More than a half-dozen parents contacted AnnArbor.com to raise the complaints, but none would agree to talk on the record, citing concerns of reprisals to their children by Madison. While there’s no clear agreement between the two sides about exactly what happened, most of the controversy centers on a field trip taken last week by the Lunch Bunch for African American boys and girls to hear a black rocket engineer talk. District spokeswoman Liz Margolis said after the trip was over, those who went returned to their fifth-grade class and were greeted by boos by those who didn’t go on the trip. Margolis said Madison, who is black, heard the boos, and went to talk to the class. She said he and the class had a “discussion” about race issues. “He wasn’t yelling at them. He was very passionate about it,” Margolis said. Parents have complained he was yelling at the class and belittled a Muslim girl who said she also had experienced racism and discrimination. The program itself began earlier this year after the school received its latest achievement results. Margolis said the Lunch Bunch came from the school’s School Improvement Team and is tied to that team’s goals. She said several other schools in the district have similar programs targeting specific subgroups of students who are at risk. According to meeting minutes, Madison introduced the club to the PTO in February as part of the school and district’s equity work. Parent Vicki Haviland, who is white and has three children at Dicken, said she is supportive of the overall program. Haviland is the secretary of the Dicken PTO and has filed papers for the open school board seat. “I think the African-American Lunch Bunch is totally in line with the district’s equity work,” she said. “I think the field trip was a fine idea.” She said she hopes the school and the district would “do a better job in talking about (race in education). Clearly there are people who don’t feel heard about it.”[/quote] [quote=dumbass principle]it gave the kids an opportunity to see this type of achievement is possible for even them[/quote] That right there is racist, if nothing else. [U][url=http://www.annarbor.com/news/black-student-only-field-trip-sparks-controversy-at-ann-arbor-elementary-school/]SOURCE[/url][/U] Rate me tool if this is racist Rate me bad reading if it isn't

[QUOTE=the_KMM;21776756] That right there is racist, if nothing else. [/QUOTE] It can't be racist when it's against white people.

Is the principle black?

This is some of the most retarded shit I've read in my entire life

What is with tin influx of racism threads lately? People need to stop with political correctness and all this crap that has gone too far.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;21776889]Is the principle black?[/QUOTE] Yes [img]http://dicken.a2schools.org/dicken.principal/files/mike_madison.jpg[/img]

This isn't racism!!! we are stickin it to the MAN!!! Black power!

I hate racists and white people :downs:

[QUOTE=bugfix;21776867]It can't be racist when it's against white people.[/QUOTE] my sarcasm meter is bork

[QUOTE=luck_or_loss;21776921]Fuck yes it can.[/QUOTE] Check your sarcasm meter

[QUOTE=luck_or_loss;21776921]Fuck yes it can.[/QUOTE] Sarcasm.

This is the first time I've heard of anything really racist recently in Ann Arbor though aside from the U of M using affirmative action

totally not racist what so ever

Michigan :911:

Damn whites at it agai-wait

godammnit, reverse-racism

This reminds me of the time I applied for those aboriginal-only scholarships to prove a point [editline]02:23PM[/editline] I didn't get them

I'm still curious how things like this and <insert one race only> programs are morally justifiable.

[QUOTE=Zeke129;21777283]This reminds me of the time I applied for those aboriginal-only scholarships to prove a point [editline]02:23PM[/editline] I didn't get them[/QUOTE] What was the point you where trying to make?

You know, I kinda want to call WBC on these people. They're huge dicks. And they're black so WBC will flip shit on them.

[QUOTE=O'10er;21777482]What was the point you where trying to make?[/QUOTE] That racism against white people is still racism, but mostly that I'm a dumbass whenever possible and will do stupid shit like apply for aboriginal scholarships.

[QUOTE=evilweazel;21777563]You know, I kinda want to call WBC on these people. They're huge dicks. And they're black so WBC will flip shit on them.[/QUOTE] So a school counters old racism with racism and your solution is to counter with more racism. Two wrongs don't make a right, but three wrongs do?

Racist dicks. Oh god! They did it to close the achievement gap, so because the white kids did their work and did it well means that the black kids have to catch up.

[QUOTE=Perfumly;21776892]This is some of the most retarded shit I've read in my entire life[/QUOTE]

Well it [i]was[/i] a black rocket scientist, so I'm guessing that is why. I can see the good intentions, but also, if it was only white kids going to see a white rocket scientist, shit would fly.

What about the asian and hispanic children :( don't they attend school?

[QUOTE=Swebonny;21778534]What about the asian and hispanic children :( don't they attend school?[/QUOTE] Heh, those are like the two ethnicities with stereotypes most related to school attendance.

"We are not racist we are going to let black students only listen to a rocket scientist to let them know that even though they are at a disadvantage being black they can be just as smart as white people someday!" Someone's brilliant plan for political correctness have backfired in the most dramatic of fashions.

Updated with official source.

[QUOTE]“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.”[/QUOTE] Yeah right...