How did this happen following years of sacrifice by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others? People of many races and cultures joined together to challenge the Supreme Court to improve our public school system by removing segregated conditions. Now, in Columbus, Georgia, several public schools are 1 to 2 percent short of operating as a totally segregated school. One school board member told me it was okay because the neighborhoods are populated that way. She failed to realize that those were the conditions of segregation. Adult professionals feel diversity is important for growth, but for some reason some feel it is okay for children to spend the first five years of their public school experience surrounded by children that represent their same race. Since 2006, I have presented the Brown v. Board of Education Public School Award to the county superintendent recognizing schools with the most diverse student population. He or she has never presented the award publicly during their televised awards ceremony. I wonder why? This year I recognized eleven schools with the most diverse student population: Midland Middle School, Blackmon Road Middle School, Northside High School, Double Churches Middle School, Midland Academy, Arnold Middle School, Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy, Johnson Elementary School, Allen Elementary School, River Road Elementary School, and Gentian Elementary School. Do you feel it benefits a child to attend a segregated school in such a diverse society? Are we preparing the children for the future without demanding change? A recent exercise on the negative impact of race shows that there is a need for change. Black and white students involved in the test revealed that people of color were perceived to be bad and less literate. The darker the color, the more prevalent was the perception of the subjects of the study/test.
Archive for the ‘Open Comments’ Category
Public School Segregation
Sunday, May 30th, 2010Are parents supporting sports more than they are supporting PTA?
Thursday, May 27th, 2010Is this question relevant at a time of increasing violence and student dropouts? When I attend youth sports events, I find the football fields and basketball gyms crowded, but when I speak to school administrators about parent participation for PTA – most of them respond by saying they have to create interest for attendance. If I am not mistaken, the games are played in the evening – around the same time PTA meetings are conducted. Recently, a basketball coach told me he would prefer to leave Columbus, Georgia if he had to coach at a school that relies on sports more than education. He would prefer to see his students receive a scholarship for academic success as the primary criteria. What are your thoughts?
Making a Difference
Sunday, October 10th, 2010I spend each day assessing the communities around me to ascertain what I can do to help improve our society for the present and future generations. My parents, Willie and Maggie Goodman, dedicated their lives to giving. They allowed the neighborhood athletes to play basketball, in the backyard, from sunrise to sunset without ever complaining. The yard was a haven for fun competition, but absent of profanity, fights, and bad blood. Most of the basketball players, in East Wynnton, played ball in my backyard to include Sam Mitchell. Now, I am home attempting to do the same thing. I am trying to make a difference, but it has not been easy due to so many things, but God is Great! Progress is happening and people are beginning to come together to support this mission.
What do you do to make a difference and what kind of support do you need?
Tags: Columbus Blog
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