| Author | Message | ||
     entertainer Citizen Username: Entertainer Post Number: 300 Registered: 11-2001 |
Kudos to the CHS students for choosing to take a stand, speak your minds, and follow your convictions. After all, it is YOUR future. You are commended for staring an elusive and despicable problem in the face, and initiating constructive dialogue with hopes for change. Also, please ignore those buffoons who try to belittle your concerns, exaggerate your issues, and divert your conversation. This is an old, tired, but often successful tactic. Continue to voice your concerns with hopes that individuals will not only hear, but begin to listen. Fear no evil... | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 744 Registered: 1-2004  |
Reflect That article was also in the Ledger. | ||
| fringe Citizen Username: Fringe Post Number: 828 Registered: 5-2001 |
As mentioned in the initial post, the memo (of which I have a copy) was prepared for the March 7th BOE meeting. The points contained were raised during Pubic Speaks, but, as usual, the BOE and administration made no comment and took no action. It was not until the group's meeting of Friday March 11 when a walk-out was proposed that the district's crisis response mentality kicked in. There's a lesson here for district teachers and those unhappy with this school year's interpretation of Policy 2270. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 493 Registered: 9-2004 |
Shame on any of you for not looking at this matter as more than just some "whining kids". This is a race issue in this town that needs to be addressed. Deal with it. Do not act like it doesn't exist and allow matters to get worse. Just hear them out and begin dialogue. DITTO! My son told me about the assembly held yesterday where these same issues were brought up. There is some credence to some of the complaints. My son said one white male student while making a point actually addressed the AA students as "you people".  Which in turn, caused an uproar during assembly. The assembly was a heated one. It's a shame that some folks continue to turn a "blind eye" and pretend that some of the issues do not exist. It does…FACE IT. And I'm not talking about the wearing of ID badges (thats moot). As far as the leveling of classes, as an AA myself I've witness this first hand. Twice, I had to have my younger son "moved-up" because he was enrolled in the WRONG level. He did the work, maintained good grades(plus honor-roll) & always handed in his homework. The next year, again they put him in the WRONG level. After conferring with the Guidance Counselor, she reviewed his grades from the previous year and apologized for the mistake. Hmmm. I am pro-active and a parent who refuses to see my kids short-changed. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 7940 Registered: 5-2001 |
To be honest, I have expected something like this for quite awhile. I have posted in the past concerning a number of incidents I have observed from time to time over the seven years we had kids at CHS. I think the district has made some strides in improving opportunities for pupils in the middle and elementary schools, but I don't think this has happened at Columbia. It is almost as if the majority of black and white kids move in different dimensions (there are numerous exceptions btw) and hardly are aware of each others existence. With previous principals it almost seemed like there was some secret pact; OK, we the administration wouldn't bug you about deportment, dress, grades and attitude as long as you don't bug us about opportunity. I think Ms. Pollack, either intentionally or not, broke the pact by trying to, correctly I think, enforce basic standards on all the students. This can end up being either very positive or very negative depending on how all the parties, most especially the kids, handle it. | ||
| marie Citizen Username: Marie Post Number: 1282 Registered: 6-2001 |
What responsiblity do the students accept in this dysfunctional relationship between members of the student body and the administration? If the students and Mrs. Pollack were brought together in an RCCP Mediation, what would they bring to the table? | ||
| marie Citizen Username: Marie Post Number: 1283 Registered: 6-2001 |
Will the MLK students accept responsibility for the bad behavior that was exhibited at yesterday's assembly? | ||
| anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 1703 Registered: 6-2002 |
Marie: Please detail the bad behavior. Frankly, I thought the problem with many of the "minority" students was apathy, that they just didn't care about education at all. So I saw something positive in the protest. | ||
| Sarah Macyshyn Citizen Username: Sarahzm Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2003 |
I applaud phenixrising and Bobk and others here. I believe that you and the and the MLK club have some valid points. I have heard so many complaints about unfair use of levels that I have to believe that there must some basis to it. It was always my understanding that any child could "opt up" by agreeing to do the work. Am I mistaken? I've heard lots of stories about kids being put in incorrect or unfair levels and having to demand to be moved, but has any one actually been refused? I know my daughter, and her friends have approached teachers about an AP latin course next year - and have hit a brick wall. I would just like to share with you that my Caucasian daughter, a junior, has also had problems with her schedule and enrollment in incorrect levels. In fact in 3 years, they haven't gotten it right yet. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT, LIKE YOU, I AM A PROACTIVE PARENT AND GOT IT FIXED. At the end of her freshman year we identified problems with her schedule (including leveling) in late April and it took 14 phone calls, two visits to the school and into JULY to get it fixed. By that time she was closed out of her choice of electives for the second year in a row. If I was an African American, I might have concluded that this was due to racism. Being white, I can only blame what was at the time an unresponsive guidance director. I'm sure you've been to parent’s night at Columbia. One night a year we go back to school and attend our kids classes for 10 minutes each, meet the teachers and learn about what our children will be doing that year. The level 4 and 5 classes are standing room only, with parents of all races in full attendance. The level 2 and 3 classes are almost empty. I would love to know how much time, on average, level 2 and 3 kids ( of all races) spend on homework compared to level 4 and 5. I am absolutely not implying that black kids spend less time on homework than white kids. I am asking whether lower performing kids work as hard as higher performing kids. I dont know, but its worth asking. I would also be interested to know the average curfew, bedtime, TV time allowed for level 2, 3, 4 and 5 kids. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know how many books, newspapers, computers are in the homes of level 2, 3,4 & 5 students and if there is any correlation to the above with performance. I also wonder how much extra help is sought out by kids of each level. Finally, it would be interesting to measure parental involvement as it correlates to performance. How many times a year, on average, have parents of kids of each level visited the school. I think that the above, call it opportunity or support or whatever, is the greatest determining factor in any childs performance. You are probably aware that most teachers who teach level 4 and 5 classes also teach level 2 and 3. The lower level classes are much smaller. My daughter's level 4 math class has 28 kids. I think there are 27 in her English class and a similar number in her history class. Also, sports like fencing, which are seen as predominately white, get minimal funding. Fencing, with the 100 athletes participating winning state championships year after year, gets - $1200 FOR THE WHOLE YEAR FOR THE WHOLE TEAM. Parents are asked to pay hundreds of dollars in dues, and buy hundreds worth of equipment, and have endless fundraisers, while sports like football and basketball which are seen as predominantly black, get a LOT more funding. There are people who think this is reverse racism. I think that football and basketball are long standing sports that have historically had funding. Fencing is a relatively new kid on the block. I think that kids in lower levels need the extra attention offered in smaller classes. I guess what I am saying is that I think the achievement gap may be more due to an opportunity gap than to racism. It is easy to blame things on racism - It's harder to take a good hard look at what might be other underlying causes - and try to fix them. I don’t know how to provide more support and opportunity to those who don’t have it, but I do feel that by patently blaming the inequities on racism you make it much more difficult to address the other issues that might be holding these kids back - and you might ultimately be cheating the kids you are trying to defend. Finally, dont you get angry when you read the draft posted above by the MLK club. THe system has clearly failed the student who wrote it. This kid is a high school student, has a great vocabulary but can't write AT ALL. How will a child with such poor grammar have any chance of success in college or in the job market. The author seems highly motivated, is clearly a leader, shows lots of intellegence and innitiative, is obviously a kid with incredible potential. Without being able to speak or write competently, this kid will be severely limited and denied many opportunities. How did this happen? How do you fix this. How do you help this kid and others like him/her. Maybe these are the questions you should be asking and the issues you should be raising. I think the best way to change things is to be constructive ! Stop looking for blame! Start looking for answers. | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 3464 Registered: 5-2001  |
Oh Sarah! You've summed up ALOT of what I've been going on about for years. Thank you. | ||
| Concerned07040 Citizen Username: Concerned07040 Post Number: 38 Registered: 7-2004 |
"There are two Columbias." That statement has been made for a number of years. Problems have been discussed from time to time, but solutions have been few and far between. What is different this time is that students are at the forefront of the conversation. Isn't the school system ABOUT and FOR the kids? If we want to be fair, then let's take the time and energy to really hear what they are saying. This superintendent, and this principal, have issued statements over and over about the achievement gap. Yet, when it comes time to really DO something, the budgetary priorities go elsewhere. That is a shame, and both of them must be accountable for their words and their actions. You may agree or disagree with the demands of the students. But have some respect for their feelings and perceptions. Stop discounting them out of hand. If you have not been in the high school over the last few years, except for a sports event or musical performance, then maybe you are unaware how these issues impact the students on a daily basis. I want CHS to be the best it can be. I want this school to regain its former reputation as a school of quality worthy of Blue Ribbon status from the US Department of Education. I want a principal who will raise the bar for ALL students, who will create opportunities for each and every learner. So far, I have seen only lip service to programs that were doomed to failure. Talk to any 9th grader who was enrolled in the "Bridge to Success" program last summer. It was a resounding failure from start to finish, yet Ms. Pollack will claim it as one of her triumphs. It was poorly organized and under-staffed. Student mentors were expected to work miracles with kids who were not even motivated in the first place. The mentors had their hearts in the right place but lacked the skills and training. Promises were made to take the kids to the local swimming pools, for example, but the kids were repatedly denied that opportunity. Why? Because the administrator who was empowered to issue CHS ID cards was on vacation and no thought was given to taking care of that issue ahead of time. A small matter, but one that resonates. Ask the tough questions, parents and taxpayers, and then be willing to accept the answers, even if they don't fit your preconceived notions. | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 3467 Registered: 5-2001 |
phoenixrising- the "wrong" level issue is NOT JUST BLACK KIDS! For pete sake. And the kid that said "you people", well you can't attribute what one person says to all of same color. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 495 Registered: 9-2004 |
You may agree or disagree with the demands of the students. But have some respect for their feelings and perceptions. Stop discounting them out of hand. If you have not been in the high school over the last few years, except for a sports event or musical performance, then maybe you are unaware how these issues impact the students on a daily basis. DITTO! phoenixrising- the "wrong" level issue is NOT JUST BLACK KIDS! For pete sake. And the kid that said "you people", well you can't attribute what one person says to all of same color. ffof, At least spell my name right! YOU, are one of those people who CHOSE to look the other way. I think I've had this debate with you before. I saw your comment on the other thread about the MLK events. “Concerned: Re: your post above about the cancelling of some evening events. Certain events attract a crowd (not necessarily CHS students) that almost always end up in fights outside with the need for police intervention. Usually these are MLK events. WHy are there more often behavior issues around these events, than say the all-school musical or a band concert. Hmmm…seems that YOU have a problem with the MLK organization? Does the organization bother YOU? At least these kids finally had the opportunity to speak-out and say whats on their mind. Do want the feelings and issues of these student pent-up and fester into anger towards the school & adminstration? YOU, may have some issues that YOU may NEED to address. I beleive in solving the problems and the searching for solutions. Dialogue IMO is a good start. And NO ffof, you cannot attribute the “you people” statement to all of the same color. He was addressing the MLK students. Were YOU there? According to my son, he started off with VALID comments until the “you people” was made. The kid was booed-down and it upset some the AA students. Sarah, I don’t doubt at all that the “leveling” problems happens to include white students too, however, it seems to be two-fold with the AA students. I won’t go into to details here, but I a confidentiial discussion about this problem with a school official. Seems that AA students often times than whites are placed in the wrong level. The “Star Ledger” some years ago did a very indept story that referred the very same issue. The story told of a young Maplewood AA girl's friendships from grade school to High School and the conflicts she encounter with these friendships when entering Columbia. The white friends she had through grade school–middle school changed when she entered Columbia. It also told the story of an AA male when transferring from different middle schools (SOMS to MMS) because his family moved from SO to Maplewood, he was automatically enrolled at a lower level. He was in level 4 classes at his previous school and his parents did not find out till open school night. Mistake? Perhaps, but it continues to happen. I applaud you and BobK and others of aknowledging that there are issues that needs to be corrected. | ||
| bklyntonj Citizen Username: Bklyntonj Post Number: 329 Registered: 7-2003 |
Sarah, first you applaud the MLK Club and black students, then you criticize them by saying they're "crying racism". I do believe more black parents need to become and stay more active in the school's their children go to but that's NOT the main problem. The problem is a "train of thought", a "perception", a "prejudice" judgement we all have as a sense of survival. We all use this in our daily lives to deal with life as we know it. That's what makes certain faculty and administrators see and hear stories about black rappers, entertainers, gang members, sports figures and their drama and associate that with their opinion of all blacks. On the same note, that's what makes many blacks see Donald Trump, Bill Gates, George Steinbrenner, prime-time TV and think most whites are successful and powerful. And please, with the money that football and basketball brings into colleges and universities, not to mention the pros... Fencing along with many other sports will never see that type of funding. This is still a country driven by capitalism. I will say this though, in my experiences in business, to see how global business is becoming more prevalent, if blacks and whites don't step it up, Asians and East Indians are about to have us both crying "racism". | ||
| amandacat Citizen Username: Amandacat Post Number: 830 Registered: 8-2001  |
I'll probably kick myself for asking this, but here goes: why was it such an unforgiveable sin for a white student to address other students (presumably with opposing views) at the MLK Association assembly as "you people"? Did he say something racist afterwards, or was it just assumed that the term "you people" was inherently racist, maybe a code for "all you black people are alike"? If it's the latter, that seems to me a big leap, and speaks more to the black students' sensitivity toward being slighted rather than any malicious intent on the part of the white student, and it's a shame for everyone involved that the booing drowned out what might have otherwise been a constructive conversation. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 497 Registered: 9-2004 |
amandacat, It's quite obvious during a heated discussion & issues pertaining to the AA students, the term "you people" can be percieved as offensive. If it happened where issues concerning Jews, Italians et al. and you say to them "you people" I'm sure they would find it offensive. "You people": Along with "those people," this phrase is used by one group to refer to an outside group. Objectionable. Do not use. This was taken from “List of Offensive Words That Should be Avoided” http://www.totse.com/en/ego/literary_genius/terms.html | ||
| bklyntonj Citizen Username: Bklyntonj Post Number: 331 Registered: 7-2003 |
Very well put Phenixrising, I would've just said, "no need to kick yourself amandacat, I'll do it for you." Your answer was definitely the more intelligent one.  | ||
| amandacat Citizen Username: Amandacat Post Number: 831 Registered: 8-2001 |
First I should say that all I know of what went down in the assembly is what I've read on this board, so I could very well be missing something about the events that took place or the players involved that would otherwise change my opinion. That said, Yes, to address a single person as "you people" intimates not only that that person is other, but also that they are not an individual, but a generalization of "their kind" . But this student was addressing a large group of people whose opinions were generally different that his, no? i.e. "you", or "you people". Obviously offense was taken, but that doesn't mean it was intended, and to tar and feather a high school kid (who I'll assume is not a mini Archie Bunker in the making) for a poor choice of words -- that isn't even all that poor to begin with -- is counterproductive all around. I'd bet he was as upset by the booing -- and at being misunderstood, and having his opinion invalidated -- as the other students were by his verbal faux pas. | ||
| ffof Citizen Username: Ffof Post Number: 3470 Registered: 5-2001 |
phoenixrising- I hope you got everything off your chest. You seem to have some issues that may be pent up. ALso, you always ask questions after I post clear statements, that imply your preconceived racist spin. I will not back off what I said about some events. If you choose to ignore what attracts bad behavior, that's your perogative. And could you stop yelling at me with the bold. Thanks. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 500 Registered: 9-2004 |
ffof You are the one with the ISSUES. It's obvious, seeing that you continue to spell my name wrong. and… preconceived racist spin" I see thats coming from you. And YOU alone. |
