Mississippi middle school separates class elections by race

[The Mystery Machine]

So is the justification for doing this so black students can hold places in office?

In other words if the student body is mostly white, a black student would not be elected to a position?

 

[Piglets Mommy]

Wait....is it 2010 or 1910??? Just checking. So sad.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Superintendent Russell Taylor's full statement:
"After being notified of a grievance regarding upcoming student elections at Nettleton Middle School, research was conducted that evidenced that the current practices and procedures for student elections have existed for over 30 years. It is the belief of the current administration that these procedures were implemented to help ensure minority representation and involvement in the student body. It is felt the intent of these election procedures was to ensure African-American representation in each student office category through an annual rotation basis.


It is our hope and desire that these practices and procedures are no longer needed to help ensure minority representation and involvement. Furthermore, the Nettleton School District acknowledges and embraces the fact that we are growing in ethnic diversity and that the classifications of Caucasian and African-American no longer reflect our entire student body.

Therefore, beginning immediately, student elections at Nettleton School District will no longer have a classification of ethnicity. It is our intent that each student has equal opportunity to seek election for any student office. Future student elections will be monitored to help ensure that this change in process and procedure does not adversely affect minority representation in student elections."

 

[dislaney]

Wow, just wow!!

 

[Wall-E1]

So is the justification for doing this so black students can hold places in office?

In other words if the student body is mostly white, a black student would not be elected to a position?

I believe the justification for doing this was that this school did not want another black president. It was not a "misguided attempt at affirmative action". Why then would a black student be ineligible for class president all three years? Affirmative action is when you open up opportunities to benefit an underrepresented group, not to deny them the same opportunities that white children have - such as running for class president. It seems to me that racism was the catalyst for this policy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I believe the justification for doing this was that this school did not want another black president. It was not a "misguided attempt at affirmative action". Why then would a black student be ineligible for class president all three years? Affirmative action is when you open up opportunities to benefit an underrepresented group, not to deny them the same opportunities that white children have - such as running for class president. It seems to me that racism was the catalyst for this policy.

But the Super said they "rotated" the offices. So did that mean that next year all the class presidents were to be black?

That is what I want to know.

 

[SandrA9810]

Just as much as segregation can still happen, desegregation laws in Florida are still big controversy and trouble for students.

Students from a prominent black community are being bussed around the county so prominent white communities are being "equal". And vise versa. it's not even the student's choice for going to a different school. But these 1960's laws are still in place after all this time.

 

[Darcy03231]

But the Super said they "rotated" the offices. So did that mean that next year all the class presidents were to be black?

That is what I want to know.

The way I read the article was in 2009 only black children were allowed to run for class president, in 2010 only white children, in 2011 it would be only black children again.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Students from a prominent black community are being bussed around the county so prominent white communities are being "equal". And vise versa. it's not even the student's choice for going to a different school. But these 1960's laws are still in place after all this time.

Why is this a bad thing?

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

They told me that they "Go by the mother's race b/c with minorities the father isn't generally in the home."

Guess this means my chocolate colored middle schooler with the beautiful dreadlocks could run for President after all, since it's my skin they'll be looking at.

This is insane.

 

[wdwiala]

The local high school where I am originally from just stopped segregated proms a couple of years ago. They kept them seperate by having "booster" clubs pay for the dance instead of the school district. It was embarrasing as a community that they kept this up so many years. The kids were already dating across race but the parents just couldn't (or weren't willing) to deal.

I know someone who has been passed over for principal several times because he doesn't fit the spot. It is either time for a person of color or a female to fill a position each time. If they have a retiring woman, they fill it with a woman. White, fill it with white. Black, they fill it with black. Trying to be "equal" can get frustrating.

 

[SandrA9810]

Why is this a bad thing?

Well when school budgets are tight as it is, the extra cost it's placing on the buses to get these students around the district. On top of that, it's mostly in the high schools, so students that have gone to school with their classmates till 8th grade are suddenly being separated when they don't want to be.

I'm all for different schools having different strong points, like computers, science, IB courses, theater, arts. But when you're busing kids around just because of a desegregation law, and they're not even attending these schools for their special programs.

The biggest complaint that parents are having, is the extensive time these kids spend traveling to and from school. They have to get up hours before other kids and get home hours later than those that attend the closest HS.

I don't remember all the details of it, but I do remember it being on the news. And them talking about how it's creating a whole new problem, rather than solving the one it was designed for. Maybe a florida parent can chime in on this if they're being affected by it.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

It's this kind of thing that kind of makes me happy to be living in the Northeast...

Don't get me wrong. I love the South just as much as the next girl. I love Florida, and South Carolina.

But this kind of thing makes me feel sorry for society...and for future generations, as well.

 

[Terry36]

FYI - the Weekend Today show is about to speak to the mom who complained!

 

[java]

I think this is the most disturbing part
"After being notified of a grievance regarding upcoming student elections at Nettleton Middle School, research was conducted that evidenced that the current practices and procedures for student elections have existed for over 30 years. "

And this is the first time someone complained?

 

[minkydog]

It's this kind of thing that kind of makes me happy to be living in the Northeast...

Don't get me wrong. I love the South just as much as the next girl. I love Florida, and South Carolina.

But this kind of thing makes me feel sorry for society...and for future generations, as well.

Please don't paint the entire South with this broad brush. I've lived in the Deep South most of my life and have NEVER encountered this kind of blatant racism. Sure, you hear about these small communities that are still clinging to their misguided ways, but the vast majority of southern communities do not subscribe. My guess is, you could find similar situations(and not limited to African-Americans) anywhere in the country if you look hard enough.