This is EXACTLY why when I hear my people complaining about how our kids are not getting a fair shake in public education due to (enter your racism-flavored conspiracy story here), I tend to question it more than actually believe it.
The city of Atlanta is practically owned and operated by Black folks. It has largely been billed as THE place to go if you are Black and equipped with a dream. Yet when it comes to our own kids, the public school system that we greatly control and have influence, those dreams are lost or destroyed.
Before anybody says it, yes there are good teachers in the APS. I happen to know a few and their love and devotion for their kids is something I have witnessed firsthand. So yes, you do have some very awesome teachers in the system.
But despite the few bright spots, there are many who screw it up for both the good teachers and the students who look to them for guidance.This has been going on far too long in the APS and it is high time that the same Black media that will highlight a Billy Bob for calling one of our kids a “nigga” (and make it front page news) will highlight how we are squandering the very power WE have in the school system.
This past summer, 109 educators in the APS were suspected of cheating.
Also this summer, it was discovered that this school administrator was selling his autobiography to schools under his supervision.
As of last month, APS faces the possibility of losing it accreditation.
In today’s paper I read that APS and surrounding school districts used money from the Education Jobs Fund (a federal aid program) to end furlough and pay bonuses (not the intended purpose of the money).
APS isn’t the only district that is having these issues. There are districts all throughout the United States that are filled with Black administrators who do have the power to stop this madness. Sadly, much of this will rarely make it to the front pages of our Black media. Instead, let’s find the next story of the White teacher who allergic to Afros or gets a lesson on slavery really wrong.
Lastly, for those who always scream about “special interest” money in politics, why is it so hard for them to hold teacher unions accountable for not cracking down on this foolishness? Teacher unions dump millions of dollars in the same party we give our vote to every election cycle. What is crazy is that some of the same responsible Black parents out there who fight against this mess in school board meeting will vote for candidates that have sworn to keep these clowns employed.
So who needs the education here? The teachers or the parents? Because the kids ain’t getting Jack.
Atlanta public schools need a long recess
by Duane on November 11th, 2010 at 10:14 amThis is EXACTLY why when I hear my people complaining about how our kids are not getting a fair shake in public education due to (enter your racism-flavored conspiracy story here), I tend to question it more than actually believe it.
The city of Atlanta is practically owned and operated by Black folks. It has largely been billed as THE place to go if you are Black and equipped with a dream. Yet when it comes to our own kids, the public school system that we greatly control and have influence, those dreams are lost or destroyed.
Before anybody says it, yes there are good teachers in the APS. I happen to know a few and their love and devotion for their kids is something I have witnessed firsthand. So yes, you do have some very awesome teachers in the system.
But despite the few bright spots, there are many who screw it up for both the good teachers and the students who look to them for guidance.This has been going on far too long in the APS and it is high time that the same Black media that will highlight a Billy Bob for calling one of our kids a “nigga” (and make it front page news) will highlight how we are squandering the very power WE have in the school system.
This past summer, 109 educators in the APS were suspected of cheating.
Also this summer, it was discovered that this school administrator was selling his autobiography to schools under his supervision.
As of last month, APS faces the possibility of losing it accreditation.
In today’s paper I read that APS and surrounding school districts used money from the Education Jobs Fund (a federal aid program) to end furlough and pay bonuses (not the intended purpose of the money).
APS isn’t the only district that is having these issues. There are districts all throughout the United States that are filled with Black administrators who do have the power to stop this madness. Sadly, much of this will rarely make it to the front pages of our Black media. Instead, let’s find the next story of the White teacher who allergic to Afros or gets a lesson on slavery really wrong.
Lastly, for those who always scream about “special interest” money in politics, why is it so hard for them to hold teacher unions accountable for not cracking down on this foolishness? Teacher unions dump millions of dollars in the same party we give our vote to every election cycle. What is crazy is that some of the same responsible Black parents out there who fight against this mess in school board meeting will vote for candidates that have sworn to keep these clowns employed.
So who needs the education here? The teachers or the parents? Because the kids ain’t getting Jack.