7 Responses to “And another…”

1. posted by Jennifer C. at May 16, 2008 3:14 pm :
   

   There’s no real way to respond to such ludicrous claims, which I suppose is the NAACP’s point. This is evidently the “baffle them with bullsh*t” segment of the program.
   The only positive thing is that they’re claiming the entire school board is involved in a cover-up to create the school, which is sure to be annoying to the members of the board who actually oppose the school.

2. posted by a teacher at May 16, 2008 3:57 pm :
   

   I’m astounded at all of the opposition to the idea. Do these people really think that the Richmond public school system is working?

3. posted by JC at May 16, 2008 4:02 pm :
   

   hard to believe that such complete morons can rise to positions of leadership and influence. i could more easily understand if they were somehow directly profiting from making such accusations by chalking it up to greed, but c’mon!!

   i want to start an organization called NAAP. in this day and age, why segregate your positivity? plus, i’ll betcha it’d be a sweet tax avoiding racket although i’d probably get accused of being a racist.

4. posted by Common Sense Mom at May 16, 2008 10:08 pm :
   

   I have to take a deep breath on this one. The Common Sense part of my brain short circuits when I am hit with fear-based lies, especially ones that are designed to confuse and further segregate this city.

   First - it is well known that PHCI did not come into existance until well after Patrick Henry Public School closed. This claim that there is a “conspiracy” here is absurd. It’s a sad, desparate attempt and even laughable, execpt that some people will choose to believe the lie.

   Second- Charter school does not equal PRIVATE school. PHCI is tuition free and open to all of Richmond. Had they read the charter application, they would have this very basic piece of information corect.

   Did the NAACP raise any concerns or questions about the charter application itself? Were there any comments on the curriculum itself? Was there any substance to their comments at all?

   I am sick and tired of these outside influential groups coming to the table WITH THEIR OWN AGENDA. This is not about agendas!

   This is about the children of Richmond, it’s about education, it’s about a school that teaches kids to love the environment and become inspired through art and music. It’s about an honest, well-meaning group of professionals, parents and educators who love the children of Richmond- ALL THE CHILDREN OF RICHMOND. It’s about people wanting positive change and forward movement.

   Is that so hard to believe?

   Shame on the NAACP for spreading fear, confusion and hate through bold-faced lies.

   With this kind of influence, can Richmond be anything better than it is today?

   It seems that our Police Chief and Mayor think not.

5. posted by RVA Foodie at May 16, 2008 11:08 pm :
   

   Both the NAACP and the Council of PTAs want to see improvement in RPS across the board and they’re using this political moment to turn the heat up under the School Board. I think the strategy is to block the School Board from making token concessions. Your groups may have more in common than you think… such as, a common obstacle and open dissatisfaction with the status quo “leadership.”

   Or, maybe fighting amongst ourselves is the ticket.

6. posted by ed at May 17, 2008 8:48 pm :
   

   “We now realize that the closing of Patrick Henry Elementary School was planned and deliberate to set up the process for the charter application,” the group said in a statement distributed by its executive director, King Salim Khalfani.

   We are an interracial and multicultural family and once we had to endure one of Khalfani’s speeches at Cary elementary. He used physical feature stereotypes to describe and compare African Americans and whites. The sad thing is, Khalfani’s talk came after a beautiful reenactment performed by the students of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech: “…I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood…a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers….”

   I’m grateful that our children found Khalfani’s lecture too boring to listen to and to this day, they do not describe themselves or others as “white” or “black” people.

7. posted by Common Sense Mom at May 18, 2008 6:47 pm :
   

   Ed - Can you please come and speak during public comments at the School Board vote tomorrow? Your world is exactly what we are trying to create for our children.

   I remember learning about slavery and the holocoust in school and thinking “My God, how could human beings treat other human beings that way?!”- it was inconceivable to me, completely unbelievable. I want my son to feel the same way about racism and segregation. I want him to learn about, but not understand from personal experience, what these terms mean.

   This is why I want my son to go to a mixed-race, mixed socioeconomic school that excells and is safe. I really do think it is possible, but clearly, the Richmond School board and the NAACP do not.

   We are asking the leadership of Richmond to believe. Please come tell them that they can.

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