 EDITORIALS |
OUR VOICE, AN OPEN LETTER TO NHC SCHOOLS' NEW SUPERINTENDENT, WEEK OF JULY 29-AUGUST 4, 2010
by EDITORIAL STAFF
The Wilmington Journal
Originally posted 7/28/2010
Dear Dr. Timothy Markley:
Please allow us to congratulate you for being selected as New Hanover County Schools next superintendent. Those of us in the community who had a chance to meet you, and listen to your presentation about your vision for educating children, were most impressed.
We are very pleased with your selection, and cannot wait for you to officially start your tenure in the weeks to come.
We've made particular note of your rhetorical standard for quality education, namely, ''Is it good for the kids?'' That tells us to expect innovative programs that should enhance the learning of all children in our school system. With your impressive history, youth and energy, we certainly do expect exciting things to take place ''for the kids'' in the months and years ahead.
Your standards, however, fly in the face of the very people who hired you--our Republican-led county school board.
The conservative majority on the board has proven repeatedly throughout the years that if it's really ''good for the kids,'' they want no part of it
And if it's good for Black children, not only don't they want nothing to do with it, but will bend over backward to darn sure ruin it.
Take this ignorant comment to the Raleigh News & Observer this week by NHC School Board Chair Edward Higgins.
''Any person who doesn't believe in neighborhood schools doesn't believe you can educate minorities.''
What is this man growing in his backyard?
It's not that African-American parents wouldn't love to have their children attending the school down the block, like most families would, provided that the neighborhood school has all of the resources those ultra-modern new schools out in the suburbs have; has good, experienced teachers; and strong leadership in the principal's office.
Instead, and against legal warning, we have a school board that deliberately created two middle schools where virtually 80 percent of the students are on free and reduced lunch.
Translation--Chairman Higgins and his three-person GOP posse' deliberately created two high poverty schools. Any education expert will tell that while poor children can certainly be taught, without question, it is extremely difficult to do where their numbers exceed a 40-50 percent of the total school population. The teacher finds herself (most times these days it is a white female) having to deal with difficult issues surrounding high poverty student populations she, quite frankly, isn't equipped to handle.
So steadily but surely, good teachers and administrators transfer out. Frustrated principals take the next train out of Dodge too, knowing that their students simply won't get the kind of attention, respect or resources from the school board or central office that the suburban schools are getting.
And in these tight budget times, it will be real easy for the powers that be, namely the folks who hired you, to say, ''Sorry, but we just don't have the money!''
They'll be saying that to you, Dr. Markley. You'll see Black children trapped in desperate situations in these schools, and will want to do something to make sure that they have the same chance as other, better-resourced children in the school system.
And your new bosses will tell you, without nary a blink, that the money just isn't there.
And that's why, Dr. Markley, in order for ALL of the students of New Hanover County to truly experience the goodness you plan to bring to your new leadership role here, we know EXACTLY what you need.
A new New Hanover County Board of Education.
You see, it doesn't make since for this bunch to spew oil in the ocean, and then hire you to teach children how to swim in it.
We suspect that you were hired to work your educational magic on the kids that the NHC School Board considers its ''Best and Brightest.'' But when it comes to children of color - OUR children - try as you might (and we know you will), this gangly bunch who would rather warehouse our children, instead of creating new opportunities for them to learn through dedicated teachers and more dedicated resources, WILL TELL YOU NO!
So we have to get rid of them, and elect a new board that can be a true partner with you as you move forward with vision and commitment.
That means African Americans, joining with those right-minded citizens who know how hopeless the conservative majority on the school board really are, must come together once again as voters, make sure that they support and re-elect the progressive members of the board, but also work hard to grab at least one of the conservative seats.
There is so much power that the people have, that we are not using, and voting this fall in large, effective numbers for what is good and right in this city, county and state, is the main way to put it all in gear.
We owe it to our children to make that difference. We see all over the nation, and even right here in North Carolina in Wake County, people standing up for their children, demanding the best education possible.
Here in New Hanover County, we have no choice but to do the same. We must demand educational excellence for our children, at the school board meetings, in our individual schools, and certainly at the ballot box.
By the time you officially take office in November, we hope there is a different attitude toward Black children on that board.
So, just as we expect for you, as our superintendent, to do your part, Mr. Markley, we must also expect for us to do ours.
And we will.
We look forward to speaking directly with you in the future, Dr. Markley.
We are, indeed, looking forward to a truly new day in New Hanover County public schools, for ALL of our children.
|
|
|
|
|
|
