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NAACP calling for new look at rezoning process
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:02am
Metro Council member Jerry Maynard is asking for a 'renegotiation' of Metro Schools rezoning plan. He issued the demands Tuesday on behalf of the local NAACP. Matthew Williams/The City Paper
From the pulpit of his own church, Metro Council member Jerry Maynard — on behalf of the local chapter of the NAACP — stated demands the NAACP is making of Nashville’s Board of Education.
“The NAACP will not tolerate empty promises,” Maynard said. “[Passing the plan] has caused division within our community. It has opened up old wounds.”
The first demand is for the board to reopen discussion of a recently passed Metro Nashville Public Schools rezoning plan, and to engage stakeholders including Metro Council’s Black Caucus, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship (IMF) in a “renegotiation” of the plan.
According to the Maynard, those discussions should include assessment of an alternative plan proposed by school board member Ed Kindall. The plan was presented just before the board voted, in a five-to-four split, to approve a rezoning that the NAACP and others consider resegregation. Proponents of the plan say it will return Nashville to neighborhood schools.
The second demand is that, if the board does not reopen discussions, the board should adopt a resolution asking Metro Council to approve $6 million in additional resources for the Pearl-Cohn cluster, to be paid from the district’s reserve fund. Once that is done, a separate account should be created for tracking those funds over the years. The rezoning plan passed by the board promises approximately $6 million in additional resources to be guaranteed for schools in high-poverty, high-minority clusters.
The third demand is for Metro Nashville Public Schools to begin delivering those additional resources immediately, starting next month with the upcoming school year, to show “good faith,” Maynard said. The rezoning plan passed by the board, including the promised additional resources, does not go into effect until the 2009-2010 school year.
And, finally, Maynard said the NAACP is demanding that those additional resources be promised for schools as long as “necessary.” This demand is not out of keeping with the plan, as it was written, which promises additional resources indefinitely.
The meeting, which attracted about 70 people, was held at Southeast Community Church, where Maynard is pastor. Representatives of community organizations including Tying Nashville Together and Tennessee Jobs With Justice expressed support for the NAACP’s position.
Thompson calls on Dean to step forward
School board member George Thompson, at the meeting, publicly called for Mayor Karl Dean to step in and “help avoid being the mayor who helped resegregate Nashville.”
With a divided community and splintering of community organizations, Thompson said, Dean should take a stand. Thompson cited Dean’s request, earlier this year, to play a role in selection of a new director of schools. With the board having been advised by the state Department of Education to focus on rezoning and the hiring of a director, Thompson stated that Dean should be playing a role in rezoning as well.
“Come help us,” Thompson said.
In response to a recounting of Thompson’s remarks, Dean e-mailed a statement Tuesday afternoon through spokesperson Janel Lacy. As he has previously stated, Dean said he believes that everyone involved in the process has had “honorable intentions.”
“I know the task force worked very hard on the plan,” Dean said in the statement. “Our goal as a city should be to move forward on every aspect of improving our schools. If people feel their voices aren’t being heard that causes me concern. It’s my understanding there is agreement on the majority of the rezoning plan. People should be able to come together and calmly work through the few areas of concern.”
NAACP considering lawsuit
NAACP local chapter president Marilyn Robinson was not present at Tuesday’s organizing meeting — she was in Cincinnati, at the national NAACP conference, talking with the national NAACP’s legal team about a possible lawsuit, Maynard said.
“If we do nothing but accept this rezoning plan, we risk going back to federal court,” Maynard said.
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Filed under: City News
No one with any pride would even think about sending their children to a public school in Davidson County.
Not true at all Frank. There are a few very good schools. They may not be fancy, but what they lack they more than make up for in other areas. Like the social experiences not available at most private schools. I went to Hillsboro High...I had classes with mentally retarded kids, kids from 37 different countries, kids from all over the economic spectrum, rednecks, jocks, nerds, punks, hippies...you name it...they were all represented...and that was a beautiful thing. You go to most private schools in Nashville and it looks like two country clubs got together and had a baby. Public schools offer life lessons no private school can.Again...the main difference in private and public schooling is that fact that kids in private schools obviously have parents who care enough to spend thousands of dollars on their education...with the exception of kids that go to Webb who are basically abandoned by their parents.Frank...it is very possible to get a damn fine education here in Nashville's public schools...you just have to seek it out.And what does "pride" have to do with it anyways?
Frank, have you considered that some don't have a choice? Especially for kids with special needs. Unless you want to open YOUR private school to them....
Why in the world would the NAACP demand additional resources as long as "necessary?"I don't understand the outrage. People self-segregate... all people feel most comfortable with their own kind. Why do the majority of people of the black persuasion insist on something for nothing?
The truth is, education starts at home with the parents, not in the schools. I went to private schools and believe it or not, there's not much difference. I know many many people from my private schools that are still working in fast food restaurants and other low paying jobs. I also know many many people who went to public schools that are now surgeons, attorneys, and engineers because their parents pushed them at home. The kids in private schools that I know who are still working in fast food had it very easy at home with house keepers and nannies and they didn't develop any drive and determination because everything was given to them. I think parents who give their kids everything they want is really hurting them. It's not good to isolate children into these pockets of society because that's not the world we live in.
chakracon, you couldn't be more wrong in your last sentence. Apparently, you don't know many people of the "black persuasion" as you call it. Your last sentence is one of the reasons why this could have an long term affect on our community, because it gives birth to ignorance and misunderstanding.In essence, if you look at the actual numbers of who receives government assistance, you'll be surprised to find out that there are MORE people on government assistance that are NOT people of the "black persuasion". Please do your homework before making such ignorant comments.
NewYorker I agree with you in that lumping any group of people together like that is silly...however...I must correct you on one thing...while it is true that the total number of white people receiving some sort of govt assistance is greater, that statistic is pretty meaningless. You must look at a per capita figure to get a clear picture. Blacks, per capita, enjoy more social welfare benefits than do whites.Here are the statistics on welfare recipients:Traits of families on AFDC (1)Race--------------White 38.8%Black 37.2Hispanic 17.8Asian 2.8Other 3.4So blacks make up 37.2% of welfare recipients, yet only make up 12.3% of the total population. That is a problem.
Andrew Jackson Elementary and Julia Green and two fabulous public schools, Frank. And back in the 90's, I had a son at Hillwood Elementary, and it was heaven on earth. Poor Shane survived a brain tumor and that school stayed with him, nurturing him, and keeping him up with the rest of the kids during radiation therapy. I realize you're too old to have a dog in this hunt, but trust the rest of us on this particular topic. There are SOME great schools in Davidson, really, and yes, you'll have to sell your house and move to be near them, just like the rest of us. Plus, by sending 3 now to public elementary, I can save for their private high schools, or we can move again. Frankly, I'm so old, Naples FL is looking really good right now~ ;-)
This plan makes sense, the money saved on busing along justifies it. The opposing views were heard, and debated.They voted and approved it, now they should implement it. Thats how the system is suppose to work.The NAACP can find something else to be against, next week.
evilj, I also read those stats and you forgot to mention the other facts mentioned in that article. The link is http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-welfareblack.htm. The article also states the following:Myth: People on welfare are usually black, teenage mothers who stay on ten years at a time.Fact: Most welfare recipients are non-black, adult and on welfare less than two years at a time. According to the statistics, whites form the largest racial group on welfare; half of all welfare recipients leave in the first two years; and teenagers form less than 8 percent of all welfare mothers. In essence, these statistics are relative based on the source. No one really knows the actually numbers, but the argument here is that we shouldn't throw out these comments suggesting that "blacks want something for nothing. I am a Black American with two college degrees and I paid over ten thousand dollars this year on my property, I've paid in Federal Income taxes from the beginning of the year until now more than the average person makes all year. I pay my sales taxes, car tags, etc to be a part of this community and it offends me when someone say we want something for nothing. Most of my black friends are doctors, business owners, engineers, lawyers, etc. There is not one single person in my family, that I'm aware of, that is on government assistance. I have family member serving in Iraq as we speak and helping to protect this country and we are constantly insulted and looked down upon because people assume that we want everything for nothing.
I got my numbers from the 2000 US Census. I stand by them. You denying them only furthers the problem. Own it. Deal with it.
The link I provided has the same numbers, but has additional information that you seemed to have left out. Again, these statistics are relative to the source. Your source may be different from mine, so who really knows what the numbers really are. The bottom line is, we are all Americans and each ethnic group has it's own problems and we will never be able to move forward and change these ignorant attitudes by segregating the school system, but hey, America is going to pay for all of its wrong doings sooner or later. I just hope I'm still living when it happens.
I don't understand why this is a race issue. It is a mathematical problem. High gas costs for busing kids to schools further away from their homes equals too much money. Plain and simple. This is not resegration of schools. Schools are becoming community schools. If someone chooses to live in a certain community then that is the school their children will attend. If you don't like the school, then move like the rest of us do. Don't ask for the taxpayers to pay for it.
How does the % of a particular race on welfare vary from source to source? It either is or is not 37.2%
UCAN: someone living in North Nashville cannot simply pick up and move to Green Hills on a whim. That said...they shouldn't have to...they don't have to really. The parents need to take advantage of the opportunities given to them already.
Oh sure, NewYorker...I've lived in and with the black community, but I guess I can't base my opinion on that now, can I? The NAACP threatens a law suit if they don't get what they want... and you... you used the word America in you last post where you meant whitey.
I hate the word "whitey" and I don't and never have used it. I said what I meant. America. Don't put words in my mouth.I've lived in, dated, and with the white community. My father is a doctor and my mother has her own business in Manhattan so I grew up around many many different people of different ethnic and economic back grounds. The one thing I've learned about people regardless of their skin color is that we are all the same and have the same issues.
It's funny to me because Caucasian Americans have created this separation of the races with the separate restrooms, separate churches, separate restaurants, separate setting on public buses, murdering blacks for trying to learn to read and write, and the list goes on and on, but why is all of this a big deal now? If blacks do make up the majority of the welfare recipients, it's because America's past has created this situation and believe it or not, it wasn't too long ago.
NewYorker.. we are already paying for slavery, we have to deal with people like you everyday.Anybody born in this country, is very lucky, if you don't realize that go try Darfur for a while. Might change your mind.
"deal with people like you
Adios
Refresque. Usted habla español. Adivino que el sistema escolar público ha hecho algún bueno.
NewYorker sounds like you're blaming whitey. Maybe not current whitey...but old school whitey. Nonetheless you are still blaming someone else. Own it. Deal with it.
evilj, take your own advice. You are nothing special, and you don’t deal with it very well. But you will always own it.
Frank, what schools did or do your children attend? (By the way, pride is the deadliest of sins.)Chakra, we do not live in a town where everyone has been able to choose where they want to live. We still live in a segregated community. A zoning plan that truly returns to “neighborhood schools” will re-segregate many schools. Such re-segregation—not simply racial—will disadvantage many schools. Therefore, the county needs to spend more on those schools to level the playing field, and the zoning plan’s degree of re-segregation may simply be illegal, so we may need to redraw the zoning plan for the sake of the schools & their students.
You are cracking me up with the "Own it. Deal with it." thing. No darling, I'm not blaming anyone, but don't say black people want everything for nothing. That is very insulting and I'm sorry, but I'm not going to sit back and allow someone to say that. There are many black people in this country that work hard everyday and make big contributions to this country.
Apparently NY1 you have to “own and deal” with what all black people do, because you are black, but evilj dosen’t have to own any thing that anybody does, because “he be white”!
NewYorker you claimed that the current plight of poor black people is due to some ill imposed on them in the past. That sounds like blame to me. And I don't need an education on the contributions of black people in America. Their contributions are great and many. That doesn't mean they don't have some of the worst issues as well.BTW..I didn't claim black people wanted something for nothing...that was someone else. Everyone wants something for nothing. That's the American Way.
So black people have issues that they have to overcome, like, being black? Or carrying the weight of all blacks, because they are black? What a dumbarse.
Throttle back on those acidic jets there, folks. The article is about (1) the need to avoid splitting the community with a forced decision and (2) the need for confidence that if the school system promises additional resources, that those resources will actually be there.Great article!
I'm not blaming, but those are true facts. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't condone being on welfare and staying on it. Nothing angers me more than someone not trying. Hell, I don't want to work everyday and pay all these taxes while many people sit at home eating bonbons and watching Oprah. That pisses me off like any other tax payer, but I DO believe our past has caused our current conditions and I don't think the school board's decision is a step in the right direction. I could be wrong because I don't know all the facts and don't work in the public school system.
Jeremiah_29-7, this is just a debate. One I've had many many times being the only black person in my dorm in college or classes in school. As a matter a fact, I enjoy these types of conversations because I know who I am and I love me and regardless of what someone thinks of me or my race, I'm still fabulous and will continue to live well.
African Americans have it easier in some instances. Lower entry and scholarship levels to college. My dad has lost many a job in the university system because it would look better if a woman or black man had it. A lot of people act super nice to black people just to not look like their racist. I think at some point, being a white male is the worst way to be born. NY1, you make 6 figures a year, so you have succeeded here, how bad can it really be? What you'd be making 8 figures if you were white. You have it better off than a lot of white people.
I do feel bad for children raised in poverty and the projects. A recent study showed that children who lived in the projects had low verbal and communication skills. When you have a culture with a dialect that holds them back in the world and children who are not raised to communicate correctly, you have a population doomed to continue poverty and lack of success.
Frank had a bad experience as an assistant principal in MNPS. so his view is somewhat jaded. Or that might be another Frank Brown. The education that you can get at the Magnets and/or Hillsboro is far superior to spending $100,000 for four years at most of Nashville's private schools. Use that money for college.
NewYorker...you do seem to be one of the only black folk that post with any regularity around here...where do all the black people argue online...or don't they?
vejaneksela, I agree. There are so many areas that we need to improve on. I don't think I would take a job if it was based on my race. That would be insulting to me. I want to be judged on my skills and what I can contribute, not because of the color of my skin. I am also extra nice to people because I'm a black male and we all know that black men have the worst reputations in the nation right now, but I also understand why. There are many black guys committing horrible crimes and it's causing all black men to suffer the consequences.
evilj, I'm not sure. This is the only place I post online. Once I get home, I hardly ever get on the computer. I'm either on my lanai sipping on a martini or margarita, yapping on the phone to my friends, in the hot tub or swimming, reading a good book, or working in my yard, which I absolutely love.
Stop ganging up on NYer he is on the right side of most issues and you can't blame him for defending himself against the lynch mob you have cecome.
evilj, I rest my case. "You should take advantage of what is GIVEN to you. How about earning it. If you can't pack up and move then maybe you should have done your research before you moved or be stuck with you choice.
NewYorker1: you are right with respect to just about everything you've said. I actually created an account just to tell you that you're right. That being said, no one likes to hear anyone talk about their money, international jetting or whatever. You don't have to use lifestyle references to prove to anyone that you are educated, just continue to use good grammar. And anyone who says this is not a step backwards is either racist or knows very little about this rezoning plan. I think it's pretty embarrassing for Mayor Dean not to be more involved. Nashville is doing great things to overcome some of the issues we've had in the past, but this could be a very embarrassing misstep...
I know y'all have had a great time chatting and getting to know each other but can anyone tell me if the Chamber endorsed Maynard for Council at Large?