US ed secretary's visit to Ala. school draws ire

[proud2BlibKansan]

Alabama's Legislative Black Caucus on Saturday called on U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to cancel a planned appearance at Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery.

State Rep. Alvin Holmes said the school and its principal publicly opposed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Selma-Montgomery march in 1965. Holmes said it was "insulting" to King and civil rights protesters that President Barack Obama's top education aide was scheduled to appear at the school Monday.

"If he doesn't cancel, we're going to picket," Holmes told The Associated Press.

Sandra Abrevaya, a spokeswoman for Duncan, said the agency was not aware of the caucus' request and had no immediate comment.

Duncan is scheduled to meet with teachers and students at the school and march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 45th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday," the violent clash between civil rights protesters and state troopers in Selma.

more . . . http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/06/1793709/us-ed-secretarys-visit-to-ala.html

[Better Today]

1. So the Black Caucus wants the sins of parents paid by the children?

WTF. Unless I'm mis-interpreting, they're upset because of something to school did 40+ years ago? If that's the case, the BC is being way petty.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Arne marching with teachers

is a tad bit hypocritical, regardless of the cause.

[Better Today]

3. As much as I may agree with that comment, it doesn't change the fact

that this reason given in this OP is totally petty.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. I don't believe it's petty

Arne is promoting policies that are destroying public schools and he is beginning with the schools that serve a majority of minority kids. How dare he participate in any civil rights activities. If he believed in civil rights, he would see to it that schools serving minority kids are funded appropriately and given all the support his department of education can provide. Education is the best thing we can do for our kids. It is also the only ticket available to many low income minority children.

I only regret I am so far away from this event. I'd be there with a picket sign and a counter rally for sure.

[Catshrink]

4. He's attempting to master the art

of talking out both sides of his mouth. Too bad the national unions aren't making more of his attempted destruction. Are they complicit?

[4_TN_TITANS]

16. Well said.

Arne is my choice for Worst Cabinet pick that Obama has made.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Yes I say he's a tie with Rahm

But since Rahm isn't a cabinet member Arne gets the prize.

[AnneD]

18. Both of you are forgetting Obama's Sec of Treasury...

and Wall Streets lap dog, Timmy (I am shocked,shocked to find there is gambeling...) Geirner. The SWT called Obama out on his choice before the name fully left his lips.

[Starry Messenger]

6. Robert E. Lee High School?

Is there a Stonewall Jackson Middle School too? That's just crazy in its own right. :(

[donco6]

7. That's what I thought, too.

Maybe "KKK High" was already taken?

What would it feel like to be AA and going to that HS?

[Starry Messenger]

8. I think I'd be pissed off 24/7 if I were AA and in that high school

Would we allow Erwin Rommel High School and make Jewish kids go there? What the hell is wrong with this country?

[donco6]

9. I wasn't even going to go there. But hell yeah.

J.H.C.

And we complain about indian mascots.

[YvonneCa]

10. ...

...:7

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Hey, it's the Conf ... uh, the South. There are plenty of Lee High Schools.

Robert E. Lee High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Robert E. Lee High School (Baytown, Texas)
Robert E. Lee High School (Bishopville, South Carolina)
Robert E. Lee High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)
Robert E. Lee High School (Houston, Texas)
Robert E. Lee High School (Jacksonville, Florida)
Robert E. Lee High School (Midland, Texas)
Robert E. Lee High School (Montgomery, Alabama)
Robert E. Lee High School (San Antonio, Texas)
Robert E. Lee High School (Staunton, Virginia)
Robert E. Lee High School (Thomaston, Georgia)
Robert E. Lee High School (Tyler, Texas)
R.E. Lee High School (Thomaston, Georgia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee_High_School

But only three Stonewall Jackson High Schools -- oh, wait there's the middle school!

Stonewall Jackson High School (Prince William County, Virginia)
Stonewall Jackson High School (Shenandoah County, Virginia)
Stonewall Jackson High School (Kanawha County, West Virginia), closed in 1989, it is now a middle school.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson_High_School


Your guess is as good as mine as to how many of these schools have predominantly AA student bodies, and predominantly white school boards. Oh, but that wasn't done deliberately! Heaven forfend! :eyes:

[Starry Messenger]

12. Uh wow.

That's a lot. I can't really brag about my own state, we have the highest number of hate groups in the country. But that seems a little "in your face" for kids of color who have to go to those.

[eppur_se_muova]

13. In your face? Have you *seen* the Georgia state flag?

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/35101

[Starry Messenger]

14. Well UCSD has been in the news recently for a student hanging a noose in the library.

Sadly, this is overall still a pretty racist country.

Off-topic, it's nice to see someone else with a Galileo inspired screen name. I almost went with Sidereus Nuncious, but it seems like most of the members here with names in Latin are Catholic.

[FBaggins]

15. No Stonewall Jackson... but there is a Jefferson Davis HS

Of course... this may only be due to the fact that Jackson was more of a VA "hero". :eyes: