Where do I start? I will say that Birmingham school district is royally fucked if this isn't solved very soon. In my opinion, they seem they have such a dilemma that most urban school districts seem to have these days. That problem is fiefdom mentality when it should even be this way. (Preference, what I am about to say is the honest yet objective truth). When it comes to the Birmingham school district, the whites that mostly now live in the suburbs such as the municipalities Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Gardendale, Fultondale, Clay, and Trussville or incorporated areas like McCalla and Grayson Valley, or western Saint Clair and northern Shelby counties were the ones that screwed up the school district because they didn't want their children to attend schools with blacks back in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, but it was the mismanagement of the majority black and AEA (Alabama Education Association) led administrators that has led to the school districts problems since the 1990s. This is nothing new because school districts in New Orleans, Memphis, Atlanta, Washington DC, and many others across the South has this problem as well.
The whole "they are trying to take over our schools" mantra perpetuated by the Frank Matthews and the same crew of misguided individuals aided the selection of the ineptitude leadership of William Bell aka "the Jackal". I weep for the socially progressive, working-class, and urban enthusiasts in the city of Birmingham because they have no true allies at all. It seems like instead of find some common ground with those across the city whom want to turn the school district around. Many of these individuals have children in the district's schools that refuses to provide a quality education that is offered in the surrounding school districts. As a result, many are forced to do just day either leave for the suburbs if their children cannot get into the Ramsey High School, the baccalaureate academy at Parker High School, or cannot afford to send their children to one of the private schools in the region if they want to remain within the city. Instead of trying to improve the school district, the board members want to continue status quo so they preserve the jobs of those whom are family and friends in the Birmingham Board of Education central office. Advocates of reform had to turn to the one entity within the government organization that probably has the least amount of regard for the urban school district in the one city that it wish would die more than anything else, the Alabama State Board of Education.
Yeah, sure the current board has attempted to oust the current superintendent, Craig Witherspoon, more than once, but the Alabama Board of Education and apparently the courts are against that. However, it is the unlikely allies that reformers of the school districts battle against mediocrity and the current foes are what are worrisome. Let me not forget the current Birmingham School Board president being ruled a resident of Trussville rather than Birmingham after proof of him not being a full-time resident of the city was discovered. The school district is at risk losing its accreditation with the Southeast Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) over the recurring problems with specific schools and the majority of the board's idiocy (can you say Clayton County, Georgia all over again). Finally, having a group of entitled urban mostly black bureaucrats are actually making things worse than their white counterparts and have the working-class, majority black electorate in the city thinking this is a racial usurp to get retribution on them by the state of Alabama. Now this is truly sad…
The one bright spot is the fellow blogger, Laura Kate Whitney, of MagicCityMade blog pointed out that Birmingham like most urban places are worth fighting for in the long run. This battle has revealed that racial animus is behind the majority of this foolishness on the black members whom are against district reform on the Birmingham Board of Education. As a black American, I understand and fight for the struggle of a socially egalitarian US by calling out the inequities of all times and bigotry of all. However, the board members needs to realize that sometimes it best to not fight change because all they are doing is inadvertently destroying Birmingham's chances of recovering.
It's not about you guys, it is about fixing this declining school district before there is nothing left. *SIGH*
Hello Kayman, you said;
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to the Birmingham school district, the whites that mostly now live in the suburbs such as the municipalities Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Gardendale, Fultondale, Clay, and Trussville or incorporated areas like McCalla and Grayson Valley, or western Saint Clair and northern Shelby counties were the ones that screwed up the school district because they didn't want their children to attend schools with blacks back in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, but it was the mismanagement of the majority black and AEA (Alabama Education Association) led administrators that has led to the school districts problems since the 1990s
How is it the Alabama Education Associations fault schools public schools are unequally funded in Alabama?
The whole "they are trying to take over our schools" mantra perpetuated by the Frank Matthews and the same crew of misguided individuals aided the selection of the ineptitude leadership of William Bell aka "the Jackal".
ReplyDeleteO-I-C, this is a hit piece on Frank Matthews, Mayor William Bell and the AEA. No wonder it was front paged at Left in Alabama.
Carry on.
I'm sure you won't approve my comments because just like your buddies at LiA youhate to be questioned or challenged.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, hello Redeye.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, you know just like I know that AEA has fucked up Alabama, so don't act brand new (and I will take your ass to task with the quickness). Third, you would cosign on splabuvian mess because you can't see past your own shortcomings of disliking white people. William Bell, Frank Matthews are both some ignorant motherfuckas that would be the reason why black folks can't gain any allies in this social progress. FYI, did you know that both Bell and Matthew well known homophobes?
Let's meat of the convo, AEA has PLENTY to do with this shit. Their asses have been helping the Birmingham school board lawyer up against Craig Witherspoon for years now. They have attempted to fire Witherspoon more than 3 times now because he doesn't want to keep those AEA flunkies in the Birmingham BOE central office while quality educators are losing their jobs due to mismanagement. Funding is NOT Birmingham school district's problem, it is the personnel issue that is fucking up Birmingham's schools. As a matter of fact, under Witherspoon's tenure almost all of Birmingham's schools have seen significant improvement in the quality of education, but due to the shrinking nature of the district the superintendent (Witherspoon) have constant make the hard decision of laying off good educators while the title holders in central office collect paychecks for doing nothing.
If you lived in Birmingham at any point then you would know whom and what is really going on, but you live in Huntsville. So I know you are talking out the side of your neck...as usual...
Remember to keep it cute because this is my blog... ;)
"Third, you would cosign on splabuvian mess because you can't see past your own shortcomings of disliking white people."
ReplyDeleteWhat evidence/proof do you have that I "dislike white people" kayman?
All one has to do is read your post history on Left in Alabama and how hard in the paint against white progressives especially when it comes to your tacitness overlooking of black homophobia supporting the black politicos that allow or benefit from it. It's kind of obvious, dear.
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