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Proviso Probe

Thursday, June 15, 2006

ED, James Smith criticizes the educational system

I have invited a few people to be guest writers and commentators on Proviso Probe. I hope they are informative and stimulate discussion.

The first contributor is James T. Smith, who ran for State Senate in the Democratic Primary against Sen. Kimberly Lightford.
Who Loves Black Children?

I have come to the conclusion, that even in 2006, that no one loves Black children. Whether from indifference or overt hatred the effect has been the same, and Successful Black Children are an endangered species in our society. To prove my case on need only look at Proviso School District – 209 where 3,224 its 4,791 students are Black 70-80% of these Black children are functioning below grade level.

Who cares where we lay the blame? For once we find whose at fault if we don’t fix this problem then we will continue to find the escalation of crime, taxes and “Business Flight” from our community. For decades the “Miseducation of the Negro” has been occurred with little attention paid to it, but now we are all suffering from it if only by the taxes we pay and the lower property values we face when institutions like Cabrini Green, which warehoused these problems, where torn down by the son of their architect, and their inhabitants scattered throughout the state.

Fixing the problem is not as hard as it sounds, because contrary to popular belief Black children are no less intelligent than any other race. America won with the Brown v. Topeka decision, but it didn’t change the lot Black Children have in public education. For entities like Proviso School District 209 and Chicago Public School District 299 are not about the education of children. These “Systems” are about jobs and contracts. There is no other business in America that would allow its employees to operate at a better than 70% failure rate in the provision of its services. By all accounts Proviso Township H.S. School District-209 failed to use more than $55,433,644, of Proviso Township property tax dollars, appropriately in the 2003-2004 school year, and in Chicago we are talking billions that go to waste every year.

Last week the front page of the Sun-Times, showed a grinning Jesse Jackson and Arnie Duncan swimming in a pool that fell into disrepair under their watch. Our government continues to resupply contracts and jobs to those who are part of a failing system. Ask them to show you the money and they will point where they sent it, but I want accountability in their spending of our money.

The problem can be fixed, by institutions like Outward Bound and their Expeditionary Learning Program, and by collaborating to find and implement best practices in education through our institutions of higher learning. The Constitution of the State of Illinois, requires our government to educate all children to their capacity, therefore we must build an educational community that does just that. We don’t need resources for there are others who successfully educate children for less than we use, but we do need to reallocate the existing resources to entities who will do the job. If they cant do the job we fire them and find someone who can.

40 Comments:

  • I thought I saw a book at the library or the bookstore that questioned the value of outdoor programs. But now I'm having trouble finding it.

    Has anybody else seen it?

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 4:35 PM, June 15, 2006  

  • We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender!" -- Winston Churchill
    Churchill stated that in England's fight against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. We in Proviso state these words against Welch and Theresa Kelly!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:03 PM, June 15, 2006  

  • Proviso teacher says:
    All James Smith has added to the educational discussion is more rhetoric--"Nobody loves Black Children"???--C'mon. Get real.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:36 PM, June 15, 2006  

  • Mad as hell...

    How about dumb as hell!

    If I didn't know any better, I would swear "mad as hell" and "telling the truth" are one and the same.

    Please tell the Welch that nobody trusts a plagiarizer.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:33 AM, June 16, 2006  

  • Get a life!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:46 AM, June 16, 2006  

  • Can we also fire the parents?

    By Blogger Roy, at 11:59 AM, June 16, 2006  

  • We track the volume of referrals and other disciplinary activity by teacher name. The higher the volume per/instructor the greater the evidence that such individual is unable to effectively manage their classroom. Same in the case of student retentions. We know who they are and where they are. The real challenge in addressing this issue amounts to getting around the union.

    Essentially, the blame is misplaced. Teachers that are incompetent and thus unable to manage a classroom such that the student is inclined to become engaged tend to project their own frustration and professional failure on the basis of deficits amongst the adolescent population. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

    Where measures are adopted to effecively deal with this issue performance indeces tend to improve significantly.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:48 PM, June 16, 2006  

  • ms. coffee says: don't you dare blame the teachers! Yes, the teachers at Proviso are predominately white, but they CARE. I talked to a new teacher who expressed some frustrations, but he said if he reached a few he felt success in the Proviso schools. You don't have to work very hard to pass. The students know it and teachers are hired and fired based on the number of F's they give out. The grading system lets a child pass who only came to school for one 9 weeks and got a C or better. In other words, he can cut an entire 9 weeks and cut the final and because of the gerading system he will still pass. Proviso schools need to change their attitude. Children need to know they will be held accountable for absences, tardies, missed work and not handing in homework. How many children come to school every day with their cell phone or IPod and not with a pencil and paper? When the school board begins to up the standards, then education will take place at Proviso. Unfortunately, there is this stupid law called NCLB. It states that schools must up their graduation rate every year. At Proviso the solution to this problem was to lower the standards. During Gilchrist's reign the requirements for graduation were lowered. All so that Proviso could up their graduation rate. It's not too late. If we up the standards, the kids will at first fail. Then they will get the idea that Proviso is not a school where you can just be there and pass. It goes to the grade schools too. Lots of kids have asked me, "How can I be failing, I'm here every day". Well, the chairs are here everyday and they don't know any history. Where do they get the idea that if they are merely in attendance, they should pass. I have to think it's the grade schools or maybe it's the kids who transfered in from Chicago. I don't know. But, the main thing is we have to change attitudes about education before Proviso can be successful.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:20 PM, June 16, 2006  

  • Ms.Coffee to provisoguru. I didn't mean to downgrade students from any part of chicago. What I was referring to was the attitude that you should pass just because you're there everyday. I think some of that attitude comes from our feeder schools and some comes from students who attended chicago schools. I once ran into a man who went to Marshall high school. He told me he got an A in English all 4 years mainly because he was there everyday. He thought he was an English genius. He went to junior college and the rhetoric teacher asked him to write a theme. He didn't know what that was. Let's hope that the low standards at Proviso never put our students in that position. If you get an A in English it should be because you're superior in English, not because some teacher was too afraid to give out an F.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:40 AM, June 17, 2006  

  • What does James Smith know about education? Absolutely nothing. I attended a forum held by A+ Illinois in Oak Park during the primary campaigns in March, and Mr. Smith was there. He showed up lated out of disrespect to the organization, and then, he couldn't answer many of the questions. When asked by the moderator if he wanted to answer at least two questions, Mr. Smith said, "no." Question, why show up at a forum if you are not going to answer questions. Even if you tell the people in attendance you don't know the answer and you will do some research. At least give an answer. Now, James Smith is critizing the educational system. He doesn't even live in Proviso Township. I can state with 100% that he has not even visited Proviso Township High Schools. How can you criticize something you have no real knowledge of at all. Mr. Smith was such an embarrasment as a candidate he received no endorsements and got his but kicked!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:33 PM, June 17, 2006  

  • Ok kim Lightford, you won the election but the fact remains that Proviso children can not count you for doing anything to enhance their education. James Smith at least pays more than lip service to education by having educational programs for AA children in Chicago. It is a total waste that you are over education at the state. It is only so that IFT and IEA give you thousands of dollars in contributions. And for what? Not a dime helps one child. But what do you care? you don't.
    And unless you are joined at the hip with James you have no idea how many times he's been at Proviso schools.

    James is a bright, young man who in time will make an excellent senator. And should he become head of education, we will see some REAL change not just lip service. The best man didn't win

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:40 PM, June 17, 2006  

  • To Proviso Guru: No slight intended. It just appears that you don't have a thorough knowledge of the players in Proviso Township and the history. In fact, look for my blog, TheRealProvisoGuru, coming to you soon. To James Smith Supporter, you really should get a clue. Senator Kimberly Lightford is here to stay. She has done more for this community and education than any elected official. She just does it behind the scenes. She doesn't need the limelight and public credit like a representative we all know. Her record proves it. The editorial endorsements showed it, and the voters overwhelmingly believe it. Can you say 88%? Anyway, it you really knew Proviso politics, you would have to put your bias aside and admit that there are at least three, possibly four, rising stars in Proviso Politics: Kim Lightford, Karen Yarbrough, Chris Welch, and possibly Charles Flowers. Kim for the reasons stated above. Additionally, she's only 38 years old, intelligent, articulate, a product of the community she represents, and good looking. Karen because white people love her and she has good people behind the scenes advising her. She's also young, intelligent, articulate, and good looking. I just hope Ed Smith, Danny Davis and Don Williams don't destroy the good in her. Chris is young, extremely intelligent, articulate, charismatic and people genuinely like him. Those who don't like him are just intimidated by him. If he gets rid of the Gene Moores and Anthony Brunos, he still has a chance to go big places. Charles is very much like Kim, Karen and Chris minus the looks. If he gets past his ugly attitude at times, he can go places as well. In fact, his attitude toward those he disagrees with may cost him in the election for Regional Superintendent. All he needs to do is learn how to agree to disagree without creating enemies. Now, Proviso Guru, give us some insight like that, and I will change my name.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:18 AM, June 18, 2006  

  • So Lightford is here to stay? Where? We'll see about that. James is going NO WHERE SOON!

    I disagree with your analogy of "who's who" in Proviso Politics. She (Lighford)got in by a flook, stays in by her talent (bedroom) and has not been challenged by the right candidate.
    She's a empty skirt,shamming and people who sham get by but when challenged on the basis of ethics, morals and work she'll fall. She's mean spirited, ugly and treats her staff like slaves. Here's to hoping they don't get the idea that the way she behaves is tantamout to being an effective public official. It is not. She could if she would be a rising star but she's too ingrained now with the wrong ideas of what it is to be a legislator.

    Yarbrough is liked by white people? WTF! The district is a predominatly black so are you suggesting that black people don't like her? Don is her father--it's going to be hard to distant herself from him. She works hard, brings home resources but her recent law to go after the President is "out of bounds." (what was she thinking?)

    Danny Davis is one of the most articulate and progressive politicos around. Proviso is well-represented in DC because of him. If he's selected to be the County Board Prez. we still win. Who knows who goes to Congress?
    Ed Smith is effective in getting things done. But, why is he in this conversation? He's not a Proviso pol.

    Welch is damages goods. Can YOU read 24%? The newspaper said it best: "not credible, straightforward or trustworthy, either. I agree he's smart but so are lots of other folks who do bad things to good people and in this case it's the children of Proviso who are the pawns.(lots of smart people in jail too)

    So Flowers is not good looking? I beg to differ and think he's handsome. He is also articulate, smart and well spoken.
    I do agree that he needs to give people who oppose his ideas the okay to be different. I hope he is successful.

    What about Grady Rivers, Theresa Kelly, Sue Henry, Wanda Sharp, Edwina Perkins, Audrey Jaycox, Peggy Alexander, Eugene Moore, MC Robinson, Lena Moreland, Jon Ferguson, Bob Payne, Tony Williams, (who else?) There are others.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:16 PM, June 18, 2006  

  • James Smith Supporter you are clearly biased and unable to give thoughtful, objective analysis about Proviso politics. Barring some serious scandal or health issue, Senator Kim Lightford is in it for the long haul. 88% is not a fluke. In regards to my comments about White people liking Karen Yarborough, it's obvious. White people like Barack Obama too. That's not a slight. In order to be a successful candidate, you have to have support on both sides. That's why I said I hope Ed Smith, Danny Davis and her dad don't give her too much bad advice. Chris Welch may have been damaged by his connection to Eugene Moore, but he is certainly not damaged goods. 24% of the vote in a district where half of them never heard of him was actually quite impressive. Even more impressive was what he appeared to raise from fundraising. If you think a 30 something year old black male from Northwestern University is damaged goods, you clearly can't put your prejudice aside and be open minded. Was Barack Obama damaged goods in 2000 when Bobby Rush smoked him 70% to 30%? Of course not. Welch needs to keep doing what he is doing, and do a little less of the associating with Eugene Moore, Anthony Bruno and those likes. Finally, when I say rising stars, I mean people with potential to go beyond local politics. Grady Rivers, Sue Henry, Theresa Kelly, Eugene Moore, Wanda Sharp, Peggy Alexander, Audrey Jaycox and your entire list are local politicians in their best day. Grady is just not smart. Sue is happy making sure the Proviso East band is the best in the land. Theresa Kelly is just dumb. Have you ever heard her speak? Eugene Moore is done. Stick a fork in him. Wanda Sharp may be the next mayor of Maywood and Peggy Alexander will probably be her village manager. Audrey Jaycox is bright. The computer thing was stupid. Edwenna Perkins is bright. I like her. Charles Flowers is bright. If he works on his attitude, he has a chance. But that's a big if.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:39 AM, June 19, 2006  

  • Your basic recipe for continued academic failure of our children (other ingredients can embellish the mix):

    (1) add thousands of parents within the Proviso School District who fail to teach their children good educational values and who fail to act as good role models for their children

    (2) mix in low familial socioeconomic status, high neighborhood crime rates, and a generous powdering of helplessness, hopelessness, apathy, and a low sense of self-efficacy within and among families

    (3) sift in generous portions of negative peer group influence including the social reinforcement of antisocial behavior, drug use, violence, and truancy

    (4) combine well-motivated students who have good academic potential with a large group of losers (2,256 Black students operating below grade level) so the good students face the same struggles as Sisyphus with the same results

    (5). add a only a dash, because of its concentrated powerful effects, of incompetent, inept, self-serving, psychopathic, manipulative, deceitful school administrators, board members, and teachers who do not have the best interests of the students on their agendas, hidden and otherwise

    (6) add a pinch of ostensibly good-intentioned but basically ignorant legislators and “wanna be” legislators who think that there is a simple solution to the problem, who paint the problem with a broad and sometimes dumbfoundlingly stupid brush ("No One Loves Black kids"), who appeal to gut reactions of voters rather than coming up with complex total solutions (if there are truly any that can be implemented), who fail to lobby for and/or appropriately fund the solutions, and who make damn sure that, when sprinkles of money are allocated, the sugar ends up on the plates of relatives, cronies, friends, and neighbors (Patrick Fitzgerald, are you reading this?)

    Add all of these ingredients together, let them stew year-after-year-after year, until they become solidified ... until the mix becomes a gargantuan brick of dung, seemingly impenetrable, that stinks to high heaven and then serve it over and over again to the community.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:26 AM, June 19, 2006  

  • James Smith should have criticized the parents too. From what I've seen, many (way too many) Black parents are sending their kids to school eating junk food. They are not making the kids do their homework. How can you teach kids that are coming from backgrounds like this? In the 60’s and 70’s when Blacks went to school, they didn't have the resources that White kids had and yet they still learned. So, it is not enough to say that something is wrong with the educational system. Blacks have never had the resources spent on them and we still learned. I think we should start with the parents first then work our way from there. It is unfortunate that we can't fire the parents like Roy said.

    By Blogger Cynthia, at 5:47 PM, June 19, 2006  

  • Anybody who says Edwenna Perkins is bright is dumb theyselves. That buck-teeth wench is two bricks short of a full load. She reminds me of a rat--sniviling, vindictive and ignorant. She's still mad that her dumber than a box of rocks husband didn't become pastor of 1st Baptist. Thankfully, there are people there that know quality when they see it.
    Perkins is a stupid, stupid, stupid.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:41 AM, June 20, 2006  

  • There's only one account with access to Proviso Probe that can change an entry. I didn't change the text here.

    Unless it's a minor edit for grammatical accuracy, I note changes I make.

    If one has a blogger account, I think you can delete posts made by your account. So someone could post something, delete it and re-post something similar.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 12:14 PM, June 21, 2006  

  • As for criticizing the parents....

    If you've got something constructive to suggest for parents, say it.

    But blaming the parents kinda forces one to ask, why not hire sitters at $12 per hour instead of teachers at $60,000 per year?

    If the students are fated for low achievement of failure by virtue of their parents, why are we paying $14,000+ per student per year to accomplish nothing positive?

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 12:20 PM, June 21, 2006  

  • BTW, please make the effort to make your case without insulting the other people in the discussion.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 12:22 PM, June 21, 2006  

  • What must be done with the greatest of urgency is to break up Proviso 209 into smaller schools immediately!!!
    Maywood and Bellwood need there own high school school.If the classes are smaller, and the money per pupil were the same, improvement can be had. Also without the extra money from the entire are both villages and the new school won't be able to misspend the money hiring all there relatives and friend, and the money would be spent in the classroom,on students,teachers and books and materials.
    Also Melrose Park and Stone Park should have there own school too focus on there issues, as well as Westchester and Hillside with Berkley,and Broadview and Forest Park there own.
    If we don't have the vision to do this for our children,we should then have vouchers for parents!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:17 PM, June 22, 2006  

  • Steven,

    Since I'm the blog administrator, I have a little graffic of a trash can next to each post. If I click on it the post is deleted.

    Is there a graffic next to your posts when you are logged in under your account?

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 2:17 PM, June 22, 2006  

  • Blaming the parents is cheap because most of the people doing it are merely shooting from the hip with anecdotal evidence.

    If someone blames the parents without data or offering a solution it starts to sound like, "Poor Blacks are too fucked-up to raise children."

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 2:20 PM, June 22, 2006  

  • I'm blaming some of the parents. From what I've seen people are not feeding their children properly. For instance, I've seen kids on their way to school eating cheetos, chips, pops etc. Many parents are not making their kids do homework. In fact some I've seen are not even sending their kids to bed at reasonable hours. All of these things make it difficult for children to learn.

    On the other hand, I've talked to some teachers that shouldn't be teachers in my book. For instance, if you have a problem passing that basic teacher's exam, you shouldn't be a teacher. There are problems inherent in the system, but I seriously think something is wrong with many black parents these days. There are many factors that are contributing to the ills in the black community, but parents can easily eliminate some things.

    By Blogger Cynthia, at 4:29 PM, June 22, 2006  

  • @209sucks:

    I've taken that test and it is ridiculously easy. If teachers can't pass it on the first try, they should not be teaching (period). This is a major problem in inner city schools too.

    By Blogger Cynthia, at 4:52 PM, June 23, 2006  

  • Meena,
    The community and taxpayers are outraged. They voted for the board members to represent them and our interests and the board members let us all down. I do not have children in 209 but my tax dollars pay for the education that they get. Faulty, inept administrators that have barest of requirements, unqualified teachers, mismanagement of millions of dollars to name a few are a recipe for disaster. There is plenty of blame to be passed around but the buck stop here with us. We need a board sweep, administration sweep and a swift kick in the ass for parents to do thier parenting job.
    This is not a black, white or Latino problem, it is a problem of holding people accountable. Will you in 2007?

    I've read other posts about the township, the villages and same thing applies there. There is a culture of corruption in Proviso and it wil take many careful surgeons to remove it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:16 PM, June 25, 2006  

  • David D , I agree with you. For way to long we have put up with this crap in our villages and our school districts and township.We need to get away from looking at these posts,school boards and villages as a way to hire family and friends.Instead we should expect our villages and schools to hire very qualified individuals,instead of someone's friend or realtive or someone who lives in Proviso!!!
    Also we need to shun aside all these "Uncle Tom's" who "dance for the masters".You and I know who they are.They talk a great game of empowerment, but at crunch time,they start dancing so well and sell us out!!
    Also enough of all these people who sit on the sidelines and monday morning quarterback, if they had a clue, why are they not in the game?
    No More Welch's,Moore's,Cross's,Pasqualli,Kelly's,Jackson's,Baxter's,Coglinese's,Serpico's,Herrell's,Ireland's,Bryant's, no more.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:27 PM, June 25, 2006  

  • to angry black

    I looked carefully at your list and I would add a few more. But, let's work on getting "qualified" interested and committed people to help. People who are aspiring to be "career" politicians need not apply. A real process or clearinghouse for aspirants would be helpful.

    The current elected officials who's terms are up next year should be our focus. 209 school board should be a target. Those interested in the municipal elections, should get started now.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:05 PM, June 25, 2006  

  • Dave D:

    Be very leery of those who spew rhetoric and list names with out showing the track record (pros & cons) of the individuals named.

    There is one name on the "angry black" list that doesn't deserve to be grouped...

    I will leave it up to those who are not superficially concerned but actually concerned to make the distinction.

    I mean really...can you take a man who calls himself "angry black" seriously?

    Soon, he'll be a "mad as hell" "real proviso guru" who's “watching and waiting” for the “truth tellers of proviso” to actually “tell the truth”.

    I really pity an ambulance chaser that refers to himself as a “successful attorney”!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:35 AM, June 26, 2006  

  • I'm going to write an entry about what I think should be done with Proviso Township High Schools.

    I've ordered a book on inter-library loan that I will borrow from somewhat.

    In Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity Francis Fukuyama makes the case that societies with higher levels of trust are able to build larger human organizations and are therefore able to become more wealthy.

    It includes analysis that borders on bigotry. Fukuyama claims certain cultures and ethnic groups have a hard time building organizations past adding family members. But the societies and cultures with higher levels of trust (USA, Germany & Japan) became economic powerhouses.

    Being a Right Winger Fukuyama also takes swipes at the Left for challenging the consensus of U.S. society which Fukuyama identifies as being a Protestant consensus.

    I suspect the essential ingredient to fixing District 209 is to convince the players that everybody else in the system are going to do their part to deliver quality education.

    Think of the pieces of the puzzle:
    * school board
    * superintendent (CEO)
    * administrators
    * teachers
    * students
    * parents
    * regional sup't
    * state's attorney
    * state board of education

    Most everyone has bought into the belief that if Proviso Township High Schools get good results it's in spite of the school system, not because of it.

    If you ask the people belonging to any one group in the system they'll tell you they are doing their job, but it's the other entities that are screwing-up.

    The easiest targets, the ones with the least power to fight back, are the students and parents. So they get the most blame.

    To lift up the students the various people in the system need to be convinced the other entities in the system are doing their jobs. They need to trust that their efforts aren't going to be wasted.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 10:56 AM, June 26, 2006  

  • 7.5 million, that is what Theresa Kelly states she has brought to our school district.Now,Now, what argument is that on why she insists on staying on the 209 board, when she has never done anything for the betterment of our district other than hire her friends and neighbors??She till this day is trying to manage the school behind the scenes, from intimidating teachers,staff and others, into doing her bidding.
    Ms. Kelly is what's wrong with the school. First she gave us Welch, then she was dropped by Welch and all of a sudden she started to act and stay, "I never agreed with what he had done"!
    So what is it Theresa, do you agree or disagree with him??Because when you were his staunch supporter, and biggest fan, you never said a word to all the scandoulous things both of you were doing!!!!
    The Politics of misinformed,poorly educated,clueless inidividuals sitting on 209 and then believing that they are more qualified than teachers , and looking to benifit for themselves must and will end , if 209 has a chance to improve.
    Have you no shame??What will you say to our Lord the day you meet him, about what you have done and what you want to do to the children at 209???Your actions, as well, as the actions of other 209 board members, affects thousands of children for the rest of there lives, and can truely destroy lives, because of having no education...You just want to feed your ego and your vice!!!
    If Yarbrough supports you or Flowers, then I will know that nobody and no one is truely intrested in what's best for our children!!!
    P.S. I am not Welch!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:36 PM, June 26, 2006  

  • To Angry Black:

    Ahhh...I guess the ambulance chaser comment got under your skin huh Mr. Welch? Who the cap fits, let him wear it! I'm glad you responded...

    Again, more talk...more defamatory words...and as usual...no substance to your incoherent ramblings.

    Also, and bringing the Lord into your frivolous statements will not justify your point nor save your soul.

    One day, when you learn the basics of argument and debate...you know...like presenting facts in the basis of your argument.

    Then and only then will we consider taking your ramblings as something more than the sludge oozing from the sewers.

    It's the same tasteless tactic you used against Karen Yarbrough; must be something about strong, determined, independent women that draws your ire.

    Absolutely disgusting!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:11 PM, June 26, 2006  

  • There is surely no nation in the world that holds "racism" in greater horror than does the United States. Compared to other kinds of offenses, it is thought to be somehow more reprehensible. the press and public have become so used to tales of murder, rape, robbery, and arson, that any but the most spectacular crimes are shrugged off as part of the inevitable texture of American life. But,"Racism" is never shrugged off. For example, when a white Georgetown Law School student reported earlier this year that black students are not as qualified as white students, it set off a booming, national controversy about "racism." If the student had merely murdered someone he would have attracted far less attention and criticism.

    Racism is, indeed, the national obsession. Universities are on full alert for it, newspapers and politicians denounce it, churches preach against it, America is said to be racked with it, but just what is racism?

    Dictionaries are not much help in understanding what is meant by the word. They usually define it as the belief that one's own ethnic stock is superior to others, or as the belief that culture and behavior are rooted in race. When Americans speak of racism they mean a great deal more than this. Nevertheless, the dictionary definition of racism is a clue to understanding what Americans do mean. The peculiarly American meaning derives from the current dogma that all ethnic stocks are equal. Despite clear evidence to the contrary, all races have been declared to be equally talented and hard- working, and anyone who questions the dogma is thought to be not merely wrong but evil.

    The dogma has logical consequences that are profoundly important. If blacks, for example, are equal to whites in every way, what accounts for their poverty, criminality, and dissipation??Since any theory of racial differences has been outlawed, the only possible explanation for black failure is white racism. And since blacks are markedly poor, crime-prone, and dissipated, America must be racked with pervasive racism. Nothing else could be keeping them in such an abject state.

    All public discourse on race today is locked into this rigid logic. Any explanation for black failure that does not depend on white wickedness threatens to veer off into the forbidden territory of racial differences. Thus, even if today's whites can find in their hearts no desire to oppress blacks, yesterday's whites must have oppressed them. If whites do not consciously oppress blacks, they must oppress them Unconsciously. If no obviously racist individuals can be identified, then societal institutions must be racist. r, since blacks are failing so terribly in America, there simply must be millions of white people we do not know about, who are working day and night to keep blacks in misery. The dogma of racial equality leaves no room for an explanation of black failure that is not, in some fashion, an indictment of white people.
    The logical consequences of this are clear. Since we are required to believe that the only explanation for non-white failure is white racism, every time a non-white is poor, commits a crime, goes on welfare, or takes drugs, white society stands accused of yet another act of racism. All failure or misbehavior by non-whites is standing proof that white society is riddled with hatred and bigotry. For precisely so long as non-whites fail to succeed in life at exactly the same level as whites, whites will be, by definition, thwarting and oppressing them. This obligatory pattern of thinking leads to strange conclusions. First of all, racism is a sin that is thought to be committed almost exclusively by white people. Indeed, an ex black congressman from Chicago, Gus Savage, and Coleman Young, the ex black mayor of Detroit, have argued that only white people can be racist. Likewise, in 1987, the affirmative action officer of the State Insurance Fund of New York issued a company pamphlet in which she explained that all whites are racist and that only whites can be racist. How else could the plight of blacks be explained without flirting with the possibility of racial inequality?
    Although some blacks and liberal whites concede that non-whites can, perhaps, be racist, they invariably add that non-whites have been forced into it as self-defense because of centuries of white oppression. That appears to be non-white racism is so understandable and forgivable that it hardly deserves the name. Thus, whether or not an act is called racism depends on the race of the racist. That would surely be called racism when done by whites is thought to be normal when done by anyone else. The reverse is also true.
    Examples of this sort of double standard are so common, it is almost tedious to list them: When a white man kills a black man and uses the word "nigger" while doing so, there is an enormous media uproar and the nation beats its collective breast; when members of the black Yahweh cult carry out ritual murders of random whites, the media are silent (see AR of March, 1991). College campuses forbid pejorative statements about non-whites as "racist," but ignore scurrilous attacks on whites.
    At election time, if 60 percent of the white voters vote for a white candidate, and 95 percent of the black voters vote for the black opponent, it is white who are accused of racial bias. Where are 107 "historically black" colleges, whose fundamental blackness must be preserved in the name of diversity, but all historically white colleges must be forcibly integrated in the name of... the same thing. Do resist would be racist.
    "Black pride" is said to be a wonderful and worthy thing, but anything that could be construed as an expression of white pride is a form of hatred. Blatant anti-white prejudice, in the form of affirmative action, is now the law of the land.?Anything remotely like affirmative action, if practiced in favor of whites, would be attacked as despicable favoritism.
    All across the country, black, Hispanic, and Asian clubs and caucuses are thought to be fine expressions of ethnic solidarity, but any club or association expressly for whites is by definition racist. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) campaigns openly for black advantage but is a respected "civil rights" organization. The National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP) campaigns merely for equal treatment of all races, but is said to be viciously racist.
    At a few college campuses, students opposed to affirmative action have set up student unions for whites, analogous to those for blacks, Hispanics, etc, and have been roundly condemned as racists. Recently, when the white students at Proviso West High School in Hillside found themselves to be a minority, they asked for a racially exclusive club like the ones that non- whites have. They were turned down in horror. Indeed, in America today, any club not specifically formed to be a white enclave but whose members simply happen all to be white is branded as racist.
    Today, one of the favorite slogans that define the asymmetric quality of American racism is "celebration of diversity." It has begun to dawn on a few people that "diversity" is always achieved at the expense of whites (and sometimes men), and never the other way around. No one proposes that Howard University be made more diverse by admitting whites, Hispanics, or Asians. No one suggests that the Black Congressional Caucus or the executive ranks of the NAACP or the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund suffer from a lack of diversity. Somehow, it is perfectly legitimate for them to celebrate homogeneity. And yet any all-white group - a company, a town, a school, a club, a neighborhood - is thought to suffer from a crippling lack of diversity that must be remedied as quickly as possible. Only when whites have been reduced to a minority has "diversity" been achieved.
    Let us put it bluntly: To "celebrate" or "embrace" diversity, as we are so often asked to do, is no different from deploring an excess of whites. In fact, the entire nation is thought to suffer from an excess of whites. Our current immigration policies are structured so that approximately 90 percent of our annual 800,000 legal immigrants are non-white. The several million illegal immigrants that enter the country every year are virtually all non-white. It would be racist not to be grateful for this laudable contribution to "diversity." It is, of course, only white nations that are called upon to practice this kind of "diversity." It is almost criminal to imagine a nation of any other race countenancing blatant dispossession of this kind.
    What if the United States were pouring its poorest, least educated citizens across the border into Mexico? Would anyone be fooled into thinking that Mexico was being "culturally enriched?" That if the state of Chihuahua were losing its majority population to poor whites who demanded that schools be taught in English, who insisted on celebrating the Fourth of July, who demanded the right to vote even if they weren't citizens, who clamored for "affirmative action" in jobs and schooling?
    Would Mexico - or any other non-white nation - tolerate this kind of cultural and demographic depredation? Of course not. Yet white Americans are supposed to look upon the flood of Hispanics and Asians entering their country as a priceless cultural gift. They are supposed to "celebrate" their own loss of influence, their own dwindling numbers, their own dispossession, for to do otherwise would be hopelessly racist.
    There is another curious asymmetry about American racism. Then non- whites advance their own racial purposes, no one ever accuses them of "hating" another group. Blacks can join "civil rights" groups and Hispanics can be activists without fear of being branded as bigots and hate mongers. They can agitate openly for racial preferences that can come only at the expense of whites. They can demand preferential treatment of all kinds without anyone ever suggesting that they are "anti-white."
    Whites, on the other hand, need only express their opposition to affirmative action to be called haters. They need only subject racial policies that are clearly prejudicial to themselves to be called racists. Should they actually go so far as to say that they prefer the company of their own kind, that they wish to be left alone to enjoy the fruits of their European heritage, they are irredeemably wicked and hateful.
    Here, then is the final, baffling inconsistency about American race relations. All non-whites are allowed to prefer the company of their own kind, to think of themselves as groups with interests distinct from those of the whole, and to work openly for group advantage. None of this is thought to be racist. At the same time, whites must also champion the racial interests of non-whites. They must sacrifice their own future on the altar of "diversity" and cooperate in their own dispossession. They are to encourage, even to subsidize, the displacement of a European people and culture by alien peoples and cultures. Do put it in the simplest possible terms, white people are cheerfully to slaughter their own society, to commit racial and cultural suicide. To refuse to do so would be racism.
    Of course, the entire non-white enterprise in the United States is perfectly natural and healthy.Nothing could be more natural than to love one's people and to hope that it should flourish. Filipinos and El Salvadorans are doubtless astonished to discover that simply by setting foot in the United States they are entitled to affirmative action preferences over native-born whites, but can they be blamed for accepting them??Is it surprising that they should want their languages, their cultures, their brothers and sisters to take possession and put their mark indelibly on the land?If the once-great people of a once-great nation is bent upon self-destruction and is prepared to hand over land and power to whomever shows up and asks for it, why should Mexicans and Cambodians complain?
    No, it is the white enterprise in the United States that is unnatural, unhealthy, and without historical precedent. Whites have let themselves be convinced that it is racist merely to object to dispossession, much less to work for their own interests. Never in the history of the world has a dominant people thrown open the gates to strangers, and poured out its wealth to aliens. Never before has a people been fooled into thinking that there was virtue or nobility in surrendering its heritage, and giving away to others its place in history. Of all the races in America, only whites have been tricked into thinking that a preference for one's own kind is racism. Only whites are ever told that a love for their own people is somehow "hatred" of others. All healthy people prefer the company of their own kind, and it has nothing to do with hatred. All men love their families more than their neighbors, but this does not mean that they hate their neighbors. Whites who love their racial family need bear no ill will towards non-whites. They only wish to be left alone to participate in the unfolding of their racial and cultural destinies.
    What whites in America are being asked to do is therefore utterly unnatural. They are being asked to devote themselves to the interests of other races and to ignore the interests of their own. This is like asking a man to forsake his own children and love the children of his neighbors, since to do otherwise would be "racist."
    What then, is "racism?"?It is considerably more than any dictionary is likely to say. It is any opposition by whites to official policies of racial preference for non-whites. It is any preference by whites for their own people and culture. It is any resistance by whites to the idea of becoming a minority people. It is any unwillingness to be pushed aside.?It is, in short, any of the normal aspirations of people-hood that have defined nations since the beginning of history - but only so long as the aspirations are those of whites.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:56 PM, June 26, 2006  

  • To 7.5 million, can you please give me the top 10 reasons why anyone, black or white,old or young,rich or poor, should vote for Theresa Kelly??
    Please give actual and intelligent reasons, and show me what exactly has she done that has impacted and improved the education standards for 209 and its students.Don't rail and scream like a banjee stating that she obtained 7.5 million for 209(it's been done before at 209 from other school board members) and don't state she help create the parent academy and the night school(Manzo and his group did that), just give us 10 HONEST reasons why she deserves to be elected.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:04 PM, June 26, 2006  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:35 PM, June 26, 2006  

  • Dickie says: The blacks have already destroyed Dist 209. As the admin gets blacker, the school gets worse. Also, look at the posting about the Maywood Caese fire march. They cite this is the 29th!! victum of a shooting in Maywood. Whites won't have to worry much, they're kiliing themselves.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:11 PM, June 26, 2006  

  • Top 10 reasons...

    Who are you...David Letterman?

    Please name another board member currently serving that has brought back 7.5 million dollars. You mentioned it's been done before...and as usual, you present nothing to back up your statements.

    One cannot have an intelligent debate with someone like yourself who clearly has a grey matter deficiency.

    I could easily list the numerous initiatives that Theresa Kelly started, created and in some cases founded, but why should I?

    I could mention that the Illinois State Board of Education recognized her hard work and effort in district 209 and Proviso Township. This recognition was based on positive results...you know...the positive results you fail to acknowledge.

    I could easily bring up the positive number that makes your blood boil...the 7.5 million dollars that Theresa Kelly brought back to district 209 and Proviso Township...but you know that already.

    I could…I can…Nah, I think I’d rather let you sulk in your own negative thoughts and ambulance chasing while I invite those who are genuinely concerned with the state of the township, district and community to look at the track record of each individual and observe who actually cares about, not just black children, but all children.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:56 AM, June 27, 2006  

  • The issues at 209 are the same as the issues in every other district.

    Smith is 100% right. There is plenty of money, but that money is siphoned off to a politically powerful and greedy bureaucracy that cares more about its power and benefits than it does about children (black or white).

    Further, there is no "reform" that can fix the current system, as every "reform" is gamed in advance through legislation voted on by purchased legislators like Lightford. (who represents Mike Madigan, not her district).

    1. Abolish property taxes for education (60-75% cut for most IL citizens)

    2. Pass HB750 increases (significant broadening of sales tax base and income tax increase)
    ___

    This tax reform funds the state while providing IL with a $2-3 billion tax cut)

    3. Abolish the worthless construct of a "District." It is designed to give you the false appearance of "local control," when in fact 95% of all decisions are mandated by IL law.

    4. Covert every IL public school into an independent charter - owned and operated by 501(c)3 entities that are managed by the pprincipals & teachers, and parents whose children attend.

    5. Use New (tax increase) and existing state education dollars to fund EVERY IL CHILD EQUALLY with a $7-7500 scholarship redeemable at any accredited IL school.

    6. Pass an expansive Charter Creation law inducing creative teachers and citizens to create numerous education alternatives.

    7. Allow for "edcuation savings accounts" so that any left over funds from the scholarships can be used to save for college, tutoring, or other education services.
    ___

    There are only two difficult hurdles to replacing current corrupt and failed system with the above.

    A) Politicians won't let it pass because they are bought and paid for shills of the corrupt "Education Industry" (ED-Mart - always the high price - always).

    B) The transition will be difficult, but managable.
    ___

    Fund children, not systems!

    It's that simple, and Smith is on the right track.

    By Blogger Extreme Wisdom, at 11:44 AM, June 27, 2006  

  • This Is Frickign BS Carl...

    You are allowing Cut and Paste articles from Stormfront and the Klan

    What the hell Is Your Problem,

    are you some Kind of Racist?

    Every one of those DOnnie, Chirs & Brie, Google them and see where they are from

    What are you freaking Sick?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:18 PM, June 27, 2006  

  • I don't check if posts are copyright violations or plagiarized.

    I don't remove stuff except for a few specific reasons.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 4:05 PM, June 28, 2006  

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