BOE hears plea for greater diversity

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Friday, April 8. 2011

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The Barrow County Board of Education heard a plea from a group of citizens to remember the county’s history of African American education at its April 5 meeting.

The Glenwood Barrow County High School Alumni Association gave a presentation to the school board celebrating the local history of African American education and requested the board’s help in “preserving our history and developing our future.”

According to the presentation, the history of African American education was “wiped out” with the closing of Glenwood High School and Elementary in 1970. The group asked the board to partner with it and help sponsor two “recommendations.”

The first is to have a historic marker erected in front of Winder-Barrow Middle School indicating the history and contributions of the Glenwood schools.

The second was to name the next two schools built in Barrow County for two prominent local African American educators: Lafar Dupree Sims and Grace Moon Lay.

“Barrow County’s culture is based on Black, White and Indian cultures,” a spokesman for the group said, “and it is past time for the Barrow Board of Education to embrace diversity…so a real healing can take place.”

For the full story, see the April 6 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 metro on 04/08/11 at 07:20 AM [Reply]

I really don't think there is a need for any of this. Most of us have 'healed' and it seems most of those who have not, don't really have any claim to the civil rights struggle anyway. Instead they agitate while riding on the shoulders of the black and white civil rights figures of the 60's. I think the healing and reparation have long been achieved and compensated. Celebrating people simply for the sake of the color to their skin seems, well...racist to me. I meean don't have any problem naming schools after these black teachers, and i think that 'Grace Moon Lay' is a beautiful name. But i dont think she should have a school named after her simply because she was black. There should be a process that determines a legitimate candidate based on merit and achievements.

#2 Bison Bimford on 04/08/11 at 08:37 AM [Reply]

I agree with Metro, this is just racism diguised as divesity.
"According to the presentation, the history of African American education was “wiped out” with the closing of Glenwood High School and Elementary in 1970."
I find this hard to believe, I have seen plenty of black students in the halls at WBHS.
Why do my tax dollars have to go to these schemes to prop-up certain peoples self-esteem.
Self-esteem starts at home with family.

"Barrow County’s culture is based on Black, White and Indian cultures,” a spokesman for the group said, “and it is past time for the Barrow Board of Education to embrace diversity…so a real healing can take place"

Really now, what about the Korean community and the Hmong community, maybe the GBCHSAA thinks these folks don't count.

As far as healing taking place....well thats starts on the inside, not with a plaque somewhere.
As a side note; The use of the derogatory term "white".
White is not a race of people, it is a color. You marginalize the diversity of my European ancestors when you unfairly catigorize ALL Europeans as simply "white".
Stop it.

#2.1 Booker Tee on 04/08/11 at 10:33 AM [Reply]

It just figures that whitey would get his panties in a wad over a request for a small gesture to recognize history. You damn sure don't get upset when a huge statue of a Confederate general is erected in the middle of a courthouse lawn. The flood of reactionary posts is so predictable from this bunch. I dare you to read your post in public at BOE meeting.

#2.1.1 What? on 04/08/11 at 10:53 AM [Reply]

Let me know when they go to put up a statue of confederates, I'll complain about that too! I cant see why we honor those "heroes" that fought AGAINST the USA. We dont honor the Americans that ran to Germany in WWII to fight along with the Nazis do we?

#2.1.1.1 E. Prewitt on 04/08/11 at 11:30 AM [Reply]

If you don't understand why Robert E. Lee is honored, then you need to leave the South. Try reading a little about Gen. Lee next time before you equate him with Nazis.

#2.1.1.1.1 What? on 04/08/11 at 01:46 PM [Reply]

General Lee was trained at West Point, served as a US Army Officer (helped build Ft Pulaski in Savannah), was stationed in Texas at the start of the Civil War and returned home to join the Confederacy. He led troops that fought his former trainers/co-workers in hopes that he could win a war against our Country. So we trained him, and then he led attacks against the US. Sounds a lot like Afganistan terrorists we are fighting now. We trained them and now they are our enemy. You are right though, he isnt like the Nazis because he turned on us where the Nazis were against us from the get-go.
Truth hurts doesn't it?

#2.1.1.1.1.1 E. Prewitt on 04/08/11 at 03:12 PM [Reply]

So Lee is "worse than a Nazi"?

Funny, such "facts" are missing from Douglas Southall Freeman's definitive, Pulitzer Prize-winning biography.
I guess you know more "truth" than such a professor of history.
Also, equally amusing is that the Nazi business is missing from THE MARBLE MAN, a Lee biography that, in some ways, seeks to rebut Freeman's point of view.

Come to think of it, in any books I ever read on Lee (both during & after my time at university), I don't ever recall encountering what you pedal as "truth."

So, trust me, anything that you spew doesn't "hurt."

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1 What? on 04/08/11 at 03:52 PM [Reply]

Wait so these award winning books that you read during and after your time at (raise your nose at me) university failed to mention that Lee went to West Point? I think the poster on my elementary school wall said that he did? I guess he didn't work on building Ft Pulaski either? We better call the National Parks Service because they are pedeling these foul lies.
I never said that Lee was worse than a Nazi. You tried to tie my comment on rewarding enemies of our nation to Lee, and I said what is truth (whether or not your big university books mention it or not).
Fact: Robert E. Lee went to West Point (he graduated with U.S. grant)
Fact: He supervised the building of Ft. Pulaski as a 2nd Lt. While with the Corps of Engineers
Fact: Lee was in Texas when the war began and was promoted by Abraham Lincoln to Colonel.
Fact: Lee left the Union Army and returned to Virginia where he fought against the US Army.
Please tell me where I am lying.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 A Friend on 04/08/11 at 07:00 PM [Reply]

Robert E Lee was substantially older than US Grant. Lee graduated West Point in 1829 and Grant in 1843. As far as I know they met very briefly during the Mexican War and then of course at Appomattox.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2 Jack Legg on 04/08/11 at 07:56 PM [Reply]

Fool,
Lee lead his people in rebellion against a tyrannical foe masqurading as our government.Not much different than George washington and for many of the same reasons. Unfortunately for all involved and for America, the South lost the war.
Maybe its time to rise again in the face of tyranny, nah americans todayu are not made of the same stuff.
But you sir, you ravenous pillaging yankee can go to hell.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1 What? on 04/09/11 at 07:29 AM [Reply]

Lee privately ridiculed the Confederacy in letters in 1861, denoucing secession as 'revolution' and a betrayal of the efforts of the founding fathers. In a letter to his son he stated, "I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union."
Lee fought for his state, not for the CSA. He never wore the rank of General only that of Colonel because that was his rank in the US Army.
Mr. Legg, your efforts to show that Gen. Lee was fighting against the 'tyranny' of the US Government is best put down by a quote from Gen. Lee himself: "Obediance to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character."
I am not a yankee as you claim, I am someone that loves my country enough to support IT and the Constitution over what my birthstate (Georgia) might decide right or wrong. We MUST continue to support our country and when we see something wrong in it petition our leaders to redress that grievance in a civil manner and run for office to assist in making the needed changes. We have that right unlike our founding fathers so it should be by THAT means that we continue this experiment in democracy not by government overthrow. I served in the military and would gladly die to perserve this right that we all have (well those of us that are here legally) please do not bash me because we have a separate opinion. I do not bash you because this is the way our country works.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 Jack Legg on 04/09/11 at 08:50 AM [Reply]

You are a yankee with definate federal leanings.As a yankee your opinions only matter to you as much as you would like the rest of us to jump on your band wagon, we wont do it.I love my country but I hate yankees and I hate the bloody union.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1 What? on 04/09/11 at 09:21 AM [Reply]

I never asked anyone to agree with me. I simply stated my opinion which apparently makes me a yankee even though I was born in the south to a "yellerdog democrat" family with ancestors that fought in the civil war for the CSA. In your infinate wisdom on all things yankee can you please define what makes one a yankee since my birthplace and family history are not enough? The very fact that you disagree with me and use the "arguement" that I am a yankee overjoys me that you are NOT on my side of this issue as your attitude and namecalling would only discredit my opinion to the point of (what did Gen. Lee call it?) "a great deal of demagogism, and lead to embarrasments in various ways." - Robert E. Lee February 1866
As to your statements about loving the country and hating the yankees and the Union I reply that it is people like you that underline the hypocracy of your era. You say that blacks should get over the pre-civil rights era while you refuse to get over the civil war era. This way of thinking was exactly what Dr. King, President Lincoln, and General Lee was hoping to erradicate from our civilized society.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1 Jack Legg on 04/09/11 at 10:33 AM [Reply]

Go home yankee, your ancestors never fought for the South.You are the decendant of a mixture of carpetbaggers and scalawags.Dont come to a public forum talking about things like the Robert E. Lee and the Southern Confederacy like you know anything about them.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1 What? on 04/09/11 at 12:35 PM [Reply]

So your arguement is reduced to name calling and personal insults. Truly you are the very portrait of a Southern Gentlemen. What an insult you do to the people you misrepresent in your rant.
"It should be the object of all to avoid controversy, to allay passion, give full scope to reason and to every kindly feeling. By doing this and encouraging our citizens to engage in the duties of life with all their heart and mind, with a determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future, our country will not only be restored in material prosperity, but will be advanced in science, in virtue and in religion." - Robert E. Lee 1865
As to the rest of your comments about me and my family my great great great grandfather was an infantry soldier of the Georgia Volunteers and a local (Gwinnett County) elementary school was named in his honor. My grandfather was a Democrat in the State House and his brother a Democrat in the State Senate. Now you Sir are the one speaking about issues that you know nothing about. I have provided quotes and historical fact while you cannot provide one shred of evidence to show that Lee was fighting against "tyranny". Quote for us when Lee said that he would not raise his Sword to defend Virginia but would hold a muskett to defeat tyranny. You attempt a battle of witts while you come unarmed and bring a flyswatter to this battle of historical facts. I cannot continue fighting an unarmed man. Lee would apprieciate that sense of civility in me.

#2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 Jack Legg on 04/09/11 at 02:37 PM [Reply]

Lee never did say any of that and you are still an arrogant yankee.What makes you think that because you say these quotations "from history" that the rest of us dont know that you made them all up. You are the one who has been reduced here.Everyone knows that General Lee led the fight against tyranny,against a bunch of yankee industrialist empire builders who showed what they were made of before and during the war. The truth is that the only reason they won was because there were more of them than there were of us, even when you account for the fact that one southerner cam whip 10 yankees, it gets a might harder when its one against 40.
What you need to do sir is to stop trying to hand out revamped history as fact, sit down and shut your yankee mouth because I camn promise you that no one here cares.
You should also stop your tirades and rants against the south since you obviously dont know anything about it.

#2.1.2 again on 04/08/11 at 11:38 AM [Reply]

Booker Tee- It appears you just want to create adversity. No one at any time called anyone a racial term until you start the "Whitey" comment. For years I have heard simialr terms used in a 100:1 ratio compared to any terms to describe a black person. Apparently you are one of the few people who are looking for adversity because you can't handle that there is something called equality and it is thriving and you lose the syndrome of "I'm a minority so you owe me give me hwat I want or you are a racist"
No where is there more diversity than your own neighborhood!!

#2.1.2.1 Booker Tee on 04/08/11 at 12:25 PM [Reply]

So, you think I want to create a state of misfortune?
You don't know what "adversity" really means, do you? Just another ignorant person who genuinely believes he/she/it is a shining beacon of intelligence -- but who really has a room-temperature I.Q. Go ahead and say it (like all the tea-tards): "Some of my best friends are black."

#2.1.2.1.1 anon on 04/08/11 at 12:42 PM [Reply]

There really should be a 'report post' feature so that the moderators can be alerted to ignorant, racist comments like Booker T...

#2.1.2.1.1.1 Booker Tee on 04/08/11 at 02:58 PM [Reply]

No, you want to "alert" the moderators to ban comments that disagree with YOU. In your perfect lily-white world, everybody would think and act just like you.
Like robots. And communists.

To get back on topic, all I'm saying is: Why do you people begrudge a small gesture of acknowledgment of history?

Why does that upset you so much?
Just why do you and George Bush hate black people?

#2.1.2.1.1.1.1 Bison Bimford on 04/08/11 at 03:14 PM [Reply]

"Just why do you and George Bush hate black people?"

There it is, the racist rant. "I'm a victim..your a hater".
RFLMAO!

you are not helping your cause at all there Booker T.

Maybe you ought to get off your moms computer and go watch TV. I'll bet Nickelodeon has something cool for you to watch.
Leave this debate to the rational adults.
Now go run along and play.

#2.1.3 anon on 04/08/11 at 12:40 PM [Reply]

Yep...its racists like you that try to drag down the debate...angry, ignorant,bitter, losers nothing changes.

#3 What? on 04/08/11 at 08:40 AM [Reply]

Excuse my apparent ignorance however being from Atlanta I am confused. Wouldn't combining the schools and getting rid of 'white' schools vs 'colored' schools be exactly the embracement of diversity that this group asks for?
If my grandparents fought for equal treatment and rights why would we want to reach back into those dark days, open up those old wounds and separate ourselves from the whites again and then claim that this is needed in the name of diversity so that we can have "real healing"?
To quote Morgan Freeman on racism: "Stop talking about it. I'm gonna stop calling you a white man," Freeman says to Mike Wallace. "And I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man. I know you as Mike Wallace. You know me as Morgan Freeman. You wouldn't say, 'Well I know this white guy named Mike Wallace.'"

#4 Fortitude on 04/08/11 at 09:44 AM [Reply]

Exactly, the school never went away, it just changed it's name, like so many other "old" high schools have done. I could understand that they would want a marker to say "Hey, this used to be Glenwood HS etc...", but to say "so the healing can begin", what healing ? Im sorry, but outside of a marker, thats it. Let the schools name be chosen by whatever criteria they have.
Im sorry, but civil rights era was 40-50yrs ago, its time to move on and get over it. All of the civil rights era children grew up with "diversity" so why keep an old flame alive.

#5 Failure of Diversity on 04/08/11 at 12:55 PM [Reply]

I agree with metro...this is not diversity, its institutionalized racism and discrimination.

Where they purely judge someone by the color of their skin instead of their character...exactly the opposite of what MLK spoke about.

This country has had racist history, but it is LONG past gone...and the election of a BLACK president is all the proof needed.

Time to drag your racist selves into the 21st century, do away with BLACK HISTORY MONTH and anything that celebrates the discrimination of other races.

As an asian living here, i believe we outnumber blacks...why arent we getting special recognition? Should i cry and stamp my feet and call people racists because we dont have an ASIAN history month? Or any schools named after an ASIAN person?

This 'plea for greater diversity' is nothing more than a racist rant trying to achieve exceptionalism where there is nothing to base merit from OTHER than the person MUST BE BLACK.

Shame...what ignorance.

#6 mollyrose on 04/08/11 at 03:03 PM [Reply]

Hell, I'd just like to see them build two new schools, who cares what they are named? Build them first, then worry about naming them. This county NEEDS new schools; it will never be able to compete otherwise.

#6.1 Reform on 04/09/11 at 01:07 AM [Reply]

Yea, waste more of our tax dollars. Band the illegals from our schools and maybe we wouldn't need and more schools (hospitals,prisons, etc).

#7 eggs in one basket on 04/08/11 at 03:34 PM [Reply]

So what does this have to do with having chickens in WInder???

#8 Anonymous on 04/08/11 at 04:50 PM [Reply]

I teach in a middle school. There are students from all walks of life in this school. What I find interesting -- they have "healed" in fact they were never in need of "healing".

It's time the adults get over it. History is history. It's the past!

#8.1 Victor on 04/08/11 at 09:15 PM [Reply]

Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results -- Machiavelli

#8.1.1 What? on 04/09/11 at 08:59 AM [Reply]

Well said. I think the teacher was trying to say that we should remember the past and learn from without taking the events of the past personally. I can't think of any Italians that hate Africans because they invaded Italy in Roman times or Africans that hate Italians for the same.

#9 facts on 04/10/11 at 09:57 AM [Reply]

Children are taught racism.
60% of whites voted for a black president.
The rest of the whites were not racist they didnt like socialism.
any one who hyphenates there race is racist and un-american.
When my grandfather arrived here from Cuba he was not a Cuban-American when he got his papers he was an American. When my wifes family came here from the Phillipines they were not Pacifi Islander-Americans they were so proud to be AMERICANS.
We show our stuidity black or white when we buy into the crap and stupidity that comes from people such as Al Sharpton,Jesse Jackson or any other race inciting idiots.
My 2 year old daughter doesnt care if she plays with a black,hispanic,asian,white,indian or whatever as long as she is playing.I would have to teach her to hate someone.
Affirmative action is reverse racism.
People make there self different and set there self aside to make a point or make theirselves victims and when the Govt. even uses reverse discrimination to afford you opportunity and you have the nerve to say healing hasnt begun I say you sir,or mam, are a plain and simple IDIOT.You are the one causing new wounds,you are the ones against teaching our children the wrongs in the past and teaching them that the civil war was somehow only about slavery that they cannot learn to not repeat the wrongs of the past.
You can incite whatever you want but I will teach my child that they are to love everyone and spread Gods love and word to everyone that they may hear the gospel.I will set by exmple and my child will learn from her father and see that my family and friends come from all walks of life.
And It was not population that cost the south the war, the south had less that 20% of the supply lines and railway that the union had. Due to that fact they were recieving rotten food to feed the soliders and could not refresh ammo and weapon supplies.

R.E. Lee did return to Va. but not for long the federal Govt. started burying soliders in his front yard and he left his home, Hence Arlington National Cemetary was the Lee plantation.
If you are going to talk about Lee and George Washington you may want to note he was married to Martha Washingtons I believe Grand-Daughter, it was also Georges but he had no blood children only step.

#10 Tom on 04/10/11 at 07:16 PM [Reply]

We will never be equal until you lay down the racist claims and stand beside us as equals. Walk with us as equals. Talk to us as equals. Show us you are equal. You call your own selves not equal. You call your own selves the N word. You don't have respect for your own selves. How do you ask us to be when you don't respect your own selves. Lay down your racism and take out hands and walk as equals. Until you can do this there will always be the tired worn out same old quotes.

You want to be equal? Then damn well act as equals and stop the bull. Jessie and other survive on sturing up the message to get rich.

#10.1 Peabody on 04/11/11 at 05:26 AM [Reply]

And pull your briches up to , you look ridiculas with your pants on the ground.

#11 Jack on 04/11/11 at 08:20 AM [Reply]

Guess what ... when you act like one ... you make yourself one. End of discussion.

#12 TickedOff on 04/11/11 at 04:33 PM [Reply]

The ONLY thing the BOE needs to be discussing for students in this county is arithmetic. You don't have to worry about teaching diversity, racism, sex, etc. The students are way ahead of you on all of these. "Healing" ? From what?
Step up to the plate BOE. I know each and every one of you and stop wasting our time with such nonsense and figure out a way to get our county out of the "state average" category.
Because, frankly, the only thing we currently lead in is teen pregnancy rate. And you certainly don't need a damn marker erected to know Glenwood school is in an African American area. Wanna name a school after an African American? Fine. Tit for Tat. Name one after David Dukes. This will go on and on. See how asanine this stuff is. And if we continue to waste board time on it, I'll start pleading for all things white at your next meeting.

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