[Mpls] Carol Johnson's Legacy/Forcing youth to emulate gangsta rap [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sun Aug 10 05:57:07 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- In a message dated 8/8/03 9:43:23 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes in a thread about former MPS Super: << Over 20% of African American students are diagnosed as having some type of Emotional-Behavioral Disorder and are assigned to special education programs. -Doug Mann, King Field >> Keith says; Offering this type of stat, with the implication that it is an unreasonably high number relative to Whites, and thus reflects the failure of the Super, is unfair and wrong. I have no particular adoration for the Super, nor am I a statistician. I imagine that many more then 20% of Af. Am. students live in poverty. Well over 20% may live in one parent homes. Likely over 20% may suffer abuse, neglect, inadequate nutrition, and hyper mobility (life disruption through loss of home). I could go on...I always mentally red flag proffered "statistical disparity as proof of hypothesis" logic when I read it. Most often it is about too many blacks get traffic tickets, end up in prison, drop out of high school, can't read, get evicted, have kids out of wedlock at 13 1/2, or smoke too much crack, It is then, of course, the fault of Carol Johnson, the Police Chief, the patrol officers, the teachers, landlords, social workers, and street maintenance policy. Ultimately, that mass of schlubs, so-called white people, comprising the so-called dominant culture, are fully blamed for the disparity. They are then compelled to throw money at a rathole. NonProfiteers are near the hole. With the blessing of the "dominant culture" they catch the money before it drops and break off a piece for themselves. They offer no sustainable solutions but the song and dance has a nice cadence, hence gives comfort. Meanwhile, statistics show well over 20% of African American youth, at the end of the school day where they have attended, or not attended their "special ed. class", wander home to their hood. They pass drug sellers, on foot and in fancy cars, clogging 26th Avenue and convenience store parking lots. They may watch 5 hours of rap videos extolling the virtues of gang membership. Again, I could go on...but would it not be easier to blame Carol Johnson? I am tempted. Keith Reitman NearNorth REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
