The following excerpts are from a letter “Post McCaskey East: Stop criticizing, start conversing” to the editor from School District of Lancaster board member Charlie Crystal:
“Segregation is a loaded word, and its use by local media brought the noise of the national media to the doorstep of the School District of Lancaster…”
“The district did not ‘back down.’ The school board did not know about the McCaskey East program until the first article, and asked for modifications to the race-based aspect of the mentoring program, while expressing support for the teachers. The board should have had opportunity to comment on something so controversial, and we’ll address that with the administration in the near future….”
“The McCaskey East program, however, was intended to lift up low-performing African-American students for six minutes a day, not to deny anyone resources or freedoms, or to repress or isolate. The intention was to increase resources and the freedom that comes with knowledge and
achievement…”
WATCHDOG: We agree that dedicating home rooms to African-American students should have been reviewed with the Board. We also agree that the effort was praiseworthy and, despite the oversight, the principal and teachers should be applauded for their initiative and commitment.
We disagree that the SD of L should be concerned about the national publicity. We think that those opposing so called “segregation” of student for about six minutes a day are fighting the last war, one that was won a generation ago, as evidence note the race of the President of the United States. The problem today is providing encouragement and guidance to inner city youngsters.
A young man who doused himself with gasoline and set himself afire in protest of an unjust political system in Tunisia helped spark the revolution there and in Egypt, demonstrating there must always be a first.
Our community should take up a collection for legal defense and the SD of L should continue the program. Even if it is struck down, the resulting discussion will help the public to discern the nature of today’s challenges. We must find ways to improve education here in the USA.
Two wags of the tail for the faculty at McCaskey East and Crystal.
