Our partners in Montgomery County shared a phenomenal story of how a REAL and CARING school board responds to concerns expressed by parents, educators, and community leaders.
Our favorite quote from Morton is, ““We have seen differences in discipline, communication, and the willingness of staff and the community to discuss tough questions with each other in an open and honest fashion,” Morton says. “It serves as a model for open dialogue.” Hmmm….we wonder what happened to that “open and honest” dialogue when he was dealing with Ms. Lucas and others that spoke out about the same things that the members of Montgomery’s community spoke out for…children, black children?????
The board members of Montgomery moved quickly as they responded to desperate concerns about the needs expressed by parents, educators, and community leaders of color, unlike Henrico’s indifferent board members that would rather ignore, suppress, dismiss, and disregard these groups as they poured out their hearts; pleading for intervention and protection for their children. Many have stated that these board members give a new meaning to the words “heartless” and “indifference” as they remain nonresponsive to months of emails, public comments during school board meetings, and much more.
Henrico’s board permitted Morton to get away with depriving African-American children, parents, and educators of equity and fairness. This board even supported Morton as he violated and supported the violations of the civil and human rights of children, parents, and educators. Montgomery’s board members knew better and did better for those that they represented. THEY acted WITH INTEGRITY, unlike Henrico’s board members.
Winston, Montgomery, Bagby, McBride, and Marshall need to DO THEIR JOB and START PROTECTING ALL CHILDREN SO THAT ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN, instead of ignoring the wrong, disregarding the broken laws, protecting those that neglect and abuse children along with them, and promoting the institutionalized racism within the district and among the those school leaders that have racists and oppressive mindsets.
******************************************
PROGRAM
Diversity Forum
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
To deepen understanding and appreciation of cultural and racial differences in the school community.
SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT
W.Wat Hopkins
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
Penny J. Franklin, Richard J. Johnson, James C. Klagge, Tacy L. Newell, Mary Hayne North, Michael A. Smith
SUPERINTENDENT
Frederick S. Morton IV
When the African-American community raised concerns about inequitable discipline measures in the Montgomery County Public Schools, the school board listened. The school board commissioned a study in 1996 to look at racial equity in discipline at its secondary schools. The results led the school superin- tendent, board chairman, and local NAACP president to create the Montgomery County Diversity Forum, which promotes racial and cultural understanding and identifies professional development opportunities for staff.
“Montgomery County is indeed fortunate to have a school board that clearly understands that issues of equity are related to learning for all students,” says Superintendent Frederick S. Morton IV.
The Diversity Forum, in its infancy, was composed of school administrators, secondary school principals, teachers, parents, and members of the school board, the NAACP, the county’s Human Relations Council, and local churches. Morton says the group “moved quickly from reflecting on issues of discipline to considering broader concerns related to diversity.”
More than 350 people have been involved with the forum since its inception, and membership is open to anyone in the community. Monthly meetings average more than 30 people, including students. Since the group was established, Morton says, the district has made significant gains in policy, understanding, and communication on diversity issues, including:
■Developing clear school board policy on racial matters.
■Discussing difficult subjects such as mascots, and racial and economic stereotyping.
■Holding daylong meetings with 150 secondary school students to explore issues related to racial and ethnic diversity.
■Developing student groups in each of the eight secondary schools and providing each group with a $1,000 grant to hold programs that foster multiracial understanding.
“We have seen differences in discipline, communication, and the willingness of staff and the community to discuss tough questions with each other in an open and honest fashion,” Morton says. “It serves as a model for open dialogue.”
Despite these achievements—and winning the 2003 Fitz Turner Commission Award for Human Relations and Civil Rights from the Virginia Education Association—the forum’s work is far from done. Members now are trying to forge closer ties among students, families, teachers, administrators, and the community. They also plan to spread their work into the elementary schools.
“Issues of equity and the achievement gap continue to be of great concern, and the forum and school district are deeply committed to continuing this work until it is no longer needed,” Morton says.
For more information, contact Anita P. Johnston, board clerk and public information officer, at
(540) 382-5138, or by e-mail at ajohnston@mcps.org. The district’s Web site is www.mcps.org.
20 Magna Awards 2004
Members of the Diversity Forum list ways to promote racial and cultural understanding in the Montgomery County Public Schools.
http://www.asbj.com/MainMenuCategory/Supplements/MagnaAwards/MagnaArchive/2004MagnaAwards.aspx
Nothing seems to be easier than seeing someone whom you can help but not helping.
I suggest we start giving it a try. Give love to the ones that need it.
God will appreciate it.