Sheriff David Clark's Perceptions of Misplaced Passions

Sheriff David Clark noted in a letter to the editor that he did not witness the same passion, emotion, disgust, anger and outrage emanate from public debate in the black community, from elected officials, and other political sorts, like he witnessed in reaction to the defeat of Justice Louis Butler.

He also stated that he didn’t see a press release from Governor Doyle referring to the writing scores report as “tragic.”

Read the Entire Letter:
http://www.c-100.org/z_davidclark_letter_april.html
................................................................................................

What are your thoughts? Click Here

Proposal To Reduce 'Forced' busing in Milwaukee

The MCJ release this editorial regarding A town hall meeting to discuss a proposal to reduce 'forced' busing in Milwaukee. The town hall meeting is being organized by State Rep. Polly Williams and School Board Director Michael Bonds.

Published April 9, 2008

Published in the Milwaukee Community Journal:
Bonds: Reduce MPS busing, save millionsBy Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.

Milwaukee Public School Board Director Michael Bonds says he will introduce a resolution to reduce student busing that would save $20 million, the majority of which would be earmarked for reopening north side middle schools and reestablish programs such as drivers education and the fine arts.

Bonds made his announcement during a town hall meeting to discuss the resolution and the negative impact busing has had on the community and the quality of education for its children.
The meeting was sponsored by the African American Education Council (AAEC) an organization formed almost two years ago to develop a school reform plan as an alternative to a plan developed by another group sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) on behalf of MPS.

The AAEC contends neither the GMC group, nor MPS came to the community for its ideas and input on how the system should be reformed.

Bonds plans to submit his resolution at a meeting of the board on April 22 that will focus on the busing issue. Bonds urged the residents, business leaders and parents at the town hall meeting to come and bring others to the board meeting next week and express their support for his proposal.

During the meeting, held at Parklawn Assembly of God, 3725 N. Sherman Blvd., Bonds said he is not trying to end busing, just drastically cut back on the practice that has been going on since MPS was ordered to desegregate its schools back in the mid-1970s.

Bonds and Willie Jude, a retired MPS deputy superintendent said busing was no longer necessary or practical today as it was when it was initiated in 1976.

At the height of busing initiative, some 70,000 students were transported daily. Bonds and Jude said for the past 30 years, massive busing has negatively impacted students and the community by decreasing parent participation in school related activities, decrease student participation in extracurricular activities, increase student suspensions, increase the truancy rate, decrease community bonding, while sparking an increase in conflicts among students in their neighborhood.

“Busing served its purpose. But now we’re just busing bodies,” Bonds told the audience, adding that busing is now a failed policy that costs close to $60 million a year. The MPS board director noted that in two years that cost would jump to $80 million.

Jude called busing a tool, stressing that what happens at the end of the bus ride is what’s important. The retired MPS official noted the decline in the number of MPS students.
The reason for the decline, Jude said, was the decline of quality education within district schools, which has lead to low test scores in categories such as reading and math.

Another reason for the decline was the parental school choice and charter school initiatives that gave parents a choice where to send their children for what is often a better academic experience.

“Eighty-eight percent of students in MPS are minority. We can no longer integrate schools,” Bonds said. “Bussing hasn’t improved academics. If MPS was a private business, it would be shut down.”

Both speakers stressed that the plan would not impact students who use transportation to attend city-wide specialty schools such as Rufus King and Riverside, nor would it impact special needs students and students with discipline problems.

Jude went so far as to suggest utilizing shuttle busing within the community so students can arrive safely to school.

What Are Your Thoughts? Click Here

Rufus King Offers Free Pregnancy Test

It's been confirmed that Rufus King high school offers free pregnancy tests once a week. Apparently, the services are provided by the city of Milwaukee. A sign announcing the tests is posted in the school office.

Question: Is this appropriate? Why Rufus King? Aren't these the elite students? And finally, why offer pregnancy tests, but not counseling...


What Are Your Thoughts? Click Here

Welcome to A Committee of 100 Blog

Welcome to A Committee of 100 online blog. The blog will be known as the C-100 Blog and you'll be able to access it from our website www.c-100.org. In the coming days, weeks and months you see more activity on these pages and we hope it inspires you to actively involve yourself in our discussions.

We care about education and feel that we can help to break down some of the walls of misunderstanding that exist between all parties that work on behalf of children.

So, check back often, tell a freind about us and don't forget to visit our website.

All the best
C-100 Blog Staff
http://www.c-100.org/



If You Have Any Feedback - Let Us Know