Black Only Schools Proposed

[Sundae]

Don't be so hung up on skin colour RK - the title of the report was misleading.
It is about cultural differences.

I have cultural differences to people born in my own country to white families.
I have cultural differences to people born in this country to Asian families.
Admitting this does not make me racist.
Everyone I know has overcome these differences via education - but I am aware I don't meet the people who haven't. But in the last four months I've heard them - on the bus, in the Job Centre, in the Council Office, at alcohol counselling.

Different cultures do not deserve affirmative action. But they do deserve the best chance anyone can give them at being a valuable member of society and that starts in childhood.

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Don't be so hung up on skin colour RK - the title of the report was misleading.
It is about cultural differences.

I have cultural differences to people born in my own country to white families.
I have cultural differences to people born in this country to Asian families.
Admitting this does not make me racist.
Everyone I know has overcome these differences via education - but I am aware I don't meet the people who haven't. But in the last four months I've heard them - on the bus, in the Job Centre, in the Council Office, at alcohol counselling.

Different cultures do not deserve affirmative action. But they do deserve the best chance anyone can give them at being a valuable member of society and that starts in childhood.

So, some cultures are less intelligent than others?
Elitist.
So ironic, because the most ignorant and lest educated people I know, by population, locally, here are light skinned. NO ONE wants to start any special programs or affirmative action for them... why is that?
By your logic, those who are the least educated here should have the affirmative action, right?
You may want to read some of my previous posts on affirmative action.
It only harms those it purports to help and the idea of it is insulting.
I have worked in more than one company that actively used affirmative action... it does not work.
When someone gets a job that they are not qualified for, or even the most qualified for, it only harms them, their group and everyone involved.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

So, some cultures are less intelligent than others?
Elitist.

I never said anything about skin colour and intelligence or culture and intelligence. In fact if it were a matter of intelligence the children would be receiving special help anyway.

So ironic, because the most ignorant and lest educated people I know, by population, locally, here are light skinned. NO ONE wants to start any special programs or affirmative action for them... why is that?

Did you read my post about the fact the disruptive pupils in the series I watched were all white but one? I'm not going to pretend I know what percentage one in sixteen is, but it's a pretty overwhelming white majority. Would I like disruptive children to be put into a program that has a possibility of working, given they are failing in the current system? Hell yes.

By your logic, those who are the least educated here should have the affirmative action, right?

What? I have said (in agreement with other posters) that if you help children at an educational level - the same way you help children with problems in maths, reading etc - then you won't NEED to make allowances/ exceptions based on colour/ race/ culture at a later date.

[Aliantha]

To say you typed Abo because you were being lazy is exactly why there's a problem with race. Aboriginal people have been vicitmized ever since white settlement. All they want is for their race to be respectfully named. Believe me, if there were an Aboriginal person viewing your words, they would be incredibly offended by being called an 'abo'.

Education is working towards a more inclusive mix of curriculum in Australia. There is much more emphasis on the study of culture which focuses on the historical aspects. We definitely don't have it right. In fact, we're almost as far away from right as any other nation. I do believe we're on the right track though. Helping students understand the differences in culture goes a long way towards breaking down the metaphorical barriers between different groups. It takes away the 'hoodoo's' associated and creates a meaningful learning environment.

With regard to the comment about what happens at home has more influence. That's true, however what some families lack in social capital can only be supplied by outside influences. In most cases this is school. If the parents are racist or have closed minded views, then there's not much the school or any other government institution can do about it, but if the state has an opportunity to 'educate' the child in social matters which will (hopefully) create a better world view for the child, then why shouldn't it happen? This of course then means the children of that child will be one step further up the ladder and so on, so that hopefully after a number of generations the community at large is less racist etc. This is my utopia where education is concerned.

So what does that have to do with schools for minority groups? Not a whole lot, but if what I have dreamed of happened, there wouldn't be a need for people to send their kids to 'white only' or 'black only' schools (even if that were the case proposed here which I acknowledge it's not). It would mean that every child regardless of race, creed or religion would benefit from the same level of education.

Education is working towards a more inclusive mix of curriculum in Australia

No argument with me there. History is always going to be "based on a true story", written by the winners and those with an ax to grind. Mitigating that as best as one can is the job of an educator.
This proposal flies in the face of that mandate in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.

To say you typed Abo because you were being lazy is exactly why there's a problem with race.

Typing? WTF?

[Aliantha]

rkz...it doesn't matter what your reason is for making a racist statement/comment. The only thing that matters is you did whether you choose to agree or not. To be honest, I'm not even Aboriginal and I found the word offensive.

No argument with me there. History is always going to be "based on a true story", written by the winners and those with an ax to grind. Mitigating that as best as one can is the job of an educator.
This proposal flies in the face of that mandate in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.

Education is changing. Students are learning to find facts, not just listen to stories told by someone older than them. That's the difference between rote learning and more critical analysis techniques.

As an example, the school my children go to teaches philosophy to all students. Now this might sound like a real wank, but in reality what it's doing is teaching them to question facts and learning how to think in different ways. This is a great strategy for the school, and I support it fully.

I am not offended by what you said

You shouldn't be, it is accurate.

[HumanBeast]

Racism is not just a white thing, baby.

[Yznhymr]

Hate to say it, but here in the Mid-South, 90% of our public schools are black-only. Not a racist comment; a fact. My brother and I were the only whites on our bus (standing room only by the time it got to us), and that was 1974.