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Angry parents disrupt classes over ‘black principal in coloured area’
RACE ROW: Pupils from Klipspruit-Wes Secondary School were prevented from returning to school after the holidays because parents say they want a coloured principal, not a black one. Picture: Nokuthula Mbatha
Klipspruit-Wes Secondary School pupils were forced to miss the first day of the third term yesterday when angry parents barred them from class in a protest against the appointment of a black principal.The race row over the new appointment led to parents, mostly from the coloured area, locking the school gates and vowing to disrupt learning unless the Gauteng Department of Education rescinded its decision.School governing body member Henry Charles said the racial tension was triggered by the community demanding the appointment of a coloured principal. The community claims there is a lack of representation from coloured people in school leadership positions.
Charles, who was part of a panel which interviewed applicants for the position, said: “During the process, we were asked what criteria are we going to use with race. I stood up and said I would score five for coloureds and I’ll score four for black people.
“They said coloureds and blacks are the same and I said but this is a coloured area and they said I am being racist. We want a coloured principal cause this is a coloured area.”
The department’s spokesperson, Oupa Bodibe, said: “The department has learnt the disturbing news that the community in Klipspruit West has rejected the principal because of skin colour. This action is strongly condemned, as it runs against the non-racial principles of our society. Educators are appointed on the basis of qualification and experience.”
The school is set to reopen today following a heated meeting between the governing body, Education Department officials, the SA Teachers Democratic Union and parents.
It was decided that the department needs to re-look the new appointment and that a caretaker principal be appointed.
Speaking on behalf of four community organisations, Sharice Pretorious, said the appointment was questioned based on irregularities that occurred during the selection process.
Last year, a similar incident occurred at Roodepoort Primary School after a dispute started in 2015 when parents claimed the principal was unfairly appointed ahead of a better qualified teacher.
Read more:http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/angry-parents-disrupt-classes-over-black-principal-in-coloured-area-10451659
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This Damning Chart Shows How Much of a Head Start White Families Have Over Black Families
The yawning wealth gap between black and white families is one of the starkest legacies of America’s history of racist social policymaking. As far as simple statistical comparisons go, I can’t recall any representations of it as striking as this chart from a recent report by the left-wing think tank Demos and the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University. As it shows, the median white household headed by a high-school dropout is wealthier today than the median black household headed by someone who went to college. The latter category includes those who at least attended a two- or four-year college, but not graduate degree holders.
That’s how much of a head start white Americans have. The median black American who pursues higher education is still poorer, judged by net worth, than a white person who never finished 12th grade.
I’m guessing that this stat is driven partly by debt—net worth measures a household’s assets minus its liabilities, and black students tend to borrow heavily to attend college. Nonetheless, it’s part of a larger pattern that Demos and IASP identify in which black families tend to have a net worth that’s lower, or roughly equal to, white families who have made what a lot of people might consider worse life decisions. Two-parent black families have a lower median net worth than white single parents ($16,000 vs. $35,800); black Americans younger than 55 who work full time have an only slightly higher median net worth than whites who work part time ($10,800 vs. $9,200). They also note research showing that black families tend to spend less than whites in similar income brackets, so thrift doesn’t appear to be the issue.What accounts for these differences then? One major factor is that middle-class white families have been able to accumulate some wealth over generations, whereas black families have been less able to do so thanks to policies like redlining that prevented them from buying homes and building equity. (This, as you might remember, was the crux Ta-Nehisi Coates’ case for reparations.)
“Many popular explanations for racial economic inequality overlook these deep roots, asserting that wealth disparities must be solely the result of individual life choices and personal achievements,” the authors write. “The misconception that personal responsibility accounts for the racial wealth gap is an obstacle to the policies that could effectively address racial disparities.”
In other words, people need to understand that even when black families make the “right” choices, they still end up behind.
To read more Click or Copy link below:
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“Proof of Consciousness” (P.O.C) the Host of REVIVE!!! 4/12/2017
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Today’s REVIVE show topic is entitled:
“The Laboratory of Arts and Science”
#ARTandScience #STEAM
Today’s show is entitled “The Laboratory of Arts and Science”. We will be discussing how science and art can thrive in the same space and the influence that art and science has on the community. Be a part of the conversation as we converse with many different leaders in science, highlighting their reasons for pursuing this career, the importance of representation, and the adversity that is faced at times in the field.
It would be amazing to hear your perspective. So please call in we want to hear what you guys out there have to say always. Once again this show is for the people. We here at REVIVE thrive off of communication. So call us at (215)490-9832. This episode of REVIVE will be an open forum so all perspectives can be heard through great conversation.
Guest:
Terri Lyons: Terri Lyons is a author of several books including poetry, memoirs and a historical fiction novel. She is a supportive actress in small stage theater performing such productions as The Lion King, Spinderella and the historical play capturing the Greensboro Four, Sitting In. She is the Summer Youth Arts Director for CSN Studios in Philadelphia and has won several achievement awards in addition to writing articles for About Her Business and Lifestyle Magazine.
Keith Westbrook: Keith Westbrook is a visual arts teacher at Strawberry Mansion High School in the city of Philadelphia. He was born and raised in St. Louis, MO where he earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts in painting at Southern Illinois University and a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. He began his teaching career as a substitute teacher with the St. Louis Public School District. He taught in St. Louis for 8 years before moving to Philadelphia, PA. He’s been teaching at Strawberry Mansion High School for 5 years now and over the years he has had much success and won awards such as the Lindack Foundation Teacher of the Year award.
Corey Curtis: Corey Curtis who is the Communications Director for “Science2TheMax”. Science2TheMax offers a high quality, educational experience focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) through exciting interactive play, science experiments and child-friendly entertainment. Science2TheMax goal is simple: to equip teachers to give more opportunities to “do science” by asking questions, testing their ideas and to get their hands on real science activities. Science2TheMax has inspired the next generation of thinkers, creators, problem solvers and leaders. Their vision is to take SCIENCE 2 THE MAX!!
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It would be amazing to hear your perspective. So please call in we want to hear what you guys the listening audience out there have to say always. Once again this show is for the people. We here at REVIVE thrive off of communication. So call us at (215)490-9832 or follow me on Twitter and Facebook @REVIVE_POC !
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