Mississipi School Segregates

[Mikedor]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38880820/ns/us_news-life

If you’re black and a student at one public middle school in Mississippi, you can’t run for president – only whites need apply.
Nettleton Middle School in Nettleton, Miss., has segregated its elected class positions by race, according to a memo sent home with children at the school last week that was obtained by NBC News.
The memo was first brought to light when Brandy Springer, a mother of four children, contacted blogger Suzy Richardson, founder and editor of the blog mixedandhappy.com.
“My [eighth-grade] daughter came home from[Nettleton] school telling me that she wanted to try out for the school reporter, but it is only open to black students,” Springer wrote Richardson. “They told her ‘she should run for class president, that was open to only white students.'”
The memo indicates that only white students can be president of the school’s eighth grade, while only black students can be vice president.

Memo:
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/secti ... sRaces.pdf

Weak response from school:

Media Statement
"Student elections have not yet been held at Nettleton Middle School for the
2010-2011 school term. The processes and procedures for student elections
are under review. We are reviewing the origin of these processes,
historical applications, compliance issues, as well as current implications
and ramifications. A statement will be released when review of these
processes is complete."

Thank You

Superintendent
Russell Taylor

Well, what is this? Why? It's not 1964 anymore, why do this?

[Lackadaisical2]

Maybe its done to ensure that some blacks are represented? (not that I'd agree with that either)

Certainly looks bad(worse than that) though...

[Thurask]

I'm not surprised. Mississippi still has the Confederate Battle Flag on their state flag, for one.

[American Capitalist]

That's very disturbing and the school should be ashamed for segregating their presidential election. If I was a parent I would demand that the superintendent resign.

[Intangelon]

Somebody thought it made sense, and it does, in an unfortunate sort of way. If the student body is already segregated de facto, and it's easy to tell because all the black students vote for any black candidates and never white ones and all the white students vote only for white candidates and never black ones, then the solution seemed clear. Make one office in each grade level open to one race, and the other office open to the other race. Reverse the offices (Prez/VP) every year so that you never have a black Prez two years running or a white VP two years running.

I didn't say it was a good idea, I'm merely postulating about how that policy might have been drafted. I think the problem lies in the possibility that it was never revisited once it was suggested.

[Andaluciae]

Ayuh...what the fuck?

[Call to power]

meh school goes about wrong way of solving bitter race divide yes, but I suppose setting a sort of quota has been applied in actual electoral processes

still what a shithole

[Deus Malum]

What. the. fucking. shit...

Intelligent words fail me...

[Caninope]

Can we hear the school's side?

[Georgism]

What do Mexicans get? Class toilet cleaner?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Somebody thought it made sense, and it does, in an unfortunate sort of way. If the student body is already segregated de facto, and it's easy to tell because all the black students vote for any black candidates and never white ones and all the white students vote only for white candidates and never black ones, then the solution seemed clear. Make one office in each grade level open to one race, and the other office open to the other race. Reverse the offices (Prez/VP) every year so that you never have a black Prez two years running or a white VP two years running.

I didn't say it was a good idea, I'm merely postulating about how that policy might have been drafted. I think the problem lies in the possibility that it was never revisited once it was suggested.

And this is very sad. Not you, Intangelon, but the whole situation you described.

[Coccygia]

I am at a loss for words...so...

[Tmutarakhan]

Somebody thought it made sense, and it does, in an unfortunate sort of way. If the student body is already segregated de facto, and it's easy to tell because all the black students vote for any black candidates and never white ones and all the white students vote only for white candidates and never black ones, then the solution seemed clear. Make one office in each grade level open to one race, and the other office open to the other race. Reverse the offices (Prez/VP) every year so that you never have a black Prez two years running or a white VP two years running.

I didn't say it was a good idea, I'm merely postulating about how that policy might have been drafted. I think the problem lies in the possibility that it was never revisited once it was suggested.

And this is very sad. Not you, Intangelon, but the whole situation you described.

This was the constitutional solution adopted in Lebanon shortly after independence: reserve the Presidency for a Maronite Christian (the faction aligned with the Pope), the Prime Minister for a Sunnite Muslim, Speaker of the House for a Shi'ite Muslim, and the Greek Christians got some post (I forget which). This may have something to do with why Lebanon's politics are marred by frequent assassinations and some horrid outbreaks of civil war.

[Mikedor]

Can we hear the school's side?

See OP. They're 'reviewing processes.'

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Somebody thought it made sense, and it does, in an unfortunate sort of way. If the student body is already segregated de facto, and it's easy to tell because all the black students vote for any black candidates and never white ones and all the white students vote only for white candidates and never black ones, then the solution seemed clear. Make one office in each grade level open to one race, and the other office open to the other race. Reverse the offices (Prez/VP) every year so that you never have a black Prez two years running or a white VP two years running.

I didn't say it was a good idea, I'm merely postulating about how that policy might have been drafted. I think the problem lies in the possibility that it was never revisited once it was suggested.

And this is very sad. Not you, Intangelon, but the whole situation you described.

This was the constitutional solution adopted in Lebanon shortly after independence: reserve the Presidency for a Maronite Christian (the faction aligned with the Pope), the Prime Minister for a Sunnite Muslim, Speaker of the House for a Shi'ite Muslim, and the Greek Christians got some post (I forget which). This may have something to do with why Lebanon's politics are marred by frequent assassinations and some horrid outbreaks of civil war.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised. An uneasy peace is made this way sometimes. It's still rather sad.

[New La Habana]

Segregation? In 21st Century America? Has The Constitution just been declared null and void or something?

[Ashmoria]

im gonna wait for a fuller explanation before i damn the school.

its too strange to have put into a memo without there being some reasonable answer.

[Greed and Death]

Can we hear the school's side?

I tried to hear their side but I couldn't understand them from under their hoods.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kC5MT2r5U8s/R ... n+hood.jpg

[SD_Film Artists]

If there's anything that gets SD_Film Artists mad it's segregation! Grrrrr

[Zephie]

Are you serious NSG? Many of you don't think anything is wrong with affirmative action, but something like this is appalling? Really?

[Norstal]

Somebody thought it made sense, and it does, in an unfortunate sort of way. If the student body is already segregated de facto, and it's easy to tell because all the black students vote for any black candidates and never white ones and all the white students vote only for white candidates and never black ones, then the solution seemed clear. Make one office in each grade level open to one race, and the other office open to the other race. Reverse the offices (Prez/VP) every year so that you never have a black Prez two years running or a white VP two years running.

I didn't say it was a good idea, I'm merely postulating about how that policy might have been drafted. I think the problem lies in the possibility that it was never revisited once it was suggested.

Maybe so, but you should still let democracy run its course.

[Norstal]

Are you serious NSG? Many of you don't think anything is wrong with affirmative action, but something like this is appalling? Really?

What are you raving about? Most of us are against this idea, but support it. Its just the fact that black students tend to vote for black candidates and vice versa. This is just one way to solve this predicament. Unless you have a better idea, don't tell us what to think.

[SD_Film Artists]

Are you serious NSG? Many of you don't think anything is wrong with affirmative action, but something like this is appalling? Really?

What are you raving about? Most of us are against this idea, its just the fact that black students tend to vote for black candidates and vice versa. This is just one way to solve this predicament. Unless you have a better idea, don't tell us what to think.

Forced mixed-race breeding?

[Greed and Death]

Are you serious NSG? Many of you don't think anything is wrong with affirmative action, but something like this is appalling? Really?

What are you raving about? Most of us are against this idea, its just the fact that black students tend to vote for black candidates and vice versa. This is just one way to solve this predicament. Unless you have a better idea, don't tell us what to think.

Forced mixed-race breeding?

Hmmm all white males must marry an Asian woman.
I think I like this idea do continue.

[Wilgrove]

What do Mexicans get? Class toilet cleaner?

No, they're the Janitor. Rimshot

Seriously though, does student election really matter that much? I mean what do they do beside plan dances and Home coming? *Yawn* Wake me up when they have some actual effect on school policy.

As for the racial policy, thank you Mississippi for continuing the idea that all Southerners are redneck hicks who are prejudice if not racist and sleep with first cousins.