It is always a scary thing to answer your phone and hear "Hi. This is the principal at the Elementary school."
This happened to Mr. Man the other day. He answered his phone and it was the principal. She let him freak a little bit before explaining she was calling to invite him and I to a meeting with the Superintendents of the school district.
See, here is the thing. The boys' elementary school has a PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), then they also have what is called the "Black Parent Organization" and another group called the "Latino Parent Organization". When we first started attending this school and I saw the groups listed in a newsletter I called the principal to find out more about it. I wondered why we were segregating groups. I was told that they are trying to reach all groups in our community and this way every group has a "voice". The principal told me that the Latinos feel comfortable to say whatever they are feeling if they are amongst other Latinos and that applies to the African Americans and whites too. Each group is open to anyone and everyone, she told me that in fact they encourage it. However, the PTO is not a white parent group, it is the group open to everyone and anyone.
As I have mentioned here before Mr. Man is Co-President of the PTO. So at one of the PTO meetings that I attended, I mentioned to the whole group that I was concerned we are teaching our kids segregation. The principal explained it to me again, why they have the groups and she explained that it really is working to bring a lot of parent involvement to the school. She again told me how Latinos don't feel comfortable expressing their feelings around the African American and white parents and how African American parents aren't as comfortable expressing their feelings around the white and Latino parents, etc.
After that particular meeting a 5th grade teacher approached me, she happens to be African American. She told me she 100% agreed with me. She said she attends the Black Parent meetings and also the PTO meetings. She said she does see that more and more parents are getting involved but she said she agrees we should not have the separate groups. I also expressed to her that in "real life" there won't be these separate groups and our kids need to learn to work together no matter what race or background. We had a really nice talk and she told me to feel free to talk to her anytime.
So, now back to the phone call. Apparently, the Supers of the school district want more information about these separate groups. I am not clear at this point whether they are in agreement of the separate groups, disagree about it or are in the middle on it. Apparently, several parents have been invited, each of the presidents of the groups are invited and then some of the teachers. We will meet with the Supers individually and be asked some questions and allowed to voice our opinions. I am nervous because I want everyone to feel like they have a voice I just wish there was a way to make it so that we all come together. Maybe if each group could still have their meetings but then the president of each group is required to attend PTO meetings as sort of liaison between all the groups, I don't know if that is a good solution or not. I just don't like to see us being separate.
I am in no way racist and do not want my kids to be, I am worried that if kids see their African American parents going to a separate meeting from the whites and Latinos, and the Latinos going to separate groups from the whites and African American, and the white parents going to separate meetings then we are sending them the wrong message. I just want my kids to grow up with proper respect for all groups, no matter what!
I hope that during the meeting I say the right things to help build up our school and our community!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
Tough place to be. I completely agree with you, though. We do not need to be taking steps backwards at this point in history.
I'll be praying for your meeting and praying God gives you and your husband the right words to say - and that everyone in attendance will be open minded.
Good luck!
We never do outgrow that fear of going to the principal's office! :)
How on earth did those groups even get started? I can't imagine a black or Latino parent saying to the school that they "didn't feel comfortable" to talk around white people. That sounds totally plausible...if it were 1960! Are the leaders of the other groups interested in doing away with the segregated groups? That's very strange...
I pray that God will give you the right words to say and that you will feel his peace. Let us know what happens!
i understand how they could feel more comfortable talking to their own culture of people... Even so though, it seems so out date to have a system like that. Couldn't they have one committee and then, if each culture/ethnic group needed to appoint someone to be their spokesperson or something. Because I agree- it's unrealistic and it's setting a bad example for the kids....
Good for you and Mr Man to get involved in the kids' school.
Trying to set a comment whore record today, instead of folding laundry.
Good for you for speaking your mind. Its often hard to do in a situation like this.
Well, as a latina woman (family) I certainly agree with the comments too. My oldest has been in many schools, some where there are many more white kids, some where there are many more black. NEVER have we been in a school where parent groups were split out like this. It's called a PTO.
I think the school is setting a very bad example to the students and to the parents. Parents who think it's ok to seperate themselves.
I will be anxious to hear how your meeting goes!
wow, Ive never heard of such a thing. if they insist on keeping the parent groups separated, then the representatives of each group should be required to attend the "regular" PTO meetings. but seriously, it sends a bad message and the groups should be merged.
I agree with you. What are we teaching our children when parents attend segregated meetings? Seems like taking a step back instead of a step forward.
My kids STILL, at 8, 6 and 3 really don't see a difference. They refer to people as "peach" or "brown" but really don't distinguish much of a difference. They describe someone by their skin much like they do by hair color or gender. It really isn't much of a difference to them. We explain that every person has their own "look", be it skin color, eye color, facial features, height, etc. We are all individuals, special in our own ways and we are all made by God.
Seeing these types of parent groups would upset me as well. Please let us know how everything turns out.
Ok, after my long winded comment, another thought....is there a group/person in the PTO making it uncomfortable for anyone to voice their thoughts freely? Maybe these separate groups were initially created out of the ignorance of one/a group of people within the PTO.
Sounds like you're on the right track with things. I'll pray you and your husband have the right words to express your thoughts.
Ummm...and here I thought that each of these minority groups want equality? What is equal about going to separate meetings? I don't get it. But perhaps something has happened in the past that makes the other groups think that they cannot express their opinions in mixed company?
Wow! What year is this? I can sort of see that the Latin Americans might not want to speak up because of language issues but still...have groups divided by race seems...racist to me. I hope your meeting went well.
Holy cow...seriously? Well, if you must have segregated groups then I'd advise the good ole' Baptist church approach...everyone have their little separate meetings first and then directly afterwards EVERYONE (and not just a representative) meet for the overall PTO meeting where issues from the sub-committees can be raised if necessary.
Post a Comment