Tuesday 13 November 2012

[WardFive] Re: [ward5] Spingarn HS to be Closed

Matt,
 
"my parents were out of work and my family was homeless for a few months when I was about 12".  
 
Matt, this is the kind of WHITE BullSh*t that makes the Black Community Cringe that you can make this comparison.  Try being born into it or in and out of it that it seems like that is the NORM.  And you had PARENTS -- with S attached to the word PARENT. And you were 12. And it was for a FEW MONTHS -- ARE YOU DRUNK or need a better barometer??
 
LAUGH -- You mentioning this as a "hard time" is exactly what I talk about!!  The more you keep talking, the more you expose yourself.  But this is the same mentality that many White folks have in this city as a comparison.  Like I said - End of Jim Crow Laws without understanding how it has evolved.
 
You don't have to come from "privileged" but you sure don't come from the "hood" and didn't grow up in it or around it.  The problem is that you are not compassionate or empathetic to the situation in some areas or the struggles of being from some parts of our City.  The difference between your Whiteness and the "Blackness" of a few White White friends of mine is that You can't seem to measure things other than from your perch!!  --- A few months -- REALLY!!
 
I bet saying that made you feel good about yourself and rightfully so.  Maybe if you spent 12hrs, you would get it as your comments obviously don't show empathy.  By the way, lots of Drug Dealers give out "turkeys" but spend the majority of their time spreading death to generations!! 
 
Lots of people who "ribbon cut and open new rec centers and Schools cut checks to their "consulting" friends and campaign donors that don't deserve it -- at the expense of our kids and others who could have got some real benefit from the money.  Yet they opened a "rec center" not discussing the pilfering that occurred!!
 
Chew on that for a minute. 
 
Rob
 
On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 1:13 PM, Matt Ashburn <matt@mattashburn.com> wrote:
 

Rob,
 
Something that most folks don't know- my parents were out of work and my family was homeless for a few months when I was about 12.  Even then, my parents made darn sure that I went to school and my family didn't use out hardship wasn't used as an excuse. I know tough times, and it says a lot that you continue to falsely assume that I'm somehow from privilegde due to race or other assumptions. 
 
Regarding community involvement, I'm pretty involved as it is- I spent 6 hours yesterday on my day off volunteering and making meals for the homeless.  So, I don't need you to belittle me or suggest somehow that I'm not "put to work" enough.
 
Matt

On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 1:02 PM, Rob <indianrob@gmail.com> wrote:
 

Hey Matt,
 
Let me put you through what some of those parents have been put through and see if you have the energy to do any better.  Maybe you would but take a look at "Trading Places" the movie and then talk to me.  I am not making excuses for the parents, just that I would rather focus on what it would take to bring those kids back to an environment for them to be willing to learn and feel loved before doing like you suggested -- selling our Real Estate off to a Charter School. 
 
So, let me share -- I watched kids jump over the fence to play on the football field yesterday.  I actually made sure that they got over safely so that I at least knew that they were in an environment that was conducive to Playing.  On a holiday in that Carver Terrace area -- what do you expect kids to do when everything is locked up -- The bible says -- an idle mind is the devil's workshop. WE HAVE failed to be proper PLANNERS in the REAL ESTATE, Failed in the H Street Trolley implementation and just like we have failed to implement the type of programs for our kids to be interested in learning as well as playing.  We have been lazy in so many ways in how we approach this education discussion. 
 
If you want to help, Iet me know.  I will put you to work. 
 
Rob

On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 12:03 PM, Matt Ashburn <matt@mattashburn.com> wrote:
 

Rob,
 
I don't have kids, but I was a kid a few years ago and attended public schools and I'd like to see a local high school thrive in the community.  Unfortunatey, 40% of Spingarn students have missed over a month of school due to unexcused absences- that can't all be blamed on the government.
 
If I'd missed over a month of school as a kid, my parents would have been sure to quickly remedy that.
 
Sure, the DC public schools have a lot of work to do. But, if the parents of the students aren't making sure they attend school, where does the fault lie for that?
 
Matt


 
On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 11:54 AM, Rob <indianrob@gmail.com> wrote:
 

Matt,
 
Do you have any kids??  Maybe you missed it -- our community does not want this attacking approach on our Public School System -- ask 90% if Black Folks over here.  Why would we give away our Prime Real Estate -- a School in a Cluster like this that sits across from a Golf Course, a great football and track and field facility with Tennis and Basketball Courts (in desparate need of renovation) to a Charter School.  DCPS should refocus the feeders system to that location and we won't have to spend 100+ Million on renovation.
 
Isn't the Job of Central Office of DCPS to implement a School Curriculum and environment that will encourage students to attend and learn. Where is that program.  Maybe we should set the incentive/encourage this enrollment.
 
Rob  

On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 11:42 AM, Matt Ashburn <matt@mattashburn.com> wrote:
 

If true, it's not surprising, unfortunately.  It has a long history of poor performance and a student body that has high truancy.  And, the school has appeared in numerous reports detailing these issues but it hasn't turned around much.
 
It's sad to hear this news, but hopefully it will encourage parents to ensure their children attend their new school.  I also wonder what will become of the school itself- will it be sold to a charter school like the city did with Webb?
 
Matt


 
On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 10:32 AM, Gigi Ransom <gigifor5c12@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

Was just informed that Kaya Henderson was at Spingarn HS this morning and announced the closing of the school.
 
Albrette "Gigi" Ransom





--
R. Ramson
3744 12th Street, N.E.,
Washington D.C., 20017
202-438-5988

"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)




 






--
R. Ramson
3744 12th Street, N.E.,
Washington D.C., 20017
202-438-5988

"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)




 



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--
R. Ramson
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202-438-5988

"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)




 


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