School district officials expressed regret on Wednesday after confirming the incident, which has not only incited concerns of racial profiling but also raised broader questions about the district’s methods to address student performance.
An Exclusive Assembly Was Designated Only for Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Black Students
This exclusive assembly was designated only for fourth- and fifth-grade Black students.
As Flagler Schools spokesman Jason Wheeler confirmed, even those with passing grades were removed from their classes, an action based solely on their racial background.
A PowerPoint presentation, riddled with typographical errors and titled “AA Presentation,” was shown to fuel the flames further.
It highlighted that Black students, identified as “AA” or African Americans, had consistently underperformed on standardized tests over three years.
Dire Consequences for Those Who Don’t Excel in Their Exams
A particular slide titled “The Problem” was especially problematic, spotlighting and isolating the supposed underperformance of Black students on tests.
The repercussions of this were immediate. Parents have expressed their shock and outrage, mainly because they were kept in the dark about this segregational event.
Many have voiced the emotional trauma their 9 and 10-year-old children endured, as teachers painted dire consequences for those who don’t excel in their exams.
Comments that implied prison time or even death have reportedly terrified young students.
“So I’m Going To Die, I’m Going To Get Shot, I’m Going To Go to Jail if I Don’t Do Right?”
Jacinda Arrington, a parent, conveyed her disbelief and disappointment, stating to WOFL, an Orlando-based Fox affiliate, that the assembly sent a heart-wrenching message to her child, “It told my child that she was not good enough. The color of your skin means that you are not good enough when, in fact, she’s one of the smartest kids in her class.”
Similarly, another concerned parent, Alexis Smith shared her son’s distress after the assembly. He had been left asking her, “So I’m going to die, I’m going to get shot, I’m going to go to jail if I don’t do right?”
To incentivize academic improvement, these students were offered McDonald’s meals. Flagler interim superintendent LaShakia Moore pointed out that while the intent was commendable, the execution was far from it.
Actively Segregate and Demoralize a Group Based on Their Ethnicity
The question that arises then is: How did this happen? Why did an educational institution, which is supposed to foster inclusivity, instead actively segregate and demoralize a group based on their ethnicity?
Moore, who herself is Black, acknowledged the oversight, adding, “Sometimes, when you try to think ‘outside the box,’ you forget why the box is there.”
She explained that she thought Donelle Evensen, Bunnell Elementary’s new principal, had no ill intentions when organizing the student outreach.
However, Moore also recognized the assembly’s problematic nature and issued a video apology to parents.
A Subsequent Apology Did Little To Ease the Community’s Outrage
However, Moore’s acknowledgment of the issue and the subsequent apology did little to ease the community’s outrage.
Cheryl Massaro, the County School Board Chair, shared the sentiments of many, expressing that the racially exclusive event was inappropriate, even if it wasn’t rooted in malice.
She confirmed that the School Board was uninformed about the assembly’s specifics. She stated, “It’s sad that it was segregated by race because that’s not fair. But that’s what happened.”
The lack of clarity regarding the more alarming claims from parents about the threats of death or incarceration to their children further fuels the growing controversy.
“The Flagler School Board Does Not Support Segregation”
However, the implications of this event go beyond the Flagler County school district. This incident reflects a wider issue as Florida undergoes a significant transformation in its approach to teaching race and history.
At a recent press conference, Flagler County’s school district officials called the assembly a “horrible, horrific mistake.” Cheryl Massaro said, “The Flagler School Board does not support segregation.”
The school’s principal has been temporarily relieved from duty in light of the incident, with an investigation underway.
However, parents and teachers think the school district and other institutions need a long, hard look at their protocols to ensure that such a divisive event does not happen again.
She Called the Police Because He Was Doing His Job! But He Was in the Right
The post Florida School’s Racial Assembly Sparks Outrage – A Misguided Attempt or a Reflection of Deep-Rooted Bias? first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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Source: NBC News