Richmond Magazine on Patrick Henry Bedfellows
Chris Dovi has one of the most thorough looks at the Patrick Henry School I have seen at Richmond Magazine.com. The article takes a very expansive look at PH. In the article, as in many public debates race keeps poping up as an issue.
But some black leaders disagree, among them Richmond’s NAACP executive director King Salim Khalfani. He has been unrelenting in his criticism of Patrick Henry, describing its organizers as a white-led group seeking to create a white enclave reminiscent of the mid-1950s.
“There should not be a school for specific races, ethnicities or classes,” Khalfani told the School Board in March. He recently threatened to sue Richmond Public Schools if Patrick Henry opens. And he has said that Robinson provides Patrick Henry’s proponents with “an African face [that makes it] seem it’s okay.”
I really wish that Mr. Khalfani or any other race critics had been at the open house that was held for new families to meet the teachers. The students are anything but a “white enclave” and the mix was very similar to what we have experienced at Fischer Elementary. The article covers much more than this issue, I just wanted to comment directly on something I knew directly.
“There should not be a school for specific races, ethnicities or classes,” Khalfani told the School Board in March. He recently threatened to sue Richmond Public Schools if Patrick Henry opens. And he has said that Robinson provides Patrick Henry’s proponents with “an African face [that makes it] seem it’s okay.”
Khalfani is seeped in anger, fear and the “old fool” mentality that keeps piling on the old dead dry wood on the fire of racism. He puts fuel on the fire then points to white people as the problem. Shame on Khalfani, and shame on anyone who is not willing to get to know the Patrick Henry Charter School supporters for who they are. Khalfani is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
More political grandstanding. What a surprise!
Maybe he should watch this instead…
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
What a typical and expected response from the VERY racist Naacp.
I have to agree with the article. It’s not enough to perform outreach to students of ethnicity, the staff should also reflect the same diversity. The teachers at the charter school are white with the exception of one lone teacher. This isn’t representative of the student population. Don’t be fooled by the facade of ethnicity of Administration, there is only a small group of people with a specific agenda and those that are in “their way” will be forced out by any means….even going so far as taking an application and throwing it away. Yes, I am aware of what you did, and I know you know who you are. Unfortunate for you that you were seen/caught and now will be reported to RPS. The sad situation is that the vision, parents, and some of the staff had the vision of what it would be like and now are bullied into doing it “their way” or it’s the highway. In this tough economic times no one wants to lose a job no matter how unethical the situation becomes.