-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
McGehee High School, southeast of Little Rock, Arkansas, would not let Kymberly Wimberly, 18 and black, be valedictorian even though she had the highest GPA. A white student was named as co-valedictorian even though the white student had a lower GPA. Wimberly’s mother, who works at the school as its certified media specialist, heard school personnel express concern that her daughter’s status as valedictorian might cause a “big mess.”
Unforeseen by school officials, the “big mess” now includes a complaint filed by Wimberly in United States District Court .
Wimberly took Honors and Advanced Placement classes during her senior year in order to raise her almost straight “A” GPA that had been lowered by a lone “B.” When all the seniors’ grades were tabulated, Wimberly had the highest GPA of her class. The next day the principal decided to name a white student, with a lower GPA, as co-valedictorian.
The complaint claims a pattern of racial prejudice at the school. African-American students were discouraged, by school administrators and personnel, from taking the Honors and Advanced Placement classes while Caucasian student had to almost opt out of being assigned to the honor’s track.
The complaint alleges deprivation of rights secured by the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as well as violations of the Constitution of the State of Arkansas and various statutory laws. Wimberly is seeking injunctive, declaratory, and monetary relief.
At a time when many school districts are facing financial shortfalls, it is refreshing to find a school district willing to risk taxpayer funds on attorney’s fees and jury awards.
Otteray Scribe
Not impaired… temporarily misplaced my brain… it slipped into my cheek.
Attorneys and courts sure don’t need any help on that score. Just had a case go to court in MI where a dentist was sued for mega bucks because a client died of cancer months after his office visit. The cancer wasn’t even in/near his mouth. Dentist — 1, Plaintiff — 0
Dan, snark impaired?
He refers to stimulating the economy with full employment for lawyers and court personnel defending this kind of thing. 🙂
OK, so maybe I don’t get it. How can David Drumm think it ‘refreshing’ that a school system will spend big $$$ in Federal Court to defend it’s racist position. Not refreshing at all… only sad.
His quote: At a time when many school districts are facing financial shortfalls, it is refreshing to find a school district willing to risk taxpayer funds on attorney’s fees and jury awards.
I know some of them. Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D and Andrew Carnegie, as well as JC Penny and Woolworth. I am not sure about JP Morgan or Jay Gould.
Most came from modest means.
Roco,
you really should look up the history of the “Robber Baron’s Humble Beginnings.”
Mike Spindell:
a very long time ago, many people achieved great wealth coming from modest means. I think you call them the Robber Barons.
Success depends on the individual, if they are satisfied with what they have achieved then that is all that should matter.
Mike Spindell,
“Isn’t it strange how people are so besotted with political memes that they take any point of view that differs from their own and try to denigrate it using political polemic?”
Yeah, it is strange. But boxes are much easier to deal with than issues so it makes quick work of laborious thought.
I’ve been enjoying your posts, thanks for the time you spend on them.
“Poor boy/girl works hard gets educated starts a company and makes a bunch of money. And doesnt give a shit about who is who.”
Roco,
It’s truly a beautiful vision, but except for the rarest of instances a fantasy. The class we are born into, our parents attentions and/or ethnicity, has much to do with how much we can succeed. It also devolves on how one measures success. If owning a successful small business and making a good income is a measure of success, then yes a good mind and hard work can achieve that. I even know an In-Law relative who started from nothing and became an extremely wealthy man. Interestingly, despite his overcoming great obstacles he remains a liberal today with great sympathy for the impediments to success that others face.
The interesting thing, of which you might not be aware is that the media that created this concept of “The American Dream”. With Horatio Alger as the defining model in his series of books, though also Owen Wister to as great a degree, had the ultimate success of its’ hero determined by marrying into the upper classes. So even the mythology of your proposition is realistic about the ease which hard work wins you success.
“Why do you assume I subscribe to “typical leftist mantra”?”
gbk,
Funny, but in your past writings I’ve never considered you a “Leftist”. Isn’t it strange how people are so besotted with political memes that they take any point of view that differs from their own and try to denigrate it using political polemic? It is to me the sign of peopled boxed in by dogma and so limited in their ability to actually think about things. I thought your points were quite valid, but then you know what a Red, Lefty I am.
Roco,
“I should ask can you disprove my assumption?”
Given your perspective, probably not. This would require a few years of reading diverse narratives of US history. I can, however, send you a bibliography if you’re so inclined.
“. . . my opinion about peer pressure is just that, an opinion.”
That was my point, thanks.