Baton Rouge: definitely the "south" (1 Viewer)

[Doctor Detroit]

A section of Baton Rouge is trying to break away from the main city so they can redistrict their schools. It's called St George, here is the story...

The much anticipated PBS Frontline special on the city of St. George incorporation effort that aired Tuesday night has drawn decidedly mixed reviews. But many of those on both sides of the issue seem to agree on one thing — the national attention was not flattering for the parish.

Frontline reporters spent eight months in Baton Rouge following the story of a group of mostly middle-class activists in the southern part of the parish, as they attempt to create a new city in hopes of establishing their own school system.

The documentary was titled “Separate and Unequal” and focused heavily on race and income levels, as well as Baton Rouge’s storied history with the federal desegregation lawsuit and parishwide busing.

St. George organizers issued a lengthy statement after the documentary aired, accusing filmmakers of spinning the issue to inaccurately make it about race.

“This movement has NOTHING to do with class or race,” the statement said. “It has everything to do with parents (black and white, rich and poor) who are fed up with the current education, or lack thereof, in the public schools in East Baton Rouge Parish.”

The statement said organizers agreed to take part in the documentary initially because it was “sold as a film about education reform.”

"I'm not prejudice, I have a black friend who I play dominoes with."

Full Frontline Episode

##### please! Busing is still a very controversial issue though, many urban areas are directly impacted by the decision to do this.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Oh sure lots of that depending on if you look here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_%28proposed_U.S._state%29

http://www.michiganstandard.com/190/upper-peninsula-wants-to-secede-from-michigan/

.... or there...

http://wonkette.com/496672/go-galt-in-detroits-centrally-planned-puerto-rico-for-rich-jerks

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Or you know waaayyyy over there...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/07/15/six-californias-tim-draper/12661161/

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Oh sure lots of that depending on if you look here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_%28proposed_U.S._state%29

http://www.michiganstandard.com/190/upper-peninsula-wants-to-secede-from-michigan/

.... or there...

http://wonkette.com/496672/go-galt-in-detroits-centrally-planned-puerto-rico-for-rich-jerks

The UP wants to secede from Michigan because the LP is busing in browns?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Some good stats here, interesting.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Oh sure lots of that depending on if you look here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_%28proposed_U.S._state%29

http://www.michiganstandard.com/190/upper-peninsula-wants-to-secede-from-michigan/

.... or there...

http://wonkette.com/496672/go-galt-in-detroits-centrally-planned-puerto-rico-for-rich-jerks

The UP wants to secede from Michigan because the LP is busing in browns?

{Looks both ways}

{They think Detroit is "black"}

The biggest difference is that many Detroiters assume it’s a racial issue...

Those guys and their crazy ideas....

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Oh sure lots of that depending on if you look here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_%28proposed_U.S._state%29

http://www.michiganstandard.com/190/upper-peninsula-wants-to-secede-from-michigan/

.... or there...

http://wonkette.com/496672/go-galt-in-detroits-centrally-planned-puerto-rico-for-rich-jerks

The UP wants to secede from Michigan because the LP is busing in browns?

{Looks both ways}

{They think Detroit is "black"}

The biggest difference is that many Detroiters assume it’s a racial issue...

Those guys and their crazy ideas....

Those have to be three of the least connected links to a particular topic I've ever seen on this forum.

 

[CurlyNight]

Too many Jimmy Swaggart fans in Baton Rouge...

 

[ragincajun]

Haha. I live in the proposed area of "St. George". There are mixed feelings in this area over it.

First let me say the public school system is among the worst in the state which is not that great to begin with. I have a 3 year old and a 1 month old and if I stay in BR they will go to private school. The only Public School I will let them go to is University High which is essentially an LSU feeder school. I feel lucky that I can have a choice when many do not. The surrounding areas have public schools that rank towards the top in the state so there is a rather large mass exodus to the suburban areas outside of BR. BR ranks 52 out of the 92 Louisiana school districts while, the 3 surrounding parishes (not counties y'all) are ranked #6, 9, and 13.

Ok forgive my grammar as I am on zero sleep with a newborn and my fat thumbs do not like the ipad much.

 

[ragincajun]

Too many Jimmy Swaggart fans in Baton Rouge...

Not I

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Oh sure lots of that depending on if you look here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_%28proposed_U.S._state%29

http://www.michiganstandard.com/190/upper-peninsula-wants-to-secede-from-michigan/

.... or there...

http://wonkette.com/496672/go-galt-in-detroits-centrally-planned-puerto-rico-for-rich-jerks

The UP wants to secede from Michigan because the LP is busing in browns?

{Looks both ways}

{They think Detroit is "black"}

The biggest difference is that many Detroiters assume it’s a racial issue...

Those guys and their crazy ideas....

Those have to be three of the least connected links to a particular topic I've ever seen on this forum.

Let's see, more affluent whites living outside urban black area complaining of bad schools, bad government and (you know) want to secede.

Yeah, it's just BR.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Haha. I live in the proposed area of "St. George". There are mixed feelings in this area over it.

First let me say the public school system is among the worst in the state which is not that great to begin with. I have a 3 year old and a 1 month old and if I stay in BR they will go to private school. The only Public School I will let them go to is University High which is essentially an LSU feeder school. I feel lucky that I can have a choice when many do not. The surrounding areas have public schools that rank towards the top in the state so there is a rather large mass exodus to the suburban areas outside of BR. BR ranks 52 out of the 92 Louisiana school districts while, the 3 surrounding parishes (not counties y'all) are ranked #6, 9, and 13.

Ok forgive my grammar as I am on zero sleep with a newborn and my fat thumbs do not like the ipad much.

Finally, some insider info and not links to unrelated topics.

Other than creating a new parish is there any compromise that can be worked? I am obviously using the title as a related topic theme, I realize this isn't a Louisiana or south issue. Busing has been going on for a long time, to me it is something that is commendable in thought but not great in application. Sorta like communism or dating deaf chicks.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Haha. I live in the proposed area of "St. George". There are mixed feelings in this area over it.

First let me say the public school system is among the worst in the state which is not that great to begin with. I have a 3 year old and a 1 month old and if I stay in BR they will go to private school. The only Public School I will let them go to is University High which is essentially an LSU feeder school. I feel lucky that I can have a choice when many do not. The surrounding areas have public schools that rank towards the top in the state so there is a rather large mass exodus to the suburban areas outside of BR. BR ranks 52 out of the 92 Louisiana school districts while, the 3 surrounding parishes (not counties y'all) are ranked #6, 9, and 13.

Ok forgive my grammar as I am on zero sleep with a newborn and my fat thumbs do not like the ipad much.

I've hear or read of it. Frankly I'm against it on principle, but I don't live there and NO & BR are totally different. Like several other cities like NYC, NO has gone the charter route but of course there is a massive reliance on (excellent but expensive) private schools.

 

[ragincajun]

I am half Puerto Rican also.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Oh sure lots of that depending on if you look here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_%28proposed_U.S._state%29

http://www.michiganstandard.com/190/upper-peninsula-wants-to-secede-from-michigan/

.... or there...

http://wonkette.com/496672/go-galt-in-detroits-centrally-planned-puerto-rico-for-rich-jerks

The UP wants to secede from Michigan because the LP is busing in browns?

{Looks both ways}

{They think Detroit is "black"}

The biggest difference is that many Detroiters assume it’s a racial issue...

Those guys and their crazy ideas....

Those have to be three of the least connected links to a particular topic I've ever seen on this forum.

Let's see, more affluent whites living outside urban black area complaining of bad schools, bad government and (you know) want to secede.

Yeah, it's just BR.

Still not sure what this has to do with the upper peninsula. Have you been drinking moonshine tonight?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Oh sure lots of that depending on if you look here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_%28proposed_U.S._state%29

http://www.michiganstandard.com/190/upper-peninsula-wants-to-secede-from-michigan/

.... or there...

http://wonkette.com/496672/go-galt-in-detroits-centrally-planned-puerto-rico-for-rich-jerks

The UP wants to secede from Michigan because the LP is busing in browns?

{Looks both ways}

{They think Detroit is "black"}

The biggest difference is that many Detroiters assume it’s a racial issue...

Those guys and their crazy ideas....

Those have to be three of the least connected links to a particular topic I've ever seen on this forum.

Let's see, more affluent whites living outside urban black area complaining of bad schools, bad government and (you know) want to secede.

Yeah, it's just BR.

Still not sure what this has to do with the upper peninsula. Have you been drinking moonshine tonight?

Ok in full disclosure - yes, some Belgian stuff etc.

However the point (yet to be located) stands. I've been to Kalamazoo, damnit, that has to count for something.

 

[nirad3]

Haha. I live in the proposed area of "St. George". There are mixed feelings in this area over it.

First let me say the public school system is among the worst in the state which is not that great to begin with. I have a 3 year old and a 1 month old and if I stay in BR they will go to private school. The only Public School I will let them go to is University High which is essentially an LSU feeder school. I feel lucky that I can have a choice when many do not. The surrounding areas have public schools that rank towards the top in the state so there is a rather large mass exodus to the suburban areas outside of BR. BR ranks 52 out of the 92 Louisiana school districts while, the 3 surrounding parishes (not counties y'all) are ranked #6, 9, and 13.

Ok forgive my grammar as I am on zero sleep with a newborn and my fat thumbs do not like the ipad much.

St. Joseph's / Catholic High, I'd assume? Or is there a private school in St. George?

My wife went to SJA and I have a buddy who lives in the area with small kids. I would assume he has them queued up to go to private school too.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

So that California link is interesting. Where else is going on and generally what do parents of the impacted school districts think? I definitely understand trying to make schools as good as possible but the bottom line has to do with tax dollars. As Detroit shows once you lose the tax dollars, the schools will die and and sometimes forever. There it's not about race at all now, Detroit is 83% black and the families who want their kids out of the Detroit schools have created many charter schools with standards. Not sure how that is a whole lot different, it is exclusive and not inclusive just like this BR business.

 

[nirad3]

So that California link is interesting. Where else is going on and generally what do parents of the impacted school districts think? I definitely understand trying to make schools as good as possible but the bottom line has to do with tax dollars. As Detroit shows once you lose the tax dollars, the schools will die and and sometimes forever. There it's not about race at all now, Detroit is 83% black and the families who want their kids out of the Detroit schools have created many charter schools with standards. Not sure how that is a whole lot different, it is exclusive and not inclusive just like this BR business.

I currently live in the hellhole known as Minnesota. One great thing, though, about the state is that it has open enrollment for any schools. You send your kid wherever you want. As a result, there are NO "bad" schools. If a school sucks, it closes down (or so I would imagine).

We despise it here, so we're looking to move back to SoCal. But, for example, the grammar school I went to some 30 years ago is overrun with ESL students (not trying to get political here, it's just a fact) and as such the school has a terrible rating. If we were to move back to my neighborhood (which I'd prefer), we'd be forced to send our kids to private school or put them on the waiting list for a magnet.

Interesting story.

 

[ragincajun]

Haha. I live in the proposed area of "St. George". There are mixed feelings in this area over it.

First let me say the public school system is among the worst in the state which is not that great to begin with. I have a 3 year old and a 1 month old and if I stay in BR they will go to private school. The only Public School I will let them go to is University High which is essentially an LSU feeder school. I feel lucky that I can have a choice when many do not. The surrounding areas have public schools that rank towards the top in the state so there is a rather large mass exodus to the suburban areas outside of BR. BR ranks 52 out of the 92 Louisiana school districts while, the 3 surrounding parishes (not counties y'all) are ranked #6, 9, and 13.

Ok forgive my grammar as I am on zero sleep with a newborn and my fat thumbs do not like the ipad much.

Finally, some insider info and not links to unrelated topics. Other than creating a new parish is there any compromise that can be worked? I am obviously using the title as a related topic theme, I realize this isn't a Louisiana or south issue. Busing has been going on for a long time, to me it is something that is commendable in thought but not great in application. Sorta like communism or dating deaf chicks.

I think this has been building for a while. There is just zero faith in the parish school board. There have been many options visited and currently I believe there is a voucher program that will allow lower income students to go to private schools. When they started the State lottery 10-15 years ago they billed it as being used to fix the school system. It does not seem like it was ever fixed.

Honestly I think we could go to the charter system also.

 

[ragincajun]

Haha. I live in the proposed area of "St. George". There are mixed feelings in this area over it.

First let me say the public school system is among the worst in the state which is not that great to begin with. I have a 3 year old and a 1 month old and if I stay in BR they will go to private school. The only Public School I will let them go to is University High which is essentially an LSU feeder school. I feel lucky that I can have a choice when many do not. The surrounding areas have public schools that rank towards the top in the state so there is a rather large mass exodus to the suburban areas outside of BR. BR ranks 52 out of the 92 Louisiana school districts while, the 3 surrounding parishes (not counties y'all) are ranked #6, 9, and 13.

Ok forgive my grammar as I am on zero sleep with a newborn and my fat thumbs do not like the ipad much.

St. Joseph's / Catholic High, I'd assume? Or is there a private school in St. George?

My wife went to SJA and I have a buddy who lives in the area with small kids. I would assume he has them queued up to go to private school too.

Catholic or Episcopal, just not sure I want to pony up 20k for each kid for Episcopal just yet.

There are a few private elementary schools and 1 or 2 private high schools in the proposed area though.

 

[ragincajun]

Here is a good local read on the conflict in the community.

http://225batonrouge.com/42014/The_great_divide

 

[CurlyNight]

Too many Jimmy Swaggart fans in Baton Rouge...

Not I

If I were you I'd go to that family worship center one time. Sometimes I'm channel surfing and come across sbn. I'm in awe and shock how so many folks are in a trance there. It would be an entertaining time, 1 time, imo,

 

[BassNBrew]

The south today is still the most integrated region in the nation for black students,

From DD link.

Given that southern schools lag northern schools, maybe we should be opposing integration?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I pay for both my nieces to go to private school. Public schools in and around urban areas can be a mess and I want the best for them. But I went to public schools and I turned out pretty decent, it can happen.

We had busing in Detroit when I was a kid but they seemed to bring in a better quality kid than we had. We moved out of the city the summer I was supposed to go to high school though, I always wondered what would have happened had I stayed. Lots of kids I grew up with ended up dead or in jail, but some ended up doing better than me. Not many though. The height of the crack epidemic was a rough time.

 

[ragincajun]

Too many Jimmy Swaggart fans in Baton Rouge...

Not I

If I were you I'd go to that family worship center one time. Sometimes I'm channel surfing and come across sbn. I'm in awe and shock how so many folks are in a trance there. It would be an entertaining time, 1 time, imo,

I drive by it all the time, and I try not to look directly at it.

 

[BassNBrew]

I pay for both my nieces to go to private school. Public schools in and around urban areas can be a mess and I want the best for them. But I went to public schools and I turned out pretty decent, it can happen.

Kudos on doing that for them.

 

[ragincajun]

Of course my wife went to public school and was a 4.0 student all the way through her masters degree.

 

[CurlyNight]

Too many Jimmy Swaggart fans in Baton Rouge...

Not I

If I were you I'd go to that family worship center one time. Sometimes I'm channel surfing and come across sbn. I'm in awe and shock how so many folks are in a trance there. It would be an entertaining time, 1 time, imo,

I drive by it all the time, and I try not to look directly at it.

The circus is in town, permanently, and you don't want to see it even once?? The next 4 days is the share a thon where it's really a beg a thon. They typically get 3.5 mil over the course of 4 days. Simply amazing to me.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

I pay for both my nieces to go to private school. Public schools in and around urban areas can be a mess and I want the best for them. But I went to public schools and I turned out pretty decent, it can happen.

Kudos on doing that for them.

If you have the means you always do right by your family IMO. They like it, oldest is a HS soph now and she's all As and a good athlete. Maybe one of the best investments I ever made.