Dudley reopens
Sunday's story about Dudley High School reopening really took me down Memory Lane.
In 2001, the fight by Dudley supporters to save their historic school probably was the biggest story I covered that year. I won't say it was as contentious as the High Point high school reassignment plan, but it was similar in a lot of ways. You had the school board on one side and concerned citizens on the other. And it seemed like something newsworthy was happening just about every day for a time.
I really enjoyed touching base with folks like Lewis Brandon, Goldie Wells, Heather Seifert and Mark Fields in writing this Sunday story. They were instrumental in the campaign to save Dudley and I talked to them all the time back in 2001. It's nice to renew old acquaitances.
But I wonder if there could be another parallel to the High Point reassignment plan. Ultimately, the Dudley parents and alumni were able to convince the school board to reverse their earlier vote and spare their school.
The board's membership has changed somewhat since then, but does the success of the Dudley supporters give hope to reassignment plan opponents? Or are we talking about two completely different issues?
Comments (6)
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Bruce,
perhaps what we are seeing is disdain for High Point in general, and total disregard for what the citizenry of High Point wants. We have seen the board aquiese on several occasions to the parents in Greensboro, but High Point seems to always get ignored. What's up with that??????
Posted on April 5, 2005 9:52 AM
You will NEVER get the school board to reverse its decision on the High Point Lottery.
They will never admit to being wrong and the High Point parents being right.
Posted on April 5, 2005 7:47 PM
Bruce,
You already KNOW the answer to your question. Of course it is two different issues.
That is Greensboro; the Fat Chance Plan is High Point.
Need I say more.
Posted on April 5, 2005 9:04 PM
I would like to think that there is hope, but I'm not very optimistic.
I don't know a lot about who fought for the Dudley renovation, but I would think that they had the support of at least one prominent political figure. In the High Point area, there is no one (at present) with any political clout helping to fight the battle. Its sad to say, but political games seem to outweigh common sense in most circumstances.
What will it take to get Guilford County to elect new leadership?
Posted on April 5, 2005 9:32 PM
I believe this is the opening shot of a problem facing the Guilford County school board. That is the education of minority and white children. The second problem is how does the school board avoid "No child left behind" sanctions.
Read the following article for more information.
Posted on April 6, 2005 4:36 AM
Ronald,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article. Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed your website even more and will put it on my list of websites to view.
Like we have all been saying and no one has yet answered this question:
What educational accomplishments have come out of the High Point "Choice" Fat Chance Lottery Plan?
To date, we still have NO answer. The academic "goals" pertain to all kids, all colors, all socioeconomic backgrounds. The programs are not "world class" as promised. They cannot find competent teachers. Teachers continue to leave Andrews along with the principals. The elective classes at SW are a joke - 126 "art" classes in the catalog, inclusive of mime and puppetry.
I am sure prospective companies will be beating down the doors to interview these kids for jobs in those fields. R I G H T.
Posted on April 6, 2005 10:13 AM