BCR's Daily Fishwrap Report for October 6, 2008

Some key highlights from the funnies today and this weekend:

• The H-S reports that private schools in the area appear to be doing well despite the bad economy, though DA at least reports an uptick in financial aid requests. (H-S)
• Thirteen NAACP members and supporters marched through East Durham this weekend to mark the NAACP's 65th anniversary in NC, and to call for reparations for the 1898 Wilmington riots -- described by some as the only coup d'etat in U.S. history -- and for forced sterilization in Forsyth Co. years after that. Members also reiterated calls for programs made in recent years' "HK on J" demonstrations in Raleigh. (H-S)
• From the We-Knew-That File: Copper thefts are happening in Durham, still. (H-S)
• Jim Wise presents an update on the second Fayetteville St. streetscape design review -- a more contentious meeting than the first, drawing out significantly more vocal concerns about outside interests and gentrification in the pioneering African-American community. (N&O TDN)
• A column in the N&O takes a look at the split of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill into separate metropolitan areas in 2003, and argues a recombination would help the Triangle in national rankings and would recognize the combined area's status as the 28th-largest metro area in the U.S. (N&O)
• The Durham News had nice features on the successful startup Triangle Brewing Company (N&O TDN) and the groundbreaking of Mangum 506 downtown (TDN).
• And, a look at the new book "Brighter Leaves," a history of the arts in Durham. (N&O)

Comments

[MinnieForte'sPencilSharpener]

I don't exactly see the fact that private schools are doing well as a plus in any way -- just more proof that the Durham Public Schools absolutely and totally suck, that the Board and administration give a crap about individual kids, that they are refusing to acknowledge the depth of the problem -- and that parents are doing anything they can, including going into debt and eating cat food, to keep their kids out of the hell holes that the Durham Public Schools have become.

Our public school system is the single biggest factor holding this town back, and holding property values down. We seriously need new leadership that recognizes and addresses it. I have been appalled by what I have seen now that I have a kid in the system. It's just shameful.

[KeepDurhamDifferent!]

Do tell us what you have found appalling...Kevin and other bloggers have done a pretty good job of showing that the DPS is not as bad as most people think, so if you have contrary evidence let's hear it.

My own opinion is that the Durham schools are a lot like the New York schools: there's good and there's bad, but if you know how to "work the system" (exam/magnet schools, living in the right district) you can end up getting a first class education at a discount price.

[DoTellTelling]

Here's what I have found appalling in the past four weeks:

1) class sizes of 35 children in a single classroom and one teacher

2) Not enough DESKS and CHAIRS to go around, meaning if no one is absent, kids have to sit at the teacher's desk or on the floor

3) Sixth graders who can not read -- lots of them

5) Sixth graders coloring their names as their language arts instruction

6) Administration forgetting to give the kids lunch time on the day they took standardized tests because the schedule was changed slightly

7) Six trailers worth of kids put on in-school suspension in a single middle school

8) Locks downs being instituted and metal detectors being installed at a middle school

9) Kids attending class who have such "anger management issues" they have a one-on-one bodyguard accompanying them at all times -- and no notification to parents of other children in the class.

10) Books so old they are falling apart and covered in grafitti, plus not enough books to go around.

You want to give me some advice on how you keep your kid safe and able to actually focus on learning in an environment like that?

I lived in NYC -- the public schools there are a zoo, but these? These are a disgrace to Durham. And I'd like to think we can set a better standard for ourselves than the NYC public schools.

[DRR]

According to my calendar, there have not been any middle school standardized tests within the last 4 weeks.

You are concerned about safety, yet you have a problem with a school practicing safety drills and making sure there aren't weapons in the building?

You don't want students who have behavior issues in class, and you complain about them being suspended and taken out of class?