Talk of Waco

By null

August 21, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

Give me a break racial discrimination! What are you teaching your children???

By Eric

August 21, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

Does anyone think that this action causes LESS disruption to the children and their families?

By null

August 21, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this

What? You have to be kidding, racial discrinmination? What does race have to do with hard heads not wanting to learn?

By Concerned about real reasoning

August 21, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this

Didn’t we already have years of fighting of DEsegregating schools and now some community members want them REsegregated. Also, I’m concerned that the students will begin school and become successful in their new environments… then we are going to keep shuttling them back and forth until a resolution is reached? The children are the real concern here. We need to provide the with as much stability and security as possible now that the official decision has been made. Let’s make this as positive as possible for the teachers and children involved.

By Concerned about real reasoning

August 21, 2008 7:47 AM | Link to this

Didn’t we already have years of fighting of DEsegregating schools and now some community members want them REsegregated? Also, I’m concerned that the students will begin school and become successful in their new environments… then we are going to keep shuttling them back and forth until a resolution is reached? The children are the real concern here. We need to provide them with as much stability and security as possible now that the official decision has been made. Let’s make this as positive as possible for the teachers and children involved.

By Daniel

August 21, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

GIVE ME A BREAK!!! Lester (Al Sharpton) Gibson, et al, pull your head out!!! School starts Monday. If the “leaders” in East Waco were really concerned about the children they would have supported the closing after, wait for it…………FIVE YEARS OF AN UNACCEPTABLE RATING!!!!!! This is nothing more than grandstanding by a few people who want their name in the paper and who want to draw attention to Waco by the national media. Waco has had enough bad press in the last few years. Why make it worse? It should be the kids that we are concerned about, not how you look to Jesse Jackson and the rest of the Rainbow Racist Coalition.

By ginny

August 21, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

seems like instead of filing discrimination suit they would be happy their children are not going to a school that has received bad marks. whats wrong with parents they just want something to b*** about. if not dress code then keeping open a school that isn’t teaching their child anything.

By joker

August 21, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

Let me see if I’ve got this straight. Closing a failing school and giving those children a chance to succeed elsewhere amounts to racial discrimination? Does that sum it up?

Why is it that these so-called black leaders have such a vested interest in holding their communities back?

By Robbie

August 21, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

Suprise, suprise!!

I do not care who you are, where you’re from, the color of your skin, etc. It is a universal principle that when you continually allow failure from your children, you will receive failure from your children.

Universally, by pointing the finger, bickering, and filing a lawsuit once you’re held accountable for your (in)actions, you are demonstrating to your children that failure, inaction, and unaccountability have no consequence.

As a result that side of the river breeds a culture of lower standards. And they continue to wonder why businesses and sources of economic development do not want to invest in their neighborhoods when their neighbors do not hold themselves to higher standards of living.

By BoogerHook

August 21, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

Ah yes, the ol’ Racial Discrimination catch-all.

I wish I had been born green so I could use that every time I didn’t get what I want.

I guess we should be grateful we’re not getting the usual response:

1) Rioting and burning police cars. 2) Looting. 3) Beating innocent truck drivers.

Ain’t diversity great?

By wah wah!!!!

August 21, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

blah blah blah….racial discrimination?? how about what is good for the kids ?? it has nothing to do with race…just look at the facts of this case! I hope the right decision is made in the end.. later in life it will pay off for those children

By null

August 21, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

HA! I’m surprised it took this long for the race card to be played. It’s obvious these people are total garbage. No reason to keep throwing good money at a bad school with bad thug kids. Lets get Al Sharptongue and Jesse Hijackson down here for some good ole fashioned looting and rioting.

By GET A LIFE!!!!!

August 21, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF THIS STUPID RACIAL CRAP!!! PUT THEM KIDS IN A SCHOOL SO THEY CAN LEAR TO READ AND WRITE AND SHUT THIS SCHOOL DOWN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO!!!!!!!!!

STOP WAISTING OUR SHOOL TAX MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT ISN’T WORKING YOU HAVE REPORTS AND MORE REPORTS SHOWING THEY ARE FAILING, YOU THINK THERE MOMS AND DADS WOULD WANT MORE FOR THEIR KIDS.????? THE OTHER COLOR (lol) PEOPLE GET TIRED OF THIS RACIAL THIS AND RACIAL THAT GET A LIFE AND STAND UP AND BE SOMETHING BESIDE A RACIAL COMPLAINER ALL THE TIME!!! I SICK OF IT

By null

August 21, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Any lawyer that takes this case and stands up for these kids staying stupid, should have his bar license taken away.

People close the school and go on with it, stop spending more and more money!!!!

By KDF

August 21, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

joker sums it up. Black leaders hold back that community so that the black leaders can retain power. It looks good for most of the people, it gives them a shoulder to cry on, and it keeps elongating the racial card.

The more a word (racial) or phrase (descrimination) is repeated, the outcome will not change.

The doors have been closed. Look for the open door that Jesus Christ has given you. God loves you. This closing is reality. Let our children refocus on this next step. <><

By laughing

August 21, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Wait, did I read this right? Did it say: Fighting to Save the Children. Is this some kind of 11 p.m. infomercial here? Wow. Are you also, Mr. GIBSON, trying to “save the children” from the drugs and gang violence in their neighborhoods? Are you trying to help their mother’s get some job skills and father’s pay some child support? You love East Waco Mr. Gibson? Then why don’t YOU live there?

Wow- a last minute attempt to be a “hero” for the downtrodden and stepped on. Awesome. Too bad some of these parents can’t put it together that- um, where were you a year ago? 2 years ago? 3 years ago? 4 years ago? 5 years ago? Were you tutoring? fighting the state to abolish TAKS? Fighting for teacher raises? Oh, I think not.

Let these kids go to their new schools. Please. Let some of these young people get to play FOOTBALL or be in BAND- do some EXTRA. Please.

By Kelli

August 21, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

I want the “East Waco Community Leaders” to know that while screaming about being oppressed because the students are mostly black, they themselves are oppresing the smart students that are not being challenged enough by being in a school that is under preforming and has been for the last five years.

By null

August 21, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

I agree with the person that said I wish I was purple so I could use that excuse everytime I did not get what I wanted also like food for my kids and insurance that I can’t afford through my job. Yes the “RACE” card gets very old. I have been out of high school 25 years and that is all I heard by then. Like we OWE them something? I don’t think so. Those were my ancestors and yours so GET OVER IT!!!!! Personal I don’t like Whiley and SOME of the kids there that play sports. My daughter is in middle school and when we played soccer with them they would cuss, cheat, push and everything else to get a goal. I would have knocked the crap out of them but our kids took like they were supposed to and knew they were dumb.

By Concerned Parent

August 21, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

What a shame! It is too bad that these people cannot see past their own agendas to do the correct thing for their children. The school has proven itself time and time again that it is below standard, so who in their right mind would want to send their child to a school where they obviously are not going to get the proper education? People, no one is out to get you or suppress you. A group of educated and well meaning adults took every detail into consideration and decided to close this school for the best interest of your child. Step back and take a look at the big picture. As for the children being affected by this decision, I am sure they are if they are listening to their parents and their negative opinions. Let’s don’t take a step back in time, and do the right thing for the children.

By Truly Concerned

August 21, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

School starts Monday. Most of the children are enrolled and they are excited about their NEW schools. God makes no mistakes, it worked out this way for a reason. Let the children move forward, most children adapt pretty quickly. Soon they will be laughing and having a good time, as well as learning. The children deserve more. As a parent, I only want the best for my children and others. I know the East Waco community didn’t want to see another school in their district close, but what’s done is done. Please just let the children move forward. Place it in God’s hands and it will work out for the best everytime. IT’S ABOUT THE CHILDREN, NOT RACE!

By One of the 3%

August 21, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

A long time ago now our governments did so much to appease the racial issues that discrimination was turned on the Caucasian race. Right now, TODAY, the African (NOT AFRICAN-AMERICAN) people in this country have many times more opportunity available than do the Caucasians. But, THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH!

The Africans DON’T WANT the racial issues to be permanently resolved, because then they couldn’t scream discrimination each and every time something is done that they DON’T LIKE! They have never wanted equality. They continue to demand SUPERIORITY! They’ll never be satisfied until the Caucasian race is THEIR slaves!

So once again we’re presented with the same old song and dance to get THEIR way! It’s not any matter of an under-performing school, nor is it any matter of what’s best for the children, it’s a matter of HAVING IT THEIR WAY!

In my opinion, whatever amount it takes to keep THEIR school open should be spent. The Caucasians don’t need these ANIMALS in the schools with their children!

By nulisecundus

August 21, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

If these so called community leaders were truly concerned about the students welfare they would expend more time and energy getting involved with teaching their children morals and family values. I do not put blame on the children, but I do put blame on the parents for not teaching them right from wrong.Parenting never stops just because you are black, white, brown or any other color. A person MUST be responsible for their actions or inactions. Stop playing the race card!

By I have a dream...

August 21, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

The Indians have a saying “never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins”. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, gave his “I have a Dream” speech 45 years ago next week and we are still getting these kinds of comments.

By Truly Concerned

August 21, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

I know people have the right to express their opinions. I just wish the trib could screen the comment sections. This way a lot of demeaning and hurtful comments could stay in the minds and hearts of those who have refused to allow God to be apart of their lives. The only way you will get to Heaven is to LOVE EVERYONE, regardless of who they are or what they have done. God is Love!! What are you teaching your children?

By PEACE

August 21, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

To laughing: Your comment means nothing. You have a problem with Mr. Gibson so you are using this story to take shots at him. Find another time to condemn him. This should be about the children and comments being made about Mr. Lester Gibson and whom ever else support keeping the school open is not helping anything. Your are passing judgement. If you can’t offer words of encourgagement keep them to your self.

By steve

August 21, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

I find it odd in so many ways that here we are arguing the black card again because of school board closing a school that cant meet achievements in five yrs. It’s not that the black card is being played now but, its amazing it took five yrs and a closing to find that card.It’s time to stop and do whats right for our future leaders of our city. Wake up!!!!! ps its the same old dance with Lester Gibson he cant even treat the tax payers in the county evenly.On my road black gets the services.Maybe he will run for school board so we can have a comm.pct.2 again!

By Jason Attas

August 21, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

This is absurd. Lester Gibson is an idiot. He has been crying racial foul for decades. He’s a one-trick pony that has nothing better to do with his life than deepen the racial divide in this town by always framing every issue as one of black and white, us against them.

It’s not about race, you moron!

How can closing an “unacceptable” school to send those students somewhere where they actually have a chance at a better education be considered racist?!?!

Lester, have you been smoking some of your son’s crack?

Wise up, East Waco. Lester is not doing you any favors.

By Rodney King

August 21, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Can’t we all just get along?

By dee

August 21, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this

One of the 3%. I am AMERICAN because I was born in this Country. If am also African because I’m of African descent. I also have specks of white blood, because my forefathers didn’t know how to keep their “you know what’s” put up. Also, my Causcian ancestry doesn’t go back as far as you might think. You are living proof why racism still exists. To refer to someone that is not Anglo-Saxon as animals is very racist! For people to continue to say that African Americans are playing the race card regarding the closure of this school, then turn around and post racial comments, says that racism is still practiced.

By Obama Democrat

August 21, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

Barack Obama rally — Monday nights 6:30 p.m. — 34th and Bosque — Democratic Headquarters. YOU are needed. Yes We Can!

By BoogerHook

August 21, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this

Yes! Come vote for Obama. Then the whole nation can be like East Waco! Hooray! That’s what I want!

By equality across the board

August 21, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this

Has anyone viewed the test results of all of the schools in Waco ISD? Specifically middle schools? From what I’ve heard and seen, they’re not much better than Wiley’s scores. Therefore, maybe the board should consider SHUTTING DOWN THEIR WHOLE DISTRICT!

By EX - WISD EMPLOYEE

August 22, 2008 1:58 AM | Link to this

IT’S REALLY SAD TO READ JASON ATTAS COMMENTS ON LESTER GIBSON!!! OMG YOU MUST HAVE LIVED IN TEXAS ALL YOUR LIFE… YOU SPEAK LIKE A TRUE DOWN SOUTH RAISED INDIVIDUAL. THANKING GOD I WAS BORN TWO BI-RACIAL PARENTS WHO GROW UP IN TEXAS. EDUCATED BY 2 WHITE GRANDPARENTS AND 2 BLACK GRANDPARENTS. MOST OF ALL I AM BLESSED THAT MY PARENTS TRAVELED THE WORLD OVER WHILE RAISING MY SIBLINGS AND MYSELF. TRUTH BE TOLD BY ANY NATIONALITY THAT HAS COME TO WACO OR TEXAS. THE SOUTH IN A WHOLE IS STILL LIVING IN SLAVERY. WITH SLAVERY THERE WILL ALWAYS BE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.LETS JUST LEAVE THE RACIAL ISSUE ALONE. LETS THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE HURTING OUR FUTURE’S WHEN WE BECOME ELDERLY BY ALL OF THE MADNESS WE CREATE FIGHTING ABOUT SIMPLE MINDED ISSUE’S. COME ON LOOK AT THE REAL PICTURE WE ADULTS ARE THE REASON WE HAVE ISSUE WITH OUR BABIES HAVING A POSITIVE LIFE AHEAD OF THEM. THESE PRECIOUS BABIES ARE FROM GOD AND WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO RAISE AND GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT WAY. PERSONAL DIFFERENCE’S NEED TO BE HANDLED IN A BETTER WAY. IF WE HAVE TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN IN A FIELD SO BE IT JUST EDUCATE THE CHILDREN AS CHILDREN. LETS STOP TREATING THE CHILDREN AS ADULTS WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL. WHAT HAPPEN TO THE TEACHERS THAT COULD HANDLE THEIR STUDENTS WITH A SECURITY GUARD OR POLICE AROUND. LEAVE WILEY OPEN SO THESE BABIES CAN LEARN AND PARENTS CAN BE INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN. MOVING THESE BABIES IS NOT GOING TO MAKE ANYTHING BETTER. FOR ONE HALF OF WISD TEACHERS ARE NONE CERTIFIED SO YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AND BEING AN EX-STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE OF WISD I CAN TELL YOU WE GET WHAT THEY PAY FOR. HOW CAN YOU TEACH A CHILD WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW. WITH SIMPLE MINDED PEOPLE AND THOSE HAVING A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE(STUPID) INDIVIDUALS LEADING HOW CAN WE RISE ABOVE??? I PRAY FOR YOU THAT HAVE SINGLED OUT LESTER GIBSON HE IS NOT IN THIS BY HIS SELF SO IT MAKES YOU LOOK AND SOUND LIKE A FOOLISH INDIVIDUAL. TRY GETTING OUT OF WACO TO FIND OUT WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT!!! YOU NEED JESUS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. THE FOCUS IS KEEPING A SCHOOL OPEN AND WHATEVER HAS TO BE DONE TO KEEP IT OPEN SHOULD BE THE ONLY FOCUS. SAVE WILEY!!!

By just some thoughts..

August 22, 2008 4:45 AM | Link to this

I find it interesting that a group of East Waco leaders are known as “Fighting to Save the Children”. If you really are fighting to save the children, then it doesn’t start with the reopening of Wiley, it begins with the transformation of your community and it’s current residents. If you really care about your children, then stop seeking newspaper publicity for reopening schools and get to the root of the problem, the adults who are parenting these children. At some point your community will have to stop playing the “race” card and pointing fingers of blame. Five straight years of “unacceptable” test scores? That is a community failure, not a school district’s failure. In fact, that strongly suggests lack of structure within the community, lack of strong parental involvement, and a consistent attitude that pervades throughout lower socio-economic areas througout America, “school is unimportant.” Maybe the crew known as “Fighting to Save the Children” should stop working on injunctions against WISD and instead file injunctions against those parents in the community who are bad parents, file injunctions against themselves for not really being “community leaders” as they should be, and go ahead and file “injunctions” against anyone looking to profit or build their own platform off this current lawsuit and situation. (sarcasm noted, but truth within it)

I would hope that these new opportunties in different middle schools would give some children a chance to get ahead and I believe it will. Unfortunately, there will still be other children who go home to parents or a parent who just doesn’t care and their educational path will unfortunately continue. Because, bottom line is that education starts at home and it is not based on the parents education level, race or socio-economic status…..it is based on the parents concern, involvement, and support of their child.

I was raised by a father who dropped out of high school and got his GED and a mother who just had a high school education. I was raised by a mother and father who had a baby at a young age and were married at a young age. I was not raised wealthy, but I was raised with support, love, and expectations. The main expectation was to do well in school and to achieve greater than my parents ever achieved. Today, I would consider myself middle class and I currently have obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees from college. My success started at home, it did not start in an elementary, middle, or high school. Those factors helped continue my success, but they did not mandate it. My hope is that all the children from this community have a chance at getting a good education, but even more so, my hope is that parents and adults who are role models will really begin to be role models and change the culture and attitudes of their community beginning with each individual home, each individual adult, and each individual parent/guardian.

There is a societal and community problem throughout East Waco, not an educational problem. The closing of Wiley will not lead to the downfall of the community, but the downfall of the community has led to the closing of Wiley. Learn something from this, especially those of you known as, “Fighting to Save the Children”. If you really plan on saving the children, take your leadership out of the courthouses and onto the streets and begin to lead and do what it is you all say you want to achieve by truly saving the children.

(*side note…I realize not all parents from E. Waco are bad parents, just as much as I realize not all parents from Robinson, Hewitt, Lorena, Waco proper are good parents, but I do feel the decay of the community has led to this. That is something the community must understand and take responsibility for. My prayer is for those parents who are really concerned and really do care about their children, that they will get the answers they are seeking…..which may not be in an injunction, school reopenings or lawsuits)

By orbital

August 22, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

Carole Keeton Rylander, Texas State Comptroller of Public Accounts, in a news release dated February 22, 2002, said she wanted to create a permanent safety net for all the school children of Texas in the future, and added that she will not see the children in McLennan County classrooms harmed by the action or inaction of their local appraisal district.

Vowing to protect the education of the school children of McLennan County, Rylander announced a plan that would allow the schools to write their budgets based on local property tax yearly values. McLennan County was identified as the most vivid—the most severe—challenge to the flawed Legislatively created system.

While I dislike the high Waco property tax, more than most, I am reminded that our initial neglect to local education is a major cause for our current plight. The harm to education caused by low property appraisal was equally applicable to all schools in the district, but was particularly significant to those schools with predominant at-risk students.

In attempting to treat G.L. Wiley closure as only a bottom-line issue, the WISD school board has collectively shown the moral turpitude of a fifty-pound rock.

The resentment expressed by many over NCAAP involvement will pale in comparison to the attention that will come when the rest of Texas learns that the very city and county, most responsible for property tax rise across the state, is now bailing out on the Wiley situation for cost reasons.

No doubt, there are many hard economic issues that WISD must deal with in the coming year, including school closures. It may be that in a year Wiley must still be closed. The state of Texas, in recognition of improvement, gave Wiley one more year. How can we, as a city, attempt to even contemplate doing less than state, no matter the cost? If Wiley is to fail, at least let us go down with some dignity and our boots on.

By I GIVE UP

August 22, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this

WHAT’S THE POINT.LET THE KIDS STAY WHERE THEY’RE COMFORTABLE.THE GIRLS ARE GOING TO END UP PREGNANT AND ON WELFARE,WITH FOOD STAMPS AND FREE HOUSING AND FREE MEDICAL.WHY GET AN EDUCATION?THE BOYS WILL BE ON THE STREETS SELLING DRUGS TO SUPPORT THEIR HABITS NOT THEIR BABIES. LEAVE THEM ALONE.LET THEM STAY WHERE THEY FEEL MORE AT HOME.