Our education system has this funny quirk of grouping kids by birth date — rather than, say, intellectual ability or achievement or interest.

But developmental pathways are as individual as kids themselves.

And so there’s a perpetual back-and-forth about whether to put certain kids in school a grade behind or ahead of their actual age.

Recently we covered the research on “redshirting,” or the practice of starting kindergarten a little late. That researcher concluded that it’s usually better to go ahead and enroll kids as soon as they’re old enough. For one thing, they will earn more money on average over a lifetime with that head start into the workforce.

Now comes a big study to say something different: Holding kids back at third grade when they don’t meet the academic standards will give them a boost in achievement, by some measures. And, it doesn’t affect whether they graduate high school either way.

Nationwide, about one in 10 children must repeat at least one grade, and they tend to be disproportionately low-income or come from minority groups. Following on the stereotype of the too-tall kid crammed into a too-small desk in the back row, previous research has looked at the potential downsides of grade retention: stigma, peer group mismatch and reduced expectations from teachers.

This study adds a counterbalance: If students get proper help and attention, they may be able to improve on low performance, given a little extra time.

Guido Schwerdt of the University of Konstanz in Germany, Martin West of Harvard, and Marcus Winters of Boston University, followed the fates of almost a million Florida students who were in third grade in 2002-2003. That year, in the wake of the federal No Child Left Behind law, the state put in a policy that all students who missed the mark on the third-grade state reading test would be automatically left back and given remediation. A total of 16 states plus the District of Columbia have such a rule.

The authors compared Florida students who just passed the reading test with those who just missed it and were held back. They looked at their test scores for eight more school years in reading and six more in math, plus high school transcripts and graduation figures.

The students who were held back did better in the first few years. Over time, the effects faded, but they still had higher GPAs and took fewer remedial courses in high school.

Ultimately, though, there was no discernible impact on high school graduation rates. This is significant, because being overage for one’s grade has long been considered in itself a risk factor for dropping out.

As Harvard’s Martin West notes, “the results are mixed – and therefore disappointing for the policy’s proponents, especially since holding students back is costly.” On the other hand, he adds, the worst fears of critics were not borne out by the results.

It’s important to note here that not every student who scored too low was held back. English language learners and special education students, for example, were generally promoted anyway, and teachers have discretion to promote general education students who they think can succeed in the next grade.

West says what he really wonders about is why the left-back students, who make demonstrable academic gains, still do no better when it comes to high school graduation. “The big question for me is what happened in high school such that better preparation did not translate into improved outcomes.”

The post Study: Holding Kids Back A Grade Doesn’t Necessarily Hold Them Back appeared first on Madness & Reality.

When Carlson asked Durden why would an organization founded on equality for black people institute such a ban, Durden’s response was racially charged and quite shocking.

“Boo hoo hoo!”

“You white people are angry because you couldn’t use your white privilege card,” she responded. She continued with a rant that was eventually stopped by her mic being cut off.

After which, Carlson asked, “If you don’t like people excluding others on the basis of their race… then why are you doing it and why are you defending it now?”

Durden replied and talked about how “you’ve been having White Days forever!” and invoked the “all-white Oscars” and movies and TV shows with all-white casts. She added, “It took eleven seasons to get a black Bachelorette!”

At that point, Carlson accused Durden of being “hostile,” and “crazy.”

“You’re demented, actually.” Carlson blurted out during Durden’s extremely incoherent lecture. “You’re sick and what you’re saying is disgusting and if you were a Nazi, I’d say the same thing to you because what you are saying is indistinguishable to what they are saying.”

You know what? Tucker Carlson was right. As I watched the exchange, I found myself asking, “Who is this woman, and what the hell is wrong with her?” Seriously, she was totally unhinged. So you can imagine the look on my face when I later read that she was a college professor. No shade, but her entire argument had no measure of intellectualism.

She really did Black Lives Matter or herself any favors. And to be perfectly honest, I thought Carlson had a legitimate line of questioning. It was a line of questioning that even I had on the issue. But I understand that Durden wasn’t representing Black Lives Matter, and her views were her own. However, she came off like a nutjob in trying to defend the indefensible.

On June 8th, two days after her appearance on Fox, Durden arrived on the New Jersey campus and was told to cancel her classes. According to Mediaite, Durden was instructed to report to Human Resources. She was handed a signed letter by the Vice President of academic affairs. In the letter, she was informed that she was suspended “until further notice.” Apparently, the college didn’t take too kindly to her divisive anti-white rhetoric.

“They did this to humiliate me,” Durden reacted. “Essex County College publicly lynched me in front of my students.” Seriously? They “lynched” her? No, ma’am, I’ve seen lynching photos, and that wasn’t a lynching. While I understand that she was speaking figuratively, her hyperbolic and exaggerated reaction is emblematic of what got her fired in the first place.

I don’t care who you are. And it also doesn’t matter what color or ethnicity you are. Bottom line: you can’t get on national television and express those views. Yes, you’re entitled to an opinion like everyone else. However, what you do is get a blog like I did and write that shit anonymously. Hell, and even when you do like I and so many others do, you have to be careful. There are consequences for what you say or do in spaces of public consumption.

When asked to comment on her termination, Jefferey Lee, the Vice President of Academic Affairs told the press: “The college promotes a community of unity that is inclusive of all. The general counsel has handled this matter in a way that complies with New Jersey state law. I am not at liberty to provide further details.”

This isn’t rocket science, folks. Professor Lisa Durden essentially did the equivalent of posting naked pics of herself online and got fired for it. Sorry, but unless you work at a strip club, anyone working in a high-profile job will get fired for doing just that. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t seen other college professors get fired for saying racist stuff on Facebook.

Yep, as much as I disagree with the views of Tucker Carlson, this sister should’ve known better. But like the old folks would say, apparently Lisa Durden forgot her color. Which is funny, because if she was white and she said some foul shit as many folks on Fox News normally do, we’d all be calling for that person’s job.

The lesson here is that you can’t be on your “Kill Whitey” steez in public.

You have to save that for the Black Lives Matter gatherings where non-blacks are banned.

The post Professor Lisa Durden Fired After Appearance On Fox News appeared first on Madness & Reality.

Hell, I might even sell my sperm at this point if I was him.

But instead, LaVar Ball is smart enough to establish a brand to help secure the financial future of his family. Because, why not? I mean, it’s not like anyone ever wins the Power Ball three times in a row, right? So yes, as a father, I’m happy for LaVar Ball.

So much so that I support his right to say the most absurd shit every day if he chooses.

We All Can’t Be LaVar Ball

When I see the headlines of stories about black kids being accepted at multiple ivy league schools, I think of LaVar Ball. His crazy statements aside, those headlines make me think of the immeasurable sense of pride the parents of those children must feel.

It’s too bad that the parents of athletes are deemed more important than the parents of the black kids accepted at various ivy league schools. Nobody in media wants to interview the parents of these kids to understand just what the journey was like. Nobody thinks it’s important to have them give voice to what it is to be a parent who worked hard and made sacrifices, to keep their kid on the straight and narrow as they excelled academically.

To me, there’s something tragic about this. Yes, very tragic. So, when you hear me one day in the news singing the praises of my daughters. When you hear about the crazy black guy who lives in Memphis, Tennessee, if I’m still here, who said that his kid(s) will be bigger than Albert Einstein ever was. Just know that it was me, the crazy-ass bombastic in-your-face black dude you know from the internet who said it. Because it will happen.

How do I know? Because, like Lavar Ball, I believe in my kids. And so far, I think my wife and I have provided a good enough foundation for them. We have one still at the University of Louisville, and another on her way to Boston University on a full academic scholarship to complete her Masters. So, let’s just say that we expect nothing less from our 10-year-old and 8-year-old, who are both in gifted programs at their elementary school.

LaVar Ball Celebrates His Sperm, So What?

“Build your own brand,” is a common theme pushed in digital marketing spaces lately.

“Black people need to be entrepreneurs and start businesses instead of working for the white man,” has long been a message from the pulpits of blackness all across America.

LaVar Ball”s Big Baller Brand has revealed that his son Lonzo Ball’s signature basketball shoe will cost $425. Naturally, a lot of my brother and sister folks are like, “Nigga, please! Are you crazy?!! We ain’t finna pay that kinda money fo’ no basketball shoe. You out yo’ mind?”

To be fair, Lonzo Ball has yet to play at least a nano-second of basketball in the NBA. So naturally, commanding that price for a pair of basketball shoes sounds absolutely ridiculous. Nevermind the fact that there’s a strong chance of him being a top NBA draft prospect this year. None of that matters because he hasn’t proven anything; and, well, his father is crazy.

But here’s the thing: there are people who weren’t alive when Michael Jordan played in the NBA that are willing to pay $300 for Jordan’s shoe, which is marketed and sold by Nike.

LaVar Ball Challenges The Status Quo

Am I saying that Lonzo Ball is the next Michael Jordan? I’m not. However, what I am saying, is that I’m sure at one point back in the day somebody said that there’d never be another Julius “Dr. J” Ervin. Likewise, before him, there was never supposed to be another Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, or Kareen Abdul-Jabbar. If anyone said that back then, it was something Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan, or even Akeem Olajuwon ever heard.

So, again, just to be clear, I’m not suggesting that Lonzo Ball will be the next Michael Jordan like LaVar Ball says. For all I know, like Steph Curry, Lonzo Ball might turn out to be a future NBA champion and MVP with a shoe that Under Armor couldn’t give away to homeless people and starving kids in Africa.

So yeah, there’s that.

Young kids today are being racially profiled and detained after buying belts for $300. Thanks to your favorite rapper, they’re even buying jeans that cost $700. Hell, they’re even buying jeans adorned and pre-treated with fake mud for $400.

Sounds crazy, but it’s true.

But But But… Black Businesses!

Thing is, none of these items are being sold by a black-owned company. With that in mind, all the major athletic apparel and shoe companies like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok shittin’ on LaVar Ball’s Big Baller Brand, like they recently did, makes sense. I could be wrong, but if they didn’t feel threatened by Big Baller Brand, they wouldn’t have had to say anything.

But hey, let’s keep suggesting that black people should support our own. Or better yet, that black people should be hell bent on keeping our money in our communities. After all, what better place could there be for the annual stampede to purchase whatever new Jordans Nike releases, than a mom and pops store in the hood, and not where the white folks sell them.

Say what you want about LaVar Ball, his Big Baller Brand, or the ridiculous price of Lonzo Balls signature basketball shoe. However, at least he’s not out here selling t-shirts with the Confederate Flag on them for $150 while crying about a shoe contract and selling the fledgling Yeezy’s brand like Kanye West has in recent years.

The post LaVar Ball Celebrates His Sperm With $495 Shoe, So What? appeared first on Madness & Reality.

You might have heard of Linda Chavez, another right wing darling. She once testified against Supreme Court Judge Sotomayor (of Puerto Rican descent) during Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings. Chavez has a particular dislike for Latin@s in general and specifically for Puerto Ricans, but I will not explore that today. Chavez had to step down as a nominee for Labor of Secretary under the catastrophe known as the Bush II administration because, yes, she hired an undocumented Latina immigrant. She denied knowing said individual was here illegally though the person in question contradicted that denial. Later, Chavez herself would issue an admission of sorts and forced by Bush’s people to step down.

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Why? Because it placed an undue burden on Fisher – and by extension, white applicants for enrollment – who, as a white person, was forced to sit at the back of the bus at the expense of applicants of color, so to speak.

To state it plainly, Abigail Fisher was of the opinion that her enrollment at the University of Texas was denied in order fulfill a “quota” for people of color. You know, because the pursuit of diversity at an institute of higher learning, requires the oppression of people like Fisher – you know, people who are unlucky to be born white.

I don’t want to get too deep into the case (there’s a very good read at Colorlines that details the case and its implications). Nor do I want to waste time Talking about how there were over one-hundred applicants of color admitted to the school with better scores than Fisher. Instead, I want to talk about the fallacy of reverse racism. In particular, that programs that seek to increase diversity in higher education and open up doors of opportunity for racial minority groups are discriminatory. According to some, policies like the University of Texas’ affirmative action program represent what they call reverse racism.

The real truth is that Fisher had mediocre grades and test scores.

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision, noted radio and television personality and beloved white freedom fighter, Sean Hannity, questioned whether affirmative action was “equally wrong” as discrimination.

SEAN HANNITY (HOST): If discrimination is wrong, and I think we all agree with that, is another kind of discrimination as a remedy, is that equally wrong?

DANIELLE MCLAUGHLIN: Well this is the eternal question, and John Roberts famously said “the way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” And Jay, I’d be interested in your thoughts, but the liberal view is  African-Americans, Hispanics — basically non-whites — have had a long history of discrimination in this country and that we still are required to have some kind of consciousness in terms of righting those historic wrongs.

JAY SEKULOW: Part of it is kind of this enabling, I think, of the vestiges of Jim Crow, except it’s a long time ago. And if you talk to a lot of academics, African-American academics, they’re saying that young men and women that are coming out of high school or college or going into the professions that are minorities compete very well with their non-minority counterpart. So the point is I think what Danielle said was right and I think John Roberts was right. The way you end discrimination based on race is to stop discriminating based on race. So I think it needs to be more of an equal playing field now. I think that’s where this should go; it was going in that direction. Danielle was right. I think it was surprising Justice Kennedy went the way he did here, although this case had, the majority opinion has a lot of caveats.

Listen below:

However, allow me to be clear on one simple point. That would be, that the notion of reverse racism is a lie. I won’t profess to be the voice of all people of color, however, I will say that any belief in reverse racism is totally foolish. Any such arguments from white folks, in particular, is tantamount to a seven-foot-tall professional basketball player bitching about getting his dunk blocked by a midget.

But, of course, don’t tell that to the fine conservative folks ar Fair Representation who bankrolled and pursuaded Fisher to file her lawsuit.

Let’s be real: there’d be no need for affirmative action if certain people in America were a lot nicer to Native Americans and eventually picked their own cotton instead of subjecting an entire race of people to some of the most inhumane and dehumanizing treatment ever. I’d like to think that things would be different if it wasn’t for that minor faux pas.

Look, reverse racism is a lie. If you’re white and you believe minorities are blocking your greatness, you’re just not doing whiteness right.

Abigail Fisher’s case is quite ironic when you think about the fact that the biggest benefactors of the civil rights movement and the opening of doors of opportunity were indeed white women. Yes, see how privilege works?

That said, while I don’t know what’s next for Abigail Fisher or where she goes from here. My guess is that Abigail Fisher can soon declare to be a Black woman like Rachel Dolezal and get a full scholarship to an HBCU. You know, because that’s just how that “white privilege” thing works.

Yes, even when we win we still lose.

The post Abigail Fisher, Affirmative Action, & Why Reverse Racism is Rubbish appeared first on Madness & Reality.

This from FOX 10:

MOBILE, AL (WALA) – A Burns Middle school teacher has been placed on administrative leave over a controversial test given to some 8th grade students.

Some parents say the test includes questionable language and subject matter that just doesn’t belong in the classroom. The parents say they can’t believe it was actually given to students.

It’s a 10-question math quiz that highlights prostitution, drugs, and drive-by shootings.

While some of the kids thought it was kind of funny, their parents aren’t laughing.

Click here to see the complete test.

“My son, he took a picture of it in class and he texted it to me. I couldn’t believe it,” Erica Hall said.

Hall said her son sent her a text photo of the quiz his eighth-grade language arts teacher passed out Friday.

Hall said even the kids thought it was some kind of joke.

“They took it as a joke, and she told them that it wasn’t it a joke, and they had to complete it, and turn it in,” Hall said.

Erica Hall and her husband headed to the school Tuesday for some answers.

After outlining the math for a problem involving an AK-47, question 1 on the quiz asks: “How many drive-by shootings can Ramon attempt before he has to steal enough ammunition and reload?”

Question 2: “Leroy has 2 ounces of cocaine. If he sells an 8 ball to Antonio for $320 and 2 grams to Juan for $85 per gram, what is the street value of the rest of his hold?”

Question 8 reads: “Tyrone knocked up 4 girls in the gang. There are 20 girls in his gang. What is the exact percentage of girls Tyrone knocked up?”

Listen, I’m all for “thinking outside the box” and utilizing unique and creative tools in education. Yes, especially when said methods have been proven successful. However, as a parent, I’m totally opposed to the use of negative racial stereotypes meant to denigrate any ethnic group of any kind as a tool when it comes to educating kids. More insulting to me is the assumption that this sort of test isn’t problematic. What it says and reinforces is the notion that black children – or more specifically, black people – are not that important. Why? Because I imagine that the supposition here is that this is the only thing children of color would understand. That in itself is racist and entirely unacceptable.

You may think that this is just yet another one of those things endemic to the state of Alabama. Interestingly enough, however, as the news report explains, this racist math test isn’t something new and has been the source of controversy in many states across the country since the nineteen-nineties. At this point there’s no word on the race of the teacher involved. But as the report below explains, the teacher in question was in her last year of teaching and had plans to retire this year. I could only guess that the teacher knew exactly what she was doing and was ready to go out with a bang by letting the world know what she thinks of certain people in society. If his doesn’t upset you, you might be a racist.

Watch the video below:

The post Alabama Teacher “On Leave” Over Racist Math Quiz appeared first on Madness & Reality.

I support public schools. Point Blank. The encroachment of charter schools is really about busting teachers unions, and profiteer off by siphoning off needed resources from public schools. Why would I root for Diddy’s school when this is really what it comes down to? For him, as well as many others, “It’s All About The Benjamins.”

Also, his partner in shakedown Steve Perry has been described as a known union buster who has described teacher’s unions roaches. That’s endearing. In an overcrowded “market” for charter schools, no one ever asks why many of them are opened up in mostly Black and Brown neighborhoods.

Harlem needs another charter school about as much as it needs another liquor store. Ironically, Diddy profits from the latter, and will eventually do so for the former.  It’s done under the guise of getting rid of “bad teachers” but working conditions are worse.

Nevermind that charter schools overdo it with disciplinary actions and suspensions that only hurt the children. I have spoken personally to parents that have pulled their child out of charter schools because of issues like this.

But, don’t let any of this deter you from rooting for Diddy assisting in the private takeover of public education. It’s just about not “hating on a brotha” and ducking the long term effects of what this neoliberal school reform policy entails. No one ever stops to think what will happen the day that hedge fund managers no longer see schools as a profitable market. Go ahead and cheer though.

[Originally post at Polite On Society]

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In doing so she wrote, “I will not be used as a tool for their purposes…I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head. I am not owned by Lack [MSNBC News chairman], Griffin [MSNBC president] or MSNBC.”

For a while now, I have been scratching my head and wondering why a so-called “progressive network” like MSNBC claims to be would give so much on airtime to Donald Trump. Between the extended Trump “interviews” in the morning, and the extended coverage of Trump rallies at night, it is almost as if MSNBC has suddenly become the de facto Donald Trump media headquarters.

And now this.

Although I do not always agree with Melissa Harris-Perry, and many of the other Black intellectuals MSNBC employs as contributors and trot out mainly when someone is needed to comment on matters of race but who also almost assuredly will not rustle any feathers, I considered her show an important media space wherein, despite its shortcomings, issues of race and social justice could be discussed with some degree of frankness, especially given the paucity of such spaces among the mainstream media outlets.

Furthermore, it strikes me as particularly odd that during a political season in which race is playing an ever increasing role as the Republican Party seems to be going out of its way to alienate black and brown voters, and the Democratic Party’s two candidates seem engaged in a protracted scorched earth, leave no black voter behind, negro reclamation campaign meant to mollify black and brown rage stemming from past racial transgressions by democratic leaders, reengage the disengaged, and encourage black and brown voters to get to the polls, and no viable third party candidate has emerged in yet another election cycle, the decision makers at MSNBC would sideline and stifle the voices of its most well-known black and brown talent.

The choices made by the leadership at MSNBC make very little sense and are tantamount to a slap in the face to not only its black and brown viewership but also any individual actively and sincerely pursuing equality and social justice. And I applaud Melissa Harris-Perry for making a principled stand.

Yet, I get it. I really do. Foolishness sells. Lies sell. Not only that, but perhaps most importantly, most Americans like their storylines simple, easy to follow, and above all non-threatening. And with a billionaire trailer trash madman like Trump raging about the countryside, apt to do or say anything, and given the delectably anticipatory intrigue of a bunch of yet to be seen emails of a scandal-plagued ex-first lady/senator/secretary of state, why clutter up the airways and risk unsettling the sensibilities of the complacent and politically gullible with thoughtful, unfettered discussion about racial and economic equality, social justice, and the myriad other issues this country faces, even during an important election year.

It is, after all, a business, so go ahead and get those ratings up and get that ad revenue, social responsibility be damned.

What does worry me, however, is the effect of this and similar incidents, as well as the general malaise enveloping this election cycle, on the morale of those fighting faithfully and ardently for political and social change.

But most of all, I am concerned by the guaranteed proliferation of a plethora of negative other voices that gain prominence and credibility in the vacuum caused by the absence of positive voices to counter the alluring promise of truth as suggested by their zealous presentation of half-truths, unsophisticated thought, and overwrought, badly flawed logic. If it is indeed true, though, that a man or woman is known by his or her works, then you will be able to recognize these voices by their masturbatory, self-aggrandizing works.

Negative voices do nothing but tear down, while positive voices seek to build up, to lift even as they climb. Negative voices seem to display a keen knack for only seeking out and presenting problems and more problems, while positive voices actively seek out and present problems so that they might devise and propose solutions.

Negative voices will, without ceasing, find infinite fault in the works of others, while producing nothing credible of their own. These negative voices will try to convince you of the futility of it all and the inefficacy of your efforts because unlike them in their enlightened states, you could never possibly know what they have known all along.

But, in stark contrast, the positive voices will embrace you without judgment and endeavor to convince you that now is not the time to give up and give in. On the contrary, the positive voices will tell you that now, more than any other, is the time to stand up and find your voice. Then he or she will patiently help you do so. And once he or she has completed this task, he or she will encourage you to do the same for another, who will hopefully do the same for another, ad infinitum, until all are truly woke and ready to get to work.

Harris-Perry’s situation at MSNBC is truly unfortunate and comes at a very inopportune time. But in the vacuum of this negative social and political climate caused by the dearth of counter voices, take the time to find your unique voice. Fill the silence of the absence of this one voice with a cacophony of new voices.

Your voice is sorely needed. There is a place for you. Find your voice. Force your way in. Take your place. Do the work.

#getwoke #staywoke #gettowork

The post MSNBC, Melissa Harris-Perry, & the Death of #Nerdland appeared first on Madness & Reality.

It is precisely this set of beliefs that sparked the Mizzou protests and the offshoots that followed them. The notion of inherent intellectual inferiority among Black Americans, in particular, is an old belief. I wouldn’t be surprised if Scalia has a copy of the Bell Curve in his possession. With the idea that Black people don’t belong in certain academic spaces, it’s vital to point out how right the Missouri protestors were in making the noise they made. Although our collective consciousness has been shifted from this to international terrorism, Scalia’s remarks force us to again look at homegrown racism from those in positions of power.

[Originally posted at Polite On Society]

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And here I am; adding more food to an already overcrowded pantry of opinions.

That’s fine. I’m going to feel inspired to speak on this situation anyway.

Spring Valley High in A Situational Sense

The biggest thing about this situation is that I am a teacher. And being a teacher, I knew I was bound to get both ends of the opinion pendulum.

Do you want clarity? I got clarity for you all: yes, I believe the student was wrong in her actions.

“Shakara” (as her lawyer named her) should have been more compliant. She should have never had her cell phone out. When they asked her to leave, she should have complied. When the vice principal tried to intervene, she should have complied then. And even when she seen the officer approach she should have (you guessed it) complied. You see, the name of the cop-to-civilian relation game is compliancy.

Hell, even RSCD Sheriff Leon Lott made it clear that “If she had not disrupted that school disrupted that class, we would not be standing here today”.

Spring Valley High Has Its Own Confusion

Still, the vast majority of the people that I know have one hearty message to spread: fuck your compliance.

That’s right, I’m going to put it out there: screw all of that compliance bullshit that really means nothing at the end of the day.

Be reminded that I am, as I mentioned before, a teacher. Heck, I probably will end up giving detention to one of the students next week. I have seen and dealt with a plethora of levels of disrespect, lack of social function, and plain old ignorance. Between kids playing the system against the teachers and parents not knowing how to parent, I tend to be in a bind. So trust me: I felt the possible frustration that the teacher dealt with.

Still, if you think that Ben “Officer Slam” Fields was justified, then you are totally out of your rabbit ass mind. We can use his past of racially targeting students in the past. You can use the fact that he is in pretty good shape and bench presses hundreds of pounds. Many are taking the little-girl-to-big-grown-man angle. All of the considered approaches are valid and make sense. With all that is given, Ben Fields is easily considered to be wrong as two left shoes on a paraplegic.

But let us look at the biggest problem that we all noticed: as the last resort, he didn’t diffuse the situation. Looking at this female’s background, one should notice that all she knew at the present moment was “loss”. “Shakara” is a young lady without a stable immediate family living in foster care. She was quiet, introverted, and in a new school. In her mind, of course, she didn’t comply: she probably felt that the situation of her pulling out her cell phone was not a big issue.

And what did the police officer do? He made a sticky situation worse by pouring a big bottle of abuse glue into the fray.

No “conversation to ease the situation”. No type of “let me relate to this child so we can move on”. No type of “feeling the situation out”. No type of “let me fully understand this young lady’s position”. All we have is to “either comply or get tossed like a rag doll”.

Spring Valley High Conclusion

And people will disagree with the majority of what I have to say and I am okay with that. Yet, Ben Fields is fired. Many will say he was fired over abuse. And yes, that is true. However, he committed a bigger error than the overuse of physical contact. He didn’t do his job: to protect and SERVE.

This is Tamir Rice. This is Jordan Davis. This is that young lady brutalized by the police during a pool party.

Spring Valley High is the microcosm of America. And America, for many people, means “Comply or (Possibly) Die”.

Thank God the latter didn’t occur.

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