SYLACAUGA — A Birmingham-based public policy and school improvement organization is requesting public records from Schools Superintendent Dr. Jane Cobia on possible racial inequalities in the city School System.Ronald E. Jackson, executive director of Citizens for Better Schools, spoke at a meeting at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Monday night. About 50 people heard Jackson say he is launching not just a Sylacauga effort but a statewide effort on “Equity and Equality Opportunity to Learn” in schools.
Jackson was in town to assist parents and others with concerns about what the Rev. Manuell Smith III said are racially hostile conditions in Sylacauga schools.
Jackson said his organization wants public records from the School System on the number of black and white students suspended from school, spending of federal funds on students, especially the percentage for poor children, the system’s budget and more.
Jackson said if the system isn’t spending its federal dollars properly for Title I, No Child Left Behind and other federal programs, it could face serious consequences.
“You need to find out what your system is doing. If the system isn’t doing it, remember this is (state school superintendent) Joe Morton’s old School System. What is the system doing with your money?” he asked.
Jackson spoke about how important education is to children. “You will find crime rates are higher where people are not educated or employed. The more you learn, the more you earn. Every generation wants something better for their children, and that dream is nurtured by Americans through education. The only place where a melting pot takes place for 7 hours a day is in our schools,” he said.
Jackson said public education is moving backwards instead of forward. “There are fewer black teachers today than 15 years ago. I see problems in Sylacauga. Just look at the state report card. The tax rate is low here. This system is heavily dependent on state and federal dollars. Your local council doesn’t give you much money. Your children are scoring lower than the state average,” he said.
Based on a national study done by a university, Jackson said black students in this state and probably in Sylacauga are being suspended from school twice as often as white students for doing the same things.
“You need a little fire and brimstone in Sylacauga,” he said.
On recruiting black teachers, Jackson said there are seven black colleges in Alabama, others in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, and surely the system could find some blacks to hire.
Jackson said blacks shouldn’t allow individuals to put fear into them about their efforts to change things in city schools.
“We’re citizens. When people stand up, politicians back down. You will have some brothers and sisters tell you not to shake any trees. Don’t be afraid of the school board. Test your conscience and your consciousness,” he said.
Jackson passed out forms for requests for student records to those present at the meeting. He told the parents to fill out the forms, which included requests for academic records, attendance records, progress reports, personal education plans and more, and take them to the school board for information about their child.
He told parents to read the system’s code of conduct and make sure they know what their child could be suspended or disciplined for.
Jackson said there will be a countywide workshop in the future for parents to learn about issues on suspension and discipline, and what a student’s rights are.
“My organization is about solutions. There are some defections in this School System,” he said. “If you want a better life in Sylacauga, it begins in the public schools. Demand it for every child. Tonight, Sylacauga schools are going under the microscope of public inspection, and we may even go over into your city government. We may have to straighten both of them up. You may have to get your walking shoes on.”
Jackson closed his comments by saying he has never seen a school system that says it is discriminating. “The Civil Rights Movement is not dead. Some of you may just be asleep,” he said.
Smith said the effort to move forward with help from the organization will cost money. He said the local effort will start raising funds with a T-shirt that says, “Stop The Madness. Ask Me Is This Fair? 15 vs. 160.” The 15 is the number of black teachers in the system compared to 160 white.
“I’m asking you to support this cause. The front line is not for everyone. But you can do something,” he said.
Smith said the School System has retaliated against some children taken out of school in an effort to show the inequity of black teachers and other racial concerns.
“We have not yet started. We have drawn a line in the sand and are going to carry it all the way until Dr. Cobia sits down and talks with us. She has got to come to the table. This has been going on for 21 years when no one in this School System listens. If the black community had supported us when we withdrew black students weeks ago, we could have shut down the School System,” Smith said.
He encouraged the group to attend tonight’s school board meeting, and future school board and council meetings, in an effort to be seen.
