Todays Our View piece from the Times editorial board deals with the impending departure of New Glarus school district Superintendent Barbara Thompson. In the past few weeks, weve had a number of stories about her pursuit, and ultimate landing, of the superintendents job in Montgomery, Ala.
Another story in a recent edition of the Times made a comparison of the New Glarus and Montgomery school districts that included their racial makeups.
The story reads: The New Glarus school district has about 1,000 students. Montgomery schools have nearly 32,000, with a large makeup of black students from single-parent homes. Thompson is New Glarus first black superintendent, and fewer than 1 percent of the communitys 2,100 residents are African-American.
A reader called and took exception to that paragraph, saying that it was unfair to Ms. Thompson to bring up the issue of race in the article. I understand her concern, but I disagree. Heres why.
The paragraph I just mentioned followed a quote from Montgomery County school board member Melissa Snowden.
Barbara is smart and very strong and New Glarus is an incredible village, but its the opposite of Montgomery, Snowden told the Montgomery Advertiser newspaper. Among other things, Snowden was referring to the racial differences between the villages.
To my knowledge, Thompsons race never was an issue in New Glarus. Thats a credit to Thompson and the community.
Unfortunately, however, race was a large issue in Thompsons candidacy in Alabama. Which is why the differences between the communities was mentioned in the previous Times article. Perhaps the Times article could have included a little more detail about the contention in Montgomery.
The vote to hire Thompson last week after the other finalist withdrew her candidacy was along racial lines, as reported by the Advertiser. The board four black members voted for Thompson. The boards three white members, including Snowden, voted against her.
Its an unpleasant and unfortunate reality, but a fact nonetheless.
What do you think? Should the Times article have included the mention of the differences between the two school districts and communities? What other thoughts do you have on the matter of Barbara Thompson taking the job in Montgomery?
I welcome your feedback!
Another story in a recent edition of the Times made a comparison of the New Glarus and Montgomery school districts that included their racial makeups.
The story reads: The New Glarus school district has about 1,000 students. Montgomery schools have nearly 32,000, with a large makeup of black students from single-parent homes. Thompson is New Glarus first black superintendent, and fewer than 1 percent of the communitys 2,100 residents are African-American.
A reader called and took exception to that paragraph, saying that it was unfair to Ms. Thompson to bring up the issue of race in the article. I understand her concern, but I disagree. Heres why.
The paragraph I just mentioned followed a quote from Montgomery County school board member Melissa Snowden.
Barbara is smart and very strong and New Glarus is an incredible village, but its the opposite of Montgomery, Snowden told the Montgomery Advertiser newspaper. Among other things, Snowden was referring to the racial differences between the villages.
To my knowledge, Thompsons race never was an issue in New Glarus. Thats a credit to Thompson and the community.
Unfortunately, however, race was a large issue in Thompsons candidacy in Alabama. Which is why the differences between the communities was mentioned in the previous Times article. Perhaps the Times article could have included a little more detail about the contention in Montgomery.
The vote to hire Thompson last week after the other finalist withdrew her candidacy was along racial lines, as reported by the Advertiser. The board four black members voted for Thompson. The boards three white members, including Snowden, voted against her.
Its an unpleasant and unfortunate reality, but a fact nonetheless.
What do you think? Should the Times article have included the mention of the differences between the two school districts and communities? What other thoughts do you have on the matter of Barbara Thompson taking the job in Montgomery?
I welcome your feedback!
