On Elitism and Education, Update
I am deeply saddened to report that the PA band will, in fact, be making the long trip to Greenwood this Friday night for round 2 of the state football playoffs, after sitting out last Friday’s game at Helena-West Helena. I think it is only fair to point out that, according to the US Census Bureau, Greenwood is 96% white, and the median family income is $41,278 (in US 1999 dollars). Helena is 67.9% black, with a median family income of $21,534. West Helena is 65.7% black, and the median family income is $25,014. Google Maps tells me that the trip from PA to Helena-West Helena is 126 miles. PA to Greenwood is 169 miles. Will someone please give me a valid reason why the band didn’t make the trip to Helena so that I might find some respite for my troubled conscience? Now, more than ever, I need to know what act or threat of violence against PA students or band led to this decision. If this isn’t about race, please, please, tell me what it IS about.
I wish the PA football team nothing but the best for the 2nd game of the playoffs, and I hope they make it to the championship again this year. I thought long and hard about making this post. Am I being divisive? Should I have ignored the implications of the travel decision in the name of civility? In the end, I think it is right to ask the questions that lead to change.
Update: Wednesday, Nov. 18,2009: The PA band will sit out the game at Greenwood. I think this is the right decision, and I applaud the band director and administration. I wish this issue had never arisen, that the band had made the trip to both schools to cheer the football team on. Perhaps a clear and fair policy on band attendance at away games will prevent this situation from arising in the future.
It seems the simplest explanation is usually the most correct.
First, let me say that I pay full tuition for three children at PA. My advice to you would be seek out a better school if you can find it. Next I would like to point out that Greenwood has not played at PA since your child has been in the band so the beer cans you speak of have some other source. PA went to Greenwood last year as they are this year in the STATE TOURNAMENT.
By the way, Police escorted the team in and out of West Helena last week, so at least the authorities thought there could be a safety problem. Further, the West Helena School officials put PA in the Home locker room and the fans on the home side last week to ensure their safety. That is what we were told when we ATTENDED the game last week. We saw nothing to be concerned about in the area of safety while we were there, but it is what it is and a decision to guarantee the safety of our band was made that would include your daughter’s safety. Maybe it is overkill, but it is only that way until something happens. The true losers in this are the players who will have to travel the next two weeks without a band because of your diatribe and the problems you have caused. There is no winner here unless you feel that you have won at the expense of the children you claim to worry about. Go Bruins!
Mr. James,
I would double-check the game schedules if I were you, because my daughter played in the high school band a bit early, and I believe Greenwood was at PA in the playoffs two years ago. And their fans were absolutely the rudest I have seen at a PA game. The beer cans came from them. I was appalled.
Nobody has come forward with an explanation of exactly what happened at Helena-West Helena or even when it happened. As I said, I believe I was fair in admitting that I didn’t know what had happened and in asking for an explanation. Since you attended the game, I must infer that you did not feel that your students’ or your own safety were seriously threatened. I would have attended the game, but I was out of town on business last Friday.
I do not feel that anyone has “won” in this situation. There can be no “winner” where this topic is concerned. I raised the issue for discussion, but there has been no honest discussion of the problem.
PS: If you wish to debate the relative merits of PA over other schools in terms of value for the money, please give me a private email or even a call. I wasn’t planning to bring this up, but while we’re on the subject of elitism, I would like to point out that seats in the home stands at PA are now for sale. Parents buy their seats by the year and get their names on them. This seems to be fairly elitist to me.
@wmjamesjr
Taken Nov 16, 2007. You,ll note the huge contingent of visitors there that night. PA lost that game, as I recall.
@jcdoss
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2558744766_3433a977f6_o.jpg
“My advice to you would be seek out a better school if you can find it. ”
wmjamesjr, it’s called Central. I’m not sure how many PA kids go to Ivy League each year. I just know that Central’s Class of 1999 was offered admission from most top schools, including Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Cal Tech, MIT, Columbia, and U Chicago. I ended up going to Georgetown, but GU is considered average by Central’s standards that I didn’t even get a mention in the school paper.
I understand your loyalty to PA. That said, I’m not sure if PA is better than Central when it comes to the number of students it sends to top universities. If it is, my parents would have sent me there instead since they were a bit obsessed with sending their children to Ivy League.
Of course, sending students to top schools isn’t the only factor in determining the merits of a school. I’m sure PA is better than Central at some things. When making a sweeping statement, though, you might want to back up your claim with some facts. Just my two cents. Go, Tigers!
I think the way Leah framed the issue was fine – she asked for an explanation for the school’s decision. I hope the school will provide an explanation AND come up with a policy about away games to avoid misunderstandings (if that is what they were) like this from happening in the future.