Wash Post: Michael Eric Dyson reports 6 yo grandson called a racial slur at Mann

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, an adult witness confirmed no n-word used? What a joke then.

Isn't it all sort of hearsay at this point, if there's no objective recording? The adult could be lying, telling the truth, or didn't hear the word. We just don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal backed off & has said the word was used - and there's no legal recourse here....

Both the Mann & Key issues & the passionate reactions here show that despite whatever the specifics of the incidents, there's a need for a better response and set of policies around race issues (and religion and sexism etc) within the schools.

I have difficulty understanding what was wrong in what the school did in response. They contacted the involved families immediately, set up a meeting, and sent out a note to parents in that grade.

They did not contact the families immediately and only set up a meeting after the family requested it and the note was sent after that... So it was because the family took the action that they responded.

... but the bigger point is not having a systemic effort to address the issues for a more inclusive community - the discipline numbers alone paint the picture that at 85%ish white schools, there is a highly disproportionate amount of the discipline and encouragement to pursue other schools is directed at students of color.

Not sure that if I was a principal this would rise to the level that a note should be sent out that same day- we all have to juggle priorities in our jobs. May have been waiting to talk with the involved families first. A principal has a lot going on, and something that may seem to others to be something that needs to addressed RIGHT NOW could seem to be important but done tomorrow.

I don't know anything about this school or its culture or statistics. Your quoted stat appears to be general, which I think is correct- there are fundamental issues in American schools of how minority children (primarily boys) are disciplined. There are ways to improve on that and address it. I would not assume at every individual school that those steps are NOT being taken. I guess I don't know why the worst is assumed about the school's response and previous work.

Recall that an incident happened at nearby Key Elementary involving 5th graders. One of the criticisms of the Key response was that they kept the discussion just to those families involved initially. The Mann community had talked about the Key response, what good policy looks like, and what the school would do in case somehting similar happened at Mann. This was all done over the last several months. So, when the incident happened, one of the first actions was to inform the entire school community .

[Anonymous]

So is he going to correct the misstatement on the twitter feed? This will become the next Pizzagate.

[Anonymous]

I still want to know if the two boys who cut in the pizza line had to apologize for their actions too. In the world of hungry 6 year olds, that is an egregious offense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, an adult witness confirmed no n-word used? What a joke then.

Yup.

Dyson is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still want to know if the two boys who cut in the pizza line had to apologize for their actions too. In the world of hungry 6 year olds, that is an egregious offense.

Aren't the "privileged" kids the ones who cut in line? What does a prima donna do when caught misbehaving? Make stuff up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still want to know if the two boys who cut in the pizza line had to apologize for their actions too. In the world of hungry 6 year olds, that is an egregious offense.

Aren't the "privileged" kids the ones who cut in line? What does a prima donna do when caught misbehaving? Make stuff up.

The privilege angle here is pretty interesting. Dyson's grandkid lives in a private community within one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the country (Spring Valley).

[Anonymous]

Turns out the Dyson kid may have learned the worst lesson of all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal backed off & has said the word was used - and there's no legal recourse here....

Both the Mann & Key issues & the passionate reactions here show that despite whatever the specifics of the incidents, there's a need for a better response and set of policies around race issues (and religion and sexism etc) within the schools.

I have difficulty understanding what was wrong in what the school did in response. They contacted the involved families immediately, set up a meeting, and sent out a note to parents in that grade.

They did not contact the families immediately and only set up a meeting after the family requested it and the note was sent after that... So it was because the family took the action that they responded.

... but the bigger point is not having a systemic effort to address the issues for a more inclusive community - the discipline numbers alone paint the picture that at 85%ish white schools, there is a highly disproportionate amount of the discipline and encouragement to pursue other schools is directed at students of color.

Not sure that if I was a principal this would rise to the level that a note should be sent out that same day- we all have to juggle priorities in our jobs. May have been waiting to talk with the involved families first. A principal has a lot going on, and something that may seem to others to be something that needs to addressed RIGHT NOW could seem to be important but done tomorrow.

I don't know anything about this school or its culture or statistics. Your quoted stat appears to be general, which I think is correct- there are fundamental issues in American schools of how minority children (primarily boys) are disciplined. There are ways to improve on that and address it. I would not assume at every individual school that those steps are NOT being taken. I guess I don't know why the worst is assumed about the school's response and previous work.

Recall that an incident happened at nearby Key Elementary involving 5th graders. One of the criticisms of the Key response was that they kept the discussion just to those families involved initially. The Mann community had talked about the Key response, what good policy looks like, and what the school would do in case somehting similar happened at Mann. This was all done over the last several months. So, when the incident happened, one of the first actions was to inform the entire school community .

This last bit, about Mann school’s response if the Key incident, seems like good handling of the situation. As a future parent in the school, I’m interested to hear if current parents agree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still want to know if the two boys who cut in the pizza line had to apologize for their actions too. In the world of hungry 6 year olds, that is an egregious offense.

Aren't the "privileged" kids the ones who cut in line? What does a prima donna do when caught misbehaving? Make stuff up.

I believe it was Dyson's grandchild who cut the line, and another student who responded (poorly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal backed off & has said the word was used - and there's no legal recourse here....

Both the Mann & Key issues & the passionate reactions here show that despite whatever the specifics of the incidents, there's a need for a better response and set of policies around race issues (and religion and sexism etc) within the schools.

I have difficulty understanding what was wrong in what the school did in response. They contacted the involved families immediately, set up a meeting, and sent out a note to parents in that grade.

They did not contact the families immediately and only set up a meeting after the family requested it and the note was sent after that... So it was because the family took the action that they responded.

... but the bigger point is not having a systemic effort to address the issues for a more inclusive community - the discipline numbers alone paint the picture that at 85%ish white schools, there is a highly disproportionate amount of the discipline and encouragement to pursue other schools is directed at students of color.

Not sure that if I was a principal this would rise to the level that a note should be sent out that same day- we all have to juggle priorities in our jobs. May have been waiting to talk with the involved families first. A principal has a lot going on, and something that may seem to others to be something that needs to addressed RIGHT NOW could seem to be important but done tomorrow.

I don't know anything about this school or its culture or statistics. Your quoted stat appears to be general, which I think is correct- there are fundamental issues in American schools of how minority children (primarily boys) are disciplined. There are ways to improve on that and address it. I would not assume at every individual school that those steps are NOT being taken. I guess I don't know why the worst is assumed about the school's response and previous work.

Recall that an incident happened at nearby Key Elementary involving 5th graders. One of the criticisms of the Key response was that they kept the discussion just to those families involved initially. The Mann community had talked about the Key response, what good policy looks like, and what the school would do in case somehting similar happened at Mann. This was all done over the last several months. So, when the incident happened, one of the first actions was to inform the entire school community .

This last bit, about Mann school’s response if the Key incident, seems like good handling of the situation. As a future parent in the school, I’m interested to hear if current parents agree?

Mann’s staff is thoughtful, intentional, rational, and very competent. The principal is a goddess. Like seriously, I want to be her when I grow up. Good humored, positive, fair, open....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal backed off & has said the word was used - and there's no legal recourse here....

Both the Mann & Key issues & the passionate reactions here show that despite whatever the specifics of the incidents, there's a need for a better response and set of policies around race issues (and religion and sexism etc) within the schools.

I have difficulty understanding what was wrong in what the school did in response. They contacted the involved families immediately, set up a meeting, and sent out a note to parents in that grade.

They did not contact the families immediately and only set up a meeting after the family requested it and the note was sent after that... So it was because the family took the action that they responded.

... but the bigger point is not having a systemic effort to address the issues for a more inclusive community - the discipline numbers alone paint the picture that at 85%ish white schools, there is a highly disproportionate amount of the discipline and encouragement to pursue other schools is directed at students of color.

Not sure that if I was a principal this would rise to the level that a note should be sent out that same day- we all have to juggle priorities in our jobs. May have been waiting to talk with the involved families first. A principal has a lot going on, and something that may seem to others to be something that needs to addressed RIGHT NOW could seem to be important but done tomorrow.

I don't know anything about this school or its culture or statistics. Your quoted stat appears to be general, which I think is correct- there are fundamental issues in American schools of how minority children (primarily boys) are disciplined. There are ways to improve on that and address it. I would not assume at every individual school that those steps are NOT being taken. I guess I don't know why the worst is assumed about the school's response and previous work.

Recall that an incident happened at nearby Key Elementary involving 5th graders. One of the criticisms of the Key response was that they kept the discussion just to those families involved initially. The Mann community had talked about the Key response, what good policy looks like, and what the school would do in case somehting similar happened at Mann. This was all done over the last several months. So, when the incident happened, one of the first actions was to inform the entire school community .

This last bit, about Mann school’s response if the Key incident, seems like good handling of the situation. As a future parent in the school, I’m interested to hear if current parents agree?

Mann parent of several years/kids here. I agree 100% that the school responded quickly and appropriately. I won't wade into the politics or the "who said or did not say something". Mann is committed to transparency and communication. This was handled well by the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The principal backed off & has said the word was used - and there's no legal recourse here....

Both the Mann & Key issues & the passionate reactions here show that despite whatever the specifics of the incidents, there's a need for a better response and set of policies around race issues (and religion and sexism etc) within the schools.

I have difficulty understanding what was wrong in what the school did in response. They contacted the involved families immediately, set up a meeting, and sent out a note to parents in that grade.

They did not contact the families immediately and only set up a meeting after the family requested it and the note was sent after that... So it was because the family took the action that they responded.

... but the bigger point is not having a systemic effort to address the issues for a more inclusive community - the discipline numbers alone paint the picture that at 85%ish white schools, there is a highly disproportionate amount of the discipline and encouragement to pursue other schools is directed at students of color.

Not sure that if I was a principal this would rise to the level that a note should be sent out that same day- we all have to juggle priorities in our jobs. May have been waiting to talk with the involved families first. A principal has a lot going on, and something that may seem to others to be something that needs to addressed RIGHT NOW could seem to be important but done tomorrow.

I don't know anything about this school or its culture or statistics. Your quoted stat appears to be general, which I think is correct- there are fundamental issues in American schools of how minority children (primarily boys) are disciplined. There are ways to improve on that and address it. I would not assume at every individual school that those steps are NOT being taken. I guess I don't know why the worst is assumed about the school's response and previous work.

Recall that an incident happened at nearby Key Elementary involving 5th graders. One of the criticisms of the Key response was that they kept the discussion just to those families involved initially. The Mann community had talked about the Key response, what good policy looks like, and what the school would do in case somehting similar happened at Mann. This was all done over the last several months. So, when the incident happened, one of the first actions was to inform the entire school community .

This last bit, about Mann school’s response if the Key incident, seems like good handling of the situation. As a future parent in the school, I’m interested to hear if current parents agree?

This could be its own thread. A racial slur was used in our school and the intent seemed to be to handle it and contain it to the classroom. The kids were older so they talked and at least at the grade level, it seems most students knew about it. If our school has a policy on how to handle reported racial incidents it's never been shared with the school community.

[Anonymous]

I have lost all and any respect for Dyson.
Disgusting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still want to know if the two boys who cut in the pizza line had to apologize for their actions too. In the world of hungry 6 year olds, that is an egregious offense.

Aren't the "privileged" kids the ones who cut in line? What does a prima donna do when caught misbehaving? Make stuff up.

I believe it was Dyson's grandchild who cut the line, and another student who responded (poorly).

Correct. Three kids were involved. Two cut the line (or raced to the front depending on beliefs about first grade mores), including Dyson's grandkid. The third kid responded by threatening the other two kids that he'd shoot them. Two of the three kids are white, and they are all friends, at least in school. The parent of the kid issuing the threat has no gun. No evidence that a slur was used and no one other than Dyson is claiming it. DCPS will probably end up saying they were unable to completely confirm what was said, at which point someone should press them to state unequivocally what each party including the adult right there said was said.