Reply to Ballou's New $120 Million Building--With an 8 Lane POOL!

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Reply to "Ballou's New $120 Million Building--With an 8 Lane POOL!"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Be a little responsible with these comments, folks. Many students at Ballou sacrifice and sweat to be a part of that band. I can't imagine how discouraged they might feel if they read these comments.

Also, as far as AAs not swimming, Howard U (an HBCU here in DC) requires that ALL students take swimming and has for decades. Be careful about stereotypes. Additionally, the trend, particularly amongst young AAs, is natural hair, which does not involve straightening or chemicals. Swimming, getting hair wet, and then styling it afterwards is less of an issue if at all. You all sound a little stuck in the past if you ask me.

Glad to hear that Ballou is getting an updated facility. They need it for many reasons and the students deserve it just like your precious little NW and Hill tots. Get over it and fight for what you need in your communities. [/quote]

A couple of problems with this- I graduated from Howard.  I had to take swimming. I have many friends at HU who did not.  2nd- you can't prove a point using one anecdote and certainly not by comparing Howard to the experience of the majority of African-Americans.

And again, not a stereotype--check the stats.

[/quote]

PP here and also an HU grad. Yes, fewer AAs know how to swim or have been exposed to swimming - that is a fact - but offering a blanket statement that it is caused primarily because AA women don't want to get their hair wet is broad and general, and probably untrue. There are many reasons why AAs, including AA men, not just women, have been less exposed as a culture to swimming for a long time. Maybe access to a pool in the HS would help change that. My very diverse HS had one and all students took 2 semesters of swimming, black or white. Would we even be debating this if the pool were going to a white HS?

Some people at HU did get out of swimming, usually with a doctor's note. The fact, however, is that it is a requirement and that AA students do and can learn to swim.

Let's give these young students a chance to define themselves rather than live in the past. A pool is an excellent addition to the school and to that community. It offers exposure, physical fitness, job opportunities (for example, if they offer life guard certification classes) and perhaps use by other residents such as younger kids and seniors. What is there to oppose here? I wish all HS had a pool on site and Ballou has needed a renovation for a long time. Have all of the PPs criticizing the renovation actually been to and inside of Ballou? These kids deserve it as much as any others. [/quote]

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