IMPORTANT INFORMATION and FIRST MEETING...
Several of us received this email from Bill Betzen, fellow BTWDALLAS member and professional associate of Fred Walker, and Bob thoughtfully placed it on the front page several days ago for our information, consideration and possible action! It may be important for us to interact on this issue for the fair use and access by non-wealthy students students (some of our grandchildren, nieces and nephews maybe?) who need the training, exposure and networking BTW/Arts magnet offers for their career goals -- as well as incidentally the BTW legacy of educational excellence historically offered its students needing it -- but who may be denied that deserved avenue to professional artistic excellence due to reported pressure by wealthy Anglo citizens to make these resources inordinately available to their relatives.
Please become familiar with aspects of this issue and consider what actions if any you may want to take to help make things right. Sometimes just showing up, asking questions and making suggestions no "expert" nor any one else may have thought of is the power needed to make a change!
This forum will hopefully assist these needs.
* Bill may be contacted at his number and address he's provided below for help and clarification. As Bob encouraged on the front page - let's participate.
The average DISD student has an 88% probability of coming from a family of poverty who qualifies for free or reduced lunch. Such excellent DISD students are being replaced at the Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet by more affluent students who have not attended DISD before, but want to get into BTW due to its national reputation and recently completed new building. Only 23% of the current BTW freshman class are on the free or reduced lunch program, the lowest such percentage in many years. 29% of the current BTW seniors are in the free or reduced lunch program. Low income, often minority, students are slowly being eliminated from BTW.
This is the ONLY high school in Dallas with such a reverse “poverty pattern” due to the sudden admission of more Anglos attracted by a new BTW building and the solid reputation. In most schools the poverty pattern has senior class with the lowest level of poverty. Children from poor families are the most likely to drop out.
It appears that more affluent children from private schools with private dance/music/acting lessons are being able to push out students who excelled within DISD. Students who excel within DISD should have an advantage within the BTW application process. Should a public school be allowed to be manipulated by those able to afford private tutors in the admissions process?
Anglo non-Hispanic students have been the largest group within BTW for many years. For the first time, however, last year they were over 50% of those accepted into BTW. Only 4.6% of DISD students are Anglo non-Hispanic. Over 65% of all Anglo non-Hispanic applicants were accepted while less than 40% of minority applicants were accepted. Does it bother you that this leads to the over-representation of Anglos in this school by a factor of over 1,000%?
A preference for long-time DISD students could easily be placed into the formula used for accepting new BTW students. It is justified and would eliminate the need for any formula using race. Are not the magnet schools supposed to provide motivation for DISD students to work and excel?
Is this an issue you think BTW Alumni may have an opinion on? Is there a change they may support efforts to give a preference for entry into BTW for each year applicants have already attended a DISD school? Such a modification of the entry criteria formula would help the school to return to better representing DISD.
What do you think? Should I attend the 1-8-11 meeting, or should this be posted to the BTW list? Would BTW members want to join in presenting this recommendation to the DISD board?
2700 Remond Dr.
Dallas, Texas 75211
972-502-3200 x8200
214-957-9739 cell
6717 Cliffwood Dr.
Dallas, Texas 75237
214-337-1657 home
214-957-9739 cell
Replies
Galen, I know that you have been quite busy as of late, and I want to participate in this venture as it is organized. When you have time, please answer these questions.
Is there a petition for signature ready? Is there a committee that is working on this effort?
To: Gaylen Ollison
Some years ago when Mr. Gray was the Principal at the Arts Magnet, I Ken Adams visited with him. As I walked into the Principal's office an awe struck me. As we recalled the old days of BTW and the apparent changes that have taken place, I realized that most positive influences that BTW acquired were done through positive administrators like Mr. Gray. As we talked about the future of BTW Arts Magnet and the legacy of BTW, being only one BTW on Routh; Mr Gray took two Presidential plaques off the wall in his office, and I could see and feel Mr. Gray's sense of pride and accomplishment of all his endeavors. I read while Mr. Gray explained to me exactly what I was reading. The Arts Magnet had received two Blue Ribbon awards from the President of the United States. These awards were meant to represent the best student body accomplishments in Arts, Music, and curriculum achievments. Mr. Gray believed and knew that great student bodies originate from great leadership, administrators, and teachers. Our present BTW may be in need of proper dispensations from community efforts so that BTW will never stray from it's original mission and goals. Kenneth Adaqms
I read the article by Bill Betzen and was amazed by what is again affecting the educational opportunity and progress of our minority students. I personally want to thank Bill for taking the time to attend the January 8, 2011 alumni meeting to explain, in detail, the impact of an unjust system. It is imperative that we come together in numbers to show our support in challenging the current entry criteria. It was obivious at the January 8, alumni meeting that the president did not comprehend Mr. Betzen's speech when she suggested that this issue needs to be intervened at he elementary school level. That is ridiculous! We need to attack at the level where the problem presently exist. We can accomplish this by all members of this WebSite signing a petition and delivering it to DISD. Let's do this, for our kid's and their kid's. We owe them that.