Leon Todd's historical fight against Hostile Public School [MPS] takeover: Plantation Politics
Race issue raised at MPS takeover hearing
Legislators, School Board members question lack of input by blacks
By Daniel Biceof the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff
April 22, 1998
Bringing race to the center of the already heated debate over apossible state takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools, black lawmakers and School Board members charged Tuesday they have beenexcluded from formulating, drafting and now voting on the proposal.
"We don't need lily-white faces telling us what to do," state Rep. Johnnie Morris-Tatum (D-Milwaukee) said at a public hearing on the legislation, which would strip the School Board of oversight of MPS if students do not meet state-mandated goals in two years.
Board member Leon Todd offered even stronger remarks, saying the measure was developed "with the arrogance of the plantation master."
Todd said officials in Madison were acting as if they knew besthow to improve the predominantly black Milwaukee Public Schools.He said he believes state officials should try to be "more politically correct" and "more racially sensitive."
"This appears to me, and I'm not being facetious, a bit of plantation politics,"Todd said.
Later, Senate Education Chairwoman Alberta Darling (R-River Hills)criticized Todd for his comments.
She said her committee was interested simply in seeing that students in Milwaukee improve academically, something she labeled good public policy. By contrast, she said, Todd's "kind of language" did not offer constructive ways for solving MPS'problems.
"When you use the race card, it takes away from that target, whichis improving education for the children," Darling said.
On Tuesday, the Senate and Assembly education committees held ajoint public hearing on Thompson's bill at the Milwaukee School ofLanguages. About 150 people attended.
The governor's plan would require MPS to boost third-grade test scores and the attendance and graduation rates and slice thedistrict's dropout rate. If the district failed to reachbenchmarks set by the state in two years, MPS would be taken overby a commission composed of one appointee each of the governor, the mayor and the state superintendent of schools.
John Matthews, chief of staff to Thompson, told the committeesthat the governor came up with his proposal because he believes Milwaukee's schools are in a state of crisis. And, he said, thecrisis demands drastic action.
The governor's proposal received the support of state School Superintendent John Benson, who has often sparred with Thompson. Benson said it is questionable whether a state takeover willimprove MPS, but he said officials cannot maintain the status quo.
"Something different has to be done," he said. "I think this isworth a try."
But the overwhelming sentiment toward the legislation was negative, with Democratic legislators, black ministers, School Board members and city residents denouncing various elements ofthe bill. The GOP-controlled Legislature is expected to approve its shortly.
Most speakers objected to the provision that would replace theelected board with an appointed commission, leading to what anaide to Mayor John Norquist said would be "taxation without representation." Others suggested MPS was being unfairly attacked.
"What is implied in this debate is that Milwaukee Public Schoolsis a complete and absolute failure," said Sen. Bob Jauch(D-Poplar). "That is false."
"It is difficult to understand how the governor can justify holding MPS to the higher achievement criteria without allowingMPS the funds to improve its educational program," said SchoolBoard President Joe Fisher. "Some would say the purpose of thebill is to abolish the board rather than serve the children."
But the sparsely populated auditorium grew tense when board member Charlene Hardin drew attention to the fact that no blacks and no Milwaukee legislators sit on the two legislative education committees. Legislators are assigned to committees by their respective party leaders in each legislative chamber.
Hardin, a first-term board member, said she and other African-Americans were shown disrespect by not being representedon the panel. She said blacks have "the right to be part of thedecision-making process."
"I'm not going to be anyone's slave again," she said.
She said the takeover bill was not intended to help MPS. Iflawmakers truly cared about Milwaukee's school system, they wouldhave provided help and extra dollars long ago. Rather, she said,the bill was a power play by the governor and outstatelegislators.
Members of the Legislature's Black Caucus, all of whom representMilwaukee, complained that they were not consulted by Thompson before he drafted his proposal.
Send an e-mail to the editor:jsedit@onwis.com
Legislators, School Board members question lack of input by blacks
By Daniel Biceof the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff
April 22, 1998
Bringing race to the center of the already heated debate over apossible state takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools, black lawmakers and School Board members charged Tuesday they have beenexcluded from formulating, drafting and now voting on the proposal.
"We don't need lily-white faces telling us what to do," state Rep. Johnnie Morris-Tatum (D-Milwaukee) said at a public hearing on the legislation, which would strip the School Board of oversight of MPS if students do not meet state-mandated goals in two years.
Board member Leon Todd offered even stronger remarks, saying the measure was developed "with the arrogance of the plantation master."
Todd said officials in Madison were acting as if they knew besthow to improve the predominantly black Milwaukee Public Schools.He said he believes state officials should try to be "more politically correct" and "more racially sensitive."
"This appears to me, and I'm not being facetious, a bit of plantation politics,"Todd said.
Later, Senate Education Chairwoman Alberta Darling (R-River Hills)criticized Todd for his comments.
She said her committee was interested simply in seeing that students in Milwaukee improve academically, something she labeled good public policy. By contrast, she said, Todd's "kind of language" did not offer constructive ways for solving MPS'problems.
"When you use the race card, it takes away from that target, whichis improving education for the children," Darling said.
On Tuesday, the Senate and Assembly education committees held ajoint public hearing on Thompson's bill at the Milwaukee School ofLanguages. About 150 people attended.
The governor's plan would require MPS to boost third-grade test scores and the attendance and graduation rates and slice thedistrict's dropout rate. If the district failed to reachbenchmarks set by the state in two years, MPS would be taken overby a commission composed of one appointee each of the governor, the mayor and the state superintendent of schools.
John Matthews, chief of staff to Thompson, told the committeesthat the governor came up with his proposal because he believes Milwaukee's schools are in a state of crisis. And, he said, thecrisis demands drastic action.
The governor's proposal received the support of state School Superintendent John Benson, who has often sparred with Thompson. Benson said it is questionable whether a state takeover willimprove MPS, but he said officials cannot maintain the status quo.
"Something different has to be done," he said. "I think this isworth a try."
But the overwhelming sentiment toward the legislation was negative, with Democratic legislators, black ministers, School Board members and city residents denouncing various elements ofthe bill. The GOP-controlled Legislature is expected to approve its shortly.
Most speakers objected to the provision that would replace theelected board with an appointed commission, leading to what anaide to Mayor John Norquist said would be "taxation without representation." Others suggested MPS was being unfairly attacked.
"What is implied in this debate is that Milwaukee Public Schoolsis a complete and absolute failure," said Sen. Bob Jauch(D-Poplar). "That is false."
"It is difficult to understand how the governor can justify holding MPS to the higher achievement criteria without allowingMPS the funds to improve its educational program," said SchoolBoard President Joe Fisher. "Some would say the purpose of thebill is to abolish the board rather than serve the children."
But the sparsely populated auditorium grew tense when board member Charlene Hardin drew attention to the fact that no blacks and no Milwaukee legislators sit on the two legislative education committees. Legislators are assigned to committees by their respective party leaders in each legislative chamber.
Hardin, a first-term board member, said she and other African-Americans were shown disrespect by not being representedon the panel. She said blacks have "the right to be part of thedecision-making process."
"I'm not going to be anyone's slave again," she said.
She said the takeover bill was not intended to help MPS. Iflawmakers truly cared about Milwaukee's school system, they wouldhave provided help and extra dollars long ago. Rather, she said,the bill was a power play by the governor and outstatelegislators.
Members of the Legislature's Black Caucus, all of whom representMilwaukee, complained that they were not consulted by Thompson before he drafted his proposal.
Send an e-mail to the editor:jsedit@onwis.com
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