WTF Stories of the Week

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I agree - they were trying to assure that overall 50% of the Class Presidents were black when blacks only represent about 1/3 of the population.

Originally Posted by blueerica

Actually 0% of the Class Presidents would be black.

What was I saying?

...

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Though I'm always skeptical when these kinds of stories from local school districts hit national media. There's usually some vital details missing for the sake of good story telling.

As it turns out, Kevy is right. The full policy states that the listed positions would alternate year-to-year. So while only whites could be president this year, only blacks next year. So yes, 50% guaranteed.

The policies were put in place 30 years ago to enforce integration. Now with this scrutiny, the district agrees that it is outdated, inappropriate, and (hopefully) unnecessary. They are dropping the policy.

ETA: still unsettling that it required national attention to get them to make the right decision. However, it's gotta be hard to see the forest for the trees when you're in the thick of it and know that, 30 years ago, there simply would have been no integration without such policies, so if it's been working for 30 years...