Blacks-Only Fifth Grade Field Trip at Dicken Elementary School in Ann Arbor Sparks Outrage

Blacks-only field trip at Dicken Elementary school in Ann Arbor, MI, to see black rocket engineer, sparks outrage.

How can we ever put the scourge of racism in America behind us if we continue to engage in seemingly racist behavior? Well Mike Madison, the principal at Ann Arbor, MI, Dicken Elementary school, sparked controversy with a "blacks only" field trip. The field trip was taken last week by the Lunch Bunch for black students to hear a black rocket engineer talk about his career. Madison, who is black, sent a letter homw to parents in which he defended the trip for black students as part of his school's efforts to bridge the divide between white and black students. Er, the problem with this program is that it deliberately engages in segregation of sorts. Why do the blacks kids have to be taken on a trip to hear a black rocket engineer speak? Shouldn't all the students in a particular class be taken on this trip?

Here is an excerpt from the principal's letter to the parents:

“In hindsight, this field trip could have been approached and arranged in a better way," Madison wrote. "But as I reflect upon the look of excitement, enthusiasm and energy that I saw in these children’s eyes as they stood in the presence of a renowned African American rocket scientist in a very successful position, it gave the kids an opportunity to see this type of achievement is possible for even them.

“It was not a wasted venture for I know one day they might want to aspire to be the first astronaut or scientist standing on the Planet Mars.

“I also think it’s important that you know that I have talked to the children who did not go on the field trip, and I think they have a better understanding of the purpose of the AA Lunch Bunch now, as I hope you do. I’m sorry if any kids were upset by the field trip or my discussion afterwards with them, and I have let them know that.

“The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students as has been reported, but rather to address the societal issues, roadblocks and challenges that our African American children will face as they pursue a successful academic education here in our community.” Source:  Ann Arbor

He said the intent of the trip wasn't to segregate or exclude other students, but that's what it did. We all want to encourage all students, no matter the color of their skin, to achieve beyond their wildest imagination. The intent of the Lunch Bunch program to help at-risk students in theory is a good one, but you can't segregate students on the basis of their race. Mike Madison's actions were simply counterproductive. Inclusion, not exclusion is what we need in our schools today.