Letter to the Editor: Not Enough Diversity in Barrow County School System

Dear Editor,

I am not a regular reader of any of our local news publications and here is why.

There is not enough journalistic integrity locally to even print the truth.

I, Barnard Sims, addressed the Barrow County Board of Education on (9/4/12) the night our teachers were celebrated. Since no one bothered to print what I said, I referenced statistics from our schools systems website (there are only 30 African American and Hispanic teachers COMBINED in our entire school system of 14 schools and over 1,000 educators) confirming what is obvious when we walk into any of our schools. Frankly, it was clearer on that night while we were acknowledging our teachers. It was the "elephant in the room." 

We Do Not Have Enough Diversity In Our Public School System! 

Our public schools are our community. We could be more effective at educating all the children in our community if our schools teachers looked more like the community it servers. 

I had a conversation with Chairman of the Board Mr. Mark Still after the meeting. 

Mr. Still asked me "Well, what are you suggesting we do as a school system? "

I said "The test (for AYP) tell us exactly what we don't do well and most importantly what we need to work on. Central Gwinnett has figured out how to educate all it's minority sub groups." 

The Chairman said "Well, that's one of the best schools!" I asked, "Well ... what are we trying to be?"

The Chairman then said, "Well, they have one of the most diverse group of teach-e-r-s ... Oh well I gotta go my wife cooked."

Might I add we were in a room full of food. I guess the truth was in the pudding and if anyone cares that's what I'd like to read.

Barnard Sims
Statham, Ga.

Tell us what you think about the diversity in Barrow County Schools in comments below. 

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