I can recall attending Century Elementary as a child vividly. The education I received there was as blessing. I developed close relationships there with my teachers and as well friends. Many teachers took interest in me and one especially opened my eyes to my passion of writing, the very passion I plan to pursue as a career. Nonetheless, my education there was so fruitful that my grades and moreover my fcat scores were high enough to receive an invitation to attend Brown Barge, a magnet school in Pensacola. When i came from Brown Barge, a socially and cultural diverse school,advancing to High School at Northview, I discovered what race actually was.

In many of my classes, another friend and I I were the only black individuals.
That being so, I’ve experienced many racial comments. One instance that I will never forget is when we had to watch a video in class. When the teacher went to turn off the lights so that everyone could enjoy the theater experience, a student cried out not to turn off the lights because the class wouldn’t be able to see me or my black friend. The teacher said nothing. No disciplinary action was taken.
At Northview as well, I’ve heard the most stereotypical remarks; from ppl addressing me as “home-girl” as a joke to even comments like “go eat some fried chicken.” Moreover at Northview, my intelligence has been countlessly doubted. If this isn’t racism or even discrimination, a fruit of it, then tell me what it is.

I’m sad to here that Century Carver seems to meeting its last days but I will not stand for comments like stay in Century “where you can be treated like poor black people…”. I’ve had an opposite experience there. Century has made me who i am today. I was treated like royalty and graduated as Co-Valedvictorian.

And to all those who claim that racism is revelant today. What do you say to recent events such as the “Jena Six”, the government’s slow response to “Hurricane Katrina”, and even racial tensions concerning our newly elected president. No one truly knows racism unless you’ve experienced it.

To Hispanic…..I appreciate what you had to say. I moved around so much as a child, 17 schools in 12 years and graduated second in my class. So yes, one should be able to learn anywhere if they want it but it is so nice to be in a school and home where the educators and your parents care and want to help those who need it to overcome the challenges that may be holding them back.

Thank you, Hispanic and Jack Moran for telling it as it really is….what is best for the children is the most important factor and this cannot be measured in dollars and cents.

Best point Mr. Moran has every made. Put the kids on the bus and send them to the NUMBER ONE school in Escambia County…Bratt Elementary.

Keeping them in poverty at Carver/Century at an F school (yeah, I know, they improved..but only because so many kids dropped out because they were so small) or send them to the best school the county has to offer.

Pretty clear what’s best for the kids.

Kudos to you, Jack Moran. When you said, The number-one consideration HAS TO BE THE KIDS – not political agendas or dollars,” I said to myself, “Amen.”

If only the school board understood that. Alas, is theirs the final word?