whats happing to the redford thurston high school?, it sounds like a war zone

there"s alot of negative feedback online in reviews of thurston high from parents and current and former students of how bad the school is and how there moving away because of the fighting and low test scores.when i was a student at thurston there was less then one percent african american enrolled,now there is twenty-eight percent,is there a connection there to way there is more violence and lower test scores?

The answer is always yes sir

The black presence in Thurston is definitely a violent one. Yesterday, my white step daughter was assaulted by an older black male. Not once, but in two separate incidents. The second time, while a large group of blacks surrounded them, cheering him on, her sister came to her aid. As a result, both girls have been suspended for 1 week. They have both been blamed for their actions. When their father was called to the school, he was met with hostility not only from the assistant principal, but also the police officer assigned to the school. Obviously the people supposedly incharge at the school are afraid of the black presence.

Yes, I had to pull three of my children out of Pierce Middle School as a result of 'school of choice'program. I had two former Detroiter's both with a history of violence at their former schools attack my daughter screaming 'white ho' & 'white bitch'. Police were summoned by bystanders. Several of my daughter's friends provided ample information of how they jumped on my daughter while she was walking away from a confrontation with them. Police refused to do anything about it citing they were too busy (only ONE juvenille officer handling all cases- too overwhelmed to act). On a side note- apparently the 'minority law' used to exact a more severe penalty for racists attacks doesn't extend to the white population.

I met with the parents of these animals and understand why they act in the manner they do. It is not about skin color - that's superficial. It's the culture they teach and indoctrinate in their offspring. Rather it's a sub-culture. Until they fix it they will perpetuate the very violence they bring on themselves and others. They have no respect for themselves or others and that's the reason they can hate with such abandon. If they don't like themselves how can we expect them to like others? Yet our society is apologetic blaming former enslavement as the cause and in doing so, allows them the right to misbehave in our society. As a result, we have become a nation of enablers, allowing them to act as they do.

I have friends and work with many African-Americans with solid education and great families. They attended schools such as MIT, UofM, etc. have excellent jobs and lives. Yet with all these accomplishments they are called 'Uncle Toms' by their own community because they acclimated to the American society and prospered from it. I would certainly welcome them into my neighborhood and home. But not these urban types.

Hello,
I am a new resident to Redford and I am appauled at what I am reading here. I am an African American woman with a teen-age son who will be attending Thurston High this fall. How dare you make blanket assumptions about low test scores and other negative press being the result of African American students. Look at the stats, there is no way that the low test scores can be blamed solely on the African American students, seeing that it is still a predominately white school.
Regarding these fignts, while it's awful that these incidences occured and there is no excuse for violence, have you ever thought of what it was like for them to have to attend a predominately white school? What type of reception are they receiving from the students there? Have you looked at all sides of the story? In reading the comments here, I can hardly believe that your children are totally innocent, after all you did raise them and they probably share your racist views. It saddens me to think that in 2006 people still think like this. The problem isn't with race, it's with society as a whole. The ignorance here makes me think that we'll never get past the nonsense.

Oh and by the way as an educated, successful woman, with an educated successful husband and extended family members of equal callibur, the term Uncle Tom has never been forged against us, only well wishes and support. Have a wonderful day!

Racism is always prepetuated by two keys, fear and ignorance. This is true no matter the race. I don't see much hope for a society that want to blame their ills on something as simple a skin tone or county of orgin. Some of my most dear friends are of other cultures, and so are some of the most crooked and underhanded. So what's the answer here? Most would agree it's not simple. But personally I believe it's a spiritual dilemma, and one that can only be changed by love toward one another. Sounds simple, but not when you try it. I've worked at it for close to fifty years, with limited success, but I think the alternative is far worse. Thanks for the time.

I lived in Redford for more than 30 yrs. during that time I never saw the types of troubles I read about here.
granted I moved. I still have lots of friends who still live in the area and I do talk to them and they tell me about what goes on. I went to Thurston
and never saw what I have read here. It sounds to me the area is on a downward spiral, just like Detroit did.
I will agree that the way children are raised will have an impact in what they do. we should not allow these types of things to continue, the students should be expelled for there actions. They need to learn this type of behavoior can not continue. If we let them continue what will they be like and where will they be, in jail or worse...

I am a white female who attended Thurston High School and I am so distraught by what some of you people have written. How dare you suggest that because of the increase in black students that crime has risen and test scores are lower. LET ME SUGGEST TO YOU HILLBILLIES THAT POSSIBLY SOME OF YOU ARE SO HORRIBLE AS PARENTS THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPENING IN YOUR CHILDRENS LIVES. YOUR OWN CHILDREN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILING GRADES, LET ME SAY THAT THESE WHITE KIDS BUY BEER AND HANG OUT ALL NIGHT AND CAUSE PROBLEMS IN NEIGHBORHOODS.IT IS YOUR NARROW MINDS THAT CREATE ILLUSIONS AS YOU SEE FIT. lET ME ALSO SAY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AT THURSTON DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS STUDENTS THEREFOR THIS ULTIMATLEY LEADS TO A SCHOOL THAT IS WORTHLESS AND OVER RUN BY THE CHILDREN IT IS SUPPOSED TO EDUCATE.

Jon Do wrote:

Yes, I had to pull three of my children out of Pierce Middle School as a result of 'school of choice'program. I had two former Detroiter's both with a history of violence at their former schools attack my daughter screaming 'white ho' & 'white bitch'. Police were summoned by bystanders. Several of my daughter's friends provided ample information of how they jumped on my daughter while she was walking away from a confrontation with them. Police refused to do anything about it citing they were too busy (only ONE juvenille officer handling all cases- too overwhelmed to act). On a side note- apparently the 'minority law' used to exact a more severe penalty for racists attacks doesn't extend to the white population.
I met with the parents of these animals and understand why they act in the manner they do. It is not about skin color - that's superficial. It's the culture they teach and indoctrinate in their offspring. Rather it's a sub-culture. Until they fix it they will perpetuate the very violence they bring on themselves and others. They have no respect for themselves or others and that's the reason they can hate with such abandon. If they don't like themselves how can we expect them to like others? Yet our society is apologetic blaming former enslavement as the cause and in doing so, allows them the right to misbehave in our society. As a result, we have become a nation of enablers, allowing them to act as they do.
I have friends and work with many African-Americans with solid education and great families. They attended schools such as MIT, UofM, etc. have excellent jobs and lives. Yet with all these accomplishments they are called 'Uncle Toms' by their own community because they acclimated to the American society and prospered from it. I would certainly welcome them into my neighborhood and home. But not these urban types.

Dear Mr. Jon Do and all of his closet racist friends,
As adults you should be the first to teach acceptance among races. But instead you teach your children to hate. You shelter your kids from the real world and teach them to always blame their problems on someone else. It is an interesting "culture [that you] teach and indoctrinate in [your] offspring." You teach them that it is ok to "hate with such abandon." It is ok because daddy does it! I don't blame "former enslavement" for the current race situation. Rather, I blame present enslavement: racist whites binding African American's with inhuman fear and hatred. Mr. Jon Do, if you and all of your friends spent as much time trying to understanding the real source of problem in public schools as you do philosophizing on the "problem with urban blacks," South Redford would be a lot better. I am not dismissing the fact that South Redford has some problems, but I will not agree that these problems can be attributed to black students. There are just as many disruptive white students in South Redford as disruptive black students. If you would have given Pierce another chance you would have figured that out. You also may have realized how unique the South Redford School District is. The schools allow students to grow up and learn with students of other races, religions, and social classes. In the end, students graduate with a better sense of the real world and a better understanding of differences among people. Therefore, graduates of the South Redford School District are less likely become ignorant closet racists and more likely to promote positive change through understanding.
Oh, and by the way the South Redford School District is not part of the school choice program
Sincerely,
Thurston High School Graduate ‘05

Your child didnt get jumped on because it was a group of black people, try maybe running her mouth to much in school. And your older daughter didnt stop the kids from jumping your daughter, please believe that if they wanted to they could have jumped both of them. signed a parent without tunnel vision and yes im black stay in livonia 2 teens in high school franklin and one in elemetary.

Let's face the facts; we have two sets of rules.
Rules for whites, everything we say (true or false) is just racist.
And rules for African Americans so they can play the race card at any time, and say any racist remark with zero consequence.

cousin vinny wrote:

Let's face the facts; we have two sets of rules.
Rules for whites, everything we say (true or false) is just racist.
And rules for African Americans so they can play the race card at any time, and say any racist remark with zero consequence.

I agree that there are cases where African Americans hold racist views and are not called out on it do to political correctness. But, this is not the case in this forum. There have been many white posters with racist views and no African American posters who make the generalization that "whites" cause specific problems. Therefore, I do not see your comment's relevance to this forum.

Thurston Graduate wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree that there are cases where African Americans hold racist views and are not called out on it do to political correctness. But, this is not the case in this forum. There have been many white posters with racist views and no African American posters who make the generalization that "whites" cause specific problems. Therefore, I do not see your comment's relevance to this forum.

Since you are the relevance police - I will retract my post.

I am a PROUD South Redford teacher who is appalled by the comments I am reading. Our scores soar above many other Wayne County schools and our kids are respectful and intelligent. There are problems at every school in every district. We are talking teenagers here. This is a GOOD school district with some of the very best teachers I have ever come into contact with or seen. I hope that there are more out there who will read these comments and stand up for our AMAZING school district. And by the way we are not an "open school district".

Teacher wrote:

I am a PROUD South Redford teacher who is appalled by the comments I am reading. Our scores soar above many other Wayne County schools and our kids are respectful and intelligent. There are problems at every school in every district. We are talking teenagers here. This is a GOOD school district with some of the very best teachers I have ever come into contact with or seen. I hope that there are more out there who will read these comments and stand up for our AMAZING school district. And by the way we are not an "open school district".

Thank you for rebuking this idiotic rhetoric. I cant address these ignorant racist because they wouldn't understand the words I wrote.

I am sickened and disgusted by some of the comments posted here. Have I mistakenly stumbled on a KKK web site? Do some reasearch before spouting your mouth off. Let me help you out...five years ago South Redford was considered a failing school district. Five years ago our African-American population was only about 7%. Currently, it's around forty-seven percent and we have gone from a failing school (as defined by the 'report cards' published in the Detroit News and Free Press) to a passing school. Five years ago our MEAP scores were some of the lowest in the county. Today, they are some of the highest. Our scores have not gone DOWN since our African-American population has increased--they have gone UP. If you are concerned about violence or things that are going on at Thurston High School, speak to that, but don't pretend that race has a DAMN thing to do with it. If you are truly concerned, please don't hide behind a forum where your real identity does not have to be revealed, instead, do something productive like attending a Board Meeting and speaking your mind. I am not sure if I have ever seen a more blatant display of ignorance as I have here on this forum. Educate yourself before you open your mouth.

as a college student researching historical violent crime by african americans on caucasion students AND vice versa, i was extremely distraught by what i found here. i did not know there was still so much racism in our society. regardless if it's african american on caucasion or caucasion on african american. we are in the 21st century and in a very multicultural society. i find all of you arguing about race to be fooling yourselves. all of your students are given an equal education, and whether they choose to apply themselves to learn or not is their choice. you should all be ashamed of what you write in blogs or forums that come up on google searches. we, the future, are trying to make our society less focused on race issues. in america, we are all equal... think about it.

Jon Do wrote:

Yes, I had to pull three of my children out of Pierce Middle School as a result of 'school of choice'program. I had two former Detroiter's both with a history of violence at their former schools attack my daughter screaming 'white ho' & 'white bitch'. Police were summoned by bystanders. Several of my daughter's friends provided ample information of how they jumped on my daughter while she was walking away from a confrontation with them. Police refused to do anything about it citing they were too busy (only ONE juvenille officer handling all cases- too overwhelmed to act). On a side note- apparently the 'minority law' used to exact a more severe penalty for racists attacks doesn't extend to the white population.
I met with the parents of these animals and understand why they act in the manner they do. It is not about skin color - that's superficial. It's the culture they teach and indoctrinate in their offspring. Rather it's a sub-culture. Until they fix it they will perpetuate the very violence they bring on themselves and others. They have no respect for themselves or others and that's the reason they can hate with such abandon. If they don't like themselves how can we expect them to like others? Yet our society is apologetic blaming former enslavement as the cause and in doing so, allows them the right to misbehave in our society. As a result, we have become a nation of enablers, allowing them to act as they do.
I have friends and work with many African-Americans with solid education and great families. They attended schools such as MIT, UofM, etc. have excellent jobs and lives. Yet with all these accomplishments they are called 'Uncle Toms' by their own community because they acclimated to the American society and prospered from it. I would certainly welcome them into my neighborhood and home. But not these urban types.

i go to pirce middle school now and its fine are princple might be a little mean but he does it so we can acheive and no i,m not good all the time i get suspended here and there