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• A.Y. Walker (View Email) on March 12, 2002
  Where are the Black and Hispanic kids? And why not an Art's night instead of a MAGNET Art's night? Don't we already have enough of a segregated school as it is?
  I know that those students BUSSED in from POTOMAC and the like would much rather not associate with our LOCAL not so affluent racially mixed
  populus. It is a shame that we paint one pictur on the outside while abuse the minds of many of these students behind the confines of the doors. Black and Hispanic kids have become to accepting of this mental abuse to the affect that it not want to achieve. The example they are shown is what is expected of them. They know that even if the teachers tell them they can do it, it really is not EXPECTED of them. These very same teachers show them what is expected of the students BUSSED in and they create situations to foster the feeling. It is such a shame that Magnet is not equally inclusive. By the insensitive
  creation of a MAGNET ART'S NIGHT you tell those students that are not in the MAGNET that their TALENT'S do not matter. For those very student's this may be a life changing experience. Some will aspire because of nad inspite of it,while others
  will let it defeat them. All I can say to the parents of the students shunned by BLAIR"s blatant example of segregation in the name of "Magnet Art"s Night" is to always be an advocate for your child even when the school is destroying their mind and their spirit. Many of our children have been damaged by the low expectation put on them from elementary school through high school. We are not in the position to change the system but we can tell them that they are wrong. Maybe so
  honest, non-opportunist parent and /or school official will pay attention.
  I do not expect that this will be printed 'cause we don't want to rock the MAGNET BOAT and this communication medium is probably run by the same discriminating families;
  ie: studen's,teacher's, parent's.Please tell me I am wrong in my perception?
  
  Reply
• Joe Howley (View Email) on March 12, 2002
  As Editor-in-Chief of this publication, I take offense at your suggestion that it is at all discriminatory. We certainly have no affiliation with or loyalty to any part of the school, Magnet, CAP, or otherwise.
  
  
  
  Having gotten that out of the way, I'd like to point out that Magnet Arts Night is an activity run by the Magnet ostensibly for the benefit of students who do not normally have an opportunity to showcase artistic talent in a program with a math/science focus. There are programs such as an all-school "Art's night" - SGR spectacular comes to mind.
  
  
  
  As for racial disparity in the show, it is a simple fact that the magnet is majority white and asian. The causes of this are another matter entirely, but it seems reasonable for a Magnet-only presentation to represent the racial makeup of the Magnet.
  Reply
• blazer on March 14, 2002
  There are tons of other ways for students to showcase their talent other than Magnet Arts night, just this week for example there's an International Show. It wouldn't be practical to have a school-wide arts night, with a population of 3,000+ the percentage of students who would actually be able to participate would be minute. That's why there are several different performances: CAP showcase, Magnet Arts Night, SGR Spectacular, International Night, just to name a few. Creating these different programs actually is more inclusive, giving many students the opportunity to display their talent.
  
  Also, as Joe mentionned, Magnet Arts Night was created because of the strict math and science emphasis of the magnet program, it gives these students a chance to show their more creative sides. It wasn't created to leave other students out or because the magnet students are the only ones with talent. Saying that it's prejudiced is like saying the International Show is discriminatory against native born Americans because it showcases international talent.
  
  By the way, I'm a magnet student and I live in the heart of Silver Spring, I've attended Blair cluster schools for most of my life. We're not just "outsiders" bused in from Potomac.
  Reply
• Erin (View Email) on March 21, 2002
  ya know,...the MAN isn't just just for magnets, as long as you are in a group that is at least half magnet, you can ry out. Also, as previously stated, there are other talent shows for other people. Magnets can't put an act in CAP showcase night, nor can most of us "white people from Potomac" appear in International night. I can't imagine why you have such a problem with the magnet, I understand that it is racially segregated, and yet that isn't the fault of the students in the magnet. It is also not their fault that they might not go to Blair if it weren't for the magnet. We do go to Blair. We are just as much a part of Blair as CAP or the regular, honors, and ESOL programs are. It is also quite unfair to say that we do not associate with non-magnets. At my lunch table, less than half of the people are magnets. Blair is not our homeschool, so we did not even meet these friends until we came here. What we do is not what is expected of anybody. It is what anybody could become if given the drive and opportunity, however nobody expected it of us, we are here because we chose to be here.
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• cambria lewter (View Email) on May 10, 2002
  that's real good do you think I can be in that?
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