A few weeks ago, a story about a segregated field trip in an Ann Arbor, MI 5th grade class hit the Drudge Report and other conservative news outlets.

The school took a group of thirty African American students to meet an African American rocket scientist.  The white kids, Asian kids, and Hispanic kids all stayed back at the school.  When the group of black kids returned from the trip- they were allegedly booed by the other students.  (A normal reaction by a bunch of 10-year-olds jealous about the other kids receiving preferential treatment.  I remember at this same age being "booed" by kids when our group of "gifted" students was pulled out for special programs.) 

The principal of the Ann Arbor elementary school went into the classroom and berated all of the kids.

Per the Ann Arbor news:

Parents have complained he was yelling at the class and belittled a Muslim girl who said she also had experienced racism and discrimination.

Wish one of those 5th graders had an iPhone....

The story made CNN's blog a couple of weeks later:

Should eligibility for a school field trip be determined by a student’s race? Seems like that happened at an Ann Arbor, Michigan school. About 30 African-American elementary students went to visit an African-American engineering professor at the University of Michigan. Their white counterparts did not go. Teachers and administrators said it was a motivational trip to help bridge the gap between black and white test scores. The Michigan Attorney General’s office said the field trip appears to violate the state constitution. In 2006, voters approved a ban on affirmative action programs that give preferential treatment to groups or individuals based on race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting purposes. So far, no complaints have been filed with the attorney general’s office.

"So far"...hmm, I wonder what would happen if an Eden Prairie parent complained to the Attorney General's office about tying up their kid?  Forget it- it's Lori Swanson- so absolutely nothing would happen.

It was reported on both Fox News and CNN News...I heard it on Rush...the story was everywhere.  Now, guess who's been consulting Ann Arbor School district on "equity" for almost six years? Come on, guess.

You guessed it!  Pacific Educational Group.  The consulting company that's fleeced Minnesota taxpayers to the tune of $1.2 MILLION and counting.

Per the Ann Arbor news:

District administrators said the intent of the program was to work in a mentoring relationship with black students to help boost their achievement. They said it was part of the district’s work to combat the achievement gap, which in Ann Arbor is commonly referred to in terms of the difference in test scores, grade-point average, discipline and graduation rates between white and black students. 

Much of that work is being led by a consultant, Glenn Singleton, and his Pacific Educational Group.  The district has been employing the company since the 2004-2005 school year and has paid it $341,000 so far, Roberts said.

Well, at least Eden Prairie Schools hasn't spent that much....yet.

Roberts said the district is making progress in closing the gap, pointing to multiple areas in the latest Michigan Educational Assessment Program data, where achievement for black students is up. That includes eighth-grade math scores, where the percentage of black students scoring proficient has climbed 23 percentage points since the 2005-06 school year.

I will wager a bet that there are other factors that led to this increase in test scores...and that it had nothing to do with this crap:

Much of the work PEG is doing centers on “things we can control in the school,” Roberts said. That includes making sure black and Latino students see artwork in classrooms and read literature that reflects their culture. PEG is also helping district staff discuss race and cultural issues and figure out how to effectively teach students of different cultural backgrounds. 

Roberts said he is happy with the work PEG is doing.  "There are conversations in the district and a greater focus on all the students and how we can help them.  I can't say they are the only reason for the growth, but they are key."

 "Key" for $341,000....it better be absolutely, indisputably the reason for success.  But there's no way to measure it, is there?  What a scam. 

Seems that EP Schools and Ann Arbor Schools share a love for overpaid consultants.

Here's a question:  When Superintendents spend hundreds of thousands of dollars every year on stupid, pointless exercises and people who tell them how to perform stupid, pointless exercises...then what exactly does the Superintendent do?  I mean, I know this Superintendent serves on a ton of boards-- outside the District-- but what does she do?  Where else can you get a job, not do your job, hire people to try to do your job (with other people's money) and then pretend you're doing your job?  (Besides the government.)

I hear the $500-$800 per hour Glenn Singleton was recently at Cedar Ridge Elementary observing classes.  Wonderful, more money down the tubes.

Simply more discontent from one conservative activist, you say?  A group of 600+ Eden Prairie parents and taxpayers who just like to complain?  Not quite....Try the vast majority of teachers in the district who also think this administration is a disaster.  More very soon.