(August 18, 2016 at 10:57 pm)RobertE Wrote:

(August 18, 2016 at 6:56 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck ...

What you say matters. But you, and RobertE, don't know jack-shit about the structural racism in America, to judge from your posts, but still parrot the same lines as racists here do.

As a white American member of a multiracial family, I'll never know what racism feels like, but I goddamned well know what it sounds like.

If you're not racist, perhaps you could drop the talking-points approach to a problem you know only from reportage and, you know, listen to those who live with it daily ... before you chase them off, as you have one already.

Perhaps we don't, but perhaps a very big reason for the structural racism in America is simply down to being civil to one another. In the UK, we are considered civilised to others, we are more welcoming to others, and we have black communities who are and have been integrated into a white community for over 3-4 generations. So, be more civilised towards those who are of different races and maybe, just maybe the USA will finally drag itself into the 21st century.

This post only proves my point, that you don't know jack-shit about how it's woven into the system.

Me, when I am ignorant about a topic, I at least have the good sense to listen to those who aren't. Far be it for me to advise anyone in such a high ivory tower, but if it were me in your place, that's exactly what I'd do.

(August 18, 2016 at 11:19 pm)RobertE Wrote:

(August 18, 2016 at 11:01 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: Do you know how schools are funded in America?

Perhaps they should do something about the 83% truancy rate from Kindergarten and 1st grade in California and then they are not able to read, which according to a report, leads to a dropout 4 times more than those who can read. Education begins at home, if there is no education at home, then what chance has the child have? Boyz in the hood was a great film, in that it shows just one kid who wants to get ahead in life, whilst his friends were just sitting around, playing dominoes, generally dossing around, and in the end, it is the one who gets on in life who gets the bullet. They have choices just like we all do; let others do their thing and do your own thing, go on your own way, even if it means dropping your friends because in the end, it will be you who is brought down to their level.

My question is a simple yes/no question.

Judging from your dodge, is it safe to assume your answer is no?

There's a hooligan, EDL, English football fan on Paris subway joke somewhere in this UK civilized blustering.

(August 18, 2016 at 11:58 pm)Tres Leches Wrote:

(August 18, 2016 at 11:45 pm)RobertE Wrote: Granted, it was 2015, but here you go just in case you thought I was bullshitting:

https://oag.ca.gov/truancy/2015

Citation given. Perhaps you live in a middle class area where there are no blacks thus you can say that. Perhaps you live in Alpin. Secondly, with reference to your previous post, you only went to London? Perhaps you should have gone up north instead. The North-South divide is evident.

From your own link : "83% of chronically absent students in kindergarten and 1st grade are unable to read on-level by 3rd grade".
"Chronic absence rates for grades K-5 remain at 8%"

Yet you told me that there is an "83% truancy rate from Kindergarten and 1st grade in California".

Come on, man.
Sadly, it's clear you're not interested in engaging in a debate on an intellectual level but instead you prefer to debate on a visceral and non-fact based level.
Noted. I will move on.

Have a good evening or morning, whatever the case may be.

Sadly funny..  You can almost hear Donald Trump saying, "83% of minority children don't even bother to attend school".

(August 19, 2016 at 12:01 am)Cato Wrote: There's a hooligan, EDL, English football fan on Paris subway joke somewhere in this UK civilized blustering.

Oh, please. Next thing I know, you'll be telling me that the Brits don't use racial slurs!

(August 17, 2016 at 8:59 am)Excited Penguin Wrote: I just think some people are idiots, but I'm not willing to engage in group thinking. The people who were rioting are idiots. That's definitely the case, and the world should hear about it.

So are the cops who go too far. So are white racists.

I don't think this is supposed to be aimed at a specific "race" of people, it's aimed at the culture that many of these people live in, where they blame all their problems on "white" people and see their skin-color as the only reason as to why they don't have a job... Though this guy couldn't even produce a sentence that made a small amount of sense.

Don't make this into a racial discussion, when it's clearly this specific type of people. There's white people with this mentality (Obviously minus the race part) where they just blame all their problems on the people who are in a better position than.

I don't even see how these people can still think that most people care about their skin-color, seriously?

---

(August 17, 2016 at 8:59 am)Excited Penguin Wrote: I just think some people are idiots, but I'm not willing to engage in group thinking. The people who were rioting are idiots. That's definitely the case, and the world should hear about it.

So are the cops who go too far. So are white racists.

Sorry, that was directed at another reply.

(August 19, 2016 at 4:19 am)InsaneDane Wrote: Don't make this into a racial discussion [...]

Yes, because we're a post-racial society.

(August 18, 2016 at 11:58 pm)Tres Leches Wrote:

(August 18, 2016 at 11:45 pm)RobertE Wrote: Granted, it was 2015, but here you go just in case you thought I was bullshitting:

https://oag.ca.gov/truancy/2015

Citation given. Perhaps you live in a middle class area where there are no blacks thus you can say that. Perhaps you live in Alpin. Secondly, with reference to your previous post, you only went to London? Perhaps you should have gone up north instead. The North-South divide is evident.

From your own link : "83% of chronically absent students in kindergarten and 1st grade are unable to read on-level by 3rd grade".
"Chronic absence rates for grades K-5 remain at 8%"

Yet you told me that there is an "83% truancy rate from Kindergarten and 1st grade in California".

Come on, man.
Sadly, it's clear you're not interested in engaging in a debate on an intellectual level but instead you prefer to debate on a visceral and non-fact based level.
Noted. I will move on.

Have a good evening or morning, whatever the case may be.

I live in France and it was around 04:42am in the morning or roundabouts. I do apologise for not citing the correct information but truancy or not. Don't you feel that the 83% who can't read by 3rd grade incredible? It is all about how much time the parents invest in their childs future. If you have parents who cannot read or write, then chances are going to be very slim, regardless of race, colour, creed or religion. My eldest daughter is going to go up to her third year in secondary school in France. This would be the equivalent to either an 8th grade or 9th grade because she has just turned 14. I have always let it be known to her, and my youngest that education at school is very important not only at school, but at home too. (for information, my daughter was born in France, I live in France even though I am British by birth, and I have never spoken English to her because it could be detrimental to her education, and also to my evolution in France) She is above average in all languages including French, Spanish and Latin and average in English. Don't forget, in most European countries, most 15 year olds are capable of conversing in 4 different languages with no accent. On-topic, it is very important to convey the message of how important education is to a childs future even if the mother is single or not.

Edit:

From what I have read, it seems that the black family unit here in France works like a dream, with very few divorces andeven fewer births out of wedlock. This is why the black population here have integrated well into society instead of forming their own communities. Same thing with North African family units, they simply are amazing compared to "white", family units where there are divorces galore. Perhaps the Americans should copy the French African community'ss template for family unity because there is no finer example.

(August 19, 2016 at 12:17 pm)RobertE Wrote: I live in France and it was around 04:42am in the morning or roundabouts. I do apologise for not citing the correct information but truancy or not. Don't you feel that the 83% who can't read by 3rd grade incredible?

Speaking of being unable to read, the statistic says that 83% cannot read on-level. That doesn't mean they are illiterate. That means that they don't read at the competency level expected of them.

By the way, I notice you still haven't answered my question: Do you know how American schools are funded?

Hopefully, you have the integrity to quit dodging and answer my question. There's a point behind it.

(August 19, 2016 at 2:01 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote:

(August 19, 2016 at 12:17 pm)RobertE Wrote: I live in France and it was around 04:42am in the morning or roundabouts. I do apologise for not citing the correct information but truancy or not. Don't you feel that the 83% who can't read by 3rd grade incredible?

Speaking of being unable to read, the statistic says that 83% cannot read on-level. That doesn't mean they are illiterate. That means that they don't read at the competency level expected of them.

By the way, I notice you still haven't answered my question: Do you know how American schools are funded?

Hopefully, you have the integrity to quit dodging and answer my question. There's a point behind it.

Can I answer like this? Does it have something to do with the fact that schools are funded based on the academic achievement of students from those schools i.e. should the school get a high % of students pass, then they are rewarded and thus able to improve facilities within the school. However, should a school fail, then it is possible that schools will close, teachers will lose their livelihood and therefore, the children will no longer receive an education that every child has a right to. If it is something like that, then it is a shocking system that has been adopted in the United Kingdom and I think France. If I am wrong, then please explain since I am here to learn. So, many thanks in advance for your future explanation. If I don't reply within the next 10 minutes, it is because I am having a nice cup of green tea.

Anyway, please docorrect me if I am wrong since, in spite of what you may think, I am not unreasonable, and I didn't dodge the question since, we in different time zones so, whilst you were going to bed, I was already on my way to work, and yes, I use a computer to work, but I don't access the internet, since it is against my principles.