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    Dallas Boys-Only Field Trip on Taxpayer Dime Is Discriminatory, Ironic

    By Carol Bengle Gilbert | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Fri, Feb 17, 2012
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    COMMENTARY| Using $57,000 in federal taxpayer funds, the Dallas Independent School District sent 5,700 boys to the movies, leaving girls behind at school, WVEC reported. Even after a public outcry, DISD defended its action, saying gender-specific field trips are common and boys would like that movie -- "Red Tails" -- more than girls. The trip cost included substitute teachers for the girls. Some girls got to watch a rented video of a movie released six years ago, "Akela and the Bee."

    Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits gender discrimination by programs receiving federal funds. No matter how you view it, DISD discriminated. Boys got a big treat. Girls got shafted. Boys saw a new theatrical release. The luckiest among the girls watched an old movie many have undoubtedly seen before. The boys' movie was aligned with the curriculum's World War II studies. The girls' movie was irrelevant to that curriculum. And make no mistake- this wasn't "just" a fun trip, there were lesson plans before and after. Apparently girls can read about Tuskegee Airmen just fine but aren't worth the cost of a movie to the DISD.

    "Red Tails" ironically tells the story of competency in the skies by Tuskegee Airmen who broke the military pilot discrimination barrier. What message does it send girls to tell them the story is of no real interest to them? It appears they need the movie more than the boys do, since they're the ones suffering discrimination at the hands of DISD. They're the ones who need the message that they, too, can break down barriers. The boys in DISD already have the advantages.

    Ironically, news of this biased decision-making comes only a week after the Defense Dept. announced it was opening 14,000 new combat roles to women. There are still 238,000 military roles closed to women but fighter pilot is not one of them. Women have served as fighter pilots since 1993, F-16.net notes. A little girl might aspire to become one of them. Imagine such a thing! Apparently, the DISD can't, even though it's in the business of educating children.

    Another disturbing facet of the DISD's discrimination is its use of tax money- yours and mine- to support it. There's a law against that, and I hope the U.S. Dept. of Education Civil Rights Office steps in and enforces it. Anyone want to file a complaint?

     

    32 comments

    • Sue
      Sue  •  3 mths ago
      what was the administrator thinking the outcome would be? $57,000 for a movie?--may have been better spent on books, media equipment for the library, a teacher salary?
    • sherrill
      sherrill  •  Stockton, California  •  3 mths ago
      Recruiting for our next generation of fighters how pathectic.
    • John
      John  •  Downingtown, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      and someone said it was 2012...wow! we humans are as stupid today as we were 30,000 years ago...so much for evolution paying good dividends mentally
    • Dan
      Dan  •  3 mths ago
      Carol Bengle Gilbert, wrote "Boys got a treat. Girls got shafted." Somehow that makes perfect sense.
    • Silas
      Silas  •  College Station, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      LOL Who cares? It's a stupid movie you can get free on the internet anytime you want.
    • weimarliberal
      weimarliberal  •  3 mths ago
      Sue the #$%$ off Tex#$%$!
    • George
      George  •  Reseda, California  •  3 mths ago
      57,000 to take kids to the movies? ..in Los Angeles parents have to use their own cars to take the kids on field trips and every day the kids come home with a wish list for paper ,pencils and erasers from their teachers who make 65,000 to start with full medical paid vacation and a pension and you cant fire them because the union protects them even if they are child molestors ..
      • Auntie Social
        Auntie Social 3 mths ago
        I know--we contribute supplies to our local elementary school even though our kids graduated years ago. It's just so sad that they're sharing the pencil. . . .
    • Marty E
      Marty E  •  Newtown Square, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      Why are they even spending $57,000 of taxpayer money to go to the movies why cant they show th emovie in the classroom - uhh how about redbox for a buck!!
    • kekeloco
      kekeloco  •  Kansas City, Missouri  •  3 mths ago
      HEAVENLY BODIES,EARTHLY MINDS
    • Dan
      Dan  •  3 mths ago
      How does anyone know what pot of money this was taken from?
    • James Smith
      James Smith  •  Fresno, California  •  3 mths ago
      And we wonder why Public Education doesn't educate anymore...
    • GoNavy!
      GoNavy!  •  Carmichael, California  •  3 mths ago
      Outrage! Offended! Victims!

      Every story with a new angle on victimization. There's a victime, here's a victim, victim, victim, victim.

      Well, I'll tell you, if this were a story about girls being taken off campus while boys stayed behind to watch a dated film . . . Wait. That wouldn't even have been a story. There is no victims lobby for boys as a group (unless, of course, we begin subdividing by race, religion or toe-nail size).

      Absurd, preposterous, idiotic. Boys need specialized attention too. Girls have it in abundance in the modern era - as evidenced by the fact that this particular story is made the basis for outrage, when an opposite story would not have.

      Enough with the victim mentality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      • Jason
        Jason 3 mths ago
        Poor victim.
    • Call them out
      Call them out  •  Elmhurst, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      It's Texas... where boys will be boys ...and girls will be stupid.
      • MoBob
        MoBob 3 mths ago
        Grow up.!!!
      • Disillusioned
        Disillusioned 3 mths ago
        ...but they are soooo much prettier and we have more in one block than Illinois has in the entire state...there's a tradeoff to everything! You'll see that at your dinner table tonight!
      • weimarliberal
        weimarliberal 3 mths ago
        No Texas heifers for us!
    • Bill
      Bill  •  3 mths ago
      Eww, girls are icky, aren't they, Jimmy?
    • ameribro
      ameribro  •  3 mths ago
      What about the practice of using taxpayers' money for illegals children' meals at schools while US legal citizen middle income family's children get none?
    • pb
      pb  •  Parsons, Kansas  •  3 mths ago
      The message the movie gives is what to worry about.
      • Rimshot
        Rimshot 3 mths ago
        And that is?
      • wren
        wren 3 mths ago
        yea Pb, I'm with Rimshot. why don't you enlighten us with what will be a predictable rant...
    • AD
      AD  •  3 mths ago
      The real story is why are we spending tax payer money on the movies? This is NOT education. Instead, its much more cost effective to bring in an ex airman to talk to the kids. In fact, the Armed services would be happy to offer up a day with an airman to come in and talk to kids about his job. Both boys and girls could participate and learn about what it takes to be an ace pilot. I think the school failed on this one.
    • MarcD
      MarcD  •  3 mths ago
      And what will be the result of an investigation and punishment? Fines? Withholding more school funds? Ain't that great for the taxpayers? Not to mention all those complaining that we don't spend enough on our children's education. All to assuage someone's hurt feelings about missing a movie.
      • Scott
        Scott 3 mths ago
        how about letters of repremand against the administors that commited the idiotic and possibly criminal act? How about a public appology from the district?
      • MarcD
        MarcD 3 mths ago
        Oooh, THAT'LL do it! A stern reprimand. Do you think their little pinkies might handle such wrist slapping abuse? Now say you're sorry.
      • MarcD
        MarcD 3 mths ago
        Oooh, THAT'LL do it! A stern reprimand. Do you think their little pinkies might handle such wrist slapping abuse? Now say you're sorry.
    • C9XGMR
      C9XGMR  •  Tucson, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      Bah! When I was in school, girls got to do more things than the boys. One of which was a field trip. I didn't get a single field trip anywhere during High School.
    • bill
      bill  •  3 mths ago
      why weren't the girls in home ec learning useful skills? what century is this? or is texas just that far behind the rest of society?
     Post a comment
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