- checking login information
The Human Rights Cause
608,559 people care about Human Rights
Loading...Public Education A Conspiracy Of The Klu Klux Klan? (Video)
Missouri billionaire Rex Sinquefield is apologizing for remarks he made Thursday at Lindenwood University, Missouri, when he quoted a former judge who claimed public schools were designed by the Ku Klux Klan to hurt African-American children.
Does this go along with Rick Santorum’s comments on public education?
Sinquefield’s comments are wrong on so many levels, it’s hard to know where to start.
He now says the comments were “ill-timed and inappropriate.” Well, yes.
Klu Klux Klan Designed Public Education To Hurt African-Americans?
Rex Sinquefield mistakenly quoted a satirical commentary as straightforward opinion when he said, “There was a column written and I hope I don’t offend anyone . . . ‘A long time ago, decades ago, the Ku Klux Klan got together and said how can we really hurt the African American children permanently? How can we ruin their lives?’ And what they designed was the public school system.”
Sinquefield’s comments were recorded Thursday, February 9, on a cell phone at a policy lecture at the St. Charles campus of Lindenwood University.
Sinquefield angered teachers with his remarks at the university’s St. Charles campus during a policy lecture called “A Conversation about Good Business, Capitalism, and Liberty.”
Sinquefield “Completely Out Of Touch”
From Education Votes:
Rep. Chris Carter, D-St. Louis, said he was “floored” by the statement, and Rep. Margo McNeil. D-Florissant said she was “flabbergasted.” Missouri National Education Association condemned Sinquefield’s remarks.
As a public school teacher, all I can say is that Mr. Sinquefield is completely out of touch with what goes on in public schools.
“To call the work of educators in public schools a KKK conspiracy shows how out of touch billionaire Rex Sinquefield truly is,” said Chris Guinther, a teacher on leave from the Francis Howell School District. “This is a slap in the face of every educator who has worked tirelessly in a public school to improve the lives of Missouri’s children. Rex Sinquefield needs to explain himself and apologize to all students, parents and Missourians.”
Sinquefield Apologizes
Sinquefield did apologize. A spokeswoman emailed this statement from Sinquefield:
“I apologize for my reference to a quote from Ralph Voss of the Unterrified Democrat. The public discourse on these issues is too critical for an ill-timed, inappropriate reference. It is my sincere hope that this does not distract us from the important mission of helping all children access a high-quality education.”
As a human being, I am very sick of people like this who think that because they have so much money, they can spout such nonsense and then, when confronted, just apologize and everything be just wonderful.
And as a teacher, I’m still seeking to understand why there’s a need out there to blame teachers for all the ills of society.
What do you think?
You can watch Sinquefield’s comments here:
Related Stories
Santorum: Public Education Is “Anachronistic”
Read more: civil rights, Klu klux klan, missouri, ralph voss, rex sinquefield, teachers rights, teachers unions
Photo Credit: tolkien1914
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
Bravo! a good way!!!
Ernest, good points and I agree with you, except that all people make poor choices sometimes. People…
Great news!
meet our writers
99 comments
+ add your ownAccording to an article on Wikipedia the public school had, as a motivating factor, hatred of the Catholic Church. Progressives feared the parochial school system and sought public funding of public schools as a means of "Americanizing" the people, and destroying Catholic schools. In 1922, the Klan strongly supported a public school system in Oregon. So the Klan DID support public schools as an anti-Catholic movement, not anti-Black. Would you have been as outraged about his comment if Mr. Sinquefield had been accurate in his comment?
Thanks.
OMG Even money does not mean you are particularly smart, you just know how to get your way!
AS the KKK will be voting for whoever is furtherest to the right in American politics; just thinking about this will show what a nut bag that Sinquefield is...
AND people shouldn't automatically think "entrepreneur" when they hear the term "billionaire" ~ as many have inherited their wealth, while a smaller proportion made their family fortunes through slavery, the drug trade, smuggling or other criminal activities..
NOT ALL wealthy people came into their riches by honest and fair means.
What does it matter? The KKK (republicans) are running our country anyway.
We need school reform, but to get the whole community involved to provide high-quality education to meet the needs of kids and the society they will live in. Conspiracy theorizing does not help...
sick!!!!
Nary a step is being missed in the march of ignorance.
What a wally!
Thanks for the article.
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment
20