It's sad to see that this is how the NAACP decides to keep itself busy. It's a far cry from the Civil Rights movement.

Posted by dbc007 (anonymous) on April 21, 2009 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's always about quotas, never about competence.

Posted by dingus5 (anonymous) on April 21, 2009 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is one way to get rid of the money spending tax begging Hatrick.

Posted by Funnyguyva (anonymous) on April 22, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am disappointed that the NAACP took this action. I do not support the resignation of Dr Hatrick.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on April 22, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

funnyguy, while I'd love to get rid of Hatrick bowing to the whims of political correctness gone mad is not the way. I find most of the NAAPC's claims to be baseless, and I can't help but think think that hundreds of regional NAACP chapters received a memo from the national NAACP reminding then that Spring is here and it is time to put the pedal to the metal on "minority hiring".

Posted by cheekymonkey (anonymous) on April 22, 2009 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In regards to the termination of the LCPS Supervisor of Outreach, she was replaced by Wendell Fisher, who is a highly respected African-American and former School Board representative. He also worked with the YMCA and is a good guy in the community. I don't know if I understand the notion of this being a "slap in the face of the minority community."

Posted by hphokie (anonymous) on April 22, 2009 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

as a minority i always cringe when the NAACP gets involved. so often they have not checked all the facts and end up on the wrong side of an issue just because a black person was involved.

maybe she deserved to be replaced, maybe not- but i don't like NAY organization using race as the platform. ugh. takes away from REAL injustices.

Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

oops- that should say "ANY org"

Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

While asking for Hatrick's resignation is a bit extreme, there really is no excuse for lack of minorities at the middle and high schools in principal jobs. There are not any minorites leading at the 10 high schools and i believe only one at middle school. you wonder why an achievement gap exist? who can the minorities look up to? who has walked in their shoes? Other districts find and retain minorities. I am white and witness this. What is wrong in Loudoun? Hatrick resign? Maybe not. But he needs to be held accountable and put minorities in key positions to lead and help schools. Your students just might surprise you and the gap in loudoun may shrink. what you are doing now is not working... Obviously. Come into the 21st century with the rest of our country and truly be equal opportunity and not token opportunity.

Posted by anonymous0821 (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

People in the county should realize that one of the names on the letter from the NAACP was a previous School Board member. This person was so upset with how minorities were being treated within our school system that they became an active member of the NAACP a few years back. If one were to follow events that began back in August 2007, when the Loudoun NAACP was addressing the School Board about problems within the school system, one might see that the firing of the Outreach Supervisor was related to her being a member of the NAACP. The NAACP has been hearing complaints about this school system the entire time this superintendent has held office. There is a lot more to this than what had been provided in the letter to the superintendent. Discrimination does exist in the Loudoun County school system.

Posted by Mark836 (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 3:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by anonymous0821: "you wonder why an achievement gap exist? who can the minorities look up to? who has walked in their shoes?"

how about our kids look up to US- their PARENTS? my son doesn't need to see a face that looks like his to make him do better in school! I happened to teach him that race is irrelevant- heart, determination and commitment make the difference. I grew up in Nebraska and went to predominantly white schools, and got all A's. why? because my PARENTS were involved, THEY were my role models and THEY made me believe in myself and THEY took ownership of the job of helping me succeed in school. that argument that minorities need minorities to lead them is HOGWASH. come on- in the 21st century ppl STILL think this?!?!? I expect white, black, Indian, Asian, Hispanic and whatever else a teacher "is" to be IRRELEVANT, and they should see the same in the students!~~~~~~~ you want to talk about achievement gaps? start at HOME looking for answers- not at school. I take GREAT offense- EXTREME OFFENSE- to a statement that without a black person in charge at a school that black students are at a disadvantage. we don't have to LOOK at or be LED by "one of our own" to succeed- that's SO RIDICULOUS. everyone who is black is NOT one of my own, just like I am sure you don't consider everyone who is white as one of yours. EACH FAMILY is responsible for helping to create and foster an achieving student. PERIOD.

Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Mark836- discrimination exists EVERYWHERE. people judge each other on appearance ALWAYS and FORVER: too white, too black, too dark, too fat, too thin, too pimply, too plain, too pretty, too ethnic.... so what? that's why you teach a child to distinguish themselves by their actions and personalities, and to judge others the SAME WAY. pretend you are walking into a crowded room, and there are groups everywhere under a sign distinguishing them from each other. the signs say WHITES, BLACKS, LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES, SPORTS FANS, DOG LOVERS, AMERICAN IDOL FANS... you get my drift. which group do you join? ~~~~~~~ I DO believe that minorities and women DO have to work harder sometimes than others to prove themselves in a job- as a black female, i live it. and you know what? I EMBRACE IT. whatever preconceived notion you had about me will go out the window when i get the chance to exceed your expectations. i dunno if the lady who was fired was below, at or above expectations. if she was fired unfairly i'd like to believe it was an issue other than race, but i don't know those details. all i know is that i refuse to EVER let anyone tell me or my son that his race will be EVER in his way. it's an opportunity to SHATTER the old ways of thinking and elevate himself in society. sorry for the soapbox- this topic is like a grain of sand under my eyelid!!!!

Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tttrenee - I couldn't agree with you more! Well said! You are getting to the heart of this matter and I think this is the type of dialogue we need to have. Thank you for saying it. I am white - my son had an African American teacher. Not for a moment did I think he couldn't learn from her because she wasn't white. She was a great teacher - because of who she was, not the color of her skin. Isn't it a form of racial discrimination to believe that our children can only be taught by those of the same race or ethnicity?

In addition, the parental influence IS so important for our kids not only at home, but at school, too. There are many opportunities for parents to get involved by volunteering at school. This makes our kids' educational experience so much richer when we have a wide variety of parents participating and sharing their talents, time, and themselves with the students.

Although I believe the NAACP was wrong in the action they took towards Dr Hatrick, it certainly will get us all communicating and hopefully moving towards greater unity.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

thanks momof2. blacks and whites alike need to stop with this "minorities need special attention crap! pointing out the race of someone who has achieved something great- as if that is EXCEPTION NOT THE EXPECTATION. the president is an anomaly- that IS the exception- just as a woman as POTUS would have been. but i EXPECT my son to get A's, i EXPECT him to speak proper English, I EXPECT him to be on the honor roll, etc. the sooner everyone ELSE treats achievements as "duh, of COURSE you did that well!" instead of "Wow- look what YOU did in spite of being black!" the BETTER. if any of you watch "Everybody hates Chris"- his teacher is a prime example of that attitude. it's hilarious on tv- infuriating in real life

Posted by tttrenee (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I haven't seen the show you mentioned. I agree with you again. I get so irritated when a person's race is mentioned when they have accomplished something. You are right - it makes it sound like the accomplishment is extraordinary BECAUSE of their race, not because of what they have achieved. We hear this all the time in the media. They perpetuate this attitude.

Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)