Roy Exum: Not A Blessed One

When I read, to no great surprise, that 132 of Chattanooga’s “leaders” had signed a letter in support of “socioeconomic integration” in Thursday’s Times Free Press, there were two things that were immediately obvious to me: Not a blessed one would have (a) written such a letter on their personal stationery, and (b) not a blessed one would have ever voted for the current president of our United States.

Better yet, not a blessed one of our most concerned has the first clue of what to do about one of society’s biggest problems. I like and admire over half of those who were suckered in this latest folly of the now-exposed UnifiEd organizers … heck, I actually love over a third of the signees … but the raw truth is what the “elite liberals” are desperate to hide. Please, this is a ruse by those lefties who want our ‘easy’ money – pure and simple.

Know this: It is also subterfuge, canopy, smoke and mirrors – whatever you care to call it – to hide the fact that our public school system is in critical condition, really dire shape this very minute. According to new Hamilton County  Depatment of Education documents, a full 25 of our 32 high schools and middle schools have fewer than 50 percent of their students “on track.”

The HCDE just compiled the 2018 percentages and, even though we knew our schools have been floundering, there are eight of our schools right now that are under FIVE PERCENT on track and the magicians want to fool our liberal leaders into chasing some vapory “equality” fox-tales.

We have schools like Howard, Sequoyah and Brainerd that no longer have so much as pulse. They rate a cold “zero” on the 2018 scale. Don’t worry, you’ll see in a minute.

The “left” scream of equity and inclusion yet the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress – referred to by educators, politicians, city mayors and con men alike as “The Nation’s Report Card” -- reports a mere 17 percent of America’s black students test proficient in reading and only 7 percent of black kids who deserve an education are proficient in math.

Wait! This is the entire nation, not just Hamilton County. That would mean 93 percent of black Americans are deficient in math and, yes indeed, that is not just heartbreaking but every living soul in the US-of-A knows it is totally unacceptable. Why is it “equality” suddenly has preference over educating a child? I’ll tell you – the vultures want the money instead and they need it right now.

The consequences of illiteracy are frightening but first let’s smell the rat. In 2014 the UnifiEd education foundation was thrust on Chattanooga with no invitation from the community, no authorization by our school leaders, and a deep political purpose quite opposite of Chattanooga’s conservative beliefs.

The “liberal elites,” led by Mayor Andy Berke according to those in the know, wormed their way into Chattanooga’s biggest philanthropic foundations in their quest “to help” as they conspired to “get better leadership,” be it by their twisted standards.

First, it was the Hamilton County School Board and now UnifiEd is focusing on the Hamilton County Commission and what’s next? UnifiEd has been exposed as a leftist political arm that hires poll watchers, recruits kids to openly canvas a community for its chosen candidates, and inflicts true damage to Chattanooga’s political make-up.

For instance, in a recent primary election UnifiEd’s “organizers” rooted out a beloved County Commissioner with a candidate who doesn’t even live in the district and who already appears to have some questionable motives. Worse, they did it by using Obama-seasoned “community organizers” – that’s what Barack himself did in Chicago – and now these scalawags want to mimic it in an effort to eventually take control of Hamilton County proper.

They plan to use those “they help get elected” for payback but those their money has endorsed are now known in the community and – “oh, I can never be bought!” can’t quite explain why they took UnifiEd’s cash. “I don’t know … I appreciate when people who are rich believe in me. I believe in me … what wrong with that?”

In order to sway elections like the one this August, and continue their disgusting efforts, the UnifiEds are bringing socioeconomic integration as a mule to plow for foundation cash. Lots of it. So they hit us with this latest nonsense of “equality” – keeping the crazed anti-Trump voices loud – and the philanthropic lefties keep the money pouring in to fuel their machine. Don’t you see? This will create a better world where nutty people are most happy.

Understand, using foundations’ money doesn’t hurt the taxpayers, who say ‘so what?’ but when you replace good politicians with those under UnifiEd’s control, it’s like watching one of those monkey movies where the gorilla jumps out at the end! Whoo-wee, you wait-and-watch what’s coming.

Now, let’s go back to our letter-writing 132 “community leaders.” They ain’t got no idea what they just signed for UnifiEd or else they would have some sort of solution in mind. I’m telling you, not a blessed one has a clue how the solve this socioeconomic foolishness because stupid questions have no answers.

I’d like each one of them to read “The Percentage of Hamilton County Students Scoring on Track.” This is the stuff they don’t want to talk about, but it's real here. UnifiEd is not. These are HCDE figures and the ramifications are too sadly obvious.

The citizens of Hamilton Country need to hold these people accountable because look what is happening to our children. Here’s proof:

* * *

PERCENTAGE OF HAMILTON COUNTY STUDENTS SCORING ON TRACK

(Ordered by 2018 largest to smallest)

LOFTIS MIDDLE SCHOOL – 100 percent in 2018, 2017, and 2016. Percentage by subject: 100 in both Algebra I and geometry (only subjects reported)

HUNTER MIDDLE SCHOOL – 93.1 in 2018, 75.9 in 2017, and 74.6 in 2018, for a +17.2 one-year increase. Percentage by subject: 95.2 in Algebra I (only subject listed)

HIXSON MIDDLE SCHOOL –92.3 in 2018, 90.9 in 2017, and 71.9 in 2016, for a +1.4 one-year increase. Percentage by subject: 92.5 in Algebra I (only subject listed)

SODDY DAISY MIDDLE SCHOOL – 91.7 in 2018, 65.8 in 2017, and 48.9 in 2016, for a +25.9 one-year increase. Percentage by subject: 91.7 in Algebra I (only subject listed)

OOLTEWAH MIDDLE SCHOOL – 86.1 in 2018, 50.0 in 2017, and 39.3 in 2016, for a +36.1 one-year increase. Percentage by subject: 56.2 in Algebra I and 100 in geometry. (only subjects listed)

NORMAL PARK MUSEUM MAGNET SCCHOOL – 84.6 in 2018, 19.0 in 2017 and 3.9 in 2016, for a +65.6 one-year increase. Percentage by subject: 54.6 in Algebra I (only subject listed)

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL – 53.6 in 2018, 42.5 in 2017, and 45.5 in 2016, for a +11.1 one-year increase.

* -- Middle School: Percentage by subject: 55.6 in Algebra I

* -- High School: Percentage by subject: Algebra II 42.2, Biology I 75.2, Chemistry 50.5, English I 63.9, English II 54.4, English III 52.5, Geometry 58.0, US History 29.1.

BROWN MIDDLE SCHOOL – 48.0 in 2018, 40.0 in 2017, and 32.0 in 2016, for a +8.0 one-year increase. Percentage by subjects: 48.0 in Algebra I (only subject listed)

CHATTANOOGA SCHOOL FOR THE LIBERAL ARTS – 45.0 in 2018, 61.5 in 2017, and 71.4 in 2016, for -16.5 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: 45 in Algebra 1 (only subject listed)

CHATANOOGA SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS & SCIENCES (CSAS Upper) – 42.6 in 2018, 36.5 in 2017, and 22.8 in 2016, for a 6.5 one-year increase. Percentage by subjects: 42.6 in Algebra I, 40.9 in Algebra II, 77.0 in Biology I, 49.6 in Chemistry, 58.8 in English I, 57.6 in English II, 57.6 in English III, 38.6 in Geometry, 37.7 in US History.

CHATTANOOGA HIGH CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS – 40.0 in 2018, 29.4 in 2017, and 38.7 in 2016, for a +10.6 increase. Percentage by subjects: 40.0 in Algebra I, 45.0 in Algebra II, 83.0 in Biology, 57.8 in Chemistry, 58.9 in English 1, 68.0 in English II and 48.9 in Geometry. (No scores for English III or US History)

RED BANK MIDDLE SCHOOL – 38.2 in 2018, 14.5 in 2017, and 25.0 in 2016, for a one-year +23.7 increase. Percentage by subjects: 38.1 in Algebra I (only subject listed)

HAMILTON COUNTY COLLEGIATE HIGH AT CHATTANOOGA STATE – 36.4 in 2018, 50.0 in 2017, and 37.5 in 2016, for a -13.6 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: 36.4 in Algebra I, 70.4 in Algebra II, 50 in Biology, (no score in Chemistry), 75.9 in English I, 92.3 in English II, 20 in English III, 100 in Geometry, and 80.0 in US History.

IVY ACADEMY – 31.6 in 2018, 4.5 in 2017, 0.0 in 2016 for a +27.1 one-year increase. Percentage by subjects: 37.6 in Algebra I, 21.7 in Algebra II, 42.1 in Biology, 7.7 in Chemistry, 50.0 in English I, 41.2 in English II, 33.0 in English III, 21.7 in Geometry, (no score in US History)

EAST HAMILTON SCHOOL – 27.3 in 2018, 24.3 in 2017, and 13.7 in 2016 for a +3.0 increase. Percentage by subjects: 27.3 in Algebra I, 32.3 in Algebra II, 52.1 in Biology, 33.7 in Chemistry, 26.7 in English I, 25.3 in English II, 26.8 in English II, 22.7 in Geometry, 12.7 in US History.

SODDY DAISY HIGH SCHOOL – 25.9 in 2018, 28.0 in 2017, and 17.7 in 2016 for a -2.1 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: 25.9 in Algebra I, 31.6 in Algebra II, 31.5 in Biology, 42.6 in Chemistry, 33.5 in English I, 37.3 in English II, 16.4 in English III, 40.1 in Geometry and 14.9 in US History.

SALE CREEK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL – 22.1 in 2018, 23.9 in 2017, and 13.0 in 2016, for a 1.9 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: 22.1 in Algebra I, 4.9 in Algebra II, 54.1 in Biology. (no score in Chemistry), 21.1 in English I,40.5 in English II, 31.7 in English III, 37.4 in Geometry, 25.4 in US History.

EAST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL – 19.6 in 2018, 35.8 in 2017, and 23.4 in 2016, for a -16.2 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: 19.6 in Algebra I (only subject listed)

S.T.E.M SCHOOL CHATTANOOGA – 16.7 in 2018, 24.2 in 2017, and 4.3 in 2016, for a -07.5 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: 16.7 in Algebra I, 38.9 in Algebra II, 61.0 in Biology, 47.1 in Chemistry, 55.1 in English I, 72.1 in English II, 58.0 in English III, 37.7 in Geometry, 45.8 in US History.

LOOKOUT VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH – 11.5 in 2018, 0.0 in 2017, and 3.1 in 2016, for a +11.5 one-year increase. Percentage by subjects: 11.5 in Algebra I, 11.5 in Algebra II, 34.2 in Biology, 28.9 in Chemistry, 16.4 in English I, 30.3 in English II, 26.2 in English III, 18.5 in Geometry, 35.6 in US History.

HIXSON HIGH SCHOOL – 11.4 in 2018, 11.2 in 2017, and 6.3 in 2016, for a +0.2 one-year increase. Percentage by subjects: 11.4 in Algebra I, 18.1 in Algebra II, 51.5 in Biology, 33.7 in Chemistry, 18.8 in English I, 32.9 in English II, 21.2 in English III, 19.6 in Geometry, 18.4 in US History.

CHATTANOOGA GIRLS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY – 8.6 in 2018, 6.4 in 2017, and 8.2 in 2016, for a +2.2 one-year increase. Percentage by subjects: 8.6 in Algebra I, 23.4 in Algebra II, (no score in Biology), 18.2 in Chemistry, 17.0 in English I, 30.4 in English II, 32.3 in English III, 17.9 in Geometry, (no score in US History.)

OOLTEWAH HIGH SCHOOL – 6.0 in 2018, 8.5 in 2017, and 7.9 in 2016, a -2.5 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: 6.0 in Algebra I, 18.2 in Algebra II, 59.7 in Biology, 24.2 in Chemistry, 26.0 in English I, 33.8 in English II, 21.4 in English III, 25.8 in Geometry, 24.6 in US History.

RED BANK HIGH SCHOOL – 5.6 in 2018, 4.8 in 2017, 1.6 in 2016, for a -2.5 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: 5.6 in Algebra I, 22.8 in Algebra II, 40.9 in Biology, 51.4 in Chemistry, 10.5 in English I, 18.0 in English II, 25.5 in English III, 13.5 in Geometry, 19.6 in US History.

TYNER ACADEMY – 3.8 in 2018, 0.9 in 2017, 2.5 in 2016, for a +2.9 one-year increase. Percentage by subjects: 3.8 in Algebra I, 6.0 in Algebra II, 22.4 in Biology, 8.3 in Chemistry, 10.5 in English I, 16.4 in English II, 16.7 in English III, 6.3 in Geometry, zero in US History.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL – 3.2 in 2018, 3.8 in 2017, and 0.9 in 2016. Percentage by subjects: 3.2 in Algebra I, 10.1 in Algebra II, 37.3 in Biology, 30.7 in Chemistry, 15.9 in English I, 20.9 in English II, 16.4 in English III, 17.9 in Geometry, (no score in US History.)

EAST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL – 3.1 in 2018, 1.6 in 2017, and 1.0 in 2016 for a +1.5 increase. Percentage by subjects: 3.1 in Algebra I, 4.2 in Algebra II, 21.5 in Biology, 50.0 in Chemistry, 10.7 in English I, 21.4 in English II, 16.2 in English III, 9.9 in Geometry, 9.9 in US History.

THE HOWARD SCHOOL – 0.0 (zero) in 2018, 2017 and in 2016 for no change.  Percentage by subjects: zero in Algebra I, zero in Algebra II, 11.1 in Biology, 8.7 in Chemistry, 2.0 in English I, 6.3 in English II, 5.0 in English III, 2.2 in Geometry, 3.2 in US History.

SEQUOYAH HIGH SCHOOL – 0.0 (zero) in 2018, 4.5 in 2017 and 2.5 in 2016, for -4.5 one-year decrease.  Percentage by subjects: zero in Algebra I, zero in Algebra II, 22.4 in Biology, 4.7 in Chemistry, 2.0 in English I, 5.3 in English II, 6.0 in English III, 2.2 in Geometry, 3.3 in US History.

HAMILTON COUNTY VIRTUAL SCHOOL – 0.0 (zero) in 2018, in 2017, in 2016 for no change. Percentage by subjects: zero in Algebra I, zero in Algebra II, 33.3 in Biology, zero in Chemistry, zero in English I, 75 in English II, 75 in English III, zero in Geometry, zero in US History.

HAMILTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL – No scores given for 2018 or 2016, 0.0 (zero) in 2017 for no change. Percentage by subjects: no score in Algebra I, 3.1 in Algebra II, zero in Biology, 8.3 in Chemistry, no scores for English I or in English II, 17.6 in English III, 5.9 in Geometry, 10.3 in US History.

BRAINERD HIGH SCHOOL – 0.0 (zero) in 2018, 0.7 in 2017, 1.1 in 2016, for a -0.7 one-year decrease. Percentage by subjects: zero in Algebra I, 1.6 in Algebra II, 13.6 in Biology, zero in Chemistry, 5.5 in English I, 7.9 in English II, 2.5 in English III, 1.9 in Geometry, 3.0 in US History.

Source: Hamilton County Department of Education.