Idlewild: Michigan’s ‘Black Eden’

The racism of the early twentieth century kept America’s black middle class away from most of the resorts, restaurants, and clubs enjoyed by their white counterparts.

But in the forest of northwest Michigan was a place apart, a “Black Eden” known as Idlewild. Here, black writers, thinkers, physicians, and entrepreneurs found a safe haven where they could escape the toxic weight of racism and segregation and simply relax.

“Everyone was like family to you,” said Edna Brown, who first came as a baby in 1940 and has since retired in Idlewild. “And you knew that there was no door that would ever be closed to you here.”

It rose to prominence as a meeting place for black intellectuals and reached national fame as a place to see and rub shoulders with some of the most famous black entertainers of all time. But the Idlewild Resort was first conceived by white business people who saw an opportunity.

In 1912, four white couples, two from Chicago and two from Michigan, formed an alliance called the Idlewild Resort Company (IRC).

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https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-on-vacation/destinations/michigan/idlewild-michigan-black-eden

 

 

How many students will third-grade reading law hold back? No one’s sure yet.

Starting this fall, Michigan third-graders who are a grade behind or more in their reading proficiency will be forced to repeat a grade.

Listen to or read this story… 

https://www.michiganradio.org/post/how-many-students-will-third-grade-reading-law-hold-back-no-ones-sure-yet

THIS DAY IN HISTORY March 15, 1942: Norwegian Teachers Resist Nazi Curriculum

#tdih 1942 More than 1,300 Norwegian teachers were arrested by the German Nazi-installed government after 12,000 of 14,000 nationwide had refused to join the new Nazi-oriented teachers’ association and resisted nazification of the curriculum.

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https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/norwegian-teachers-resistance

Rich Parents Have Plenty of Ways to Game the U.S. Education System

“These are desperate parents who believe their kids will not be successful, or their family image will be hurt, unless their kid enrolls at a name-brand school,” said Robert Schaeffer, public education director at FairTest, a nonprofit that monitors the testing industry.

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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-12/college-arms-race-goes-too-far-with-wealthy-gaming-the-system

Judge Tells DeVos She Can’t Delay “Significant Disproportionality Rule” in Special Education

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The goal at school ought to be providing appropriate curricula and support to enable each child to realize her or his promise. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, special education programs address the needs of children with disabilities. Over the years, however, it has become apparent that children of color have too often been assigned to special education. President Obama’s administration created a rule to address this situation, but Betsy DeVos delayed the rule’s implementation.  Now a federal judge says DeVos’s department must enforce the rule and investigate whether children of color are being disproportionately misdiagnosed.

The “significant disproportionality rule” was supposed to go into effect last summer, but Betsy DeVos delayed implementation of the law for two years—until 2020.  Last week, however,  a federal court ruled that Betsy DeVos cannot elect to delay the rule’s implementation. The NY Times’Erica Green reports: “In a decision on Thursday…

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