Gila Courier: “We need to discipline Asian students!”

by David Safier
OK, I'll accept the possibility that this headline from the conservative Gila Courier website is meant as sarcasm:

But the headline comes from the basket-of-crazy wing of our political circus which has brought us Tea Parties, Birthers, Deathers, Obama-wants-to-corrupt-our-school-children, They're-building-concentration-camps-for-conservatives, Republicans-won't-get-health-care — sorry if I left out your personal favorite — so I have to assume that nothing is so nutty it's not meant to be taken seriously.

The subject here is a new TUSD plan addressing the issue of race in the district's schools in a number of areas. One area is discipline. The district is aware that Hispanic and African American students have a disproportionate number of school suspensions. It suggests strategies that will keep the kids in school rather than sending them home.

Conservatives see this as being soft on minorities. Never mind the history of racial profiling in every aspect of our society, including schools, which is as long as the history of the country. Never mind that it's probably true some African American and Hispanic kids are sent home for offenses that Anglo or Asian students get a wrist slap for. This new policy must be . . . wait for it . . . this must be an example of . . . Reverse Discrimination!!!

The weird headline refers to the fact that Asian students have few suspensions compared to the other groups. If it's for real, it's saying Asian kids are being handled with kid gloves even though they deserve to be suspended at a higher rate. To which I say . . . What?

Look, if you listen to Glenn Beck and celebrate people at your rallies who spout some of the strangest stuff I have ever heard, you have to be very, very clear when you're being satirical. It's really hard to tell. And if you're serious . . . let me know. We'll talk.