What steps is the alumni association taking to rally support to fight superintendent Sawyer in his push to eradicate BTW as we know it? Is information going out to all alumni about the meetings that will be held next week? Can we get Sawyers phone and fax numbers and email address, so that we can let him know of our displeasure?

Hi gfrierson, I'd think first if you're trying to get something done, you might have better luck signing on with your real name and class year.

This website is for the gathering and dissemination of information. The BTW Alumni Association is a far-flung and freely-structured organization, and has many active people within many classes. But there is no single entity organized for the purposes of participating in the operation of the current BTW school or Tulsa Public Schools.

The best thing to do is to post as much information as you can about anything that concerns you, and then allow BTW alumni on an individual basis to do what they will with the information.

The TPS website says that there will be community meetings held from "7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Education Service Center on Nov. 18, at Edison Preparatory School on Nov. 19 and Booker T. Washington High School on Nov. 20". We need to be there an en mass. We need to STOP the school system from trying to eradicate Booker T.

I feel that no other Tulsa Public High School can give the quality of education that Booker T. is able to provide at the moment. They should NOT change the makeup of the school because I fear it will change the feel of the school completely. We've got to band together and keep Booker T. the way that it is now.

I am glad to read that there are other people that feel as I do. I was beginning to think that I was silly still worrying about a school I haven't been a student at in 10 years.

I love Booker T. As many teenagers I didn't appreciate it fully while I was there, and yet I still new I had something special. There is something so beautiful with the education, preparation, transition, etc. In the few years that I have been an alum I have grown to appreciate more and more the tools that Booker T. gave to me. As I meet more and more people from the Tulsa area, nation, and world my appreciation grows stronger and stronger and I realize that Booker T.(and Carver) is in a league with few others. The diversity of ethnicity and economic backgrounds is so important. And something magical happens at the school that makes it work. Strike that....it more then works. It inspires, it teaches, it touches, it strengthens, it humbles, it builds.

I don't know why they wan to change the admissions process. I don't feel that it has been fully explained. If someone does understand, please let us know. But until then I say "if it isn't broke, don't fix it." Given the scores, the successes, the rankings, and the all around "fruit" (by it's fruit ye shall know if it is good or bad - paraphrased horribly but hopefully you get the idea) of it's labors I don't think that Booker T. and Carver are the schools that should be the focus of such change. If anything, I think we should be trying to bring this education to the other students around Tulsa that don't have the opportunities that we had at Booker T.

My mother now teaches at a regular Tulsa Public High School. Previously she taught at Carver for 5+ years. For the first time my mother was introduced to the spit ball (not on her, she found one on the wall), she was introduced to foul language in her classroom, she was introduced to disrespectful attitudes, and introduced to children who were used to not wanting to learn. Granted some of her children are respectful and focused (as well as teenagers can ) ), but I think my point is made. I am glad my mother is there b/c I know that she will impact these children's lives. She will do her best to bring the diversity, the motivation, the enjoyment, and the standards she knows from the magnet schools to her students.

These are the problems that need addressing. Our teachers need to feel safe and appreciated. They need to have smaller class sizes so they can give more individual attention to try and help these children want to learn. The children need the opportunity to express themselves and become more independent. The children need to know how great they are and how great they can become. Our teachers need the opportunities to share their talents. And the list goes on andon. Granted we need more money, more teachers, more supplies, etc. I understand that the problems are not easily fixed and I understand that many of them are beyond the scope and responsibility of the schools. But, changing the admissions process for Booker T. and Carver isn't fixing a problem because their simply isn't a problem. Changing the admissions process could indeed hurt the school. Though I know that Booker T. is strong and resilient and has withstood many people thinking they know what's best, I worry about this admissions change.

I could understand tweaking it a bit. For instance changing it to 40% African American, 40% Caucasian 20% other (I have to stick up for my fellow Hispanics ) ). I know that the superintendent claims to want to keep the diversity, well keeping it the way it is (or my amendment ;o) ) is a sure way, changing it is a risk, a risk that isn't worth taking simply for the fact that there is no benefit. They are not proposing this change to better the school. Frankly the only reason I've heard is that the wording needs to be changed. And I still ask why. Why?

Someone did bring up the point to me that some people may feel that they are in the school to fill a quota. To that I say how dare someone make others feel like that. The students at Booker T. and Carver are there because they are good students, because they want to learn, because they are talented, and because they are ALL needed to make that school what it is. I never felt while I was there, nor do I now, that I was only accepted because I was Hispanic. I may have filled that 10% range, but I met the criteria. I wish that every student in the Tulsa area could go to Booker T. Heck for that matter I wish everyone could go. But the fact remains that there aren't enough seats. Therefore some intelligent, talented, focused, wonderful children from all races and economic background will not get that opportunity. And that's a shame. Let us focus on that. Let us bring these opportunities to other students!! Let's get our focus and our priorities.

I am sorry to write so much. And I could go on and on about the specifics of why I think Booker T. and Carver are so amazing, but if you are on this site, you probably already know. If anyone would like to know I would love to share.

Also, if anyone can explain to me the need for this admissions policy change, I am open minded and would love to hear it. The bottom line is no matter what happens, we have to work with what we have. And like my mother and her new school we must bring our very best and leave it better then we found it.

Much loves and hugs to you all!! ~Sam

Sam I'm so glad you wrote such a long post! It makes me feel that the fight the students at Booker T are putting up right now is really for something that needs to NOT change.
I've heard lots of things about why they're trying to change that school and I'm not sure what the real answer is yet. Here are a few reasons I've heard:

1) Racial Quotas were struck down by a court in another state and Sawyer is trying to avoid a lawsuit before it happens.

2) The community surrounding Booker T wants to open the school up for their children to go to-- which they CAN! If they can apply and be accepted!

3) People that are for Booker T remaining the way it is feel that Dr. Sawyer, for whatever reason, is and has been trying to destroy Booker T. Why is he trying to do that? I have no idea.

I wrote an email to the school board and while I was writing it I was remembering all the good things about Booker T. It was such a fantastic school to go to and I have to say that the University of Oklahoma was a shock to me due to the cliquishness. I never felt that at Booker T. It was so great, and that's not revisionist history either.

Could someone who knows something about what's going on with the possible changes to Booker T please give us a basic outline and fill us in on what's going on.

I mean, I hear "fight" and "stop" and "email the president" - but that doesn't help me or anyone here if we don't know what you're talking about. : )

here's a link to the TPS webpage with their view of what's going on.
I think it's unfortunate that they are trying to change something that has worked so well in the past.....after all, look at all of us!!

http://www.tulsaschools.org/news/admissions.shtm

I saw this city divided on the issue of the admission policy. I'm afraid that it is not over.

I have not been able to get on this website for awhile. Things were busy here in the city.

I was just home (Tulsa) and heard that they had made a decision on the admissions policy. I am going to look it up as soon as I am done here. (It could be a while. I am having a blast reading all these posts. )

I actually decided to post b/c of the comment about how going to college opened up a whole can of cliquishness. I too was shocked when I left Booker T. As I continue in life I realize how good I had it. As I look around I see people segregating themselves based on race, culture, economy, etc. It's so sad. Even though Emerson, Carver, and Booker T. were diversified, challenging, uplifting, encouraging...(the list goes on) and it isn't always like that elsewhere, I don't feel that I lived in a fantasy world. I feel prepared for the "real" world. I know how things can be and strive to share that vision.

I know that BTW isn't perfect. It wasn't always blissful. But it is wonderful. It is an excellent school. (As well as Carver and Emerson. ) I hope that whatever happens with this admissions policy that the diversity doesn't change. The overall feeling and environment of the school doesn't change. I hope that it still challenges people to strive for excellence, to never settle, to embrace life, to be accepting and nonjudgemental but to still have standards, to fight for what they believe but still be open minded and willing to negotiate. And I hope that people at other schools are striving to do that too. Of course it's possible I could be wrong and this isn't the way to go, but I think the fruit of the labors in the magnet school program speaks for itself.

On another note....I hope that everyone is doing wonderfully. I wish everyone much peace, happiness, good health, and love. It was nice being home and with family and friends. Tulsa really is a good ole town.

Loves and hugs, Sam

Is there any update on this situation? What's going on? Do we need to write letters?

Basically what they've done w/ regards to admission policy is changed from a race quota to a neighborhood/area quota and it's all worked out b'c the article I read, quoting BTW's current principal, said the student body is 50% black, 50% other...

My name is David Atkinson, and I'm a 1990 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School. The one thing that I got sick of was when some people in the Tulsa area would call my high school Tulsa Washington. I don 't know how many times I've corrected people on the name, and telling them that at the main entrance it clearly reads Booker T. Washington High School. I was never happy with David Sawyer, and had I known about his plan for the HORNET HIVE, I would've fought for my high school tooth and nail. My years at BTW were the greatest years of my life. I give all the thanks to Mr. Elmer Davis who taught us to accept responsibilty so we could be prepared for the real world. Without Mr. Davis I don't know where I would've turned up. I'm happy to say that I'm a very successful police officer. I will say this until the day I die, BTW will always have the best students, academics, football team, and marching band in this state. I should know, I was part of what I feel was the best drum section in this state and city. We made people stop in their tracks when our band would march in, whether it was S.E. Williams Stadium or Skelly Stadium. I hope this new superintendent will have respect for a high school that has been around for many many years, and not only that a school that is named after a great African American who founded a great college in Alabama. I hope that graduates from my generation and on will always remember their years at the Booker T. Washington, and if anyone thinks about doing what Sawyer was going to do, we can stop them before they get started. You can take the student out of BTW, but once your a HORNET, you're always a HORNET. DON'T EVER FORGET THAT. GO HORNETS.

OFFICER DAVID ATKINSON
CLASS OF 1990 BOOKER T. WASHINGTON GRADUATE, AND FORMER FUNKY "D".