Why I don't like Mississippi (Greenville, Meridian: private schools, tax, exemptions)

[mississippimagnolia]

Originally Posted by redhead.lala

But when they "ended segregation", they opened up private Christian (white) schools that many couldn't generally afford to attend (in order to keep the races separate), such as the one where my parents sent me. That school had their very first African American student in 2002-2003 schoolyear.

This is exactly what happened. We lived in Greenville for a couple of years. No white folks sent their kids to public schools. Everyone went private. And we were encouraged by some neighbors not to send our kids to St Josephs because they were "letting the blacks in". Washington School was the alternative. We chose St. Josephs because we value diversity. We didn't want our kids in an all white school. But at the same time, Greenville High School is beyond horrible.

It happened in Greenville. And it's starting to happen in Tupelo. All the white folks are running to Saltillo and Pontotoc. And as soon as the Catholic Church builds a school, it will be over for Tupelo Public Schools.

I hate it. But it's just the way it is.

All of Mississippi isn't like that. We spent several years in Oxford and found it to be very diverse. But it's a college town with a much more educated, affluent, well-traveled population.

[GrandviewGloria]

Originally Posted by Sugrgrl73

... I just moved to Washington state this summer and its so funny to me how MS is known for its hospitality but you go shopping anywhere and get treated like crap... But here, it is a whole different world! The people are so nice...

So true! I got so tired of being treated like I was doing something wrong by just shopping! And when I take the time to shop, I'm out to buy. But that didn't seem to matter. I don't care if it was the bitter white divorcees in the 'exclusive shops', the emotionally-damaged mentorees at the Natural Foods Co-op, or the nonwhites working the sales terminals in the big box stores. Attitude, attitude, attitude...

Finally, we just drove to Louisiana to shop, or waited until we flew out of town. Much better (I think Louisianans are more used to dealing with people like us, who are neither 'black' nor 'white'). And, like you say, the Pacific Northwest is MUCH better. (I will say that around Jackson, I always felt comfortable in TJ Max, and we were always treated like royalty at Great Scott/Lady Scott...and at Herrin-Gear Lexus...but that's about it...everywhere else, we were 'garbage', no matter how much we spent)

Always good to see that others have experienced the difference in friendliness.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by mississippimagnolia

......... And it's starting to happen in Tupelo. All the white folks are running to Saltillo and Pontotoc...........

Baloney. Tupelo annexed a large area that contained an large number of black folks, so their kids now go to Tupelo public school. Homes are cheaper in Saltillo, which doesn't even have a town shopping area; probably a lot cheaper in Pontotoc, too. Visit the place and you'll see why.

Comparing Greenville to Tupelo (which you did) is a little silly. The only people who would possibly believe you have never been to both places.

We live in Tupelo. Some people in our neighborhood are black, some white, and some of the nicer homes ($200,000 on average, I guess) are owned by black folks. No one I know is "fleeing".

[mississippimagnolia]

First, I am originally from North Mississippi. We were in Tupelo for Thanksgiving last week. Most of my family lives in Tupelo.

If you know anything about the state of Mississippi, you know that Greenville used to be THE place to live. Being "from the Delta" was a status symbol. My how things have changed. If it can happen in Greenville, it can happen in Tupelo.

And if you can't see it happening, then you aren't paying attention.

[An Einnseanair]

Originally Posted by redhead.lala

But when they "ended segregation", they opened up private Christian (white) schools that many couldn't generally afford to attend (in order to keep the races separate), such as the one where my parents sent me. That school had their very first African American student in 2002-2003 schoolyear.

Yep. Unofficial segregation still exists in Mississippi, especially rural areas. My high school is in a town with a 50.5% black population. The school district includes about half a county with a 32.4% black population, so the school itself should have somewhere between 32.4% and 50.5% black, right? Nope, it's 66% black. Why? The school sucks. Bad. It's ranked way down the list, even by MS standards. Anyone who can afford it sends their kids to neighboring "Christian" schools. In that area, the typical black family is generally less wealthy than the typical non-black family(*), so it's mostly non-blacks who to go the private schools. Some go entirely because it's a Christian school, some go because it's a marginally better education, some go because of the fights and other problems in the public schools, but many go because of simple racism.


Note (*): PLEASE don't infer anything not explicit in that statement. I've worked with, under, and above people of all races and nationalities (my current boss is a dark skinned man from India), and in my experience there is NO link between race and intelligence, work ethic, or earning potential. But in general, at least in part because of past injustice and poor education, minorities living in rural areas of the south-east are almost always less wealthy than non-minorities in the same general area.

[EarlVanDorn]

Originally Posted by mississippimagnolia

First, I am originally from North Mississippi. We were in Tupelo for Thanksgiving last week. Most of my family lives in Tupelo.

If you know anything about the state of Mississippi, you know that Greenville used to be THE place to live. Being "from the Delta" was a status symbol. My how things have changed. If it can happen in Greenville, it can happen in Tupelo.

And if you can't see it happening, then you aren't paying attention.

Magnolia, I am afraid you are right. Tupelo may not go the way of Greenville, but there are problems. The Tupelo School District is now on Academic Watch, and I think this is because of poor minority performance. This means that more and more resources are going to be shifted towards struggling students and away from better students in order to get off the "watch" list.

The district is now majority black, and indeed there is a tendency for white families to move to different schools when schools reach a "tipping point." North Pontotoc is considered a top school and is 80 percent white. East Union Schools are 93 percent white. Saltillo is 89 percent white. It's not like the Delta where parents have to spend themselves into poverty to go to private school. All people have to do is move 10 miles.

We'll see what happens in a couple of years. Tupelo has a history of having great schools and maybe the district and city will pull through.

[mississippimagnolia]

Originally Posted by EarlVanDorn

Magnolia, I am afraid you are right. Tupelo may not go the way of Greenville, but there are problems. The Tupelo School District is now on Academic Watch, and I think this is because of poor minority performance. This means that more and more resources are going to be shifted towards struggling students and away from better students in order to get off the "watch" list.

The district is now majority black, and indeed there is a tendency for white families to move to different schools when schools reach a "tipping point." North Pontotoc is considered a top school and is 80 percent white. East Union Schools are 93 percent white. Saltillo is 89 percent white. It's not like the Delta where parents have to spend themselves into poverty to go to private school. All people have to do is move 10 miles.

We'll see what happens in a couple of years. Tupelo has a history of having great schools and maybe the district and city will pull through.

I honestly hope so. But the fact that Tupelo High School is on Academic Watch while Saltillo High School received the Blue Ribbon Award this year is telling.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by jwkilgore

Yep. Unofficial segregation still exists in Mississippi, especially rural areas. My high school is in a town with a 50.5% black population. The school district includes about half a county with a 32.4% black population, so the school itself should have somewhere between 32.4% and 50.5% black, right? Nope, it's 66% black. Why? The school sucks. Bad. It's ranked way down the list, even by MS standards. Anyone who can afford it sends their kids to neighboring "Christian" schools. In that area, the typical black family is generally less wealthy than the typical non-black family(*), so it's mostly non-blacks who to go the private schools. Some go entirely because it's a Christian school, some go because it's a marginally better education, some go because of the fights and other problems in the public schools, but many go because of simple racism.


Note (*): PLEASE don't infer anything not explicit in that statement. I've worked with, under, and above people of all races and nationalities (my current boss is a dark skinned man from India), and in my experience there is NO link between race and intelligence, work ethic, or earning potential. But in general, at least in part because of past injustice and poor education, minorities living in rural areas of the south-east are almost always less wealthy than non-minorities in the same general area.

I have a friend who was born and raised in Mississippi. She left and hasn't lived there since. According to her, she says that Mississippi is very far behind on many things, including race relations.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by EarlVanDorn

....The district is now majority black, and indeed there is a tendency for white families to move to different schools when schools reach a "tipping point." North Pontotoc is considered a top school and is 80 percent white. East Union Schools are 93 percent white. Saltillo is 89 percent white. It's not like the Delta where parents have to spend themselves into poverty to go to private school. All people have to do is move 10 miles.

We'll see what happens in a couple of years. Tupelo has a history of having great schools and maybe the district and city will pull through.

Population of Tupelo, 2010: 33,789 - an increase of about 200 since 2000.
Population of Saltillo, 2010: 4329 - an increase of about 2000 since 2000.

New Housing Permits Tupelo, 2011: 55
New Housing Permits Saltillo, 2011: 33

You can see, it would be a bit of a stretch to say Tupelo is engaged in a white flight to Saltillo, and it would be easy to understand why Saltillo would feed off the economy of the much larger Tupelo and collect the best students.

But clearly, Tupelo has been stagnant in growth for the past 10 years. Actually, more than that. Maybe Tupelo will be able to turn it around, maybe not. As a resident of Tupelo, I am hopeful.

If you are a resident of Tupelo then you must be somewhat aware of the absolute dog-fight they had/are having over school leadership. Who knows? Maybe they'll get it right.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Listener2307

Population of Tupelo, 2010: 33,789 - an increase of about 200 since 2000.
Population of Saltillo, 2010: 4329 - an increase of about 2000 since 2000.

New Housing Permits Tupelo, 2011: 55
New Housing Permits Saltillo, 2011: 33

You can see, it would be a bit of a stretch to say Tupelo is engaged in a white flight to Saltillo, and it would be easy to understand why Saltillo would feed off the economy of the much larger Tupelo and collect the best students.

But clearly, Tupelo has been stagnant in growth for the past 10 years. Actually, more than that. Maybe Tupelo will be able to turn it around, maybe not. As a resident of Tupelo, I am hopeful.

If you are a resident of Tupelo then you must be somewhat aware of the absolute dog-fight they had/are having over school leadership. Who knows? Maybe they'll get it right.

I don't live in Tupelo. What kind of fight is going on in the school leadership?