I can't even imagine the thought process that somehow reached the conclusion that this O.K. on any level.

An Ann Arbor elementary school principal used a letter home to parents tonight to defend a field trip for black students as part of his school’s efforts to close the achievement gap between white and black students. Dicken Elementary School Principal Mike Madison wrote the letter to parents following several days of controversy at the school after a field trip last week in which black students got to hear a rocket scientist.

This is just absolutely beyond comprehension. They took black kids on a field trip to hear a rocket scientist speak, but wouldn't let the white kids go.

“The intent of our field trip was not to segregate or exclude students as has been reported, but rather to address the societal issues, roadblocks and challenges that our African American children will face as they pursue a successful academic education here in our community.”

So, segregating the kids teaches them what, exactly? That white kids don't get as many special favors as black kids?

There's more: Apparently the event was "invitation only," but too many invitations were issued. As a result, some black girls were simply uninvited.

Does this man not have kids?

When the field trip kids returned to school, they were greeted with boos from the other students. Prinicpal Madison heard the story, and went to the class to discuss the situation with the kids. The children claim that he yelled at the, berating them to the point of tears. The administrators claim that's not true: he was just "passionate" about the topic of race.

According to the comments, this is a violation of both the Non-Discrimination Policy of the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, both of which specifically prohibit using skin color as a means of receiving preferential treatment in any program.

The comments are worth checking out. It's just amazing to see that there are people who actually think this is ok. That the school has to "level the playing field."

I'm sure Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will be arriving any minute now to straighten them out.