Ozen High School e-mails stir confusion
By DEE DIXON, The Enterprise
An e-mail sent out about helping low-performing students at Ozen High School caused some confusion Monday.
Assistant Principal Elvena Colbert sent out an e-mail stating that all black male students were to sit on the front row in classrooms.
Principal James Broussard later sent out an e-mail urging staff to disregard the one distributed by Colbert.
Broussard’s e-mail explained that the intent was to identify students who received low Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills scores.
Then, teachers would have those students sit toward the front of the class or change the seating chart so they could be more easily engaged in classroom discussions, said Willis Mackey, Beaumont assistant superintendent.
He said teachers have tried to brainstorm ways to help student succeed.”People want to beat (students) down and talk down at them,” he said. “We need to have the ones who are not successful and put them on the front row. Kids who are not excelling need special attention. … Why are we letting kids sit on the back row and fall asleep or look out the window?”