The Abc News Report
A friend of mine was able to recover the text of the news report about IMSA. Here it is:
By Cheryl Burton
June 7, 2005 He is a boy genius on a fast track through school, but this has been a rough year for Jake Harris. The 11-year-old from Harvey just finished his first year at the Illinois Math and Science Academy.
Jake Harris says his first year as a high school student was challenging and difficult. He says not for reasons you would think. Jake says, instead of getting what he calls a quality education, he got a lesson in race relations.
"Age, intelligence and race," said Jake Harris, high school student.
Eleven-year-old Jake Harris says those factors were held against him while he attended the prestigious Illinois Math and Science Academy during his first year. At 10-years-old, Jake was the youngest student ever to enter the school, and he tested so high he skipped freshmen classes and was accepted into the school as a sophomore. Jake says that's where all the accolades end.
"Usually, I get excluded because they don't like the fact that I am there," Jake said.
Jake has excelled his entire childhood. His home is filled with academic trophies. He graduated valedictorian at Brooks Middle School, and his mother says his IQ is 190.
Donna Harris says she thought her son was a perfect fit for the school to excel. But she says that has not been the case.
"He has been facing prejudice all across the board everyone has been totally horrible when it comes to the treatment of my son. It's been a horrible experience," said Donna Harris, Jake's mother.
Harris wouldn't go into specific details, but she said staff members mistreated her and her son.
"I have actually been verbally harassed by certain teachers. I had to have my son taken out of these teachers' classrooms and placed in another classroom, based on issues that the teachers had with my son," Donna said.
Jake is waiting for his grades, but he says he won't return to the school.
"If you can't get great experience because of staff and teachers, what's the point of going to school?" said Jake.
"We absolutely do not discriminate against any student in admission or for re-invitations. Our faculty members and counselors and learning strategy specialists work very closely with students to address their individual needs," said Jane St. Pierre, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy's director of communications.
St. Pierre says students come from every corner of Illinois, and the Academy welcomes all students as individuals, embracing their unique and rich culture and backgrounds.
Jake's mother says she's considering filing a lawsuit against the school, despite the school's response.
I apologize that I am unable to provide a working link to the original source.
Note: re-posted from my old OO.net blog
By Cheryl Burton
June 7, 2005 He is a boy genius on a fast track through school, but this has been a rough year for Jake Harris. The 11-year-old from Harvey just finished his first year at the Illinois Math and Science Academy.
Jake Harris says his first year as a high school student was challenging and difficult. He says not for reasons you would think. Jake says, instead of getting what he calls a quality education, he got a lesson in race relations.
"Age, intelligence and race," said Jake Harris, high school student.
Eleven-year-old Jake Harris says those factors were held against him while he attended the prestigious Illinois Math and Science Academy during his first year. At 10-years-old, Jake was the youngest student ever to enter the school, and he tested so high he skipped freshmen classes and was accepted into the school as a sophomore. Jake says that's where all the accolades end.
"Usually, I get excluded because they don't like the fact that I am there," Jake said.
Jake has excelled his entire childhood. His home is filled with academic trophies. He graduated valedictorian at Brooks Middle School, and his mother says his IQ is 190.
Donna Harris says she thought her son was a perfect fit for the school to excel. But she says that has not been the case.
"He has been facing prejudice all across the board everyone has been totally horrible when it comes to the treatment of my son. It's been a horrible experience," said Donna Harris, Jake's mother.
Harris wouldn't go into specific details, but she said staff members mistreated her and her son.
"I have actually been verbally harassed by certain teachers. I had to have my son taken out of these teachers' classrooms and placed in another classroom, based on issues that the teachers had with my son," Donna said.
Jake is waiting for his grades, but he says he won't return to the school.
"If you can't get great experience because of staff and teachers, what's the point of going to school?" said Jake.
"We absolutely do not discriminate against any student in admission or for re-invitations. Our faculty members and counselors and learning strategy specialists work very closely with students to address their individual needs," said Jane St. Pierre, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy's director of communications.
St. Pierre says students come from every corner of Illinois, and the Academy welcomes all students as individuals, embracing their unique and rich culture and backgrounds.
Jake's mother says she's considering filing a lawsuit against the school, despite the school's response.
I apologize that I am unable to provide a working link to the original source.
Note: re-posted from my old OO.net blog