Category Archives: Birmingham Schools

A Birmingham legend touched my life

Fred Sington (Portrait courtesy Kiwanis Club of Birmingham)

By David Sher

Some men dream to play golf in the PGA.

Others to climb Mount Everest or travel the world.

For some unexplainable reason, my dream was to be the Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Go figure….seems kind of lame, doesn’t it? Continue reading A Birmingham legend touched my life

Birmingham is dying—a rebuttal to an editorial attacking black elected officials

PHOTO BY CHRISTINE PRICHARD--Donald Watkins, a lawyer for Richard Scrushy, in this file photo talks on his cell phone as he approaches the Hugo Black Federal Courthouse.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINE PRICHARD–Donald Watkins, a lawyer for Richard Scrushy, in this file photo talks on his cell phone as he approaches the Hugo Black Federal Courthouse.

By David Sher

On November 18, Donald Watkins published a column on his website entitled, “Birmingham is Dying.”

I immediately began getting e-mails from ComebackTown readers looking for my reaction. Continue reading Birmingham is dying—a rebuttal to an editorial attacking black elected officials

Mountain Brook man has epiphany about Birmingham

Maury Gaston
Maury D. Gaston

Today’s guest columnist is Maury D. Gaston.

Having lived all over the country I moved back to Birmingham 24 years ago—first to Homewood and then Mountain Brook.

For much of that time, even though I worked within the city limits of Birmingham and paid the occupational tax, I had very little interest in Birmingham itself.

Then everything changed. Continue reading Mountain Brook man has epiphany about Birmingham

85 year old attorney muses about his youth, slavery, white flight, and Alabama constitution

J. Mason Davis
J. Mason Davis
Today’s guest columnist is J. Mason Davis.

I entered high school in January of 1948, at A.H. Parker High School.  I would have entered in September 1948, but the Principal, Bertrand H. Hudson, felt that I had accomplished all I would during the first semester of the Eighth Grade.  Hence, a social promotion, then known as “skipping”. Continue reading 85 year old attorney muses about his youth, slavery, white flight, and Alabama constitution

At long last Birmingham students have options

Felicia Huntley
Felicia Huntley

Today’s guest blogger is Felicia Huntley.

If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I wish the same thing for my son as you wish for yours.

I want for my son to have a chance in life.

I know he will never be successful without a quality education.

I live within the city limits of Birmingham, and up until now, parents have had very few educational options for their children. Continue reading At long last Birmingham students have options

It must suck to be a Birmingham hater

Rotary Trail
Rotary Trail

You know about the Birmingham haters if you read the comments on al.com, ComebackTown, or any other Birmingham media.

Who are these people?

Why are they so antagonistic towards Birmingham?

And why are they against their own city, county, or region? Continue reading It must suck to be a Birmingham hater

Has my Mountain Brook friend lost his mind?

Mountain Brook Board of Education
Mountain Brook Board of Education

I was startled when I received the following e-mail from a young Mountain Brook friend…

“How do you think it would go over if I suggested an alternative proposal to direct the proposed Mountain Brook property tax increase to Birmingham City Schools?”  Continue reading Has my Mountain Brook friend lost his mind?

Will it take a horrific disaster to fix Birmingham schools?

Mark Martin
Dr. Mark Martin

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a more prosperous Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is  Mark Martin.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

“Birmingham is on the rise,” but our schools are in steady decline.

We led the nation through a historic civil rights movement, yet, each day as the 8 o’clock bell rings, we deny our most marginalized children a quality education. Continue reading Will it take a horrific disaster to fix Birmingham schools?