Dear Editor:
As a parent with two young children in the Gilroy Unified School
District, I feel compelled to speak out on the recent issue of
reverse discrimination in our schools brought to our attention by
Denise Baer Apuzzo.
Dear Editor:
As a parent with two young children in the Gilroy Unified School District, I feel compelled to speak out on the recent issue of reverse discrimination in our schools brought to our attention by Denise Baer Apuzzo.
Am I to understand that teaching new teachers about fairness and equity issues in our schools is a bad thing? I feel that our educators need to recognize that children come to school from all different backgrounds and family situations in order to determine how best to reach them educationally.
Ms. Apuzzo states that she does not want her children to be treated unfairly or to “lose” in the name of equity. How is it, specifically, that her children are being treated in an unfair manner? What services are being taken away from them in the name of equity?
I also disagree, as does Ms. Apuzzo, with the idea that all new teachers coming into the system are innately racist. However, I find it hard to accept the notion that new teachers at GUSD are judging children based on the color of their skin as opposed to their ability in relation to how they are taught or what services they receive.
Trainer and consultant politics aside, to demand that new teachers no longer be taught the concept of cultural competence is a mistake and a step backwards for education.
To be “color blind” is not the answer; awareness is. It is a nice sentiment to state that “all men are created equal” however, the reality is that as soon as a child is born they are no longer on equal ground.
Each child is born into a family whose parents may or may not be together, well-educated, financially secure, or with social support. These are but a few of the social issues that affect how a child learns and succeeds at school. The children enrolled in the GUSD come from all socio-economic levels, cultural backgrounds, and ethnicities and experience a multitude of challenges.
It is important for educators to have an understanding of the cultural diversity in our community in order to effectively teach our children. This does not mean that any one group has to suffer. If anything, we have much to learn from one another.
Marah Kuwada, Gilroy
Submitted Monday, Feb. 16 to ed****@****ic.com
