[NIFL-POVRACELIT:885] RE: Article from Public Education Network re: Role of Private Schools in Segregating K-12 Schools

From: AWilder106@aol.com
Date: Mon Sep 09 2002 - 08:25:09 EDT


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Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:885] RE: Article from Public Education Network re: Role of Private Schools in Segregating K-12 Schools
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Dear Tom,

I worked with the principal of a middle school in Boston as a consultant 
about 8 years ago, and that was for 3 years.  I didn't know much about public 
school problems, my area was curriculum, but I filed a lot of papers 
regarding Lau, I had never heard of the case before.  (Actuually, why don't 
you explain it to the lists?)

My principal was Hispanic, mother had fled from Cuba during the revolution 
with a suitcase of cigars and perfume and two small boys.  He told me stories 
of how he stood up for his Hispanic students, sounded like he had been a real 
rabble rouser, speeches from cafeteria tables and so on.  I had never been 
aware of this playing out of ethnic politics within schools, in that I was 
very sheltered.  The Lau accommodations were very strict, and they were built 
into the budget via x teachers for so many Vietnamese kids, for example.  I 
worked on the budget, too.

I once observed a teacher strike a student, this teacher was a bully, also 
one of 2 union reps in the building.  I told the principal, he advised me to 
keep my mouth shut or the union would get after me, he was right, obviously.  
The principal was able to move the math teacher to another building in 2 
years.  Some union members hated me because they thought my salary was at 
their expense, I don't think it was. However, they would sure go to bat for 
their own.  Any help from La Raza?

I read the ESL list and this one, and I thought you were off the wall, too, 
but then I recognized Lau and got an inkling of what you were talking about, 
and then it all made sense, you are up against a really big problem. Public 
school politics is not for the weak. Best of luck.

Andrea



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