As the election for Governor of California heats up, it seems that Republican candidate Meg Whitman has some 'splaining to do. Los Angeles Unified School Board President Monica Garcia is calling on Whitman to be clear on her inconsistent approach regarding Latino students. In an electronic newsletter sent on Wednesday, Garcia released the following:
"Meg Whitman is running a new TV ad saying she wants to help Latino students," said President García. "But her campaign is led by Pete Wilson, a man who wanted to kick the Latino children of undocumented parents out of our public schools with Proposition 187." "Whitman has also advocated for rounding up and prosecuting 'illegal aliens' in every city in the State, for denying state services to the undocumented, and for blocking our undocumented students from attending state and community colleges," said García.
"I am trying to reconcile Meg Whitman's terrible record on Latino students with her current rhetoric. It just doesn't add up," said García."If Meg Whitman truly wants to help our Latino students, she has got to stop attacking immigrant students and start understanding that the best way to help our Latino students, regardless of their parents' residency status, is to give each and every one of them the opportunity to get a quality education in our schools and become productive members of our society," she added.
Whitman's Spanish Language Ad for Latinos, "Mejor Educación":
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is the largest school district in California and is the second largest district in the nation, following New York, in k-12 education, servicing approximately 725,000 students. 2008-2009 district numbers by ethnicity indicate the district is comprised of 74% Latino, 11% African American, 9% White, 4 % Asian, 2% Filipino and less than 1% Native American and Pacific Islander students combined.
For the 2010-2011 school year, LAUSD faced a nearly $470 million budget shortfall, which resulted in teacher layoffs, arts and after-school program elimination and an overall reduction of the school year, all issues that have a severe impact on Latino students.
While LAUSD along with the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have all denounced anti-immigrant rhetoric and Arizona's SB1070, Whitman is not the only gubernatorial candidate associated with Prop. 187.
Working with Democratic candidate Jerry Brown is Don Sipple, a controversial political consultant from the Republican Party. Sipple was the key mastermind behind Pete Wilson's vicious Prop. 187 commercials that embedded fears in voters, with images subtitled "They Keep Coming" as immigrants crossed the Mexican border.
Sterling Clifford, a spokesperson for Brown, has stated that while Sipple is working on the campaign, he is unpaid.
But at this point, paid or unpaid, how is Sipple advising Brown? And really, what's the difference?
Pete Wilson's 1994 Prop. 187 ad:
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Meg Whitman's spending so far has enabled her, like no California candidate in history, to take advantage of the timeless dictum: "A lie can run around the world six times while the truth is still trying to put on its pants."
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This would save the state $3,000 per student and create competive pressure on both public and private schools to perform or perish.
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Oh, and the expenses can't be that much. When I was a teacher just six years ago, my annual allotment for paper, pencils, crayons, rulers, playground equipment, etc. never exceeded $400. Of course like almost all teachers I supplemented it out of my own pocket -- usually to the tune of around $500.
Sadly, we've lost our edge at a time when our global competitors are racing ahead with educational reforms and innovations to prepare their next generation for success.
The problem today in Los Angeles is that the LAUSD is not actually focused on educating our kids. Instead, it is a collection of special interests, self-interested politicians and a massive patronage network that has become a very profitable business for the insiders. The kids and their education are simply not a priority.
Forget vouchers, we need to replace this corrupt corpse of a school district with a new paradigm system - one that is 100% focused on the children, while creating an environment where excellent teachers can succeed.
We can do it - but first we need to clear the decks of the current crop of "leaders" that are the authors of this tragedy.
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However, L.A. has had several "clearing of the decks of the current crop of 'leaders' in its recent history. As well as several general reorganizations. Also new "improved" teaching methods and curriculum (curricula?). Etc.
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None of this has improved the situation.
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The best possible outcome of the implementation of a voucher system would be that the competition would result in great public schools once again.
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You will note that I suggest that school vouchers should be for significantly LESS than what taxpayers currently pay per pupil for public schools.
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This would give the public schools a tremendous advantage in the competition. Oh, yeah, the per pupil annual expenses don't even take into account the facilities that are paid for by taxpayers. So another huge advantage for public schools.
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Bottom line, public schools should thrive in a voucher system if they are even reasonably competent.
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Perhaps this seems hypocritical. And perhaps it is. But I never had the slightest problem separating my politics from my job. If I had lost students to deportation, I would have been sad personally. But my personal feelings are no reason for bad policy.
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Once a kid was in my class, I could care less if he was here legally or not. Although statistically I must have had many illegal immigrant children as students, I never once wondered or ever knew who those kids were.
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It was completely immaterial. I loved and did my best for all my kids. I guess to be totally honest there was one kid in my 12 years who I really didn't like. I loved all the rest of the sweethearts and troublemakers.
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On another note, when one multiplies the size of the LAUSD by the wretched educational product it has put out for at least 20 years, LAUSD is arguably the greatest force for ignorance in the United States.
The plethora of failing schools, tragically low graduation rates, embarrassing test scores and financial irregularities of the district tell the whole story.
"President" Garcia should spend a lot less time sucking-up to the Democratic Party establishment, no doubt seeking her next highly-paid sinecure, and figure out how she will actually fix the disaster that is the LAUSD.
Although one can reasonably conclude that Garcia and her conflict-of-interest soaked administration are the CAUSE of the systemic failure of the district, hundreds of thousands of kids need working schools. When will she actually deliver some positive results to them and their families?
We already know all the wrong people manage to get out and vote.
There's no excuse this time around for everyone else.
And if you're going to advocate an idea, why not actually get informed? You may want to read, you know, real information on the subject. I recommend that you start with the extensive research done by the right-wing Cato Institute (http://www.cato.org/immigration) on the ACTUAL economic costs and benefits of immigrants - yes, even undocumented immigrants.
Xenophobia is a form of self-loathing. Look in the mirror and start working on your demons. Otherwise you will be consumed by hate.
The policy I do support is to HEAVILY fine those who hire ILLEGALS and the jobs for them would dry up and they would self-deport leaving jobs that LEGAL immigrants and CITIZENS want and need. It would also free up BILLIONS of tax dollars that we are currently spending on ILLEGALS.
http://select.nytimes.com/2006/03/27/opinion/27krugman.html?hp
Fernando, time for you to get informed.
Shame on her!
And God bless you Wendy-- GO WOMEN OF TROY!
Martin de'Campo
Managing Principal
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