SJUSD board member's letter smelled of racism
By Gloria Curry
In the March 20 Willow Glen Resident's Speak Out section, there appeared an opinionated commentary by San Jose Unified School District's (SJUSD) board member Carol Myers. Her article concerned what she considered to be the failure of the district's "choice structure" at Willow Glen High School (WGHS).
According to Myers, since WGHS does not have a magnet program, it does not attract and retain "our neighborhood:" students. She further stated that the higher-achieving students are attracted to magnet programs, which tend to establish a "have and have not" educational system. On the other hand, Leland High School, Almaden Valley's secondary school, retained 90 percent of its neighborhood students. These students are apparently drawn to the school because of its magnet program.
One would have to draw the conclusion that Myers sees " our neighborhood" as largely white and as such among the "haves." By allowing many students from outside "our neighborhood" to enter WGHS, the "have nots" are creating a negative influence on the performance and high achievement of the school's academic programs. The last time I, as a minority teacher at WGHS made an observation, the Willow Glen community consisted of a rather diverse group of families resulting in a diverse group of students attending the high school. Yes, many of our students come in from outside the immediate neighborhood, but all of them reflect some of the same families who live in "our neighborhood." It is quite possible that Myers has a specific boundary within Willow Glen that defines "our neighborhood."
She asks, "why are we encouraging white students, (the 'our neighborhood' students, I presume), to leave Willow Glen to go to Almaden Valley Schools?" If 80 white students of the 141 quoted choose to go to the Almaden Valley secondary school, why do they allow the other 61 non-whites to attend their schools? Bringing these along must surely have adulterated Almaden's educational program and achievement level! Are there any students in Almaden who would condescend to leave their high-achieving school and attend a school like Willow Glen? Surely, anyone who would do that must be imprudent or must not have fitted into the "our neighborhood" of Almaden in the first place!
Since 50 percent of WGHS students come from outside "our neighborhood," Myers obviously thinks that these students are lessening the educational level of achievement at the school and are non-whites with inferior mental capabilities. I am currently a part-time teacher at WGHS and have 36 students from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Many of my students are whites who probably live in "our neighborhood." I have never adjusted nor watered down my accelerated program to attract non-whites. My class is richer in every way because of its diversity. I expect all my students to perform at a high level. Should I not expect this? Is this not what we want in a democratic society--all people, regardless of background, trying and being encouraged to perform at the highest possible level? In all my years of teaching, I have never known one of my white students to feel that he or she has suffered some educational damage because of sharing the class with non-whites. I love all my students, and my expectations are the same for all whether they come from Dry Creek Road, 19th Street, or Mars! Excellence for all is my motto.
Myers should be proud that she lives in a community that allows its secondary school to embrace people of varying backgrounds. Does this give a community the chance to cast out ignorance or to engender it?
Over the past three years, WGHS is one of the only schools that has met and exceeded the growth expectations on the Academic Performance Index all three years. I can't remember seeing an article in the Resident or any other paper where Myers has commended the administrators and teachers for this success.
It is quite possible that there is a silent majority in Willow Glen who agrees with and supports Myers' outlook on what she sees as the failure of WGHS to meet the needs of "our neighborhood." She keeps being re-elected to serve on the district's board. However, I would like to believe that she is in the minority in not wanting much diversity in the high school. Certainly there are many members of the Willow Glen community who graduated from the high school and see it as an institution where their children can receive the best of what the district has to offer in its schools.
In addition, Myers seems to resent the desegregation funds being used as it is legally designated to be used. However, these funds have helped both Hispanic and white students to achieve at a higher level. Yes, it has restrictions that neither the principal nor the other administrators can do anything about. It is called a "legal issue." In this case, one must abide by the law or risk adverse consequences. That same legality does aid some of the students in "our neighborhood," and I am sure that their parents are grateful for the help.
WGHS may be the most diverse school in the SJUSD. That is a plus, not a minus. Perhaps Myers could channel some of her efforts into getting what she calls the "critical mass" of involved parents to expand. Whether they live in "our neighborhood" or outside of "our neighborhood" they deserve the opportunity to have their children get a good education from any school in the district. It takes more effort to maintain negativism than to do something that will promote positiveness. If Myers wants only students who look like her in WGHS and community, she definitely raises racist questions. Not only is it not going to happen, it truly is not desirable. If she wants all students, regardless what they look like or where they live, to be the target for high achievement and success, then it is time for her to get to work. One person can make a tremendous difference in a positive way.
Gloria Curry is a part-time English teacher at Willow Glen High School.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
