With every trustee praising the potential for conflict resolution in the often divided San Dieguito Union High School District, which has been plagued in recent years with heated dissension, a unanimous vote to approve what the district is calling the One San Dieguito Initiative was anticipated. That is, until one trustee asked the National Conflict Resolution Center president for the definition of a woman.
With the National Conflict Resolution Center’s help, let’s hope the One San Dieguito Initiative lives up to its promise to lower the temperature in the San Dieguito Union High School District and the greater school community, and find a way to help all players treat one another, even when opinions and beliefs are disparate, with respect.
What goes with the territory of being an elected official on a school board is hearing from the public. It may be inconvenient, tedious or make some uncomfortable (few people come to school boards with praise), but hearing criticism is part of the job description.
We don’t give our kids enough credit. Give them the chance to learn our country’s history, which is both inspirational and disturbing, and have faith that they can be critical thinkers who can be empowered to participate fully and intelligently in shaping America’s future. Students want this, teachers want this, and communities need this.
As we move into summer, where policies about flying Pride and other flags will be developed and debated, I fully expect that the final Carlsbad Unified School District policy will prohibit all flags except the U.S. and California flags. I hope I’m proven wrong.
When a governing body chooses someone who aligns most closely with their own and their superintendent’s personal priorities, but who doesn’t necessarily reflect the concerns of constituents, it is a tainted appointment.
No one can deny that students need, now more than ever, a place of learning where acceptance of the “other” can be advanced and where under-represented student populations can learn about their own histories with pride and dignity. It’s how to apply those worthy objectives is where it gets tricky.
Ethnic and racial studies programs have been labeled cultural indoctrination simply for attempting to help children understand the brutal effects that hate speech, bullying and harassment can have. Helping children understand this, and providing support to those victimized, are worthy lessons that kids need now more than ever.
Recently uncovered emails reveal that the California Teachers Association engaged in research, some have called it spying, on the local bipartisan Parent Association group.
It’s not easy for the public to understand what’s really going on with the the San Dieguito Union High School District redistricting map when the major players won’t talk about it. All we have to go on are a few facts, as minimal as they may be, and educated speculation.
The San Dieguito Union High School District board will eventually need to come to some decision over this ugly situation: reinstate Superintendent Cheryl James-Ward and incur the wrath of the Asian American community and those who believe she has done irreparable harm, or fire her and incur the wrath of the union, its supporters and foes of Trustee Michael Allman.
Choosing a San Dieguito Union High School District election map that violates reasonable expectations for fairness was the wrong tactic to attempt to diffuse union control. As any parent knows, you pick your battles carefully.
