SCHOOLS: Excellence above equity

A growing number of people in the CDA School District are concerned about “social justice” teachings in our schools. Our schools continue to underperform. The defense seems to be blaming it on lack of equity, a bias society, and blaming a student’s cultural background or race. Growing is the belief that if we admit our biases and encourage students to see their own bias, then fellow students will achieve.

I encourage you to read the Equity Framework manual created by our school district (www.cdaschools.org). There is a lack of emphasis on how to achieve in America through American values of independence, mental toughness, hard work, competition, personal responsibility, and assimilation into our great American country.

I worry that our new superintendent, Dr. Shon Hocker, may come with a social justice mindset. I hope I am wrong. Please check into the USC Rossier Urban Superintendent Academy where Dr. Hocker chose to receive his higher degree. The school’s mission seems to be to encourage social justice and to transform our schools. Interesting is that the first paragraph in his LinkedIn profile uses the buzzwords equity and diversity. I was hoping for words referring to excellence.

I ask the school trustees to carefully balance philosophies when hiring new administrative staff. Group think does not lead to excellence in education.

CARLA MATTARE

Coeur d’Alene