San Diego Unified Parent- Life At School

As mentioned before, I attended the Board of Education Meeting (good) on the 8th.  

Now, many of my closest friends, in moments of candor, will tell you I can be a grumpy old bastard.  I am well over 40, and have a view of the world and expectations of conduct that began in another century.  I was taught by parents who had their values solidly based in the Depression (you know- the 1929 one).  This life experiences puts me in the fist-shaking at the wind category.  I am embarrassed we live in a society that has to have signs to tell people to get off their phone before approaching a service counter, or in the neighborhood of my studio 2 blocks from the ballpark (hear the angels sing), a sign that says “Don’t [urinate] in this doorway”.(bad)  It makes me grumpy.(bad)

The BOE meeting on the 8th was just such an event.  There were LOTS of parents (good) who wished to speak to the Board about their particular cause (good) and were fervent in their beliefs.  Primary among these were supporters of Eddie Caballero.  Mr Caballero is an awfully popular guy (good) among the Sherman Heights Community and parents.

The BOE made it clear from the beginning that there were so many speakers, time would have to be limited to one minute per person.  And off we go to the races.

Grumpy me has certain standards of behavior for certain activities. For example, riding my dirtbike has a lower standard than walking through a house of worship- anyone’s. (naive)

There seems, however no standard of behavior for parents attending BOE meetings.  Many of Mr Caballero’s supporters were Latina-istas, which is far easier to type than to say.  The Latina-ista mob was completely disruptive (rude)- talking on cell phones, chatting amongst their crew, and making their hats of protest while the BOE was in session.  When the Caballero announcement was made (good) the place went crazy- you would have thought Terry Grier was a soccer announcer and had yelled GOAL-OSOOOOOO!  

Look-I understand and support the enthusiasm these parents have for their community (good) and have no objection to their outburst (good) celebrating the goal.

But then it took an ugly turn.  The Latina-istas continued to conduct themselves as if they were at that imaginary soccer game, (rude) while other business was trying to be conducted.  At one point, a Latina-ista leader grabbed the microphone away from another person addressing the BOE on a seperate matter to let her crew know it was OK to leave the building. (rude!).

Lost in the Latina-ista pandemonium were speakers who had very important discussions for the BOE.

One was the parent of a special education child who was, above the din of the soccer-match crowd, trying to explain to the BOE that their budget cuts would saddle principals with too many special ed students. (bad)  Another was a pink-slipped science teacher, who was pointedly reminding individual members of the BOE about statements they had made in previous meetings- and holding them accountable (good).  

But overall, the attention in the room was stolen by Latina-istas.  One speaker all but shook her fist at the BOE and told them that they “were taking over” (rude) and they would be watching EVERY decision the BOE would be making in the future, in all future meetings (good!).

Until the break, when they all left. Including Ms Fistshaker of the Future.

As parent, I believe we should support open access to our BOE.  Their process(s) should be as transparent and visible as possible.  But with public behavior like I witnessed Tuesday, it’s no wonder the BOE enjoys it’s closed-door sessions. And it just makes more of those closed sessions more likely- I completely understand why.

Oh- and another (naive)discovery.  I’m not an educator or a politician, and when someone “schools” me about these situations, I feel pretty foolish- but I’m learning. I’ve subsequently learned that at least some of the Latina-istas were not Sherman parents at all:

They were just activists trying to guarantee that our school system continued to teach children in Spanish.

And let me clarify- not Spanish as a second language, but Spanish as a primary language in the classroom.

I’m so naive.(bad)

It’s entirely possible I’m wrong.  Will someone can comment and disabuse me of my opinion?  Just click on the comment link below.  Thanks.