Concerns raised over lack of diversity in SF school election results

[philosslayer]

There’s a bit of controversy surrounding student elections at a San Francisco middle school after the results were immediately withheld by the principal because they weren’t diverse enough.

The incident happened at Everett Middle School in San Francisco’s Mission District. The voting was held Oct. 10, but the principal sent an email to parents on Oct. 14 saying the results would not be released because the candidates that were elected as a whole do not represents the diversity that exists at the school.

According to Principal Lena Van Haren, Everett Middle School has a diverse student body. She said 80 percent of students are students of color and 20 percent are white, but the election results did not represent the entire study body.

“That is concerning to me because as principal I want to make sure all voices are heard from all backgrounds,” Van Haren said.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/33724074-story

[KamaAina]

1. What was the turnout like among students of color?

If it was as pathetic as in grownup elections, that might explain this.

[oberliner]

70. Turnout?

It was a middle school election - don't all the students just vote during class?

[KamaAina]

2. Ah, KTVU, the station that gave us "Sum Ting Wong".

Principle withholds election results after numbers don't reflect diversity

(emphasis mine)

[kimbutgar]

3. KTVU is the Fox affilate

They used to be a good news reporting station and in the last 2 years has definitely gone rightward. I watch KRON instead.

[KamaAina]

4. It's been owned by Fox for the past year

note that the graphic now says "Fox" next to the iconic .

[kimbutgar]

5. And I have noticed a change in the reporting, more rightwing anti Democratic party

[brush]

6. Good principal. She chose to make the importance of diversity a teaching moment

[Nye Bevan]

8. If she overruled the results because she didn't think enough white kids got elected,

would you still be fine with that?

[KamaAina]

9. She did no such thing

“We’re not nullifying the election, we’re not cancelling the election and we’re not saying this didn’t count,” Van Haren said.

[brush]

10. Of course not, but I think it was the other way around

Remember, she stressed diversity as her reason for not releasing the results.

Usually when there is a diversity problem it's because . . . well, no people of color are represented.

Whatever the reasons though, diversity should prevail.

[Nye Bevan]

11. So given that the student body is 20% white,

would it be right for the principal to want to tweak the results if she was concerned about only 10% (for example) of the election winners being white?

What kind of racial discrepancy between the makeup of the student body and the winners of the election do you think would justify this kind of action by the principal?

[brush]

14. You seem to think that not enough white students were elected

I think it was the other way around.

Let's wait to see.

My feeling is that representation should roughly equate to the make-up of the student body — ROUGHLY, because getting it exact would be just about impossible.

[Nye Bevan]

17. I have no idea which way around it was,

but either way I think the principal is misguided.

And nobody should need to wait to see which way around it was before deciding whether to applaud or or condemn the principal.

[brush]

18. I really don't get what you're talking about

Are you against the teacher stressing the importance of sharing opportunity through diversity?

That's what her motive seems to be, in fact, that's what she said.

[Nye Bevan]

20. Yes, I'm against the principal tinkering with the election results.

Either because she doesn't think enough white kids were elected or because she thinks too many white kids were elected.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

[brush]

26. Okay. That's clear

It's a school though. She's trying to teach kids the importance of diversity.

I applaud her whatever the results were.

Maybe we won't have so much discrimination and exclusion from that batch of students when they began actual voting because of their learned lesson from their concerned principal — you know, not just 95% of elected officials being white males because that's how it's all ways been.

The status quo and all.

[hack89]

52. What about teaching kids the importance of elections? nt

[Travis_0004]

76. They teach them early that votes don't matter in elections in SF, don't they.

[RandySF]

79. How would you like it if your Sec. of State refused to release election results?

[brush]

85. Maybe teaching the importance of inclusiveness and fairness of opportunity . . .

for everyone is a little more important than a non-inclusive school election (it's not being voided at all btw, the principal is mulling ways to add positions to have all ethnic groups represented).

That way when this batch of youngsters years from now actually do start voting they've learned an important lesson that the good 'ol status quo of one ethnic group, or better yet, one sex of one ethnic group, doesn't have to dominate everything just because it's always been that way, that maybe women and people of color should have a say in things as well.

Lighten up, it's a school, a teaching environment. If my kid was going there I'd appreciate a principal trying to make the importance of diversity a teaching moment.

[philosslayer]

13. You're exactly right

Regardless of the results, diversity is paramount. And if the results don't provide a diverse outcome, the whole process should be rethought.

[Nye Bevan]

15. So if all of the elected students were black, that would be a non-diverse outcome,

meaning that the whole process should be rethought?

It just seems a little peculiar, kind of suggesting to white kids that they should only vote for white candidates even if they prefer to vote for a black kid. Especially since their white parents quite possibly voted for Barack Obama.

[brush]

21. I would think there was some manipulation if all those elected were black . . .

and, yes, the process should be amended in some way.

And in no way is anyone suggesting:

to white kids that they should only vote for white candidates

It seems pretty clear that the principal is trying to get everyone aware of the need to give opportunities to all ethnic groups, unlike how it usually works in our society.

[Nye Bevan]

22. With a student body that's 80% black, it's entirely possible that all the winners are black,

which I don't think would be a problem at all. Kids that age tend not to give a shit about race, anyhow, if my kids are anything to go by.

[philosslayer]

24. If the student body was 80% white...

Would you think it was perfectly okay if ALL the winners were white?

[Nye Bevan]

29. Provided that the election is conducted fairly and all the votes are counted,

I would have no concerns about how many winners were of each race.

[7962]

88. I think you're the only sane one around.......

I'm late to this, but its just sad that so many have NO PROBLEM with what the principal did. The mostly minority student body voted for some candidates that were white. The HORROR!!

[brush]

27. Come on. No way is that school 80% black.

Even most whites can no longer afford to live in San Francisco.

[Nye Bevan]

30. In the news story the principal says that it's 80% black.

On edit: she actually says "of color" which I guess might include Asians?

[KamaAina]

31. No, she says it's 80% students of color

In the Mission District, most of them are likely Latino.

[randys1]

51. Ever notice who gets all riled up when RACE is the issue

or guns...

[GGJohn]

61. On the issue of who gets riled when it's about firearms.

it's almost always your side of the equation.

[brush]

63. Yep! Sure do. They're arguing against diversity on a progressive site. My God!

Last edited Tue Oct 20, 2015, 07:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Guess many prefer the good 'ol status quo where white males hold 95% of important positions.

[Nye Bevan]

97. Lots of DUers (but not me) are backing a white male for President (nt)

[Gormy Cuss]

101. Everett has lots of Latinos, Asians and African-Americans.

Many English learner immigrants, many first generation. It's a very diverse school. Half of the students are Latino yet none were elected to the student council. That's a bit of a red flag. Were Latino students not engaged in the process? Do they believe that, as English learners, they don't deserve a spot in school government? (I know this school and engaging immigrant kids, especially Latinos, in activities has been a challenge for some time.)
I think she's right to look for ways to make the council more representative; I don't understand why she chose to hold up the results though.

[B2G]

33. Check out their website

Your stereotype is showing.

[brush]

37. And what is it supposedly showing?

The Mission is historically a Latino neighborhood but with the escalation of rents and house prices I'm sure that has changed quite a bit.

Please explain what stereotype you're accusing me of.

[B2G]

43. That no way minorities can make enough to live there

The school is 80% minority. In the heart of the city.


Student Demographics


Asian 36 (10%)
Black 85 (22.49%)
Hispanic 215 (56.88%)
Multiple Race 11 (2.91%)
Native American 3 (0.79%)
Pacific Islander 6 (1.59%)
White 22 (5.82%)

http://www.movoto.com/schools/san-francisco-ca/everett-middle-school-063441007842/

[brush]

46. And you think that's what I'm saying?

Have you priced houses in San Francisco lately?

There was an article posted recently showing a small, one bedroom, near-shack going for 300 some thousand dollars in SF.

No stereotyping, just reality. And I did say neither can most white can't afford it either.

You're barking up the wrong tree here. I'm AA who believes in diversity and equal opportunity.

And by the way, I lived in the Bay Area (SF, Oakland and Berkeley for a quite a while before moving to NYC where many people also are getting priced out of Manhattan unless they pool resources).

[RandySF]

81. That doesn't mean anything.

The San Francisco School District has a Byzantine system whereby students often have to go to school clear across town, even if there is a school next to them.

[skepticscott]

91. Um.. Excuse me?

Are you actually saying that being a racial or ethnic minority guarantees that you'll be below a certain income level?

Please tell us you're not saying that, because it's not a pretty stereotype.

[Gormy Cuss]

118. Have you ever been there? I have.

It''s not "in the heart of the city" it's at the edge of the Mission district, which explains why it's majority Latino. Many of the other students take MUNI from their homes in other low income neighborhoods to attend this school because they weren't able to enroll in a middle school in their own neighborhoods.

But don't worry, the rapid gentrification of the Mission will push out the remaining low income renters within a few years.

[Jesus Malverde]

111. Thanks for calling out the obvious,

Its almost like another stereotype at work.



SF is a diverse city.

[Jesus Malverde]

110. FWIW it's not an 80% black school.

In SF diversity is not about black or white. There are many minority groups in SF. Evidently the principals concerns were with a minority she calls "english learners". I think thats code for something but I won't jump the gun and make a silly guess as to what that means.

I posted the school demographics and her quote below.

[skepticscott]

89. So why even bother with the pretense of an election

if you're only going to honor certain pre-determined outcomes? If "diversity" is more important than letting every vote count as cast, then why doesn't the principal just appoint people to those spots, and make sure they have the right mix of skin colors?

[skepticscott]

90. Why is diversity paramount?

"Diversity" of what, precisely?

[brush]

98. You're kidding, right? You don't know that and you're on a progressive site?

[skepticscott]

99. Thanks, I know why diversity is important to consider

but that's not what you claimed and not what I asked. I asked why diversity is "paramount". Why should "diversity" be subsumed to all other priorities and all other goals in all circumstances, all the time? And no, sorry, despite your condescension, that is by no means self-evident, on a progressive web site, or anywhere else.

And you failed to answer my question: "Diversity" of what?

[brush]

100. Sorry! I decline, can't help you.

[skepticscott]

104. In other words, you made a bogus statement

that you can't defend.

Here's a hint...next time you want to be snarky and condescending, you might want to first be sure that you can put your money where your mouth is.

[brush]

105. Read all my and other's posts on diversity on this thread

I'm not rehashing a two-day-old OP.

[skepticscott]

120. In other words, you made a bogus statement

that you STILL can't back up. Nothing you or anyone else has posted in this thread justifies why diversity should override all other priorities and all other goals in all circumstances, all the time. Nor can you even define what you mean by "diversity", so there's not much to be taken seriously here.

[brush]

121. Is there a reading comprehension problem?

You wrote:

"Nothing you or anyone else has posted in this thread justifies why diversity should override all other priorities and all other goals in all circumstances, all the time."

I know I didn't write that and no one else did either.

Let it go already. You're making a huge deal out of questioning a worthwhile goal to help level the playing field for minorities in America.

You seem to be against it.

I'm not, but I'm done with you.

[kelly1mm]

19. Did you forget the sarcasm tag? Did you say if whites were underepresented then to

take some action because of that result would be wrong but if people of color were not represented then it would be right to act?

Is there any evidence that the students did not make informed decisions/votes?

If Marco Rubio, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden and Ben Carson were running then Marco or Ben would be better because diversity?

Is this real?

[brush]

23. I didn't say that at all

Let's get this straight once and for all.

Diversity should work both ways — no excluding people of color or white people.

Fairness in opportunity.

Got it?

[philosslayer]

25. These are children

Perhaps some were too intimidated to run, or to vote, because of their ethnicity (whatever it was), and the vote was skewed as a result. If so, this needs to be addressed.

[LanternWaste]

39. If you continue posting false equivalencies as a response, do you think it makes you more clever?

If you continue posting false equivalencies as a response, do you think it makes you more clever?

Since we're playing absurd games about hypothetical situations, and all...

[Nye Bevan]

41. As far as we know at this point, that might actually be what happened.

AFAIK nobody knows at this point which races the principal thought were overrepresented or underrepresented in the election results.

[CreekDog]

102. she didn't overrule the election results, but nice try in getting people here to think that

perhaps you misrepresented it in order to create a straw man of the "diversity" issue that she raised?

[dumbcat]

28. Yep, and teach the kids that elections and voting

don't really mean anything. The results were determined by someone else.

And we wonder why voter turnout is so low.

[brush]

34. Or to teach the kids the importance of everyone getting a fair shake . . .

so that one ethic group doesn't completely dominate in society.

Wait, let me amend that — so that one sex of one ethnic group doesn't dominate society and impose their values on everyone else. Like it is now with 95% of public offices being held by white males.

Since society isn't made up of 95% white males, instilling the importance of diversity and fairness of opportunity for everyone has to start somewhere and what better place than from school?

IMO the principal is trying to do a good thing and I really don't understand the push back against diversity on a progressive board.

[onenote]

36. What exactly is the principal trying to do?

The story is far from clear.

[dumbcat]

45. Oh, I totally understand your position

Ignoring the people's votes in an election is acceptable to obtain our desired outcome (in your case, appropriate diversity.) That is the teaching point. We'll just keep doing the voting over until it comes out right.

That's democracy in action.

[brush]

49. It's school. Diversity is important to most people on a progressive site. The principal is . . .

is trying to teach kids about fairness and equal opportunity and representation for all ethnic groups.

Not a bad thing.

Somehow you've managed to live up to your screen name.

[dumbcat]

50. Teaching about Democracy

As you see it.

As I said, I totally understand.

[Whiskeytide]

56. Please take a moment to consider...

... What you're proposing. You're saying it's ok for the principal to nullify a school officer election and possibly instruct students to re-vote based ONLY on the race of the candidates. That is what you're suggesting no matter whether the problem she is reacting to is too white or too POC. Either way that's tampering with the results. If the election was fair, and everyone who wanted to vote was permitted to cast their vote (without intimidation, etc...), I can't think of any reason to substitute the principal's choices for those of the student body.

The blowback you're getting in this thread is based on that alone, I think. Keep in mind that this report comes from a news source several have id'd as right wing. That's their meme - that a liberal principal is nullifying an otherwise fair vote to the advantage of POC. Don't help them.

[brush]

57. For your information, the principal is not voiding the election

She is mulling over ways for representation to be more inclusive of all ethnic groups, perhaps adding some positions. This is horrible to you?

IMO the push back on a desire for diversity and a representation for everyone is disgusting — on a progressive site no less.

It helps to get the all the facts and not just bits and pieces.

[Whiskeytide]

67. I think that's a fantastic goal...

... for the school administration -- going forward. And I support it. And I do understand that she has not nullified it (and surely will not with all this publicity - whether she initially considered that option or not). But she is withholding the results. And is doing so because SHE thinks they don't represent the school the way she thinks they should. Surely you can see the problem with that. I suppose it is greatly affected by how it's handled, BUT the potential message here is that actual votes don't count - only results. And that is a decidedly un-progressive message.

[brush]

68. We'll have to agree to disagree. The necessity of diversity and inclusiveness . . .

IMO opinion trumps immediate releasing of election results, especially since she's not voiding the results.

[skepticscott]

92. And does it also trump what the actual voters

both white and otherwise, wanted, and expressed with their votes?

[ileus]

107. Perfectly said...your vote is useless because you didn't vote for the right race

is a horrible thing to be teaching kids.

[RandySF]

78. She voided the students' voices.

[brush]

86. Maybe you didn't hear that's she's not voiding the election

It's good to get all the facts. The principal is mulling ways to get every ethnic group represented — a good thing that I would think the progressives on this progressive board would be about.

I've read she may add positions to teach the importance of inclusiveness.

[Gormy Cuss]

119. You live here and that's what you take from this story?

No, she didn't. She is on record as saying exactly the opposite of that in fact.

[msongs]

7. did the students of no color rig the election lol nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

12. This is dumb. The kids voted for who the kids voted for.

[B2G]

16. If diversity was their primary concern

they shouldn't have had an election in the first place. They should have held student interviews with the staff to fill the positions.

This isn't the way it works in the real world. No wonder are kids are messed up.

[PoliticAverse]

32. The article doesn't contain nearly enough detail to begin to understand what actually happened. n/t

[jonno99]

38. The Principal didn't trust the "voters" and so made their choices for them? Got it. "You see kids,

its not the content of your character that matters, but rather that we meet a diversity quota..."

[brush]

40. Nothing wrong with diversity being a factor. Women and people of color deserve opportunity too

[jonno99]

42. Sure, but what would you tell the girls and/or the kids of color that perhaps

voted for the white (boy) candidate? that they chose the wrong person?

And what would be the answer to their question: "why shouldn't I vote for him - because he doesn't LOOK like me? That's dumb... "

[MichMan]

54. Were they not allowed to run?

Did I miss something? It is a student body election; were women and POC denied the opportunity to run?

[brush]

55. No. The results were not diverse in an ethnically mixed student body so . . .

the principal has withheld the results to try to figure out what to do so that the field more reflects the make-up of the student body.

To me it's a great teaching moment in an appropriate place, a school, hello!, to reach young people about the need for diversity and representation for all so that one element of society doesn't dominate everything.

Others disagree and seem to think that non-representative election results, even in a learning environment no less, are sacrosanct and should be excepted "as is" even though some groups were not included in the election results — this on a progressive board.

[hughee99]

58. Are you sure THAT is the lesson being taught?

With 80% of the student body being people of color, are you sure the lesson being taught isn't that their vote may not really count? Someone in power who "knows better than them" will help guide them to the "right" outcome.

[Nye Bevan]

59. Indeed, a powerful, paternalistic white person will step in and fix those pesky election results

if they are not satisfactory. Why even bother voting next year?

[brush]

64. Usually when there is a lack of diversity it's people of color excluded

If that is the case I applaud the principal's plan to not void the election but to add some positions so every ethnic group is represented.

If whites as excluded here, I also applaud the principal's plan.

[brush]

62. Well, usually when there is a lack of diversity it's that white people are NOT the ones excluded

as it is in so much of society. IMO that could be the case.

Whatever it is, what's wrong with the principal's proposal to not void the results but to increase the number of positions so there is representative diversity?

Not all that outrageous wouldn't you say?

[hughee99]

65. Not outrageous but still sends the same message

If you don't vote the right way, we'll fix it. I'm now curious how the "new positions" will be seated. If there's another vote, it could present the same problem.

[brush]

66. It's a school. A good environment for learning about inclusiveness so that one segment . . .

of society, actual one sex of one segment of society, doesn't hold 95% of public offices like white males do in reality.

Maybe this batch of students will learn that the good 'ol status quo doesn't have to be just because it has always been that way (engineered over centuries by you know who to favor themselves).

[hughee99]

69. The school is 80% people of color. I don't think the issue is that they're not aware of diversity

or tied to the good 'ol status quo.

The students voted for whoever they voted for. A valuable less MIGHT be that you get what you vote for, since it's a lesson that would carry on to later life.

The idea that a government should accurately reflect the genetic makeup of it's constituents also sends the message that only people who LOOK like you can represent you. Which, IMHO, reinforces the idea that diversity is something that can be mostly captured in a photograph.

Now I realize this is a middle school election and these kids aren't solving world problems (or even school problems) so there's no serious consequences in this election, but IMHO, it sends the wrong message to tell everyone that after the fact, the election didn't turn out like it "should" have so they'll be making a bunch of new rules (or new offices) to "make it right".

[brush]

75. A lot of lessons can be learned

One that society has taught us over time is that when it come to opportunity and inclusiveness, it's not usually whites that are the ones denied it.

I'm curious what the case is here.

[hughee99]

82. I'm intersted to hear more about it,

but I do suspect that the issue is an over-representation of white children (or possibly boys as I could easily see this being a gender rather than racial issue).

Just speculating, but I think it would be a political/PR nightmare for the school if the issue was not enough whites, which, I'd hope, the principal would be smart enough to avoid.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

83. Yeah, great

Kids will learn they don't have to run for office nor vote in real elections either, because some magical election organization will swoop in and change the results if they are problematic.

[onenote]

44. Where does it say the principal made their choices for them?

Link?

What I've seen reported is that the principal is withholding the results until later this week. "We're not nullifying the election, we're not canceling the election and we're not saying this didn't count," she added, and said that a meeting would be scheduled on Wednesday between students and administrators to determine what would be the best way to move forward. One idea being considered is adding more positions."

I'm not sure what is meant by adding "more positions" -- elected offices assigned by race or gender (i.e., Hispanic representative; African-American representative; Asian representative; White representative? Male and Female versions of each?)

It's a middle school student council for heaven's sake. It's basically a popularity contest. And it will still basically be a popularity contest if they add more categories.

[jonno99]

47. Just reading between the following lines:

"the principal sent an email to parents on Oct. 14 saying the results would not be released because the candidates that were elected as a whole do not represents the diversity that exists at the school."

IOW, the principal chose to not release the the results of the kids choices.

Edit after reading your edit:
My guess is the the principal may have gotten a little heat over the initial decision. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens...

[onenote]

48. I edited my post while you were writing yours to give a fuller quote from the principal.

"We're not nullifying the election, we're not canceling the election and we're not saying this didn't count," she added, and said that a meeting would be scheduled on Wednesday between students and administrators to determine what would be the best way to move forward. One idea being considered is adding more positions.

I think even adding more positions is a bad idea for the reasons stated in my post. I think she's handling it badly.

[4139]

53. The principal is blonde...there are too many blonde administrators so the principal should be....

fired and the job given to someone with black hair.


It's a teachable moment

a

I giggled the school, the princ is blonde... She's not representative of the school either

[Kang Colby]

60. What if the minority students decided to elect

the individuals they thought were best for the job, and didn't factor in race as a qualifying condition?

[Whiskeytide]

74. That would be very cool ...

... Regardless of whether they voted too whitely or too POCly (by the principal's standards).

[oberliner]

71. Maybe only white people wanted to run

Like in the Democratic primary.

[Nye Bevan]

72. It is a little depressing that the Democratic debates comprise 5 middle-aged white people.

I guess the only way to be less diverse would be if they were all white men. The Republican field is positively diverse by comparison.

[oberliner]

73. I agree

It's sad that there are no non-white candidates in the mix.

[skepticscott]

93. And who else do you suggest

as a willing, qualified and viable non-white candidate? And what is stopping your proposed candidate from stepping up and running?

[Nye Bevan]

94. Cory Booker (nt)

[skepticscott]

96. That's only half an answer

And assumes that someone who very few voters outside of New Jersey have even heard of is viable.

[oberliner]

95. I just wish the candidates were more reflective of the population

I don't have any particularly suggestion - I just think it's unfortunate that no candidates of color are in the mix for whatever reason.

[RandySF]

77. The principal should be more concerned about all the fighting around the block

and less about the voter turnout. My son goes to the school across the street from Everett and you never know when someth is about to erupt. It once got so bad, it spilled over into the intersection and SFPD and to clear the street.

[Jesus Malverde]

113. You probably shouldn't be so specific about things like your Childs school

seeing as people stalk this site.

[RandySF]

84. Parents are not happy.

"That should have been something that was decided prior to elections and prior to the campaigning process," said Bianca Gutierrez, whose son ran for 7th grade class representative. "The organizers are saying things like, 'We want everyone's voice to be heard,' but in truth, the voters' voices are not being heard," student Sebastian Kaplan, who also ran for 7th grade class representative, told KRON. "Most kids are in agreement that the results need to come out because kids worked really hard on it."

"The whole school voted for those people, so it is not like people rigged the game," he added. "But in a way, now it is kind of being rigged."


http://sfist.com/2015/10/17/middle_school_election_diversity.php

[Nye Bevan]

87. Seems like the principal has backed down:

In any event, as of this afternoon it appears that the school has changed course; here is a statement from the principal:

Everett Middle School is honoring the results of the Associated Student Body (ASB) elections. This is our first student council at Everett Middle School in recent history and we started up a student council because we want our students to have several ways to develop their leadership skills and be a part of shaping our school. We want a student leadership body that includes the range of perspectives and experiences of our students and we believe a representative body is an important part of democracy.

When we reviewed the results of our Associated Student Body (ASB) elections on Friday, October 9th, we saw that it was not fully representative of our school population. I made the decision to pause on sharing the results with the students in order to capitalize on a teachable moment. I wanted to have a conversation with all of the candidates and ask for their ideas to make sure that all voices and groups are represented in our ASB. In retrospect, I understand how this decision to pause created concerns. Today I visited classrooms to announce the winners of the elections.

There are many challenges and opportunities that this situation surfaces. Especially now, at a time when our school and community’s population is undergoing demographic change, I believe that we have a responsibility to take these conversations seriously, appreciating both their complexity and their urgency. There are no easy answers, so I am looking forward to talking as a community about how we can grow and get better at this for the rest of the year and into next year.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/10/19/middle-school-election-results-temporarily-withheld-because-the-winners-arent-diverse-enough/

Good.

[GummyBearz]

103. Yes

She did a 180 degree turn, said all the right things, used the right buzz words, and it will be forgotten soon enough.

Hopefully next year she finds someone to run for ASB president that is exactly 80% POC, 17% white, 3% mixed race, and that student wins the election. Then this wont get replayed :p

[ileus]

106. Why have elections then? Why not just appoint the persons he/she wants instead?

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

108. I'll take a crack at this...

The white kids are from money, surrounded by savvy advisors (mom and dad), ran the most sophisticated campaigns, and were able to garner all of the attention.

Next step: white parents sue

[Jesus Malverde]

114. Rich parents don't send their kids to go to school in the mission.

Try again.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

115. OK, I overstated the family income

Black vs Not-Black or picking winners

[Jesus Malverde]

116. In SF diversity is never easy.

Especially when you have a Chinese population of over achievers.

Asian Americans furious at proposal allowing California colleges to choose students by race

Hundreds of Asian American families flocked to a community hall in northern California to learn about a state law that many fear would discriminate against their children in college admission because of their race.

"No! No! No!" the crowd chanted outside the hall in Cupertino, an affluent small city in the heart of Silicon Valley, responding to "SCA 5" shouted from a megaphone.

SCA 5 is a state constitutional amendment that seeks to lift the ban on the use of race, sex, colour, ethnicity or national origin in admission at California's public universities and colleges.

It was approved by the state senate last month but still needs assembly approval before it goes to a referendum.

I have not seen Chinese or Asian Americans get so involved in a very long time.

Proponents of SCA 5 hope it will make it easier for under-represented minorities, such as black and Hispanic students, to secure enrolment. But Asian communities fear that this will come at their expense.

http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1441993/asian-americans-furious-proposal-allowing-colleges-choose-students-race

[Jesus Malverde]

109. For those thinking this is a white/black issue.

Hispanic 51%
White 15%
Black 14%
Asian 8%
Filipino 5%
Pacific Islander 1%
Two or more races 0%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0%

http://www.greatschools.org/california/san-francisco/6363-Everett-Middle-School/details/

Over the years the black population in the so called most liberal city in the nation has been in steady decline.

“While there was some diversity among the 10 winners, no English learners were elected, even though they make up about a third of enrollment,” the Chronicle reported. “African American and Latino students were underrepresented, while white, Asian and mixed-race students, who are in the minority at the school, took the top four spots.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/20/s-f-middle-school-delays-election-results-because-winners-not-diverse-enough/

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

112. OK, then household income, as I suggested above

Classism trumps racism

[Jesus Malverde]

117. I reced this cause after 100 comments you deserve at least one.

Interesting thread.

[kiva]

122. The kids voted and the principal is telling them they are wrong.

While there was some diversity among the 10 winners, no English learners were elected, even though they make up about a third of enrollment. African American and Latino students were underrepresented, while white, Asian and mixed-race students, who are in the minority at the school, took the top four spots.

“It’s not OK for a school that is really, really diverse to have the student representatives majority white,” Van Haren said. “The easy thing would have been to announce the results and move on. I intentionally did not choose the easy way because this is so important.”

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-principal-middle-school-election-winners-6578286.php

Those darned white and Asian and mixed race students really screw up the whole diversity thing

[WillowTree]

123. It is logical that the students elected who they wanted. What they're being taught.......

.......is that their vote doesn't count unless the election outcome suits the PTB. Good going Principal Van Haren!

[PoliticAverse]

124. Another article on the issue, this one with a lot more details...

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-principal-middle-school-election-winners-6578286.php