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philosslayer

(3,076 posts) Mon Oct 19, 2015, 03:38 PM Oct 2015

Concerns raised over lack of diversity in SF school election results [View all]

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

124 replies

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Concerns raised over lack of diversity in SF school election results [View all] philosslayer Oct 2015 OP

What was the turnout like among students of color? KamaAina Oct 2015 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author jonno99 Oct 2015 #35

Turnout? oberliner Oct 2015 #70

Ah, KTVU, the station that gave us "Sum Ting Wong". KamaAina Oct 2015 #2

KTVU is the Fox affilate kimbutgar Oct 2015 #3

It's been owned by Fox for the past year KamaAina Oct 2015 #4

And I have noticed a change in the reporting, more rightwing anti Democratic party kimbutgar Oct 2015 #5

Good principal. She chose to make the importance of diversity a teaching moment brush Oct 2015 #6

If she overruled the results because she didn't think enough white kids got elected, Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #8

She did no such thing KamaAina Oct 2015 #9

Of course not, but I think it was the other way around brush Oct 2015 #10

So given that the student body is 20% white, Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #11

You seem to think that not enough white students were elected brush Oct 2015 #14

I have no idea which way around it was, Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #17

I really don't get what you're talking about brush Oct 2015 #18

Yes, I'm against the principal tinkering with the election results. Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #20

Okay. That's clear brush Oct 2015 #26

What about teaching kids the importance of elections? nt hack89 Oct 2015 #52

They teach them early that votes don't matter in elections in SF, don't they. Travis_0004 Oct 2015 #76

How would you like it if your Sec. of State refused to release election results? RandySF Oct 2015 #79

Maybe teaching the importance of inclusiveness and fairness of opportunity . . . brush Oct 2015 #85

You're exactly right philosslayer Oct 2015 #13

So if all of the elected students were black, that would be a non-diverse outcome, Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #15

I would think there was some manipulation if all those elected were black . . . brush Oct 2015 #21

With a student body that's 80% black, it's entirely possible that all the winners are black, Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #22

If the student body was 80% white... philosslayer Oct 2015 #24

Provided that the election is conducted fairly and all the votes are counted, Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #29

I think you're the only sane one around....... 7962 Oct 2015 #88

Come on. No way is that school 80% black. brush Oct 2015 #27

In the news story the principal says that it's 80% black. Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #30

No, she says it's 80% students of color KamaAina Oct 2015 #31

Ever notice who gets all riled up when RACE is the issue randys1 Oct 2015 #51

On the issue of who gets riled when it's about firearms. GGJohn Oct 2015 #61

Yep! Sure do. They're arguing against diversity on a progressive site. My God! brush Oct 2015 #63

Lots of DUers (but not me) are backing a white male for President (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #97

Everett has lots of Latinos, Asians and African-Americans. Gormy Cuss Oct 2015 #101

Check out their website B2G Oct 2015 #33

And what is it supposedly showing? brush Oct 2015 #37

That no way minorities can make enough to live there B2G Oct 2015 #43

And you think that's what I'm saying? brush Oct 2015 #46

This message was self-deleted by its author RandySF Oct 2015 #80

That doesn't mean anything. RandySF Oct 2015 #81

Um.. Excuse me? skepticscott Oct 2015 #91

Have you ever been there? I have. Gormy Cuss Oct 2015 #118

Thanks for calling out the obvious, Jesus Malverde Oct 2015 #111

FWIW it's not an 80% black school. Jesus Malverde Oct 2015 #110

So why even bother with the pretense of an election skepticscott Oct 2015 #89

Why is diversity paramount? skepticscott Oct 2015 #90

You're kidding, right? You don't know that and you're on a progressive site? brush Oct 2015 #98

Thanks, I know why diversity is important to consider skepticscott Oct 2015 #99

Sorry! I decline, can't help you. brush Oct 2015 #100

In other words, you made a bogus statement skepticscott Oct 2015 #104

Read all my and other's posts on diversity on this thread brush Oct 2015 #105

In other words, you made a bogus statement skepticscott Oct 2015 #120

Is there a reading comprehension problem? brush Oct 2015 #121

Did you forget the sarcasm tag? Did you say if whites were underepresented then to kelly1mm Oct 2015 #19

I didn't say that at all brush Oct 2015 #23

These are children philosslayer Oct 2015 #25

If you continue posting false equivalencies as a response, do you think it makes you more clever? LanternWaste Oct 2015 #39

As far as we know at this point, that might actually be what happened. Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #41

she didn't overrule the election results, but nice try in getting people here to think that CreekDog Oct 2015 #102

Yep, and teach the kids that elections and voting dumbcat Oct 2015 #28

Or to teach the kids the importance of everyone getting a fair shake . . . brush Oct 2015 #34

What exactly is the principal trying to do? onenote Oct 2015 #36

Oh, I totally understand your position dumbcat Oct 2015 #45

It's school. Diversity is important to most people on a progressive site. The principal is . . . brush Oct 2015 #49

Teaching about Democracy dumbcat Oct 2015 #50

Please take a moment to consider... Whiskeytide Oct 2015 #56

For your information, the principal is not voiding the election brush Oct 2015 #57

I think that's a fantastic goal... Whiskeytide Oct 2015 #67

We'll have to agree to disagree. The necessity of diversity and inclusiveness . . . brush Oct 2015 #68

And does it also trump what the actual voters skepticscott Oct 2015 #92

Perfectly said...your vote is useless because you didn't vote for the right race ileus Oct 2015 #107

She voided the students' voices. RandySF Oct 2015 #78

Maybe you didn't hear that's she's not voiding the election brush Oct 2015 #86

You live here and that's what you take from this story? Gormy Cuss Oct 2015 #119

did the students of no color rig the election lol nt msongs Oct 2015 #7

This is dumb. The kids voted for who the kids voted for. Comrade Grumpy Oct 2015 #12

If diversity was their primary concern B2G Oct 2015 #16

The article doesn't contain nearly enough detail to begin to understand what actually happened. n/t PoliticAverse Oct 2015 #32

The Principal didn't trust the "voters" and so made their choices for them? Got it. "You see kids, jonno99 Oct 2015 #38

Nothing wrong with diversity being a factor. Women and people of color deserve opportunity too brush Oct 2015 #40

Sure, but what would you tell the girls and/or the kids of color that perhaps jonno99 Oct 2015 #42

Were they not allowed to run? MichMan Oct 2015 #54

No. The results were not diverse in an ethnically mixed student body so . . . brush Oct 2015 #55

Are you sure THAT is the lesson being taught? hughee99 Oct 2015 #58

Indeed, a powerful, paternalistic white person will step in and fix those pesky election results Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #59

Usually when there is a lack of diversity it's people of color excluded brush Oct 2015 #64

Well, usually when there is a lack of diversity it's that white people are NOT the ones excluded brush Oct 2015 #62

Not outrageous but still sends the same message hughee99 Oct 2015 #65

It's a school. A good environment for learning about inclusiveness so that one segment . . . brush Oct 2015 #66

The school is 80% people of color. I don't think the issue is that they're not aware of diversity hughee99 Oct 2015 #69

A lot of lessons can be learned brush Oct 2015 #75

I'm intersted to hear more about it, hughee99 Oct 2015 #82

Yeah, great ProudToBeBlueInRhody Oct 2015 #83

Where does it say the principal made their choices for them? onenote Oct 2015 #44

Just reading between the following lines: jonno99 Oct 2015 #47

I edited my post while you were writing yours to give a fuller quote from the principal. onenote Oct 2015 #48

The principal is blonde...there are too many blonde administrators so the principal should be.... 4139 Oct 2015 #53

What if the minority students decided to elect Kang Colby Oct 2015 #60

That would be very cool ... Whiskeytide Oct 2015 #74

Maybe only white people wanted to run oberliner Oct 2015 #71

It is a little depressing that the Democratic debates comprise 5 middle-aged white people. Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #72

I agree oberliner Oct 2015 #73

And who else do you suggest skepticscott Oct 2015 #93

Cory Booker (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #94

That's only half an answer skepticscott Oct 2015 #96

I just wish the candidates were more reflective of the population oberliner Oct 2015 #95

The principal should be more concerned about all the fighting around the block RandySF Oct 2015 #77

You probably shouldn't be so specific about things like your Childs school Jesus Malverde Oct 2015 #113

Parents are not happy. RandySF Oct 2015 #84

Seems like the principal has backed down: Nye Bevan Oct 2015 #87

Yes GummyBearz Oct 2015 #103

Why have elections then? Why not just appoint the persons he/she wants instead? ileus Oct 2015 #106

I'll take a crack at this... WhaTHellsgoingonhere Oct 2015 #108

Rich parents don't send their kids to go to school in the mission. Jesus Malverde Oct 2015 #114

OK, I overstated the family income WhaTHellsgoingonhere Oct 2015 #115

In SF diversity is never easy. Jesus Malverde Oct 2015 #116

For those thinking this is a white/black issue. Jesus Malverde Oct 2015 #109

OK, then household income, as I suggested above WhaTHellsgoingonhere Oct 2015 #112

I reced this cause after 100 comments you deserve at least one. Jesus Malverde Oct 2015 #117

The kids voted and the principal is telling them they are wrong. kiva Oct 2015 #122

It is logical that the students elected who they wanted. What they're being taught....... WillowTree Oct 2015 #123

Another article on the issue, this one with a lot more details... PoliticAverse Oct 2015 #124