Apparently they didn't vote for the right color!
philosslayer (1,166 posts) http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027269282
Concerns raised over lack of diversity in SF school election results
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 (66,986 posts)
1. What was the turnout like among students of color? If it was as pathetic as in grownup elections, that might explain this.
Do you need a student ID to vote?
kimbutgar (2,033 posts)
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.
VRWC strikes again!
brush (5,064 posts)
6. Good principal. She chose to make the importance of diversity a teaching moment
Nye Bevan (21,387 posts)
8. If she overruled the results because she didn't think enough white kids got elected, would you still be fine with that?
ouch
brush (5,064 posts)
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
.
The Principle told the kids "You didn't vote for the right person therefore I am fixing your vote."
Perfect Democrat.
Travis_0004 (3,625 posts)
76. They teach them early that votes don't matter in elections in SF, don't they.
philosslayer (1,166 posts)
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.
brush (5,064 posts)
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.
brush (5,064 posts)
27. Come on. No way is that school 80% black. Even most whites can no longer afford to live in San Francisco.
Persons of Color. I am betting they are mostly Hispanic.
B2G (5,488 posts)
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/
Easy solution. The principle appoints one asian, 2 blacks, 6 latinoes, 1 mixed race, 1 native american, and half a white kid.
skepticscott (11,695 posts)
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?
Swear to God that
[^] isn't me.
brush (5,064 posts)
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.
Whiskeytide (1,261 posts)
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 (5,064 posts)
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.
That would be voiding the election.
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.
RandySF (8,726 posts)
78. She voided the students' voices.
Yup.
jonno99 (694 posts)
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..."
I see a parable of the Democrat election process here somewhere...
brush (5,064 posts)
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?
So... in a school where all but .5% of the population is 'people of color' they didn't get enough people of color elected?
oberliner (32,492 posts)
71. Maybe only white people wanted to run
Like in the Democratic primary.
RandySF (8,726 posts)
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
