Editor,
The column by Shavonne Lin (“The problem with affirmative action in college admissions” in the April 13 edition of the San Mateo Daily Journal) about the problem with affirmative action in college admissions was brilliant, reinvigorating confidence in San Mateo High School and current public school education.
It contains the same points which prompted me and then-governor Pete Wilson in 1996 to lead the legislature to present to California voters a state constitutional amendment which prohibits discrimination or preferential treatment regarding any individual on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public education, public employment or public contracting. After voters embraced that ballot measure, municipalities like San Francisco tried in all ways possible to disregard that voter mandate.
Ms. Lin properly refers to California as a state which has “banned affirmative action in admissions for public institutions” That should be the rule of law throughout the United States.
Quentin L. Kopp
San Francisco
The letter writer is a former San Francisco supervisor, state senator and San Mateo County judge.
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(2) comments
Mr. Kopp: We sorely miss the wisdom you brought to the State Legislature during your time in Sacramento and thank you for your service. Sadly, your wisdom is in short supply in Sacramento these days.
Dear Councilman/Senator/Judge Quentin Kopp. You appear to still be a bit near sighted as well as a touch tone deaf. You say 'an end to all manner of affirmative action'. Well you're two hundred years too late. There has been affirmative action since our beginnings if not before. It was to affirmatively bar those with dark skin, little family wealth and most any other attribute but those possessed by the privileged classes from holding office, voting, education and all manner of personal freedoms. I'd say a day late and a dollar short on that one. The question is what to do.
I mentioned my solution in the column following Ms. Lin's excellent piece on the same subject. That being to set a 'working grade' that must be passed on entrance exams that assure competence in handling the syllabus. Then put varying 'weights' to counteract those over represented due to great test taking skills or underrepresented due to a lack of family wealth with no need to ask about color or national origin. Then just spin the wheel so to speak. In the long run an evening out and a fair representation of the population would ensue. The present system of law should handle the blatant cheaters.
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