Editor,
As a SMUHSD parent, I was disappointed to learn of the recent teachers’ union attacks on Trustee Jennifer Jacobson. Jacobson said nothing inappropriate on the ethnic studies panel. In fact, she speaks for many families in the district. There were many people waiting online to speak in support of Trustee Jacobson in addition to the 10 mentioned, when public comments were cut off at 20 minutes.
Trustee Jacobson raised important concerns and had suggestions for positive changes to the ethnic studies program. As a trustee and a parent she has the right to disagree with policies of the district and in fact that is her job: to raise concerns and try to make changes in things she and many of her constituents disagree with. All trustees have the same right, and I would not want any of them to be “censured” for their speech, even if I disagreed with their position. Those who wish to shut down speech are never on the right side of history, and censuring Trustee Jacobson would set a dangerous precedent. Teachers’ union president Childress’ over-the-top angry rhetoric only seeks to further divide the community.
We need all voices and perspectives to be heard to improve the ethnic studies program for all students. I would encourage the board and anyone interested to listen to the panel and hear the remarks from parents, students and other school board members. The board should drop the censure request and focus on educating our kids.
Michelle Koskella
Burlingame
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(5) comments
Silly me Michelle - I always thought that the school board's mission is to ensure education for the pupils. Why would a union leader even be allowed to speak as we have known for some time that the Teachers' Union could not care less about teaching?
I would encourage the School Board Trustee, Jennifer Jacobson to engage in open dialogue with the other members of the San Mateo Union High School District, the teacher’s union, and the community to address concerns and work collaboratively towards the shared educational goals.
Trustee Jacobson has spoken out against Ethics Studies for over 5 years, I remember her bringing it up during an Anti-Racism Meeting held by a community non-profit organization. She should immediately stop pretending to be actively working with the board on its initiatives while she is really focusing on her personal agenda to cause disruption and chaos.
While I believe trustees should freely express their views, it is imperative that such expressions align with the board's commitment to respectful discourse and the educational community’s values. Censure serves as a mechanism to address conduct that deviates from these standards, ensuring the board’s integrity and public trust.
Alexis - census only serves woke ideologues that you appear to embrace. We should have a freedom of expression particularly at the local level. Ms. Jacobson is, and should be, allowed to exercise her First Amendment rights. Certainly, as it appears from the other comments, she has a following that union leaders, who are generally on the socialist side, do not like.
Where was the board's "commitment to respectful discourse" during the study session on Ethnic Studies when teachers shouted down parents and called them racists for a difference of opinion? (Then) board president Greg Land did nothing to curb this outrageous behavior, though he did apologize at a later meeting attended by many upset parents.
What does it mean that trustees must "align with the educational community's values?" That sounds as if you believe trustees cannot hold different opinions or different values. As you can see from the many letters to the DJ in support of Trustee Jacobson (and the many parents who spoke or wished to speak at the meeting), she does indeed represent a good portion of the community's values.
Great letter, Michelle!
While the head of the district's teachers' union may refer to efforts to stifle a trustee over curriculum as censuring... make no mistake... it is actually censoring. Why are we surprised to hear the loud voices in the room trying to quash other points of view? We have seen out of touch progressives in the Capitol objecting to anything that does not conform to their narrative, and now we are seeing the same thing on the local level. Mr. Childress is way out of bounds. School board trustees can take care of themselves without being radicalized by a woke labor rep.
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