How Troubling

My husband and I were both grew up in areas of our hometown that were very diverse. I remember going to public school as a child and hearing the words melting pot and league of nations when people were referring to my class. I did not know any other way, so I was fine with it.

My children live in the same neighborhood that I grew up in. They walk around the neighborhood, my son goes to the local gym. They attended public school in what some people call questionable areas. They never had an issue.

Until now. My daughter's school is going through a great deal of changes. It is the MOST diverse school in the part of my city where I reside. There is a new administrator who was just placed there who has brought in many changes to the set up of the school. This is part of education and as parents have spoken out, many issues have been addressed. Some successfully, some not.

There was recent bad press regarding some conflict of interest this person is engaging in. This is for the proper authorities to handle and we trust that they will.

The negative press has saddened us since this is a school that has worked hard over the past decade to climb out of the ashes.

But nothing has saddened us more but to hear and see that this has become a race issue. Several supporters of this administrator have decided to publicly claim that this is an attack on her sex and her color. It is very distressing since in this particular school and in this particular area of the borough we live in, it is not an area filled with racial tensions. Of course there are other parts that indeed are, and not one can lie about that. Are there people who judge others by skin color here in this part of the city? Sadly, yes a great many at that. However, this small corner of the world it was not as prevalent.

Someone who thinks herself a leader of others has posted some terribly inciteful words to social media which I fear will cause violence and unjustified and misplaced anger. Social media is the roadway these days to news and so many are misinformed that way. Others have also been posting inciting words simply to cause major issues. Rather than going the usual route using protocol to express concerns, they have decided to malign and speak ill of others. Name calling, race baiting. Truly a sad sight to behold.

So what was once the MOST diverse school here is now riddled with issues that it has not had for years. Why? More than likely that there is way too much lack of accountability here as well as lack of transparency.

Poor leadership leads to anger, discontentment and major problems. There has been a great deal of misinformation and this is largely thanks to a few who have their own plan and that plan is appearing to be far from being about our most precious commodity, our young people who are supposed to be in school to learn. Not to be statistics on the internet.

I am worried. For the first time since my youngest started High school. I am worried for her safety. I have sympathized for years with other parents who have to worry about their children simply because of how they looked. I am a parent of a disabled child, now adult. I certainly understand discrimination and worry. My concern and empathy have always been there for others and is stronger now.

I was not raised like this, nor were my children. We are TAUGHT to hate. HATE and DIVISION are taught.

My son has been sitting in his private college listening to a professor who is trying to make him feel ashamed that he a male and for the color of his skin. He currently lives with 5 friends, and he is the only person in his apartment with his skin color. He is extremely happy in his home and with his roommates. I would say that our upbringing away from hate has been successful. Not sure why this professor feels it is her job to shame him unnecessarily without knowing who he is. It has been eye opening to say the least.

These so called leaders, shame on you, You should be working for unity, not for hate, anger, violence and division.

I certainly hope you will change your mind, learn the truth after studying the facts. Then it would be great if you worked in the capacity that will show you as role models rather than what you are showing at this moment.