Principal Withholds Student Election Results for lack of Diversity

[K_Z]

So here's the million dollar question for Principal Lena Van Haren, who I'm sure is a very nice lady when she's not being a politically correct dictator. Here's her bio from the school website:

https://ems-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1287819235585

So, if the student body is 80% students "of color", shouldn't the chief administrator of the school, the Principal, also be "of color"? Using her rationale and justification, of course. I mean, how in the world can a blonde, blue eyed white woman be expected to competently lead a middle school of 80% students of color? How can she possibly know what "their" issues are? How to advocate for "them"? Right?

IMO, she should resign.

Or if she doesn't resign, the school board and superintendent who has not taken charge of this disgraceful public relations situation should fire her. They are a bunch of weenies for not standing up and making statements, for the good of their district.

What kind of school board or superintendent lets a Middle School Principal handle this kind of media firestorm alone? Disgraceful.

 

[bwt42]

The importance of diversity and representation in government. The benefits we gain by being inclusive. The value people have that goes beyond race and status. How to manage in the real world where they will encounter people who are different from them. Self-awareness.

I think the students taught the principal a lesson. Lets hope she learned something.

 

[jjenny]

I think the lesson here is that political correctness is running amok.
I was just reading about school that suspended students from the band over what they deemed a "racist fruit basket" (presumably because it had watermelon).

 

[Elley Mae]

So here's the million dollar question for Principal Lena Van Haren, who I'm sure is a very nice lady when she's not being a politically correct dictator. Here's her bio from the school website:

https://ems-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1287819235585

So, if the student body is 80% students "of color", shouldn't the chief administrator of the school, the Principal, also be "of color"? Using her rationale and justification, of course. I mean, how in the world can a blonde, blue eyed white woman be expected to competently lead a middle school of 80% students of color? How can she possibly know what "their" issues are? How to advocate for "them"? Right?

IMO, she should resign.

Or if she doesn't resign, the school board and superintendent who has not taken charge of this disgraceful public relations situation should fire her. They are a bunch of weenies for not standing up and making statements, for the good of their district.

What kind of school board or superintendent lets a Middle School Principal handle this kind of media firestorm alone? Disgraceful.

Bingo bbm

Thanks K_Z

I found it sad that the middle schoolers had an election and the principal found not enough diversity in the results. The middle schoolers were introduced to a democratic process and evidently voted with blinders on, (so to speak) and she didn't see that as diversity at it's best, (in my minds eye). jmo idk

 

[jjenny]

Bingo bbm

Thanks K_Z

I found it sad that the middle schoolers had an election and the principal found not enough diversity in the results. The middle schoolers were introduced to a democratic process and evidently voted with blinders on, (so to speak) and she didn't see that as diversity at it's best, (in my minds eye). jmo idk

And if this was a school with mostly white students, but they elected mostly minority students to these positions, and this principal withheld results of this election, is there any doubt that this woman would have been fired on the spot?

 

[sonjay]

• They learned that democratic elections mean nothing if someone in authority, like a Middle School Principal, can withhold, nullify, delay, or distort the results, or bully the electorate

• They learned that their white Principal thinks the 4 white, Asian, and mixed race winners are not able to adequately understand or advocate for “students of color”, and that their Principal does not respect them as student leaders, because their skin is not the "right" color

• They learned that people of color cannot be allowed or trusted to think and make decisions for themselves, and that People In Charge, or a white Middle School Principal, should make decisions for them on their behalf.

• They learned that their Middle School Principal thinks specific racial representation on the student council is more important than democratic student elections, or individual qualifications to hold office

• They learned that if you are In Charge, or a Principal of a Middle School, it’s okay to change the rules after the fact, if you don’t like the outcome. And then bully the electorate.

• They learned that their vote means nothing in an environment where a specific pre-determined outcome is desired by the Elite In Charge, or a Middle School Principal

• They learned that there is a lot of lying and dishonesty in politics and elections

• They learned that it’s okay for People In Charge (their Principal) to bully and false-shame those with less power

• They learned that being “politically correct” is more important than being honest

• They learned that their Principal has disgraced herself and her reputation as the leader of their school, and brought dishonor to the school board who hired her

• They learned that the school board should have had an emergency meeting to discuss the actions of the Principal, and to speak to the media and parents

• They learned exactly how fake elections take place in corrupt places run by dictators, like China, North Korea, Iran, etc

• Most of all, they learned from their Middle School Principal that MLK Jr must have been wrong-- it is much more important to judge people on the color of their skin, than the content of their character, at least at the Everett Middle School Student Council elections

I was just about to pu tin my two cents when I read K__Z's post, which said everything I wanted to say better than I could have said it.

The principal should be fired, IMO. She's not fit to play any role in a school system except maybe janitor.

 

[sonjay]

I think by all means they should discuss it but I think she needs to let the election results go through as voted by the student body. Tell the newly elected officials that it is their job to convene a forum on this and generate suggestions.

I don't see any reason that would be necessary or even desirable. The students voted -- presumably the election was free and fair, I've seen no allegations otherwise -- and they can elect whoever they want. Why on earth would anyone need convene a "forum" to generate "suggestions"? The election didn't turn out the way certain people in power wanted it to. Tough. That doesn't mean anything needs to be done about it.

The election turned out the way the students wanted it to. Nobody has any business telling the students that they voted wrong, which is what all of this whining amounts to.

 

[rob]

I don't think it's a problem. I think the more kids are exposed to the more they'll learn, and we send them to school to learn stuff.

It's not like this principal is Stalin.

JMO.

I have to ask this: would it still be all right if the same thing happened and the winners were African American or Hispanic? And then throw in that the principal was white?
Oh hello, I don't think so.

Equality is just that. Treat everyone the same. Even if the results are not to you liking.

 

[T4Tide]

•They learned that democratic elections mean nothing if someone in authority, like a Middle School Principal, can withhold, nullify, delay, or distort the results, or bully the electorate

•They learned that their white Principal thinks the 4 white, Asian, and mixed race winners are not able to adequately understand or advocate for “students of color”, and that their Principal does not respect them as student leaders, because their skin is not the "right" color

•They learned that people of color cannot be allowed or trusted to think and make decisions for themselves, and that People In Charge, or a white Middle School Principal, should make decisions for them on their behalf.

•They learned that their Middle School Principal thinks specific racial representation on the student council is more important than democratic student elections, or individual qualifications to hold office

•They learned that if you are In Charge, or a Principal of a Middle School, it’s okay to change the rules after the fact, if you don’t like the outcome. And then bully the electorate.

•They learned that their vote means nothing in an environment where a specific pre-determined outcome is desired by the Elite In Charge, or a Middle School Principal

•They learned that there is a lot of lying and dishonesty in politics and elections

•They learned that it’s okay for People In Charge (their Principal) to bully and false-shame those with less power

•They learned that being “politically correct” is more important than being honest

•They learned that their Principal has disgraced herself and her reputation as the leader of their school, and brought dishonor to the school board who hired her

•They learned that the school board should have had an emergency meeting to discuss the actions of the Principal, and to speak to the media and parents

•They learned exactly how fake elections take place in corrupt places run by dictators, like China, North Korea, Iran, etc

•Most of all, they learned from their Middle School Principal that MLK Jr must have been wrong-- it is much more important to judge people on the color of their skin, than the content of their character, at least at the Everett Middle School Student Council elections

:drops mike:

:clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[Hatfield]

Some very good points being made. I agree with most that the principal was totally wrong in this case and made an issue over something that was not even an issue.

She made the election a racial issue when it was nothing of the sort.

I relate it back to my high school where we had 3 "clicks" of students. There were the "Jocks", the "Freaks" (I was in this group--LOL), and the "Socias" who were the smartest stuck-up goody two shoes group.

The "Socias" always won the elections and we as students of the other groups gladly re-elected them each time because they were the best qualified to be on the Student Council, etc. They loved doing it and they were darn good at it.

So even though our groups were not represented in the elections we realized we would suck at it and the "Socias" were the best qualified.

I suspect this school had a similar small group of people that always won the Student Council elections because they loved doing it and had energy around it and they were probably the best qualified for the position. The students there recognized that and elected them accordingly.

This principal has took a "non-issue" and turned it into a racial debate.

 

[SweetT]

• They learned that democratic elections mean nothing if someone in authority, like a Middle School Principal, can withhold, nullify, delay, or distort the results, or bully the electorate

• They learned that their white Principal thinks the 4 white, Asian, and mixed race winners are not able to adequately understand or advocate for “students of color”, and that their Principal does not respect them as student leaders, because their skin is not the "right" color

• They learned that people of color cannot be allowed or trusted to think and make decisions for themselves, and that People In Charge, or a white Middle School Principal, should make decisions for them on their behalf.

• They learned that their Middle School Principal thinks specific racial representation on the student council is more important than democratic student elections, or individual qualifications to hold office

• They learned that if you are In Charge, or a Principal of a Middle School, it’s okay to change the rules after the fact, if you don’t like the outcome. And then bully the electorate.

• They learned that their vote means nothing in an environment where a specific pre-determined outcome is desired by the Elite In Charge, or a Middle School Principal

• They learned that there is a lot of lying and dishonesty in politics and elections

• They learned that it’s okay for People In Charge (their Principal) to bully and false-shame those with less power

• They learned that being “politically correct” is more important than being honest

• They learned that their Principal has disgraced herself and her reputation as the leader of their school, and brought dishonor to the school board who hired her

• They learned that the school board should have had an emergency meeting to discuss the actions of the Principal, and to speak to the media and parents

• They learned exactly how fake elections take place in corrupt places run by dictators, like China, North Korea, Iran, etc

• Most of all, they learned from their Middle School Principal that MLK Jr must have been wrong-- it is much more important to judge people on the color of their skin, than the content of their character, at least at the Everett Middle School Student Council elections

Well said! Thank you!

 

[sonjay]

Some very good points being made. I agree with most that the principal was totally wrong in this case and made an issue over something that was not even an issue.

She made the election a racial issue when it was nothing of the sort.

I relate it back to my high school where we had 3 "clicks" of students. There were the "Jocks", the "Freaks" (I was in this group--LOL), and the "Socias" who were the smartest stuck-up goody two shoes group.

The "Socias" always won the elections and we as students of the other groups gladly re-elected them each time because they were the best qualified to be on the Student Council, etc. They loved doing it and they were darn good at it.

So even though our groups were not represented in the elections we realized we would suck at it and the "Socias" were the best qualified.

I suspect this school had a similar small group of people that always won the Student Council elections because they loved doing it and had energy around it and they were probably the best qualified for the position. The students there recognized that and elected them accordingly.

This principal has took a "non-issue" and turned it into a racial debate.

BBM. That happens a lot. I see so many instances of things that have nothing to do with race, being turned into racial issues. The people who claim that they want to eliminate racism are the very ones who turn everything into a racial issue. This principal likely claims that she wants to eliminate racism, but by her very own actions she is perpetuating racism.

 

[JeannaT]

Test post. I keep getting "too few characters" notification.

 

[MIKAYOYO]

All I can say is WOW. This is ridiculous. This is whatt is wrong with our country. BMHAW (banging my head against wall)

:thud: :facepalm:

 

[jjenny]

Test post. I keep getting "too few characters" notification.

Me too.

 

[EllieBee]

R

If she thinks racism is at play, here is what she needs to do: Hold a mock election where only the students of color vote. If they still vote for all white kids, hold some sort of "exit poll" with the students of color and ask them WHY they voted the way they did. I'm not really clear on what she thinks the mechanism at work here is....does she think white kids were threatening the minority kids or stuffing the ballot box?

In my experience it's all a big popularity contest at that age anyway. My son is the whitest kid on earth and he never gets elected to anything because he's overweight and kids think he's a dork. Personally I think fat, dorky kids are underrepresented in student government, but no one gives a damn about that! :giggle:

I am sad for your son that you called him fat and dorky on the internet. .

 

[LolaMoon08]

I'm confused? The only message I (personally) got out of the Principle's actions is that she doesn't believe that the majority of her student body (POC) know how to vote? Seems pretty insulting to me?

While I don't believe her intentions were bad, I think she needs to take some lessons of her own on the subject of diversity.