Cultural Values

"...low-paid immigrants work at multiple jobs (and whom Santa Barbara depends on for a constant pool of cheap, nonunion labor for construction-related businesses, maintenance, gardening. and domestics) and have little or no formal education themselves...."

How does Japan manage to survive without cheap immigrant labor? That is just one country that comes to mind. Is it possible that Mr. Johannsen's income as well as other "bilingual education" teachers depended on the endless flow of such labor?

Back in the 90's, it was revealed that Franklin school had eighth graders who despite being at that school since first grade were still not English-proficient. Nonetheless, the mere mention of ending bilingual education was met with invective protest from teachers.

Teachers, like ministers, priests and politicians must be held up to the same light as the rest of us.

I would also add that America's perception of people from south of the border has a reciprocal effect. (The "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" argument) We can talk about "Latino" attitudes toward education, but how much of that comes from well-meaning people who really believe they are being socially conscious by educating kids in Spanish?

America is very uptight about racial matters and it's easy to simply dismiss everything within the context of traditional racism, and when this happens on a large scale, it precludes us saying "Sorry to tell you this, but you need to know English in order to communicate effectively in the U.S." Add to this the element of human nature: When this takes over, those immigrants from countries to the south will believe they are not capable of achieving linguistic parity with Asian, Europeans, and other groups. Well meaning teachers are also subject to human nature, while they may be True Believers in what they do, they also can come to depend on bilingual education programs to pay their salaries which further complicates things.

As I've said before: As long as everything is made available for the parents in Spanish, all the best intentions on the part of Mr. Johannsen and others will only make pallative improvements in this "cadena perpetua". (Endless cycle)

"Calling names and rehashing stupid, racist stereotypes will not solve anyone's problems. "

Like the way Education Professors and multicultural teachers sneer about "white privilege"?

The problem is that teachers like Johannsen see higher performing white and Asian students as a problem, instead of as part of the solution.

For a real example of name calling, try this -- note the emphasis on multicultural education.

"The annual White Privilege Conference (WPC) serves as a yearly opportunity to examine and explore difficult issues related to white privilege, white supremacy and oppression. WPC provides a forum for critical discussions about diversity, multicultural education and leadership, social justice, race/racism, sexual orientation, gender relations, religion and other systems of privilege/oppression. "

http://www.speakoutnow.org/article.php?i...

To the last paragraph above I would add that for those of color who excel academically, there is the stigma of "acting white". This is another issue that plays into this debate but so far I fail to see it properly addressed. My question is "what is the origin of this attitude and why does it persist unchallenged?"

I know whereof I speak; I went to Santa Barbara High School from 76-79.

Also, with so many wealthy people here in S.B./Montecito, do those folks really need an endless supply of low-wage workers? Are these people simply too greedy to pay a decent wage, or has the argument that our economy would collapse without them simply taken on a life of its own?

Elites of both parties are guilty of importation and exploitation of "cheap nonunion labor." Nancy Pelosi owns vineyards, and Abel Maldonado's family is one of the largest strawberry growers in California. Working conditions for the stoop laborers are appalling. Whatever happened to "The Harvest of Shame"?

The taxpayers get saddled with the costs of this "cheap" labor, from providing farmworker vanpools to health care to K-12 education. The multicultural Left like Mr. Johannsen gets a hammer to bash what remains of the "white bourgeoisie" with. Seeing students walk out of California high schools carrying Mexican flags is a dream come true for people like Mr. Johannsen.

Some leftists have told me that California should be returned to Mexico. Well it has to a great extent, and now the state is bankrupt trying to support a first-world infrastructure with a Mexican economy.

"The taxpayers get saddled with the costs of this 'cheap' labor, from providing farmworker vanpools to health care to K-12 education."

I've long questioned whether those people who hire cheap labor en masse are doing this for our benifit or if they are simply keeping their savings to themselves. This is yet another point that isn't discussed.

"Some leftists have told me that California should be returned to Mexico"

Yes indeed, the old "we stole this land" argument. These people are more than welcome to pack their bags and head down there to live where they can kiss goodbye what's left of their constitutional rights. If they think police corruption is bad here, wait until they get thrown in a prison down there.

There's a reason people risk their lives to cross the border to come to the U.S.

I have two children who have attended a local elementary school with a latino population higher than Harding's. Both of my children are excellent students and in junior high and high school, as they begin to be placed in classes with other students, my oldest has done very well (my youngest isn't old enough yet).

The teachers are great, and there are many resources available, including tutoring, free "computers for families," art and other enrichment programs. There have been some programs for which my family is ineligible because of higher income or racial ("ethnic") identification. That sometimes sets families apart from each other.

I, myself, speak English as a second language. I received no support when I attended elementary school. I floundered for about one year and then started doing well. I do know that some children and more adults have a much more difficult time learning a language and need more help.

My biggest concern is the parents' attitudes, which they instill in their children. When Mr. Johannsen talks about the poor people who work two jobs for low pay, he might be pleading a case for low-paid immigrants; however, he is also stereotyping and reinforcing the view of white Americans as "gabachos." In my neighborhood, some men work two jobs. They do this because their wives stay at home and take care of the home front. Also, many neighbors hire help. Some people who hire help aren't rich people from Montecito but older or disabled people who can't afford much but do need help.

Adults perseverate with old racist stereotypes that they pass on (often unwittingly) to their children. My children have faced bullying -- which unfortunately, many children do -- but theirs is made easier because of racism against their white skin. Bullies pick out features that make targets different, and that is just one that works well. So, when my kids do well in school (which is sometimes a horrible thing in other children's minds), the situation is worsened because the success is attributed to their "white privilege" not their individual efforts.

If we're going to solve the problem of poor performance in schools, we need to look at not just where people are now but where they came from. We also have to look at them both as individuals and as a part of a system. Yes, some people don't want to learn another language, or want to keep their kids safe instead of competing academically, or have learning problems that are genetically based, or whatever. I'm just glad that there are enough mature people out there willing to work together to put the children first.

By the way, my last multicultural teacher, when pressed to describe what the advantages actually were, said that my "white privilege" allowed me to state political sentiments that would be unchallenged.

Back in the 1930's the Jews in Europe were vilified because they were more accomplished financially and academically than the other demographics. People got jealous of them and since conditions--especially in Germany--were so bad, the social climate was ripe for scapegoating and the Jews were the target of this. The reason that Jews were more successful and the reason that Jews are so successful today is because Jewish culture places a high emphasis on education.

When I hear the term "White privilege" what I'm hearing is the groundwork of the same mentality that swept Europe in the 30's in the sense that instead of seeing what it takes to succeed, it's simply easier to blame people for their success which of course is due to differing attitudes about education.

Those who think they are being enlightened and appeasing by going along with the "White privilege" mantra need to open up there eyes and see what is happening; when you have the majority of people in a society who have been convinced that their failure is due to a minority of people controlling "the system", you have the foundation for a situation that is very scary to think about. The parallels are becoming obvious.

For those who read these first few paragraphs and are thinking that I'm denying racism exists among Whites, not only am I not saying this, but I'm making the point that if Spanish-speaking immigrants *master* English and assimilate into their adopted country , these immigrants have armed themselves in the most effective way against White racism as well as exploitation from those within their own demographic who would otherwise prey upon their unfamiliarity with American culture. The Jews are a perfect example of people who faced terrible discrimination in this country but because of their strong emphasis on education/assimilation/literacy were able to meet that bigotry head on and succeeded to the point where the bigots' had to back down. Same story with the Asians in the U.S.

As the saying goes "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it"