February ERT Column is Live
How to elect a school board member.
My latest Evanston RoundTable column is live on the website, How to elect a school board member.
I’ve received really positive feedback so far from readers, and I feel proud of this piece.
I did notice a comment that is slightly problematic at the bottom of the piece. I don’t like to respond directly to these types of comments, because I don’t find it productive to go back and forth on the site. That being said, take a look.
The comment posted conveys a common misconception about equity.
The concept of equity, that everyone should get what they need in an attempt to level the playing field, is important. It makes me sad to realize that some people blame equity for the fiscal mismanagement that has transpired here in District 65.
It is not equity’s fault that we ended up here today. Equity didn’t cause the financial crisis we currently find ourselves in, and it shouldn’t be demonized.
Bad actors are out there. And it is heartbreaking when these people justify their corrupt actions in the name of equity. It is even worse when they go unchecked by a board that is tasked with holding them accountable. But these negligent actions shouldn’t discredit equity as a stance.
As always, thank you for reading. Writing my column and this newsletter is cathartic. The world is too much right now. When I want to hide under my covers, writing helps. Knowing people read my words and care what I have to say is even better. Sending love.
That particular commenter tends to take some .. grumpy .. positions on things. I've had to be mean to her a few times in my comment section regarding some of her takes, including one where she blamed black families.
I think the challenge is that politically, there were bad apples doing things in the name of equity (see Dr. Horton) while also not making any meaningful improvements to the problems they sought to fix, like the achievement gap. All the while being super mean to everyone who even modestly disagree with them on anything.
I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bathwater, but there are a lot of people who do and some who want blood (see Trump's EOs on DEI, for instance), which is honestly very scary.