On August 10 and 11, 2024, the Californians for Equal Rights (CFER) held its third annual conference in Irvine, Orange County, California. CFER has been dedicating significant efforts to address the dissatisfaction among residents with the public education system in California, focusing on local school districts and gaining practical experiences.
“People cannot give up on California’s public education,” said CFER Chairman Xu Jihe. Over the past four years, they have encountered and assisted many concerned parents and community members, gaining a shocking understanding of the truth about local education. Xu Jihe expressed the challenges in finding quick solutions to the issues despite raising awareness.
Executive Director Wu Wenyuan stated, “We are in a cultural war instigated by the extreme leftists who are trying to capture the minds of young people. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), CRT (Critical Race Theory), and Ethnic Studies are highly effective tools used by education bureaucrats and theorists in California and other regions to indoctrinate, undermine, and discriminate.”
She mentioned that CFER has established a database for 350 school districts in California over the past three years. Wu Wenyuan believes that “the real victory is winning the hearts and minds of future generations.”
Xu Jihe highlighted CFER’s success in the Poway Unified School District. After nearly a year of efforts, despite the challenges, with mutual support from the community, the board eventually dismissed the former head of schools who bullied students.
The Poway Unified School District Community Watch (PCW) organization, advocating for student success, school transparency, and parental rights, was established by community members two months before the bullying incident. Xu Jihe praised its dedicated leadership team and competent volunteers, all from the community.
“Without community support and encouragement, most victims would choose to remain silent. PCW greatly assisted students during the bullying incidents, speaking at the board meetings, providing resources, promptly disseminating information to the community, which drew attention from local media,” said Xu Jihe. The involvement of the community is crucial in sustaining the resistance.
In May 2023, former head of schools Mary Ann Kim Phelps claimed that softball team members did not cheer for her daughter during an awards event, labeling the softball girls as ‘jealous’ and ‘hateful’, and harassed them at some players’ graduation ceremonies. In particular, Doi (pseudonym), who competed with her daughter for team captain, faced more challenges, being prevented from participating in team activities and extracurriculars.
Doi and her parents sued, providing 26 testimonies. Initially, the board dismissed the evidence as incorrect and took no action against the head of schools. However, under pressure, they agreed to an independent investigation, eventually leading to the head’s dismissal. The ordeal lasted for a year, causing significant stress to the victims.
Xu Jihe emphasized the necessity for local organizations to be dedicated to their school districts, establish a robust leadership core, develop and implement long-term strategies, monitor changes in the district in a timely manner, encourage team members, and effectively engage volunteers, donors, and district candidates. CFER, being a statewide organization, provides assistance such as establishing a professional website, conducting school district research, contacting media, providing training, and more.