Recently, the nonprofit organization “Informed Parents of California” held a seminar in Redwood City, Bay Area, to share the current situation of California public schools with dozens of attending parents and provide relevant coping suggestions.
According to the website of “Informed Parents of California” (IPCA), based on data from the California Department of Education, the annual spending per student in California has increased from $11,548 in 2017 to $17,020 in 2022. However, the English proficiency rate has decreased from 49.9% in 2018 to 46.6% in 2023, and the math proficiency rate has also dropped from 38.7% to 34.6%.
Terry Bottari, the San Mateo County coordinator of “Informed Parents of California,” mentioned that the educational focus in California public schools is on critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), social-emotional learning (SEL), health centers, and gender studies. She expressed concerns that even elementary and preschool libraries have seen the presence of inappropriate reading materials. Students are not mastering basic skills and correct values in schools.
Lisa Wright, a stay-at-home mom whose children attend school in the San Mateo Unified High School District, shared her experiences and observations in the district. She mentioned that her children are forced to analyze everything from a “white supremacist” perspective in class every day and even required to point out instances of “white supremacy” in course materials.
She also brought up the issue of “Privilege Walk” activities in some schools, where students are asked to categorize themselves into privileged or non-privileged groups based on factors like skin color, religion, and family background, portraying oppressors and the oppressed. Students from certain backgrounds are labeled as privileged oppressors and are humiliated, unable to change the situation.
She stated that school fights are considered oppression against children, and anyone who speaks out against it is accused of supporting oppression. This ideological approach is dividing children by redefining what oppression means.
Mani Delgado, a math teacher at Menlo-Atherton High School for 28 years, highlighted that many teachers fear retaliation for speaking out. He stood out at the school for sticking to traditional teaching methods focusing on basic knowledge.
He pointed out unreasonable policies in schools, such as not disciplining students of color, and mainstreaming special needs students into regular classes, making teaching more challenging. Additionally, the school’s “no zero” policy, where students cannot receive a zero even for incomplete assignments, is adding pressure on teachers, with many parents unaware of these rules.
Ester Adut, a candidate for the San Mateo County Education Board in the sixth district, discovered through the board’s website that the district’s math teaching plan categorizes students. Black, Latinx, or multilingual students receive preferential treatment over others who may be perceived as white supremacists. She questioned the impact on children, emphasizing they are still just kids.
She also looked into the county’s statistics over the past five years, showing a 5% decrease in the total population but a 10% decrease in public school enrollment. She believed this reflects many people voting with their feet. She mentioned a significant rise in suspension rates in the San Mateo district from 2020 to 2022, especially a 52.4% increase in suspensions due to drug use. A neighbor’s son attending Carlmont High School reported serious drug issues on campus, with no disciplinary actions taken.
Terry Bottari, the San Mateo County coordinator of “Informed Parents of California,” suggested options for California parents, including homeschooling, private schools, or opting out of the “woke” curriculum in public schools.
She detailed the “Informed Parents” opt-out system covering 58 California counties, legally recognized for protecting children from comprehensive education, gender counseling, and surveys related to family beliefs, gender, morals, or religious faith. For instance, some schools distribute surveys to third graders asking about their gender identity, which she finds highly inappropriate.
She emphasized the need for more participation in school board elections to oversee curricula, budgets, personnel, and policies. Parent organizations are crucial in this regard.
She stressed that educating children is a community responsibility, and everyone, including grandparents, uncles, aunts, and anyone invested in education, can join parent groups to distribute banners, information, voter guides or volunteer to support candidates advocating for parental rights.