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Honorable San Francisco Board of Education Members,
I am a graduate of Lowell High School class of 1997, my three siblings are also graduates.
I read with dismay Ms. Lopez’s comments in this weekends San Francisco Chronicle article.
Her complaints and the general dismissal
I am a graduate of Lowell High School class of 1997, my three siblings are also graduates.
I read with dismay Ms. Lopez’s comments in this weekends San Francisco Chronicle article.
Her complaints and the general dismissal
of the benefits of a Lowell education are misguided in the most generous of interpretations.
Lowell has provided generations of San Franciscans from a diverse set of ethnic, social and economic backgrounds the absolute best education in the country. The fact is that because
Lowell has provided generations of San Franciscans from a diverse set of ethnic, social and economic backgrounds the absolute best education in the country. The fact is that because
Lowell's admission standards have a strict adherence to tangible academic results and not to some soft science formula has made it the special place that it is.
My friends came from every neighborhood in the city, they came from every background, my father was a lawyer,
My friends came from every neighborhood in the city, they came from every background, my father was a lawyer,
but my friends had parents who worked at Safeway as checkers, whose parents didn't speak English, we thrived because of diversity and more importantly because of the culture of Lowell.
Often the story of Lowell is told through it's most famous and accomplished alumni,
Often the story of Lowell is told through it's most famous and accomplished alumni,
but that ignores the true gift that it has given our city and our people. For "marginal" Lowell students, who would have been academic stars elsewhere, we found ourselves pushed by the relentless pressure of being in a school and classrooms with far smarter and dedicated people.
I was one of those students, I never was on shield and scroll, did not light up the AP board. However because of my peers I was pushed to succeed and I wasn't alone, students that because of socio-economic situations would've been left unprepared or worse unchallenged by other
schools, have benefited from that same shared excellence. Ask Malia Coen, who would've attended Burton, if Lowell made a difference for her.
For at least twenty years there has been a theory propagated by people like Ms. Lopez, that dismantling Lowell and it's unique place in
For at least twenty years there has been a theory propagated by people like Ms. Lopez, that dismantling Lowell and it's unique place in
our city would raise the standards of other schools, it would have the opposite effect. It would rob the eighty percent of the student body of Lowell of a place where their success is measured against other students who truly push them. Lowell is not the teaching staff, it's not
the buildings, it's not even the alumni or traditions, it is first and foremost it's student body, and it has always been. The most honest educators at Lowell have always recognized that. It's time for the Board to recognize that as well. @garrytan @hknightsf @lopez4schools
Update, I submitted this letter via email to the entire board. With the exception of @AliMCollins pulling a quote tweet and saying merit based admissions is being racist, I’ve heard nothing back from them. I’ve heard from hundreds of SF parents and residents, Lowell alumni, about
How outrageous this is. How incensed they are by the boards actions. How this will drive parents out of the City. How parents are at their wits ends with kids at home for a year while both parents are working. How betrayed they feel by @lopez4schools putting her personal
Politics over the needs of all the students. How attacking a minority majority school like Lowell because it scores political points is outrageous. I’ve also seen “Madame President” dismiss that distance learning is dramatically worsening the achievement gap with “they learn more
At home” while parents and students are breaking under the strain. @LondonBreed @dennisherrera have taken extraordinary steps to step into the vacuum of vacuous leadership but it’s time for more. The entire board needs to be removed. The current board is a quagmire of dunces.
