CFER Foundation
Published February 09, 2021
CFER Calls Upon San Francisco Parents Communities to Unite and Oppose the Collins Proposal Today! SFUSD BOE Votes on a Divisive Proposal to Eliminate Academic Selection at Lowell
by
CFER
For Immediate Release
February 9, 2021
SAN DIEGO, CA -- February 9, 2021- This afternoon, the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education will vote on the Collins Proposal (Resolution No. 212-A1). If passed, this proposal would eliminate standardized testing for admissions in SF's No. 1 public high school---Lowell High School. Californians for Equal Rights (CFER) urges all our supporters and concerned citizens, especially those who live in SF, to express your opposition to this wrongheaded and divisive plan at today's SFUSD board meeting.
"It's a concerning trend to lower the standards to achieve so-called diversity," commented Frank Xu, CFER President, "In the long run, Lowell's competitiveness and our national competency will be compromised."
CFER issues an official statement condemning the proposal and argues against this attempted assault on excellence. This attack would exacerbate the racial achievement gap and heighten racial divisions in the name of anti-racism. Last but not least, it would injure all students including its intended beneficiaries who would be "ill-equipped for the real world where standards, merit and competence matter in any professional line of work". The success of Lowell High School depends on its merit-based admission. At the same time, the school already embraces diversity with 30% of its admissions being reserved for underrepresented students.
This resolution will be decided on today's SFUSD meeting starting at 3pm and the virtual meeting is open to the public. CFER encourages you to submit your public comments to cascoe@sfusd.edu before 2pm (please identify the proposal by No. 212-A1). The meeting can be observed via zoom using this link (Webinar ID 816 3376 3530; Password: 982880).
In CFER's statement, we argue: "San Francisco School Board's proposal to do away with academic selection at Lowell represents 'destructive destruction'. It would cost the city its world-class public magnet school, compromise timeless American principles and erode social harmony, with no added value to academic rigor or competitiveness."
Contact:
Wenyuan Wu
wenyuan.wu@cferfoundation.org
About Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER):
We are a non-partisan and non-profit organization established following the defeat of Proposition 16 in 2020, with a mission to defend and raise public awareness on the cause of equal rights through public education, civic engagement and community outreach. In 1996, California became the first U.S. state to amend its constitution by passing Proposition 209 to ban racial discrimination and preferences. Prop. 209 requires that “the state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.” CFER is dedicated to educating the public on this important constitutional principle of equal treatment.