African American and Latino Students Left Behind in SF School District

I am a resident of San Francisco and tax payer. I have come across some disturbing information about the San Francisco Unified School District. The superintendent, Arlene Ackerman, has single-handedly dismantled the public school system, leaving the children who live in the southeast corner of San Francisco (Bayview/Hunters Point districts) behind with no hope for academic success. Frankly, I am appalled with what Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has done to the district. I've done some of my own research that you might find interesting.

To address the issue of equity in education, the Consent Decree mandated SFUSD to provide quality education to all students in the district. Thurgood Marshall Academic High School was built in Bayview/Hunter's Point district to address this issue and to offer quality education to the children living in the south-east corner of the city. What sets TMAHS aside from other high schools in the district is that they require 280 credits for graduation (the district only requires 230). Within the 280 credits, students must take 4 yrs of math, science, english, 3 yrs of social science, 10 credits of visual and performing arts, and 10 units of technology. The school is currenly in its eigth year of operation. Since its first graduating class four years ago, TMAHS has sent over 95% of its graduates to college. This year alone, 40% of the kids who applied to UC Berkeley were accepted, which is higher than Lowell's acceptance rate.

So what's the big deal? Well, if you look at the demographics of TMAHS you'll see that 30% is African American, 30% is Latino, 30% is Asian American, and 10% other. You don't see these types of numbers at any other school. The reason why this is occuring is due to the leadership of their principal, Samuel O. Butscher, Ph.D. His vision has motivated both the teachers and students to achieve higher standards so they can succeed.

Unfortunately, the academic environment that Dr. Butscher has created is being dismantled by the superintendent. Arlene Ackerman has made a *unilateral* decision to decrease the 280 unit graduation requirement to 230 units. These 230 units do not even qualify students to apply to the UC system! Not only is the quality of education plummeting, she has fired their principal. Arlene Ackerman has been known to do deceitful things. She has lied to and disrespected the teachers, students, and parents of TMAHS. As a strategy to remove Dr. Butscher from his leadership role, Arlene Ackerman and the school board demoted him to a classroom teacher position, which is a direct slap-in-the-face move to oust him out of Thurgood Marshall. Unfortunately, he was forced to acquire another principal position at Oceana High School in Pacifica. To replace him is the former principal of Balboa High School during the time Balboa HS underwent a reconstitution-of-school for underperformance. As you can see, she has replaced a highly competant, well-liked (by teachers, parents, and especially students)principal with a less competant one who is unable to run and lead a high school.

In an article written by a member of the SF Chronicle last month, she was quoted saying, "...they are trying to be a Lowell." This was in response to why students wanted to keep their 280 units. To me, it sounds like a slap in the face. What's wrong with trying to emulate one of the higher performing schools in California? I find it very disturbing that she is trying to deny students, who mainly come from disadvantaged neighborhoods, a quality education.

There is no quality in the 230 unit system. If you speak to Ana-Maria Zelaya (zelaya9902 [at] yahoo.com), the college & career counselor at TMAHS, she can show you how the 230 units do not align with the UC requirements for admissions. I have spoken to other educators at TMAHS and their basic response to this whole situation is that it's disheartening. They've gone to the school board, written letters to senators, Governor Gray Davis, and other officials associated with the California school system to no avail.

The children of the SF unified school district deserve better. They deserve to have the opportunity to receive a quality education, to have a reputable principal, and have the opportunity to go to college. They do not need a superintendent who disrespects them.