Sophia Xu, Plainsboro
We will be happy to embrace changes even when the changes are difficult. That’s when we assume the changes are positive. Unfortunately this doesn’t apply to the series of changes to West Windsor Plainsboro (WW-P) School District in the last couple of years. Those adverse changes disappointed many teachers and students, and left many parents in deep concern.
Ever since a little bit over two years ago, a series of changes hit WW-P residents, family, students and even the teachers negatively. Several educational programs were eliminated and some well-received teachers were forced to leave or re-position.
Recently, a big controversy was raised on school district suggesting to eliminate A&E (one of the Gifted and Talented math programs) for fourth and fifth grade, which I heard from multiple resources, helped many kids to achieve their academic excellence.
G&T programs including A&E were evaluated by external experts and a designated internal team. Both external and the internal evaluation reports are posted on WW-P website. The external report highly remarked the school district resource, effort and historical accomplishments in the G&T programs, and advised school district to expand these programs.
Despite that, the school’s internal report proposed eliminating A&E for fourth and fifth grade. When parents raised concerns at the Board of Education (BOE) meeting on Sept. 8, a school official commented that data showed gender and ethnic disparity in A&E program, and higher percentage of Asian kids in the A&E program concerns school leaders.
Dear school leaders, aren’t you aware of that this school district has a large Asian population and more than 60 percent of the students have Asian heritage? When can we leave race out of the picture and deem each and every student equally regardless of race, color and gender?
I paid more attention to BOE meeting because of this incident, yet more and more adverse changes surfaced since then. For example, the Chromebook was implemented even to elementary school, despite the known controversy and high financial burden on taxpayers; the midterm/final exams for high school were eliminated; the chamber orchestra was moved to after school without late bus, many children/parents have to give it up, and so on. All those changes were imposed by school administrators without any consideration of parents’ opinions. Where are parents’ rights after we paid the school expenses including administrators’ salary?
I understand that there are always changes when a new leader is in office, but please think again whether the changes you wish to have will be beneficial or detrimental to our children. It is never too late to make corrections.
Dear fellow parents, please attend BOE meetings and let your voice be heard. It is for our children, for our school district, and for this great country, since her future will be on today’s children.
Sophia Xu
Plainsboro
