From Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, the following looks like an event that’s well worth checking out on the important topic of combatting school segregation, and also “how members of the Asian community can become allies in this important effort taking place across the Commonwealth of Virginia.” Just as an example of how this can manifest itself, Attorney General Mark Herring’s office found “that an elite magnet school in Loudoun County discriminates against Black and Hispanic students in its admissions process and is ordering the school system to enact major revisions.” Also, as Secretary Qarni points out, in Virginia “school segregation has manifested itself through gerrymandered school boundaries, and fragmented gifted, specialty and advanced academic programs.” Unfortunately, this problem has been getting *worse* – not better – as this recent analysis found. With that background, here is the zoom registration link for the virtual panel discussion on December 1 at 7 pm. Check it out if you’re interested in this important topic!
There are a lot of inequities in society that have been exacerbated due to COVID. One issue that is particularly concerning is the rising rate of school segregation in Virginia. School segregation has manifested itself through gerrymandered school boundaries, and fragmented gifted, specialty and advanced academic programs. Improving education policy in our Commonwealth to address these inequities has not come without its unique set of challenges. The groups most opposed to these necessary policy changes, not surprisingly, often resort to accusations of reverse racism, with counterarguments steeped in Anti-Black rhetoric. This is unacceptable. We in Virginia need to address racism in all spaces, including those that exist within our communities of color. Many diasporas, like the Asian community which I belong to, deal with issues of colorism, classism, casteism, and other isms. I have decided to host this panel to address this very important issue and learn from the experts on how members of the Asian community can become allies in this important effort taking place across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Please join us on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Here is the zoom registration link
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