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fmr323 I heard a high paid pundit on television say Oregon (Or uh gone) over and over the other day. I am from Illinois and hear adults with PhD's say Illinoise still. I heard her say the T as well and my first thought was not that Jeff is a bad school or she is not a good student but that she must not have been exposed to this before and was simply reading it off the paper phonetically or she was NERVOUS being on the radio and said it wrong. I challenge you to rethink your first impression and remember what it is like to be in high school on the first day.

I would have called in today but think out loud only says the number to call in twice the whole program and I missed it all the first time and then it was ten minutes till the show ended before they repeated it again. I agree that boundary lines are going to need to be redrawn and that those lines will probably have to cross the river. I talk to so many parents that have no idea how segregated and inequitable PPS is. I heard a young woman from Roosevelt burst into tears talking to the school board about her schools bad reputation and that it simply wasn't true and how kids worked hard. You could just feel her heart breaking in that room and I thought to myself that is true school spirit. It is hard to hear people make blanket statements about opportunities being wasted on certain schools. Do people really think that? Have we sunk that low?

posted 3 years, 8 months ago
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I appreciated hearing from the caller today that told his story about his neighbor from Nigeria sharing her experience at airports with him.

As someone who is white and grew up in the midwest I also experienced a culture shock in Portland. I was miserable living in SE Portland and moved to N Portland and feel much more at home there than anywhere else in the city. I am thrilled that my daughter goes to school with children that have a different first language, that have different economic backgrounds, and are different colors. The inequities are glaring when you take a look at the schools and the opportunities that vary depending on your home address. I have had parents say to me, "but have you seen the kids that go to that school your daughter attends?"....yes I have and all I see are learners.

It is a matter of personal responsibility for me to address outdated ideas and work towards greater equity. All I can do is set an example and educate people along the way. I get looks from both white and black people in my neighborhood park if I get a game of tag going with all the kids and invite anyone within earshot. My daughter has autism and has not yet experienced that layer of inequity and all that matters to me is that she has friends from all walks of life and that I can shield her just a few more years from the reality of the discrimination and barriers she may endure.

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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