As a parent and activist, I am open to dialogue in regards to this issue. I have been asked a question such as why am I speaking on this issue? My answer to that question is because I am a parent and activist. I believe through the statistics that I have researched and mentioned there has been unfair mistreatment to the certified minorities whom have applied for the position of teacher. To my surprise I had a talk with my fifth grade teacher. She disagreed with my arguments in defense to one of the candidates. I explained to her that it was nothing personal against that particular candidate, however, there are other candidates who are a minority, that live in the community and have worked with the students, whether it was coaching, after school programs or mentoring programs, that are just as qualified, or more than the candidate that was going to receive the position. The board recognized a discrepancy and decided to "retable" the position.
There are a lot of people in the community that feel the same way as I do. All I want is for the school superintendent and board president to reform the way hiring is conducted. That could happen by providing outside independent personnel to conduct the hiring process. I believe this will promote better and fair assessment in the hiring process, as well as eliminate the possibility of favoritism or nepotism. The superintendent structured the district to where the principal of each school, aid in the hiring of the teacher position at each school. For instance, the Lafayette-Pershing (Half day Preschool and Kindergarten) School, has a kindergarten teacher position open. Three of the candidates, the principal already have a working and personal relationship with the principal. One of the three candidates has worked under the principal supervision, when the principal was an assistant principal at Field Street School. My question is; who is to say that one of the three candidates will get the position as teacher, not because they are qualified, but due to the fact the three candidates already know the principal? That would not be fair to other minority candidates whom do not know the principal. So how can there be an assurance of a fair and unbiased assessment?
Early in December, the United States Attorney General, Eric Holder and United States Educational Secretary, Arne Duncan mandated that race can be considered in education. Also, mandated, you cannot have diversity without dealing with the factor of race. As a community; parents, activists, clergy members and other community leaders must pack the school board meetings and encourage "the powers that be" to implement a cultivating hedge of resources around our children. I have studied the structure of the school board and instead of the school district operating like an educational institution; it is operated like a business. For example, a business has a board of directors, schools have a board of education, business has ceo, schools have superintendents, business has managers and schools have administrators.
Until the school board reform the way our children are educated and minority teachers are hired, I will continue to speak on this issue. The people that do not attend the school board meetings need to know what is happening within our school district. As an activist, I will continue to speak about any and all injustices in my community and other communities abroad, especially education. I will shine light in dark places, I will speak when other people will not talk, I will continue to speak a word when others are scared and I will walk where others are coward.
This issue of quality education and fair treatment in minority hiring may not be on the school board agenda but it is definitely on mine.
Walter L. Hudson Sr. / Community Activist
Chairman of Community Awareness Alliance
Penns Grove, New Jersey
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