I have been reflecting a lot on the feedback we got last night and on
Lee's position. I have clarified my views on some important points. 

I believe we do need to make a clear point about how our plan addresses
student academic success. While academic success hinges on so many
different factors (kindergarten readiness, parent education level, teaching
styles, support at home, etc) all of which are greater than the scope of an
elementary assignment plan, I think the plan does play a small part and we
need to make it clear what that part is.
Sit down while you read this, because after reading the statement of
beliefs, I do think that what I am saying is a dissenting view:

I believe that diverse classrooms, especially diverse classrooms based on
class (socio-economic status) DO address student academic success in one
important way: it spreads resource around. Resource as in straight up
dollars for classrooms, volunteers for classrooms (parent who can afford to
miss work), available parents to head committees (same as well as
professional skills), etc. I believe that our second bullet in the
statement of beliefs addresses that nicely. 

I do NOT believe that diversity itself improves academic success - or in
other words, I do not believe that low income kids need to be around high
income kids in order to succeed, OR that this is even a consideration. Nor
do I feel that it is important for a black child to be in a classroom with
a white child, to help that black child's academic success. This is a point
that Shirley was making and I find it offensive. It is my understanding
from my readings, that black children have been found to succeed with
specific kinds of structured classroom settings, with a teacher who hold no
prejudice and maintains high expectations, and with resource provided to
the family as a whole in order to support the student's readiness for
learning each day. That is my understanding. I would be happy to share my
research with anyone should you like to know how I support my opinions.
You've all probably heard the study that was done where two college
students of the same race were tested, but told different information about
what they were being tested on. The student that was being tested on
"intelligence" tested lower than the student being told s/he was tested for
no specific reason. The point: attitudes and expectations of school staff
play a huge role in the achievement gap. Bottom line: racism that is
underlying in so many daily interactions in classrooms, but never talked
about because Berkeley has ceased to take on racism head on, causes
children of different races to be taught differently. Instead we have
"Second Step", or other programs which mean well and attempt to give kids
tools. But what is our staff doing? I do not believe that the staff is the
root of all causes of achievement gaps between races, but my point is that
there are pieces to this puzzle which need to be desegregated, clarified. I
took Terry's comment to heart when he said last night that "Anyone can find
statistics to back up their point of view." I believe that this is true. I
am in favor of the plan that we are proposing, but I do not want to be
misleading as to why.

I believe that "diversity training" which is a name for the work that our
children are doing in learning to work together, is a value and a benefit
of diverse classrooms, especially when it is enhanced by a teacher's
curriculum and openness for dialogue. Our fourth bullet in our statement of
beliefs attempts to address this, but I believe it goes to far in stating
that diversity in our student population: "advances educational and
occupational aspirations; enhances critical thinking skills..." I actually
felt uncomfortable with these statements from the beginning but did not
want to push the issue. Not all statistics point to diversity as enhancing
critical thinking skills. 
I also agree with Catherine that we need to remove the phrase "...by
breaking the cycle of racial hostility". I agree that it is too harsh, and
potentially misconstrued.

I am in favor of using simple language for this proposal we are preparing.
I am in favor of revisiting the statement of beliefs, or I will be
satisfied to write a minority report on my opinion about its wording.

Roia