Monday, March 9, 2009 | Reporter Emily Alpert‘s story about San Diego Unified’s Seminar program was not at all clear that children from all ethnicities and income groups are part of Seminar. The physical classes may show up in more wealthy neighborhoods because that’s where the best teachers may be — but kids come from all over to attend those classes, some with autism and/or learning disabilities. And since when is one parent’s opinion (whose son has already gone through Seminar) somehow an authoritative last word?
Alpert needs to stick to facts — the children in Seminar have special needs, and one parent (whose son already benefited and who’s no longer involved in the program), certainly does not have the expertise to pass judgment.
Finally, in response to school board member Richard Barrera — at my child’s school, there are classes with eight students who are either ESL or low performers, so it is biased to say that other children receive unfair treatment. If gifted children are forced to leave this district, there really will be no diversity left, and San Diego Unified will look the same across the board. The best teachers will be next.