I pretty much echo what PS said. I was speaking specifically about the Encinitas area that has many longtime Mexican families that do not speak English in their homes. I know many of them personally and have only the highest regard for them. They are all honest, hardworking honorable people but many of them are trapped at an economic level because of their values. To clarify, I used the word Hispanic because that is how they are classified in the reports (i.e. by ethnicity not country of origin). The truth is most of them in my area are of Mexican descent.
I too believe most people have the same abilities and potential. (Heck some people are just wired different and smarter than most of us). I started on this thread mentioning that I believe API scores are overated and that people should focus on instilling the proper values in the children more than sending them to the #1 ranked school. Unlike many of you, I believe there are many good schools around here that children can and will thrive at as long as they have involved parents. It would not bother me in the least to have economically disadvantaged children in my kids classes, in fact it would give them a more accurate picture of the world. The top ranked schools around here are top ranked because they dont have these children. I grew up in an area where prejudice was rampant. Frankly that is why I dont live there any more. My children are friends with children whose ancestors have been and continue to be at war with my mine. I raise my children to be good citizens of the world in hopes they can spread my values. It is a beautiful thing watching my son play with his friends and not think his hispanic, asian, arabic, catholic, jewish, protestant and african american friends are any different than him.
