On Diversity class draws national attention

Posted on February 3 at 1:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

donnaw: I agree that we should all aspire to be one nation and one people but under whose terms and standards should this be determined. The simple truth of the matter is that while many of us want to be viewed as simply Americans, the sad reality is that many people of minority status have been oppressed for centuries and have not been given fair and equal opportunities. The Constitution provides the gold standard for us as Americans and indicates that we shall not discriminate because of race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Ask your Afro-Americans friends if they think they have been treated fairly over the centuries? Do they think Afro-Americans are being afforded equal opportunities today? Ask the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin if they have been warming received? Ask your gay and lesbian friends if they have been treated fairly and with dignity as Americans over the years? Ask your Latino neighbors in Delavan if their interests have been well served? The U.S. Office of Civil Rights was been established to assure that all citizens are treated equally as Americans. How many complaints do you think they receive each year? I know.
“White privilege” is predicated on the fact that Anglo-European dominance and influence over the centuries in America has created a series of local, state, and federal practices and policies that are representative of that Anglo-European influence (only) since our founding fathers were Europeans. At issue is that such past developed practices and policies may not be representative of our rich diversity that we enjoy in American today. Again, I applaud the School District of Delavan-Darien for discussing such influences in its diversity class. I, too, am a strong believer that all sides need to be presented and I have utmost confidence that there has been balance in this class. This class is NOT anti-American, it is ALL American and such conversations need to take place. I think the city of Delavan needs to conduct similar conversations. Thomas Jefferson anticipated the very evolving society we are becoming. As our country becomes more and more diverse, it becomes all that much more important that we embrace our diversity as Americans and transform our policies and practices to fairly serve all Americans. I am absolutely convinced that we will be a stronger, richer Country if we proceed in this manner.

On Diversity class draws national attention

Posted on February 2 at 11:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

First, I want to thank Lisa Olson for bringing "white privilege" and diversity into the public arena. I think we seem to avoid many public issues because of our political correctness. Again, I thank Lisa Olson for bringing her perspective into full view. I live in Delavan and I am not surprised by her opinions. Second, I want to indicate that I disagree with just about everything Lisa Olson states but I fully respect her first amendment rights.

Delavan is a microcosm of our larger society because of our cultural and socio-economic diversity. The Delavan community is changing rapidly and we can either embrace our changing demographics or hold dear to the only things that some of us know, that is, what we, as the community of Delavan "used to be". In some public meetings I have attended in Delavan, I have heard public comments about the "little voices" and the "Delavanites" of our community...implying that only certain groups or individuals care about and are entitled to lead the Delavan community forward. Maybe, just maybe, there is some local justification to some of the issues brought forward in the diversity class. It is my sincere hope that we all can learn to embrace our community's diversity as a gift clearly delineated in the School District's Strategic Plan. I would attest that we are all "Delavanites" if we reside within Delavan and it is my sense that we have major work to do in building a united community. Our quality of life in Delavan is directly impacted by some of these issues.

I applaud the School District of Delavan-Darien in providing a wide array of perspectives in the high school diversity class. While I would fully expect my son or daughter to learn about capitalism, communism, and socialism in government class, I would have that same expectation of discussing an array of topics such as "white privilege" in a diversity class.

Our country was viewed as a great experiment 237 years ago and our own community and country is experiencing growing pains because of our changing demographics today. I would suggest that bloggers read the book by Jon Meacham, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power. Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, envisioned an ever-evolving society where the laws of our country needed to change in response to our country's changes. Read the book, it will reveal Jefferson's futuristic direction.

I have a fundamental question: do we want Delavan to be a community of harmony and growth or to we want the community to be one of despair and flight? We have to wrestle with the questions that Lisa Olson presents, whether we agree with her or not. I challenge our own School District and Community to continue with the topic that Lisa Olson has so aptly placed in the forefront but don't forget to include the "little voices" in the conversation.

On Delavan-Darien School Board considers associate principal post for teacher

Posted on July 7 at 5:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Kind of funny how the high school assistant principal vacancy is being filled by Mr. Lodahl who has worked almost exclusively
with students in advanced classes instead of underachieving students. Class warfare, likely! Are the Board's personnel decisions being aligned with district, building, program, and students' needs? Don't think so. Lodahl has been far more of a teacher advocate then an advocate for all students. Very, very little administrative coursework. No administrative experience. Scherer and Peyer fulfilling their campaign promises to bring Lodahl back. They're the ones that are dividing this community(remember, this is their victory). Small town politics and small town ignorance at its ugliest. What a joke and what a mess this so-called Board is making. Lodahl chose to leave the District, his choice, he was not fired and now we're pandering to bring him back. I have a better idea Mr. Peyer and Dr. Scherer, appoint Mr. Lodahl district administrator, that's just as ludicrous!!!