I don't have any original thoughts.
Today I read an article about affirmative action. Wow, what a loaded topic. I'm not sure how I feel about affirmative action. I go back and forth. I know I get all excited when people start talking about racism and ethnic minorities, etc. I was a Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity major in college. How could I not get excited? It was fun studying about how racism works in other countries of the world. Well, I guess "fun" is not the word I'm looking for. "Fascinating" is more like it. If you ever want to talk about Koreans in Japan, let me know. That was my thesis topic, and I love chatting about it. Anyways, getting back to my point. Here's my point of tension. Personally, I would like to think that I got into college or got my job because I'm *qualified* for it, no strings attached. With racial preferences, I'm qualified *and* since I'm a minority, I'm in. This actually did happen to me. My internship position at Menlo School is based on affirmative action policies. I didn't know that at first, but when I found out after I got hired, I felt uneasy. My first gut reaction was, "You hired me for my Koreanness and not because I'm qualified??? You hired me so that I could be the poster girl for your magazines, and that your school would have a reputation as being 'racially diverse'???" In the end, I felt like I had to reassure myself that I really was qualified, and I didn't mind so much being on the front cover of the CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools) yearly brochure.
I think affirmative action should be based more on economic need rather than skin color. This argument is making more sense to me. I'm not completely against racial preferences because I also value racial diversity.
I guess it's just a complex topic, and a very sensitive one. Maybe I don't have to have a stand now, but I know I'll be faced with this issue constantly, being a teacher in California.
Ooh, that reminds me, I'm almost credentialed! Yippee! I had always hoped that I would get my schooling done before I got married. But, that didn't happen. Only two more months to go until I'm certified. Grade A. I just need to pass the RICA (Reading Instruction Competency Assessment) and turn in my final portfolio. If you ever want to know if your kids are phonemically aware, just let me assess them. There are five tasks I can perform on them to determine their awareness.