A Chinese-American civil rights group has had enough, lambasting the New York public school system as racist against Asian Americans.
“The City closed down [Gifted and Talented] programs because of “too many Asians,” and the City turned selective schools into lottery admissions because of “too many Asians,” reads the memo from the Chinese-American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York (CACAGNY).
CACAGNY is holding an information session on March 24 where they’ll encourage parents to ditch traditional public schools and instead opt for Success Academy, a free K-12 alternative.
In October, then-mayor Bill DeBlasio abolished the “G&T” program, which critics said had too many Asians and not enough students of colour — Asians have increasingly been lumped in with Whites as a privileged group.
Historically, G&T programs allow higher-achieving students to prepare for elite high schools, which well-to-do parents hope will accept their children.
“Many Chinese parents aim to get their children tested into Specialized High Schools, which still exist thanks in large part to the fight the Chinese community put up to keep them. But without G&T and selective middle schools, how do you prepare your child for the rigors of [specialized school] Stuyvesant?” their memo reads.
Success Academy is the solution, they argue.
“In elementary and middle schools, Success’ performance [in Success Academy] is comparable to, and often better than, that of G&T programs and top-selective schools that Chinese parents try so hard to get their children into.”
“In light of recent attacks on academically rigorous K-12 programs in the name of “equity”, CACAGNY encourages Chinese-American people to apply to charter schools like Success Academy and support school choice in pursuit of academic excellence.”
The debate between equity and equality is front and centre and one that Asian-Americans have been fighting for a few years.
The Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College is an ongoing legal dispute that started in 2014 and is making its way to the Supreme Court. As per the case, Asian-Americans are suing Harvard for discriminatory acceptance policies that make it harder for Asian students to get in. Harvard defends its position in the spirit of “equity.”
Students for Fair Admissions — “Admission” Trailer
Here in Canada, “Equity” is, unfortunately, an all-too-familiar term in education. Equity-based policies openly discriminate against people based on their skin colour. Children included. Because in 2022, that’s considered progress.