Published October 18, 2007 -
Letter to the Editor -
Westlake Picayune newspaper
Dear Editor,
The E3 Alliance's admirable
goal is to address the
plight of children who are
left behind by our public
education system … who fall
into (or sometimes are
pushed into) the proverbial
crack. There are many
children in Eanes ISD who
are, in fact, a casualty of
this district’s failure to
value and address the needs
of all children. I
recommend that Eanes ISD
leadership solicit the input
of parents whose children
are not welcome and/or
served in our district.
Otherwise, the forum results
will inevitably omit
essential information.
The superintendent's message
to the community that we
ought to participate in the
E3 Community Forums as a
means to share tips on how
other school districts can
be as wonderful as Eanes
reflects her failure to
acknowledge the many
children and families who
have been disenfranchised by
this public school
district. Eanes ISD is a
model for “educational
excellence” only for some.
It's easy to hide this
unpleasant picture, because
when children struggle in
our schools, Eanes parents
have the financial means to
provide private tutoring.
When children’s needs are
not met in Eanes ISD,
parents resort to private
school because they are
financially able to do so.
Children who are different
(for a variety of reasons)
and as a result, don’t
readily fit in are not part
of the Eanes picture.
And when these students must
leave, out-of-district
replacements are carefully
screened and chosen by
virtue of whether they fit
the Eanes “mold.”
The E3 Alliance Forum is a
good opportunity to look
within and address the
“educational gaps” that
exist right here in our own
district. When the district
leadership is willing and
able to acknowledge the
children it has left behind
and take real steps towards
inclusion of all children,
perhaps then Eanes ISD can
serve as a model for other
districts.
Dianna Pharr – Austin, Texas
Click here to read the
Eanes ISD superintendent's
... perspective ... on the
forum.
Click here to learn what
happens when Eanes ISD must
serve a subgroup of
economically-disadvantaged
students ...
