WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES APRIL 15, 2021 13
Fighting for what’s right
BY DONGHUI ZANG AND PHIL WONG
In a recent op-ed printed in this
publication, education activist
Charles Vavruska was slurred for
his advocacy for improved education
for all New York City children. We
and many parents from the Chinese
community have fought alongside
him on many educational issues including
saving the SHSAT and Gift ed
and Talented programs.
We have fought the misguided
eff orts of Mayor Bill de Blasio and
former Chancellor Carranza to eliminate
the SHSAT. The Specialized High
Schools including Stuyvesant, Bronx
Science and Brooklyn Tech have been
providing excellent education for
generations of New York City students.
The SHSAT, which is the sole
admissions criteria to the Specialized
High Schools, is objective and merit
based.
It has provided opportunity for
thousands of children without asking
who their parents are, what race they
are, or who they know. Working class,
middle class and immigrant children
know that if they work hard and use
their God-given ability they have the
opportunity to attend some of the best
schools in the country.
We have fought to keep and expand
Gift ed and Talented programs.
We believe that every child in our
great city should be challenged to
their ability. We believe every child
should be lifted up and no child
should be pushed down. Sadly, these
programs are under attack, and we
call on all parents to join us to fi ght
to keep and restore these necessary
opportunities.
We call on the New York City Council,
the New York State Assembly and
the New York State Senate to pass
Council Member Holden’s Resolution
417, Assembly Member Colton’s bill
A4083A and Senator Addabbo’s bill
S3445A. These bills would mandate
district-wide tested G&T programs in
every district as well as advanced and
honors classes in every elementary
and middle school. All children need
to have the opportunity to attend
these programs that are the pipeline
to the Specialized High Schools and
success in life. We shouldn’t eliminate
these programs or water them
down. We should expand them and
make them more rigorous.
When former Chancellor Carranza
pushed his extreme ideology in our
public schools, we protested and
called for his removal. We found it
off ensive that he pushed propaganda
OP-ED
that labeled individualism, objectivity,
perfectionism, and worship of
the written word ‘white-supremacy
culture.’ Many Chinese-Americans
strongly believe in these values and
reject the racialization of strong academics
and hard work.
As we have seen the city become
more and more unsafe in the last year,
we believe it is urgent to ensure our
children are safe in school. When
children were assaulted in schools,
we stood with their parents to ensure
their voices were heard. This was not
‘grandstanding’ as Carranza called
it, but what was necessary to let
children learn without they or their
parents being in fear. Parents want
their children to get a good education
but that is not possible if they are not
safe.
We have been proud to fi ght alongside
Charles Vavruska on these issues.
To slander him for what we have done
to improve education is absurd and
defi es common sense. But in a world
where what’s right is portrayed as
wrong and what’s wrong is portrayed
as right by radical ideologues, it is not
entirely surprising.
Phil Wong is president of the Chinese
American Citizens Alliance Greater
New York and Donghui Zang is president
of the New York City Residents
Alliance.
SNAPS
CHERRY BLOSSOMS AT FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY LEANN BUGARIN
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