School Board member Kathy Paspalis was interviewed yesterday by this paper, saying, “Equity at all of the schools really doesn't make sense from a programmatic standpoint. They all have different needs.”
It seems Ms. Paspalis, a lawyer, may be confused about the meaning and usage of the terms “equal” and “the same.” If she wants a quick refresher on their differences, she need only to go to the first sentence of our country’s Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Notice Thomas Jefferson wrote equal and not “the same.”
If Jefferson had written that all men are created the same, it would have conveyed a totally different meaning.
And so are supporters of El Marino Language School.
Semantic Play
When it comes to the correct usage of “equal” and “the same,” El Marino's staunchest supporters who are trying to semantically twist and confuse this difference to make it sound as if everything is fine, should have a hard time convincing the court of public opinion of their correctness.
No Leg To Stand On
They are talking like courtroom lawyers who know that if you cannot win your case based on the facts, then you do your best to confuse the issue.
Just as we all know that there are no two schools exactly the same, or no two students the same, nor two teachers equal in their abilities, El Marino supporters are deliberately trying to confuse the terms “the same” with “equally.”
Different schools should not be treated the same. On that we can agree. But we also should be able to agree that all schools and their students, though different and not the same, should be treated equitably by the District.
Tale of Two Schools
Ms. Paspalis continues: “We have two schools that have immersion programs that other schools don't have.”
But even these two Spanish immersion programs, one at La Ballona, the other at El Marino, as of Tuesday night, are officially being treated quite differently by our school district.
Same Service At Higher Costs
According to the Board's newly passed Policy 4400, if La Ballona wants to hire a language adjunct to help its immersion students learn the subtle intricacies of speaking Spanish, it now must go through the District and pay higher wages and benefits for that service, more than El Marino would pay.
Adjuncts For Less
Why? Because at Tuesday night's meeting, the Board chose to officially exempt El Marino from Board Policy 4400. This special treatment lets El Marino continue to hire their own adjuncts – for less – without having to go through the District.
Something's Gotta Change
Is this equitable? One school's booster club paying for the same student service but at a higher cost? It’s not even close to being fair or equitable!
When it costs more for La Ballona's local booster club, in supporting the same immersion program, to hire adjuncts, you can only conclude that La Ballona's Spanish immersion students are at a fiscal and educational disadvantage when compared to El Marino's students.
Ed Code Equity
Will the District end up having to subsidize La Ballona’s booster club for the additional costs it will incur by having to go through the District? Would that make the access to its adjuncts' services more equitable?
I do not think we have heard the last of this issue.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
