{"id":1588159,"date":"2022-08-04T07:48:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T11:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1588159"},"modified":"2022-08-04T07:48:12","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T11:48:12","slug":"following-backlash-over-racist-comments-san-francisco-school-board-commissioner-votes-to-admonish-herself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/following-backlash-over-racist-comments-san-francisco-school-board-commissioner-votes-to-admonish-herself\/","title":{"rendered":"Following Backlash Over \u201cRacist\u201d Comments, San Francisco School Board Commissioner Votes to \u201cAdmonish\u201d Herself"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffollowing-backlash-over-racist-comments-san-francisco-school-board-commissioner-votes-to-admonish-herself%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1588159&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><\/div>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>San Francisco Board of Education Commissioner Anna Hsu is running to keep her seat amid growing controversy. After recent comments of hers surfaced, calls for her resignation reached a fever pitch, and the San Francisco Unified School District held a special meeting to vote to admonish Hsu for the statements. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>In a twist that can only be described as one with overtones of the Maoist Cultural Revolution, McCarthyist, and Orwellian, Hsu voted to admonish herself, as well. The San Francisco school board was already in turmoil after recall elections this year took three members, one of whom was cited for making racist comments against Asian Americans. Hsu was appointed by Mayor London Breed.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\"><\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>At issue is an answer Hsu submitted in advance of the November election to the Parent Action form for candidates on the question &#8220;How can SFUSD increase academic outcomes for the most marginalized students?&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>In response, Hsu said &#8220;From my very limited exposure in the past four months to the challenges of educating marginalized students especially in the black and brown community, I see one of the biggest challenges as being the lack of family support for those students. Unstable family environments caused by housing and food insecurity along with lack of parental encouragement to focus on learning cause children to not be able to focus on or value learning.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>San Francisco&#8217;s schools are <a href=\"https:\/\/calmatters.org\/education\/2017\/10\/san-francisco-states-worst-county-black-student-achievement\/\">notoriously bad<\/a>, even in the state of California, for having remarkably low test scores for black and brown minority students. As noted in 2017, only 19 percent of those students had passed state tests in reading, compared to 31 percent of that demographic statewide.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>Hsu responded to the backlash with requisite apologies, saying:<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;Last week, I submitted my candidate questionnaire to SF Parent Action. After hearing feedback from the community, I revised one of my answers to reflect a deeper understanding of the challenges facing BIPOC students.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-embed-card\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">[1\/8] Last week, I submitted my candidate questionnaire to SF Parent Action. After hearing feedback from the community, I revised one of my answers to reflect a deeper understanding of the challenges facing BIPOC students.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Ann Hsu (@AnnforSFboe) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AnnforSFboe\/status\/1549501661609021445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 19, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;I was trying to understand and address a serious problem and seek solutions, and in so doing I said things that perpetuated biases already in the system. I want to be absolutely clear about two things:<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;First, I believe that the institutional racism that is deeply embedded in our society harms students and their families.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;I believe that problems like generational poverty, food insecurity &#038; housing insecurity\u2013which disproportionally affect our BIPOC families, due to systemic racism &#038; inequality\u2013make it harder for children to learn, harder for families to function, harder for teachers to teach.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;Second, in trying to convey my thoughts on this subject, I misspoke. My statements reflected my own limited experiences and inherent biases. I made a mistake, and I am deeply sorry. I am committed to listening, learning and growing as a person.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019ve heard valuable feedback from BIPOC families and will be prioritizing and centering their voices in my work on the BOE through listening sessions and community outreach as we move forward.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;I am committed to doing better and being held accountable, just as I will hold SFUSD accountable for improving outcomes for all students.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>And in a public meeting, she apologized further, saying that she &#8220;unintentionally perpetuated harmful stereotypes. I made a mistake, and I&#8217;m deeply sorry.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>And in a special public meeting held directly for this <a href=\"https:\/\/go.boarddocs.com\/ca\/sfusd\/Board.nsf\/goto?open&#038;id=CGQL2B5357B0\">purpose<\/a>, she <a href=\"https:\/\/sfstandard.com\/education\/ann-hsu-rejects-calls-to-resign-but-joins-unanimous-vote-for-her-own-admonishment\/\">voted to admonish herself<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>The San Francisco Unified School District held that:<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;Commissioner Ann Hsu recently made written statements that, in the judgment of Board leadership, undermine and run counter to this Board&#8217;s belief that we as a District are most responsible when our students fail, and that all students can succeed regardless of their race, zip code, income level, or any other factor. Commissioner Hsu\u2019s comments to the contrary are hurtful and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>The SFUSD noted what those comments were, then said that &#8220;Shortly after issuing this statement, Commissioner Hsu issued an apology and stated her commitment to listen and learn as important first steps for restoring the community\u2019s trust.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;Commissioner Hsu&#8217;s comments come at a time when the Board is in the process of reforming its behaviors and processes to produce better outcomes for students. At this Special Meeting, the Board will discuss, consider and decide whether to admonish Commissioner Hsu for these statements or take other action, as appropriate.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>The Board, in essence, took the responsibility for student failures and successes on their own shoulders entirely,<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-embed-card\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cVoted yes to admonish herself\u201d is some true Cultural Revolution level stuff <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OPlGTSclne\">https:\/\/t.co\/OPlGTSclne<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Inez Stepman ????? (@InezFeltscher) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/InezFeltscher\/status\/1554812549698408448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 3, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>Local paper <em>Mission Local<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/missionlocal.org\/2022\/08\/ann-hsu-school-board-board-of-education-naacp\/\">said<\/a> that Hsu&#8217;s remarks were &#8220;pinning Black and Latinx students\u2019 poorer outcomes on bad parenting&#8221; and &#8220;putting the onus back on students and their families.&#8221; <em>Mission Local<\/em> declared that Hsu had said &#8220;that Black and Latinx parents don&#8217;t care about their children.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>ABC affiliate KQUED <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kqed.org\/news\/11920452\/ann-hsu-sfusd-saga-after-racist-statement-whos-pushing-for-her-removal-and-whos-supporting-her\">said<\/a> her remarks were &#8220;racially insensitive,&#8221; further saying that Hsu&#8217;s statement &#8220;reinforced racist stereotypes about Black and brown families.&#8221; The Democratic Party of San Francisco is calling for her resignation. The SF Latinx Democratic Club, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, the SF Labor Council, the African American Parent Advisory Council, and the Asian and Pacific Islander Council, among others, all backed calls for Hsu&#8217;s resignation. The NAACP is also calling for her voluntary removal.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>The NAACP statement read: &#8220;Her comments indicate a profound disconnect between Hsu and the Black community and blame the effects of systemic racism on the targets of that racism.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>&#8220;Hsu\u2019s explanation to us concerning her statements was that she has very limited knowledge of Black people, and that she is a scientist by profession, not a politician. These reasons not only ring hollow but are illogical on their face. Scientists gather empirical evidence to disprove a theory before stating it as fact. Yet she chose to make shockingly false statements about Black students and families while having no meaningful knowledge about them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>KQUED unearthed additional comments Hsu had made, such as when she noted that her son enjoyed online learning because &#8220;he didn&#8217;t have to deal with riff-raff.&#8221; This was considered a racist comment, per KQUED, despite it not being a comment on any race of person in particular, which leads<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<figure class=\"kg-card kg-embed-card\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In this clip Ann Hsu said her son really liked online learning and did well in school because he didn\u2019t have to deal with \u201cRiff-Raff\u201d, however, she led the recall campaign telling voters her children suffered from distance learning. Which lie is the truth? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AnnHsuMustResign?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AnnHsuMustResign<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CAm2AihdB8\">pic.twitter.com\/CAm2AihdB8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Bivett (@BivettB) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BivettB\/status\/1550894694615306240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 23, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>Hsu, an Asian American immigrant who worked for two decades in tech, was appointed by San Francisco Mayor London Breed after <a href=\"https:\/\/thepostmillennial.com\/san-francisco-school-board-members-ousted-in-landslide-recall-vote\">three school board members were ousted in a recall election<\/a> for their insistence on renaming &#8220;racist&#8221; schools, including Abraham Lincoln High School. Lincoln, of course, ended slavery in the United States.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-v-f313b7e6=\"\">\n<p>Much of the effort behind that recall was by Asian American parents and families. Hsu remains on the November ballot.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>San Francisco Board of Education Commissioner Anna Hsu is running to keep her seat amid growing controversy. After recent comments of hers surfaced, calls for her resignation reached a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1588354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1588159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1588159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1588159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1588159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1588354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1588159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1588159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1588159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}