“What is David’s stand regarding masks at school?”
Answer: The school administration and the Green Light Committee have done their best to weigh the concerns of the students, parents, administrative staff, and teachers to come up with a plan to maintain an in-person learning environment. Lindbergh was one of the first districts to move from virtual to in-person learning which provides greater benefits for the students. The hope is that we are nearing the end of the pandemic and are moving to a mask optional environment in the near future.
“What is David’s stand on Inclusion, Equity and Diversity?”
Answer: As an immigrant, David is a strong proponent of the diversity of peoples, culture, ideas and including them into the American dream as a foundational framework, making sure that everyone and all have equal opportunity. David also attends the Lindbergh Schools Inclusion, Equity and Diversity (DEI) Committee and the Sub-Committee that deals with community engagement. David believes that the success of the United States with innovation, science, technology, and industry can be directly attributed to the cultivating of ideas.
“What about book banning?”
Answer: David is against banning of books as a principle. When sexually explicit and divisive content was discovered in Lindbergh Schools’ libraries and lesson plans, the concern was to protect students from explicit and divisive materials that are not age appropriate and/or allowed by certain parents. David believes books should be age appropriate, have educational value, and be respectful of the freedom of conscience and of all community values. With proper cataloging and labeling, books can remain accessible to everyone as permitted which shows sensitivity to the values and beliefs students and their families hold.
“What is David’s stand on CRT (Critical Race Theory)?“
To answer this question, we first need to define what the framework of the question is about. According to Dictionary.com, the definition of CRT is:
“Central to Critical Race Theory is the idea that many institutions are built on and enforce systemic racism and oppression of people of color, that this racism and oppression have a long history in the US and the world (including slavery and its legacy), and that they are ongoing and driven by white supremacy.
As an academic, intellectual, or philosophical discipline or school or thought, Critical Race Theory is broad and encompasses the discussion and use of many related concepts and terms, such as implicit bias, intersectionality, and white privilege.”
David does not support the application of CRT being taught as a lens or otherwise. This is not to suggest that there are no issues in our society. However, applying a lens of race, so that our children view different skin color as “oppressor” or “oppressed” is wrong and divisive. David believes that all people are afforded equal rights under the civil rights act and wants to focus on unity, and belonging, making sure that all children are welcomed, just as David and his family experienced, as a diverse and immigrant family.
What about teaching real history?
Answer: David’s platform supports teaching a full, truthful, and honest history without compromise. The key to understanding history, is to objectively analyze it, with the context of the respective time, culture, and society, in order to gain a fuller understanding to learn from.