Look in mirror, Mr. VanDorien
June 13, 2008 · Updated 4:27 PM
As a member of the minority community in Federal Way, I must thank you for giving Federal Way School Board member Earl Van Dorien the shovel he needs to dig his own hole.
He has suggested (Nov. 27, Mom suspended after e-mailing school district from work) that black Americans are imprisoned at a higher rate than their presence in the population would statistically suggest could occur by chance for the very same reason that black students are expelled and disciplined in our school system at a higher rate than their numbers would predict. While the reason is unstated, it is clearly implied: the black community breeds criminals and troublemakers at a higher rate than do Asian and white communities.
Of course, Mr. Van Dorien has little experience or education in multivariate statistical modeling and regression analysis, so I suppose I can forgive his unqualified extrapolations from whatever database he seems to be using. However, as a member of the elected body chosen to ensure that all children in this district get a fair shake and an equal opportunity to succeed in school and in life, he should be ashamed of himself.
Next time you ponder why it is black students in this district continue to fare poorly, take a look in the mirror, Mr. VanDorien. And then ponder this: The next School Board election campaign starts now.
Ginny Vanderlinde
Federal Way
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