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Here’s the email I just sent to the Asst. Superintendent mentioned in the article:

Dr. Parker,

I read with interest this morning’s DMN article about how the Garland ISD plans to spend part of its stimulus money on “Diversity Training” for all Garland ISD employees. As a Garland resident, former Garland ISD educator and an American taxpayer, I have a heightened interest in how you choose to spend this money. And, while I respect your desire to train your employees in the diversity of your student population, I do have a question that I would like you or someone from Garland ISD to answer regarding this training.

According to your quote in the article, you stated:

“We’re training everyone,” Assistant Superintendent Phyllis Parker said, “from cafeteria workers to bus drivers.”

The district already has teacher trainers studying books on working with a diverse student body, and they are taking those lessons to other teachers, Parker said.

Are those training materials available for the public to review? The article stated: “It’s hard to teach students you don’t understand – students who have different backgrounds, speak different languages or have different traditions.” I agree, but that argument plays in all directions. Will the materials you offer to the teachers, bus drivers and cafeteria workers, many of whom are from diverse and minority backgrounds, be including information on the language, traditions and background of all cultures represented in the Garland ISD, including the majority caucasian background?

As you know, language barriers are one of the greatest challenges to communicating and educating students in Garland. If we are trying to improve the relationship between all cultures in a diverse population, what is the point of training minority employees in greater understanding of their own culture, language and background? I would hope that your ‘diversity training’ materials are available for public review, and are also equitable in their approach to familiarizing all employee populations with the languages, traditions and backgrounds of all people represented. Mutual respect for all backgrounds and traditions is necessary for equitably dealing with diverse population, and this would include respect and education of ALL cultures represented in the district, which according to TEA data includes Asian, African American, Hispanic and Caucasian.

Thank you for your time and I would appreciate a response.