I remember how it was -- JR
Asian parents filed a federal discrimination suit against the New York State Education Department Wednesday — claiming their kids are being unfairly kept out of a STEM summer program
The state-funded Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) admits around 11,000 7th-to-12th-grade students a year for classes at 56 participating colleges and medical schools statewide.
The pre-college enrichment program aims to “increase the number of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students prepared to enter college and improve their participation rate” in math, science, tech and health fields, according to its website.
But while black, Hispanic and Native American students can apply regardless of family wealth — Asian and white schoolkids need to meet certain low-income criteria, the lawsuit filed in upstate New York federal court claims.
“In other words, the Hispanic child of a multi-millionaire is eligible to apply to STEP, while an Asian American child whose family earns just above the state’s low- income threshold is not, solely because of her race or ethnicity,” the filing states.
The allegedly biased admissions criteria have been in place for nearly four decades, the suit claims, adding: “Thirty-nine years of discrimination is enough.”
Plaintiffs include New York City-based Yiatin Chu of the Asian Wave Alliance, who said she was stunned when she first heard of STEP’s policy a few weeks ago and decided to join the suit, which also names Education Commissioner Betty Rosa as a defendant.
“This is outright discrimination against Asian-American students pursuing the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education] field,” said Chu, an advocate for merit-based admissions at the city’s specialized high schools.
“The program should be for all students or for low income students. The state is choosing which race is eligible,” she told The Post.
Other plaintiffs include the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York, Inclusive Education Advocacy Group and Higher with Our Parent Engagement.
Attorneys from both the Pacific Legal Foundation and the anti-affirmative action group Equal Protection Project of the Legal Insurrection Foundation are representing them in the case.
The EPP has filed other lawsuits and civil rights complaints with the US Education Department against New York colleges for allegedly promoting discriminatory racial-preference admission policies for academic programs.
“The time has come to correct and end discrimination against students throughout the state,” said EPP’s president and director William Jacobson, a Cornell Law professor.
The Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org) is proud to team up with Pacific Legal to challenge discriminatory standards in the STEP program so that students do not miss out on educational opportunities because of their skin color or ethnicity,” he said.
In 1985, New York lawmakers passed legislation aimed at boosting interest in science, technology, and healthcare among low-income and underrepresented minority students — resulting in the creation of STEP, which earmarked public funds to 56 colleges, universities and medical schools statewide to instruct the younger students.
Colleges host and operate STEP initiatives for 7th-to-12th-grade students that include instruction, exam preparation, hands-on and research training, college admissions guidance and career-focused activities such as field trips and college visits.
But racial-preference programs — aimed at correcting historic injustices or underrepresentation of African Americans and other minorities — have come under the microscope after the US Supreme Court last year struck down college affirmative action programs aimed at boosting minority representation as discriminatory.
“If the government wants to fund educational opportunities for children in need, it can do so. What it can’t do is use economic need as a way to treat applicants differently based on their race,” the Pacific Legal Foundation said in a statement.
“STEP’s expressly race-conscious application process blatantly violates the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee.”
The Education Department had no immediate comment.
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Over 300 schools including primaries, secondaries and even nurseries told to stop calling pupils 'boys and girls' after signing up to scheme run by controversial trans rights lobbying group Stonewall
More than 300 schools have been told to stop calling pupils 'boys and girls' after signing up to a scheme run by a controversial trans rights lobbying group.
Primaries, secondaries and even nurseries teaching children as young as two receive awards from the charity Stonewall if they 'remove any unnecessarily gendered language' from the classroom.
They are urged to use 'they' instead of 'he'/'she' and 'children' or 'young people' instead of 'boys and girls'.
Other demands include installing gender-neutral toilets and making both boys and girls wear the same uniforms.
Stonewall's new annual report reveals that at least 300 schools around England remain signed up to the 'champions scheme' even though it has been shunned by government departments because of its radical policies, including backing 'self-ID' for anyone wanting to change gender.
Last night former Minister Sir John Hayes, who has tabled questions in Parliament on Stonewall's links to Whitehall, vowed to write to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan about the scheme.
He told The Mail on Sunday: 'Stonewall sucks ever more from hard-pressed schools, and in doing so seeks to distort the language used by teachers and pupils.
'I would urge all schools to avoid Stonewall like the plague.'
Stonewall's website says 'any educational institution catering for pupils aged 2-18' can sign up to the School & College Champions programme, with membership costing £99 for the first year.
Scheme members progress from bronze to silver and then to gold as they adopt more of the programme's advice.
In order to achieve 'Stonewall gold status', schools have to be part of the scheme for two years and provide evidence of their commitment to inclusivity in lessons as well as policies.
One secondary that won the award in 2021 said its activities included 'writing a trans-inclusion policy, adapting the School Journey policy to be LGBTQ+ inclusive, and collating LGBTQ+ inclusive lessons from across the curriculum'.
A guide from 2022 for schools wanting to secure an award gives an example of how a PE teacher could become more inclusive by saying 'boys, girls and non-binary students, pick your team now' or use gender neutral language such as 'students, pick your team now'.
It also urges staff to avoid language that plays into 'gendered stereotypes'.
'Are members of staff using phrases such as 'man up' or 'don't be such a girl'? Is language inclusive of non-binary people or are members of staff addressing groups students using gendered language such as 'boys and girls'?' it asks.
Stonewall made £2.9million in 'fee income' in 2022-23, including 'annual contributions from schools or local authorities joining our School Champions or Education Champions programmes', according to its latest accounts.
It also received £1.2 million in grants, including £101,613 from the Scottish Government and £100,000 from the Welsh Government.
Conservative MP Nick Fletcher, who sits on the Education Select Committee, said: 'The Education Act is clear that partisan and ideological material should not be promoted in our schools.
'Surely Stonewall continually promoting the unscientific and highly contentious idea of 'gender identity' is exactly this.
'Is it time for the Government to draw up a blacklist of organisations that ignore these Education Act provisions and who therefore should not be used by our schools?'
Stephanie Davies-Arai of campaign group Transgender Trend said: 'Stonewall has cynically used their credibility as a once highly respected organisation to become peddlers of an extremist ideology and they have deliberately set out to target children from the start.'
A spokesman for Stonewall said: 'LGBTQ+ children still face high levels of bullying and significant barriers in education, so it is only right for schools to create an environment where they can grow up supported and safe to learn.'
The Department for Education said: 'We withdrew from Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme in 2022 and have not funded any programmes related to diversity and inclusion schemes since to ensure value for money to the taxpayer.'
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Back to School Warning on Forced Marriage of Students
Our charming Muslim population I guess
Australian school communities are being urged to watch out for signs of forced marriage and raise the alarm if they suspect a student is in danger.
Teachers and classmates are often best placed to spot human trafficking, according to Australian Federal Police.
A family history of leaving education early, being uneasy about an upcoming family holiday, concerns about marrying at a young age and being worried about physical or psychological violence are common signs to look out for, the force said.
Red flags also include control outside the home, such as surveillance, having limited control over finances or life decisions and restricted communications.
Commander Helen Schneider said most reported victims are young women and girls but it can also affect men and boys.
“Forced marriage is not limited to any cultural group, religion or ethnicity,” Commander Schneider said.
“Anyone can be a victim of forced marriage, regardless of their age, gender or sexual orientation.”
Police define the crime as person entering marriage due to coercion, threats, deception or without fully consenting due to factors like mental capacity or age.
It’s been a crime in Australia since 2013 and applies to legal, cultural or religious ceremonies here and overseas.
Federal police received 340 reports of human trafficking, including forced marriage and sexual servitude, in 2022/23.
That’s a 15.6 percent increase on the previous 12 months, with Commander Schneider describing the rise as encouraging considering it’s thought to be under reported.
“Disrupting human trafficking represents an excellent outcome, unlike other crime types where we focus on prosecution,” she explained.
“Instead of prosecuting a forced marriage, if we can prevent it from occurring in the first place, then it’s a positive outcome for would-be victims and investigators.”
https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/back-to-school-warning-on-forced-marriage-of-students-5570258
******************************************************My other blogs: Main ones below
http://dissectleft.blogspot.com (DISSECTING LEFTISM)
http://antigreen.blogspot.com (GREENIE WATCH)
http://pcwatch.blogspot.com (POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH)
http://australian-politics.blogspot.com/ (AUSTRALIAN POLITICS)
http://snorphty.blogspot.com/ (TONGUE-TIED)
http://jonjayray.com/blogall.html More blogs
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