Home of Today's Common Sense

Submitted 6/11/2004
I read the Letter entitled “Accountability needed before taxes are raised” moments ago. My first thought was that “someone was writing my sentiments.” After I completed it, I was very appalled at the manner in which very worthwhile issues were addressed. This was from an individual who has sought public office as a conservative!
The good points Mr. Ahumada made were lost in the unsubstantiated allegations of blackmail and favoritism and others. The allegation was made that $500,000 was being spent on two unneeded administration positions without specification or substantiation. Another attack was made as to the incompetence of another area administrator without valid specification, apparently only because he has an advanced degree and may have not addressed a traffic problem to Mr. Ahumada’s satisfaction, still with no example nor valid support.
What really angers me is that he advances his own form of bigotry by asserting that foreign teachers have been hired when there are equally qualified certified local teachers. This is absolutely false and would not have been legal if he is referring to a non-resident alien.
I wonder how does he define foreign? Are they from Minnesota or that really foreign place New Jersey? Is it just because they look or sound different. Perhaps they are the exchange teachers from Germany or Holland. Perhaps they are the Asian Hispanics who were recruited because there were not enough qualified teachers willing to work for BISD. Most if not all of those were tested and certified within the first year and have proven to be valuable teachers. Other asian Hispanics, some of whom have been with BSID for the past twenty years and more, have become some of the most highly respected educators in the BISD system. My wife is one of them who has recently retired after a 30 plus year career of which nearly 20 years has been here in Brownsville.
To attempt to create hostility and division among the educators and voters based on the national origin of extraordinarily qualified workers who are residing legally in the U.S. is despicable.
Unfortunately, the message of accountability has been lost because of the messenger.