Mimi, I am dreadfully sorry that this is happening to you. I will hold you and yours in my thoughts as, I am sure, will all of this list. Unfortunately, racism is not dead in this country. We recently moved from the California coast, from the heart of hippiedom and alleged tolerance and one of the factors was the unrelenting elitism. One of the local school districts had NO ESL students (my practice was 50% hispanic and many of them spoke no English), only 1 economically disadvantaged student (more than half my practice was MediCal) and they bussed their special ed students to the other school district. Many parents in the school district where I lived used phony addresses to have their students in the other, elite school district. Many of these were parents who live Green, talk Green but that racism is still there deep in their hearts and woe be to the person who tries to point it out to them. Still the students know what is deep in their hearts and reflect it in their actions. Unfortunately, our current government is not leading us into togetherness but is bringing division among us. Partly because as long as we are not together, we can be herded and manipulated. And, until we are able to realize that what hurts one child hurts them all, this will continue. Sometimes it seems hopeless. But I continue to cling to the hope brought by the examples of people such as yourself that someday things can and will change. And until then, know that at least you have our support Vicki ---------- Original Message ----------- From: Harry Gewanter <> To: Pedtalk List <> Sent: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 07:16:18 -0400 Subject: Re: One of the many reasons why I am so determined.... > I echo Herb's comments. Hats off for doing what is right, not > expedient.