When I was a kid growing up during the Depression, there were signs in public places and advertisements in the newspapers saying, "No Jews Need Apply," "No Catholics" and "No Colored." After World War II, they disappeared, but recent events connected with choosing a chancellor for the New York City schools raise a question about whether the practices continue even though the signs and advertisements are gone.
Several months ago, I received a letter saying I had been nominated for the job of chancellor. The letter stated that, at some later point in the process, I would have to provide various kinds of documentation. But the only form included with the invitation was a two-page questionnaire about racial and gender identity. I didn't bother to send it in.
When the N.Y.C. Board of Education announced its short list for the job of chancellor, there were three candidates: an African-American, Bernard Gifford, a Hispanic, Waldemar Rojas, and a white man, Gerald Tirozzi. We heard that they were all outstanding people, and whoever was chosen would do an excellent job. Before the selection could be made, Gifford, who was the frontrunner, withdrew, and Rojas's candidacy faded. That seemed to leave Tirozzi, but the next thing we knew, the board had reopened the competition.
What does that mean? When Tirozzi was on a list with two other candidates, people said that any one of them would be terrific. So why didn't he get the job? Is the result of this search the equivalent of posting a sign saying "No Whites Need Apply" for the job of New York City chancellor? And if so, was it better in the old days when prejudice was out in the open or nowadays when prejudice is hidden?
... And Not Too Many Asian-Americans
According to a story that appeared in the Sacramento Bee ("A Lesson in Asian Disparity," May 9, 1993 ), admissions officers from California state colleges and universities have warned Asian-American students that they might have a hard time getting into top California schools--even if they are top students. Admissions officers deny that there are ethnic quotas, and they talk about "well-rounded" classes and students. However, their bottom line seems to be that there are too many Asian- Americans qualifying, and, as one admissions officer put it, "the university has a responsibility to provide access to all sectors of the people of California." In other words, they had better save some room for lower-achieving students who are not Asian-American. So Asian-American students are being encouraged to cultivate non-academic interests--and apply to less prestigious schools.
The standard operating here is terribly unfair to the youngsters who have worked hard and played by the rules, only to find that the rules don't count for them. We've fought many battles in this country to make what a person can do the deciding factor in getting into college or getting a job instead of whether the person is white, brown, black or yellow. That's one of the basic tenets of the Civil Rights movement, and the California admissions policy is a big step in the wrong direction. It's also counterproductive from an educational point of view. We need to raise the achievement of our students so it is comparable to that of students in other industrialized nations. Yet colleges and universities in California--and elsewhere--turn down excellent students because they don't want too many of one race or ethnic group. What kind of message does that send to our students?
Other countries make sure their youngsters know that achievement in the intellectual arena requires the same kind of hard work and devotion as becoming a top tennis player or skier. They make sure students know that their job is to study and learn. And they reward achievement: Youngsters who meet high academic standards get into college or, if they are going right from school to work, they get top jobs with top companies.
Our kids get a mixed message. On the one hand, we say that working hard and achieving in school are important. On the other hand, youngsters can see they don't need to work hard and achieve to get into most colleges; they will be able to find a college to accept them no matter how little they know. And kids can see that hard work and achievement may not be rewarded by getting into a top school anyway. They may still be passed over--like these Asian-American students. No wonder most of our youngsters take it easy.