Several students in Valley Stream's  High School  district reported that they were forced to learn about the  9/11  attacks for more than eight months in one school year-- for two years in a row.  The students were from immigrant families and came to America legally.   As loyal citizens and residents in their new country, they are happy to learn about American history, but felt very uncomfortable learning about just one topic in their class for the entire school year.  Why did the school administrators approve or allow this lesson plan?

Several of the  targeted students who were primarily Haitian, Latino,  South Asian, Sikh and Muslim brought their concerns to a Muslim and Asian guidance counselor and she advocated on their behalf.  Mysteriously, the  guidance counselor disappeared soon after she spoke up for the students.  The students are fearful that her disappearance is in retaliation for speaking up for the immigrant and Muslim community.  

A Latino guidance counselor also disappeared from the same Valley Stream high school soon after the incident regarding a non Latino  staff member's disparaging remarks against a Latino student.  This was upsetting to the students. The students allege that they see a pattern of  minority guidance counselors being tranferred or removed from the building when they speak up for students.  

We want answers.  We want school districts in Valley Stream to follow the law and protect whistleblowers and educators who do their jobs to protect students.

In addition to the Guidance counselor's sudden disappearance, several students have stated that while most of the teachers truly care about their students and are wonderful,  several staff members in the high school district and administrators have made disparaging remarks to Latino, Haitian, Sikh, Pakistani and other immigrant students such as "Go back to your country".

It is also alleged that minority students were unfairly profiled and targeted for exemption from NYS Regents exams without a full and clear explanation about the disadvantages of opting out of these exams. 

Why do these patterns of  seemingly retaliatory disappearances and disdain for legal immigrants exist in our Valley Stream schools?  Why are superintendents and administrators rewarded with huge pay increases while they allow these toxic conditions to exist in our diverse school district?

The schools and board members often use tokenism and point to a few administrators and superintendents as proof that injustice isn't systemic.  However, these handful of minority hires have not been empowered to truly effect the type of change needed to protect students, teachers, guidance counselors and prevent lawsuits.

We want the school boards in Valley Stream to protect the loving and kind teachers, guidance counselors, principals and staff members who care about the students in our community and truly love the diversity of Valley Stream.  We want the school board to pay closer attention to the people they hire and allow to serve as Superintendents, Deputy Superintendents and HR Leaders.  Principals and teachers have very little power if the people at the top ignore the concerns of the community and the school board is asleep at the wheel.

Immigrant and minority students who are citizens who entered our country lawfully, or who have been in America for generations should not be treated like enemies or outsiders in school. All students should be treated with respect, fairness and kindness.