Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
A Year Later: An Understanding of Academia Semillas
It's hard to not stay objective on this subject. There is so much missinformation out there on this school, that most people post with out knowing any facts and interject their personal opinions in their analysis. I my self, who's been involved with this school since before it's creation, don't know all the details.
All i know is what I've seen. I've spoken to these people that are being accused of separatism and communism and racism. In fact I've grown up around them. I grew up in the area, I've practiced Danza, I even have some of the same blood as "them." I've gone through the public system, El Sereno junior high (now it's called middle school).
So here's the REAL origin and story of the school.
The idea behind the school was that children (the collective we) weren't getting a proper education. As we grew up and learnt more about the world and that information was actually being held from us for stupid reasons, we got pissed off. From little facts like Columbus never stepped foot in America, to that the founding fathers had their faults, to yeah, this was part of Mexico at one point.
And that's where the xenophobes start jumping up and down screaming "la Raza is coming." This is far from the facts and misleading. The intent was to better educate an under represented community.
So the people with the idea, who happened to also practice Danza in this community, got together to work this out. And in the end, THE COMMUNITY came up with this school. And it took a greater part of five years to get it started.
One of the contentions is that this school caters to ILLEGAL immigrants. There is no evidence of this at all. This again was a flash point by xenophobes and peoples wishing to push their political agendas. The status of the children and the parents that attend this school is not documentation available to people online.
There is also assumption that these kids don't speak English. So i will tell you two things. These kids are citizens of the united states and speak English. Plus other languages, languages that are not communist by nature, but those that are actually spoken in the area. Languages that they will encounter in daily life.
Oh, and on the side I'm pushing for greater sign language. Something i was taught at El Sereno, but not by teachers. Speaking of which, school safety. This wasn't an issue UNTIL the KABC "report."
Going to El Sereno, a few blocks away from the school, i had been shot at several times just waiting for the bus. Gang members inside the school tried to pick on me because i was a "geek." This kind of activity doesn't happen at the school. Even the gang members in the area respect the school and rarely if ever tag on the walls. And NO gang member attends the school.
And as for Sandy Welle's and his so called brutal assault. Well, he shouldn't have been trying to force his way in to a school he was denied access to. Onions on the school aside, if you ask to come and visit and are denied, it is not your right to start filming children under the guise of an interview. His ass whopping was not an action taken by Marcos. It was a direct result of his on air assault on the school.
Following this, there were several insults, bomb threats, physical threats, of the school, children, families and community members who cared about the children and loved the school.
Following this, there was documentation of the minute men and save our state personas coming in to the community performing illegal activities such as parking and traffic block (i.e. traffic violations), and trespassing.
Following this, those of us who felt a need to ensure the safety of the faculty and children of this school due to lack of security were labeled goons and illegal alien supporters and amnesty whatever, and so on and so on. Lumping us ALL up in to one polarized opinionated category. But like i said. Misleading.
This school isn't a "La Raza" school, it isn't a separatist school, it's just a school. Where the children are happy, and growing smarter and smarter everyday. They have two locations and are seeking a third, that location has not been decided yet and may not be. It all depends on a promise they made, and they better keep it.
All i know is what I've seen. I've spoken to these people that are being accused of separatism and communism and racism. In fact I've grown up around them. I grew up in the area, I've practiced Danza, I even have some of the same blood as "them." I've gone through the public system, El Sereno junior high (now it's called middle school).
So here's the REAL origin and story of the school.
The idea behind the school was that children (the collective we) weren't getting a proper education. As we grew up and learnt more about the world and that information was actually being held from us for stupid reasons, we got pissed off. From little facts like Columbus never stepped foot in America, to that the founding fathers had their faults, to yeah, this was part of Mexico at one point.
And that's where the xenophobes start jumping up and down screaming "la Raza is coming." This is far from the facts and misleading. The intent was to better educate an under represented community.
So the people with the idea, who happened to also practice Danza in this community, got together to work this out. And in the end, THE COMMUNITY came up with this school. And it took a greater part of five years to get it started.
One of the contentions is that this school caters to ILLEGAL immigrants. There is no evidence of this at all. This again was a flash point by xenophobes and peoples wishing to push their political agendas. The status of the children and the parents that attend this school is not documentation available to people online.
There is also assumption that these kids don't speak English. So i will tell you two things. These kids are citizens of the united states and speak English. Plus other languages, languages that are not communist by nature, but those that are actually spoken in the area. Languages that they will encounter in daily life.
Oh, and on the side I'm pushing for greater sign language. Something i was taught at El Sereno, but not by teachers. Speaking of which, school safety. This wasn't an issue UNTIL the KABC "report."
Going to El Sereno, a few blocks away from the school, i had been shot at several times just waiting for the bus. Gang members inside the school tried to pick on me because i was a "geek." This kind of activity doesn't happen at the school. Even the gang members in the area respect the school and rarely if ever tag on the walls. And NO gang member attends the school.
And as for Sandy Welle's and his so called brutal assault. Well, he shouldn't have been trying to force his way in to a school he was denied access to. Onions on the school aside, if you ask to come and visit and are denied, it is not your right to start filming children under the guise of an interview. His ass whopping was not an action taken by Marcos. It was a direct result of his on air assault on the school.
Following this, there were several insults, bomb threats, physical threats, of the school, children, families and community members who cared about the children and loved the school.
Following this, there was documentation of the minute men and save our state personas coming in to the community performing illegal activities such as parking and traffic block (i.e. traffic violations), and trespassing.
Following this, those of us who felt a need to ensure the safety of the faculty and children of this school due to lack of security were labeled goons and illegal alien supporters and amnesty whatever, and so on and so on. Lumping us ALL up in to one polarized opinionated category. But like i said. Misleading.
This school isn't a "La Raza" school, it isn't a separatist school, it's just a school. Where the children are happy, and growing smarter and smarter everyday. They have two locations and are seeking a third, that location has not been decided yet and may not be. It all depends on a promise they made, and they better keep it.
Boredom
So i'm a bit sore from all the yard work recently. Not much has been going on in the area. The drunks are less drunk and more grumpy. I got a flyer that mta is going to start putting the tracks for the gold line this week (starting the 18th). But i have yet to see any. So traffic on first street from alameda to boyle may get a little more backed up.
R.I.P. Top video @ Chavez and state. They've been there for about 15 years, and may move over next to the food 4less out on first street.
Other then those two things, the kids with their fireworks started last night.
R.I.P. Top video @ Chavez and state. They've been there for about 15 years, and may move over next to the food 4less out on first street.
Other then those two things, the kids with their fireworks started last night.
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