I write out of concern for the greater Eugene community. As in other communities nationwide, the Eugene public education system is caught up in economic strife. In order to best use its funds available, George Russell, Eugene School District 4J superinten dent, proposes to close two elementary schools, including Whiteaker Elementary School. It is this school that I am most concerned about.
The Whiteaker school lies in the heart of the old Whiteaker neighborhood, just west of Skinner Butte. Many of Euge ne’s Latino residents live in this neighborhood. Here, one can find stores with bilingual cashiers that sell authentic ethnic food and hear Spanish spoken in the streets.
However, many say the heart of this neighborhood is the elementary school. As th e school lies within close proximity to their homes, Latino families living in the area can walk their children to school. At the school, the staff, many of whom are bilingual, instruct what may be the most diverse classrooms in Eugene. Here, children from all parts of the Americas — North, South and Central — can learn as much from each other as they do from staff.
Closure of Whiteaker threatens this unique community. No longer will immigrant families have the option of having their children cared for and educated within blocks of their homes. The children will lose their sense of community and culture as they are transferred into more mainstream elementary schools.
What’s more, the area will become less attractive to new Latino families. One m an I talked to recently had been saving money for several years to buy a house in the area. Having finally saved enough to make the down payment, he is waiting to see if Whiteaker Elementary will be closed. If it is closed, he plans to settle in Springfie ld, which he feels is more welcoming to Latino families. So it appears as though 4J may undermine the diversity of which it is so proud.
The school board needs to consider what kind of message it will be sending to the Latino community if it closes Wh iteaker. The mostly bilingual school currently serves the needs of the monolingual (Spanish only) families in the area. However, 4J transmits a gravely negative message to this Latino community if it makes these services less accessible. Doesn’t this cont ribute to perceptions that say, “You’re not welcome here, nor are you important enough to have your needs met”?
This seems to be the ever more popular (and racist) message that the United States wants to send to Latino immigrants. If we wish to mainta in Eugene as a community that is welcoming to all races, we need to keep Whiteaker open and help increase community support for this unique school and its families.
To help our greater community take a stand for diversity in our schools, please call Superintendent Russell at 687-3123. Tell him you want to see Whiteaker Elementary School stay open. Also, join me at the community meeting at the school March 8 at 6:30 p.m.