Jefferson High’s Lockdown, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Blocks C.R.T. within the System of Qualifications
Hello SAISD Parents,
This past week Jefferson High School went into lockdown mode due to a misunderstanding. However, the more significant issue was all the parents who showed up simultaneously. By this time, SAPD and the SAISD police had 95 officers at the school trying to take care of this lockdown. I understand that, as parents, we want to ensure all our children are safe, especially after this last mass shooting in Uvalde. But let me say that parents must allow the police officers to do their job and clear the school. I understand that parents’ instinct is to check on their children, but doing this is causing more issues. The fight that broke out added to the tensions and took the officer’s focus off the situation. Please know that I understand we are all living in a time where violence is a daily occurrence. After this, our SAISD district Chief of Police said that they executed all protocols correctly during the lockdown. The district is currently working on a better way to send out alerts and buy bullhorns so they can communicate with large crowds.
Up the street in Austin, our committee listened to 12 hours of testimony from many nonprofits and some educators about how we can retain teachers. This is just the beginning of what will be discussed in our following legislation. As our state is trying to find a way to keep our current teachers and recruit new ones, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is working in the opposite direction. The Lt. Governor is pushing a new idea that all incoming college professors would not be eligible for tenure. It’s my opinion that we’re in a national teachers’ crisis, why would you deny anyone that has just graduated with a master’s or doctrine the ability to obtain a tenured job? The Lt. Governor bases this on his ideology that if we block teachers from becoming tenured professors, we can stop these colleges from teaching Critical Race Theory. Many critics have said that this Republican movement is just another way to control what’s taught in our history classes today. Unfortunately, the Lt. Governor oversees the Texas Senate. This will be another educational issue that will be brought up in the next legislation. The only way we can stop all this mess is if we elect a new Governor and Lt. Governor, so if you feel these are awful ideas, exercise your right to vote.
Lastly, our state is working on a new plan to teach sex education. First, let me say this will be up to our school districts if they want to teach it or decide not to. Parents, please know that you must sign a consent form before your child can attend this class.
If anyone has any questions or concerns, please email me at lena.lopez@saoberver.com
Have a Blessed Week,
Lena Lopez
