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Yes, I agree with " as long as we pursue evidence based approaches".... The problem is that in making decisions TODAY we look back to many years ago and not taking in consideration what happens NOW. Dividing people on races just creates racism, and I would like our dear town would not make that mistake again and again... Thanks for talking to me and have a great evening!

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Sorry, I don't know if "most things depend on money", or not, but what we are talking about - does not. I am confident in it because I am coming from a poor country, where teachers had one of the lowest salaries, but where education was one of the best. I think about "equity" as a way to divide people and return to the worst times of our country....

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I get it, but I have also had life experience with close friends and relatives who are not white and there are multiple problems. The US especially has a long history of clear discrimination against African Americans, as is well known, and with Asians, as with the Chinese Exclusion Act etc. There were also all the troubles, not based on skin color, when Italians and Irish came to the US. Now in Framingham, we are a bit of a melting pot, with Brazilian and Hispanic populations, which we need to make sure are well integrated into city life in all respects. I think the US is making progress on human rights and it is in truth a permanent issue as the US is such a magnet for populations from all over the world. I think things will work out fine, as long as we pursue evidence based approaches.

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After hearing Mrs. Cannon's questioning, I didn't find it was inappropriate or it looked like "collision" as G. Epstein described. In fact, many people are asking the same questions about "equity" as it appeared in our language relatively recently ..... It looks like our City Committee is interested more in race or any other bases for hiring, rather than qualifications needed for a successful performance. As far as languages, I, as a person with English as a second language, don't see any problems and never met any other people with English as a second language, who would complain about not having enough help for them. In summary, why Framingham doesn't look for a temporary consultant and hire him/her only when in real need....Initiation or complain should come from people and not from a City Committee ....

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Are you suggesting that the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer position is not needed? From my evidence, there is a big equity issue in the pre-K program. The grade 3 reading scores of non-English speaking students in FPS are terrible. That is a devastating equity issue. All of these issues are being worked on the school side, but have been starved of money by cityside fiscal policies. Municipalities across MA are engaged in doing broad reviews of their equity approaches. It is very healthy in my view. Let's see how the equity audit goes and proceed from there. Maybe city hall is 100% fine, or not.

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I do not think the quality of teaching depends on money or equity issues....In fact, if we pay more attention on, so called equity, the quality of teachers, which should be our primary goal for improving pupils scores. will be even worse....

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Most things depend on money.

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