When I began reading this article on a student who is getting suspended for refusing to take a “racist” test, I could feel my blood boil — I’m mad for this young woman who was treated in such a severe matter for taking a good and right stance, and I’m mad at myself for not having even an ounce of her gumption when I was approached in the same manner during my senior year of High School.
I moved to California from Seoul with my family in 1986. I was put in a regular fourth grade class, but had the blessing of a one-on-one English tutor hired by the school. Being put in regular class and having a tutor only helped the cause and I learned English fairly quickly. I went to middle school to later be put in an ESL/remedial English class, but by the middle of my fifth grade year my teachers were impressed with my English skills and by the time seventh grade came I was put in the accelerated language arts cluster for those who excelled in English. Thanks to my eighth grade English teacher, I received raving recommendations for the Honors English road at my high school and did my APs and Honors classes.
Let’s fast-forward to senior year: I get called into the ESL program counselor’s office. She mutters something to me about how I’m in the wrong classes. She is wondering why I’m not in the ESL cluster. She informs me that I’m listed as a student who needs can’t be instructed in English and that I won’t be eligible for graduation if I’m not transferred to the list where it says I can be in classes that are taught in English without needing translation. Asking her to clarify since I’ve been in honors classes from my middle school days, she explains that I should have been removed from the ESL student list, but because I was never removed, there was always a notation on my file that I am ESL; all ESL kids need to be tested before they can get their diploma. I once again point out the list of classes, my GPA, and the mere fact that I was speaking to her in fluid English should have made her back down.
But she goes on and on about needing to pass the test to graduate. “Which, I’m sure you’ll have no trouble passing” she adds, to try to soften the blow.
I think the shock of what was happening silenced me and it took me a few moments to reply to her pressing. In my head I was having my feisty monologue about this incredibly ridiculous situation — I honestly wanted to say no, and unlike what Lori, wasn’t smart enough to tell the counselor that I didn’t want to take this demeaning test.
The counselor opened the test materials up and I sat in disbelief. The test was a joke. I’m not sure if the counselor realized how ridiculous she looked and sounded testing me and asking lame questions that I was able to answer in my first year in America. There were story-boards that had questions that tested my English comprehension skills. I wanted to shout at her, Lady, I read a twenty page book to my fourth grade Show and Tell my fifth month here.
I admire Lori Phanachone for taking a stance against the system. Having been the fool to take a test of similar nature, albeit very different in content, I agree with her. Tests of this nature are demeaning and racist, and I’m still boiling from within at what Lori has to put on the line to do what is right. Lori’s current road is so different than the one they had me take when I was in high school, but demeaning is still demeaning, and racist is still racist.
