[中文版本]
———With the primaries imminent, seven candidates for the Montgomery County Board of Education shared their campaign philosophies at Thomas Wootton High School to garner support from the Chinese community.
May 14, 2024, is the primary election day in Maryland. The election for the Board of Education, the responsible leadership and supervisory body for the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) system, is in full swing. Children's education and the quality of public schools have always been top concerns for Chinese parents, who have high expectations and demands for local education. The candidates for the Montgomery County Board of Education pay great attention to the increasingly populous and socially active Chinese community. On the evening of May 4, at the Thomas Wootton High School cafeteria, seven candidates for the Board of Education participated in a forum hosted by the Montgomery County Chinese Parents Association, Wootton PTSA, Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, Calvin Li Foundation, and Chinese American Parent-Student Association. The candidates addressed issues of concern to Chinese parents and students, outlined their campaign philosophies, and sought support from the Chinese community.
The candidates, including Lynne Harris and Rita Montoya (At-Large), Brenda Diaz, Ricky Fai Mui, and Matalie Zimmerman (District 2), Shebra Evans, and Laura Stewart (District 4), attended the forum. The meeting was moderated by Dingmei Zhou, co-founder and former president of the Montgomery County Chinese Parents Association, who posed questions to the candidates on behalf of Chinese parents. The Chinese parents actively participated, listening attentively to the candidates' campaign philosophies and submitting questions to the candidates on paper slips.
Thomas Wootton High School has a high percentage of Chinese students. In recent years, the school has received multiple bomb threats, and its facilities are relatively old. School safety and the repeatedly delayed renovation plans are major concerns for Chinese parents. Lynne Harris, the current incumbent elected in 2020, responded by saying the Board is focused on gradual renovation projects due to legislative and financial barriers to obtaining full renovation funding. However, they are still actively striving for it. Meanwhile, they are enhancing school safety measures, such as installing cameras and conducting quarterly assessments, to ensure effective responses to emergencies.
Rita Montoya, another candidate, said that as a mother who sends her children to school every day, she is most concerned about their safety at school. She believes this is a core issue the Board must ensure and prioritize. She emphasized the need to re-examine existing policies and attract more partners and resources for upgrades rather than waiting for problems to arise before taking action. This would be her top priority if elected.
Brenda Diaz pointed out that Poolesville High School had similar issues in the past but has since resolved them. She noted the safety hazards in Wootton High School's gym, fitness center, and restrooms, which need immediate attention. She would visit the school to understand the situation better and implement effective improvements.
Moderator Dingmei Zhou asked about the inclusiveness and cultural sensitivity of the public school curriculum. She said, "Identity is crucial for the well-being of every child. How do you plan to ensure that the school curriculum includes the history and contributions of Asian Americans and other minorities? Do you agree this impacts the mental health and identity development of Asian American students?" Laura Stewart responded by highlighting her efforts to promote a bill in Annapolis and across the state to reflect our diverse society's history, including Asian Americans. She believes it is essential for every child to learn about their origins and history in their curriculum, which enhances their sense of belonging and effectively combats school bullying.
Shebra Evans stated that she has always believed that finding oneself in the curriculum is a crucial aspect of our diverse society. As a Board member, she has promoted adding identity-related content to textbooks, but much more needs to be done. She and her colleagues will continue their efforts to ensure the perpetuation of multiculturalism in the school system.
Matalie Zimmerman, a teacher, said she shows her students two things in the classroom: a mirror to see themselves and a window to see others' experiences. Empathy can better help understand others. She also noted that only 2% of educators in the U.S. are Asian Americans, and only 1% of administrators are Asian Americans. She encouraged more Asian Americans to participate in education.
Ricky Fai Mui, the only Chinese candidate, whose Chinese name is Mei Ruihui, came from a Chinese immigrant family. He moved to Montgomery County with his family from Atlanta in 2019. He has served at the Naval Academy, holds an MBA, and currently works in senior consulting management at a consulting firm. He has been studying the status of different cultures in mainstream American society and is committed to promoting mutual understanding and inclusion between cultures. He noted that while Chinese Americans have contributed significantly to American society, important traditional holidays such as the Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival are not given due recognition. In the future, he will strive to improve the quality of education in MCPS, eliminate school drugs and violence, and ensure school district safety.
During the two-and-a-half-hour forum, the candidates also addressed common concerns among Chinese parents, such as the insufficient level of gifted programs, campus bullying, discrimination against Asian Americans, and student mental health.
A representative of the Montgomery County Chinese Parents Association stated that the forum was organized to let American society better understand the contributions and demands of the Chinese community and to make their voices heard. Through dialogue with the candidates, they aimed to increase awareness of their campaign platforms and instill confidence in voting for candidates who can best represent the interests of the Chinese community. They hope more people will actively participate in elections and engage in more social activities.
