10/12/2026 – I have tried to avoid political topics in this education blog. However, the political environment in the United States is currently the most toxic that I have seen in my 73 years on this planet, and this is even now pervading the upcoming election for the Area 3 seat on the SMUHSD Board of Trustees
Nationally we see our universities and public health agencies under attack, scientific grants cancelled for containing certain keywords, and rampant profiteering by public office holders and/or their relatives.
Locally in the San Mateo Union High School District over the last few years, there have been contentious Board meetings about the District’s ethnic studies program, its history curriculum, and transgender issues among others. These have led to charges against people of being “racist”, “anti-trans”, “anti-semitic”, and so on. People on the left blame what they view as a vocal minority of MAGA supporters represented by an incumbent Trustee who is termed “an eager accomplice to the Trump administration’s attacks on public education.” People on the right blame activist teachers who are trying to indoctrinate their children with leftist political views or interfering in a parent’s right to raise their own children. Claims are also made that students are afraid to express their real views if they differ from the views expressed in class.
I spoke at a Board meeting last year and said the following:
Public education is funded from taxes paid by both Democrats and Republicans. It is a BIG mistake to politicize public education.
I was an antiwar demonstrator in college and a Peace Corps teacher afterwards. I know the excitement that comes with political activism and the feeling that one is making the world a better place. I am sure that many teachers who study in programs like the social justice program at Stanford feel that calling too, and believe that they are “bending the arc of history towards justice.”
As teachers, however, it is our job to teach students how to think, not sway them to our view of politics. This is why subjects such as math and science, which we are here to discuss later today, are so important. They represent non-partisan methods of thought that have played a critical role in pulling humanity out of superstitious darkness and advancing human welfare. It pained me, when I watched the ethnic studies meeting video recently, that repeated comments from both teachers and students emphasized how ethnic studies was far more “engaging” than other classes.
Our country is now a poster child for what happens when people are emotionally “engaged” and constantly fighting for their side. It is very easy to unintentionally open the doors of ethnic division; it is much harder to foster hope and bring people together. The road to division and hatred leads to Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine. It was not the path that Nelson Mandela chose after he was released from years in prison.
The sad thing is that, even though each side today claims to be fighting “the good fight” and thinks the opposite of their opponents, there is very likely at least a bit of truth in the charges coming from both sides. I can not possibly write the tome required to analyze these issues before the upcoming election, nor do I flatter myself into thinking that such a tome would change the minds of partisans.
Instead, I decided to invite the candidates in the Area 3 Trustee election to speak for themselves here on this EduIssues blog.
The offer I made to both the incumbent Jennifer Jacobson and the challenger Diana Harris was for one position paper from each candidate containing links if needed to the candidate’s website and with no length limitations. After posting these first documents, each candidate could then write a rebuttal statement, again including hyperlinks to their websites and with no length limitations. Submitted rebuttals would be posted only after both rebuttals were received, so that no candidate would have an advantage in seeing the other’s rebuttal. This format follows that of the CA voter guides for ballot propositions. Finally, although I normally allow commenting on my blog, I moderate each comment, and did not want to undertake that possibly arduous and tricky task for this election, so commenting will be turned off.
I went to Diana Harris’ campaign event in the San Mateo Highlands on Saturday, October 3rd, talked to her privately at length about school board issues, and extended this invitation to her in person. Diana gave a very warm and welcoming presentation in the Highlands, but this was not a “meet the candidates” style of forum as was hosted by the Beresford Hillsdale Neighborhood Association. I also talked with many SMUHSD teachers at that event who I know from my past teaching and lobbying efforts at Board meetings. Diana is strongly supported by the SMUHSD teachers’ union.
I had previously met Trustee Jacobson on a project to review a math textbook for a proposed Financial Algebra class, so I extended the offer to her via text message. I gave both candidates a few days to think about it and then followed up with a joint text message invitation formalizing the rules listed above. I was out of town for a family vacation with my grandkids during the recent autumn school break week, but I continued to check in with an occasional text message to both candidates as well as voicemails.
As of today, Trustee Jacobson has agreed to participate, but I have yet to receive a response from candidate Harris. Many of her teacher supporters have seen my blog articles and know that I have been critical of some district science and math policies in the past. The thought has crossed my mind that Diana may have been advised not to participate because of concerns that I might be biased to her opponent (I did review a math textbook for Trustee Jacobson as noted above). However, I have significant political differences with Trustee Jacobson, so such a concern is completely unwarranted.
I see weaknesses and strengths in both candidates, queried both candidates personally and bluntly about issues of grave concern to me, and am not endorsing either one. I am concerned mainly that the public hear from both candidates directly and base their votes upon verifiable facts, not upon the kind of emotionally charged innuendo such as I mentioned in the third paragraph of this article.
My motivation is to provide a level forum for an exchange between both candidates. Neither the San Mateo Highlands event with only candidate Harris, nor the two candidate Beresford event with its severe time limitations came close to a debate format.
Stay tuned and let’s hope that this discussion will commence soon!
