Dear Editor,

A recent column by Shruti Magesh struck me as blatantly racist. She concluded her column with the statement, “teachers should be hired not only based on qualifications, but also race.” As inflammatory as this may sound, its true implications are much worse. She argues a diversity of race teaches morality, but with a basic understanding of morality, it is clearly putting people at a disadvantage due to their race is immoral and mirrors philosophies of the Nazis. She repeatedly contradicts herself in that way, claiming we need to understand everyone is equal despite appearance, so why does she think people of certain appearances are inherently better educators?

Martin Luther King once said, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”  Although I believe Shruti had good intentions, her argument is blatantly racist, for she is disregarding the content of people’s character and judging them based on their skin color.

The fallacy of her argument is clearly astounding. Her whole argument hinges on the assumption teachers at the high school level are responsible for teaching “the principles of diversity and inclusion,” when, in fact, they are not. Teachers are solely responsible for teaching the curriculum set forth by the state. When you start allowing teachers to impose their beliefs on young minds, similar to what the Nazis did, you end up with an indoctrinated population.

Our education system needs the most qualified people regardless of race, because in the words of Shruti, “everyone is equal.”

Sincerely,

        A concerned student, Simon Kirschenbaum