San Francisco Schools Superintendent Faces Tough Questions
During a heated Congressional hearing, San Francisco’s public schools superintendent, Maria Hsu, found herself under pressure from Republican lawmakers regarding the contentious topic of ethnic studies. Lawmakers focused particularly on a curriculum that purportedly compared parents opposing COVID-19 school policies to white families in the 1960s who sought to evade desegregation by enrolling their children in private schools.
Rep. Burgess Owens, who is Black, questioned Hsu, asking if she believed that opposition to public schools was merely a concern of white parents. Instead of responding directly, Hsu maintained that she needed time to review the materials.
“I’ll have to examine that document,” she stated, adding that context was essential.
Owens further pressed Hsu about Black parents who choose to withdraw their kids from public schools, questioning if that should also be labeled as racism. Hsu sidestepped the question again, mentioning that San Francisco is in the process of creating a new ethnic studies curriculum.
“Every parent’s situation is unique when it comes to leaving the public school system,” Owens said before straying from the topic.
This exchange unfolded during an extensive three-hour session with a House committee that assessed education policies across various school districts, including curriculum matters, parental rights, and policies related to transgender students.
While superintendents from states like Virginia and Illinois often faced intense questioning, Hsu was frequently accused of evading direct answers regarding the more controversial topics.
In another instance, Rep. Rick Allen inquired about school district guidelines equating a transgender student’s refusal to use their preferred pronouns with physical assault. When asked if she supported that position, Hsu again did not provide a straightforward answer.
“At San Francisco, we welcome all students as they are,” she replied, emphasizing the importance of allowing students to be their authentic selves to help them grow into well-rounded adults.
Additionally, Hsu was hesitant to address a query from Rep. Robert Onder about whether biological males should be permitted in women’s locker rooms, simply stating, “We are following state and federal law.” When pressed again, she reiterated her response without further elaboration.
Defending the district’s recent policies, Hsu explained that parents have the option to exempt their children from LGBTQ-related instruction for religious reasons, and noted adjustments made in response to parent feedback and court rulings concerning gender identity.
Hsu claimed she was unaware of any instances where teachers misled parents about students’ preferred pronouns. The San Francisco school district has faced ongoing criticism from conservative circles and parent advocacy groups, particularly after the 2022 recall of three school board members related to prolonged school closures during the pandemic and attempts to rename schools.
The school district is currently drawing scrutiny for allegedly concealing students’ gender identities from their parents and for promoting contentious ethnic studies programs.
However, not all lawmakers were critical. Rep. Kevin Kiley praised some school districts for rolling back education policies that had previously faced backlash. He highlighted the reintroduction of algebra in middle schools, the removal of the controversial ethnic studies requirement, and a renewed focus on phonics instruction.
Hsu confirmed these changes. “I have a fondness for San Francisco. I acknowledge the challenges it faces, but I believe there are significant improvements happening in recent times,” Kiley remarked, noting, “There are still areas where I might disagree, but these steps are noteworthy and important.”
