The assumptions we make about others
My thoughts on Charlie Kirk's assassination, PLACE back to school survey, and CCHS college series
Until Charlie Kirk's assassination, I had never watched one of his videos. I just assumed he was too MAGA and pro-Trump for my political views. Last week social media began showing me many of his videos, and I was often impressed by his debates with college students.
On that day, my son came home and asked, "Who is Charlie Kirk, and why are kids saying he deserved to die?" I explained that nobody deserves to die and showed my boys a couple of videos to illustrate that Charlie Kirk was merely exercising his First Amendment rights. One video particularly struck my son, who commented, "He wasn't even telling the kid to be conservative."
Since last week, I have been reflecting on the assumptions we make about each other. Why did I assume I had more disagreements than agreements with Charlie Kirk? I was aware of his position on the 2020 presidential election being stolen (which I disagree with), yet I knew nothing about his messages of Christianity and the importance of political debate in preventing violence (which I agree with and are way more important to me than the 2020 election debate).
I'm not a public figure, but people often make assumptions about me and my political stance. I've been labeled as MAGA and pro-Trump, even though I've never voted for Trump (I wrote in a candidate during the last election, as my vote in NY doesn't carry much weight, and I couldn't bring myself to vote for either Kamala or Trump). I've also been labeled a member of Moms for Liberty, even though the only time I attended one of their events was a chapter meeting upstate to speak about school choice. I often joke privately that the group I really want to join is "Moms for Literacy."
I've heard multiple times that PLACE has "billionaire donors," even though it is a volunteer organization without 501(c)(3) status, meaning it cannot accept tax-deductible donations. Typically, it receives only a few small contributions from its members to cover expenses for services like Mailchimp.
It's easy to recognize the incorrect assumptions people make about you and the organizations you like. I am now attempting to reconsider some of the assumptions I make about others, especially those with whom I disagree politically. This conversation between Ezra Klein and Ben Shapiro was excellent for this: they really try to correct each other on the wrong assumptions they are making about the right and the left.
Yesterday, I felt hopeful seeing so many people, particularly right-wing commentators, criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi's crackdown on free speech. As an immigrant, I will always consider a real privilege to live in a country where the majority is more committed to the Constitution and the rule of law than to their political party.
Fill out 2025 Back to School Survey by PLACE
PLACE is a wonderful organization run by volunteers who are NYC public school parents and advocate for more options of accelerated education. I have made so many friends at PLACE, and we have people of all political orientations. We usually joke that the only thing we can agree on is that there are not enough accelerated courses and programs in NYC public schools.
Please fill out their 2025 Back to School Survey - it takes only a few minutes and will help our advocacy efforts.
Citywide Council on High Schools has a new College Series
The Citywide Council on High Schools (CCHS) has launched a new series on college applications. The first Zoom meeting is tomorrow at 7 pm with Meghan Gray (Director of Admissions at Essex St. Academy) and Elizete Groenendaal (UCompass College Planning).
See below for future dates and topics:
What I am reading this week
I am slowly reading “The Gay Place”. Honestly, the book is very depressing to me. I can read a gulag memoir fast, but nothing hits me like people drinking too much and making very bad decisions on their personal lives. But the character of Governor Arthur Fenstemaker is hilarious and it is fascinating to see the dirty politics behind the scenes in Texas during the 1950s.
I also read “Elizabeth Ann Seton: Mother for Many” and “The Joyful Journey of Saint Carlo Acutis for Kids” with my son since our church was celebrating the 50th anniversary since Elizabeth Ann Seton’s canonization and the priest mentioned the recent canonization of Carlo Acutis. We were all curious about who was God’s influencer!
Are Kids Making Progress in Reading? It All Depends on How You Measure It (The 74)
‘Vibe-based literacy’ and other fads destroyed education for our kids (NY Post)
Her son was stuck on a school bus for 3 hours. NYC data says the delay never happened. (Gothamist)
The Nation’s Report Card Shows How Education Policy Has Failed (City Journal)
Please share this newsletter with your friends and families.
Contact me if you want to help bring universal education choice to NY! #SchoolChoiceNY
