'Divisive' Assignments In Hinsdale D-86 Course: Family

BURR RIDGE, IL – A Hinsdale High School District 86 student and his parents last week objected to the inclusion of certain subjects in the district's consumer economics course.

Ethan Pan, a Hinsdale South student who vocally opposed the mask mandate earlier this year, and his parents, Allen Pan and Beth Liu, spoke during public comments at Thursday's school board meeting.

Allen Pan pointed to questions in consumer economics such as "What can be done to make the hiring process more equitable?" and "Why do white names get more callbacks (for jobs) than black names?"

Students, he said, are also asked to explain what red-lining and systemic racism are. One assignment was to "analyze how systemic racism has played a role in racial minorities having reduced access to mortgages, high-quality housing and consequently, education."

Ethan Pan read his answer to the question about whites getting more callbacks.

"As an Asian, I do not feel left out or unwelcome in my school environment or any of the activities that I participate (in)," Ethan Pan's answer read.

He said his father has used a Chinese first name since college.

"He doesn't hide his Chinese name," his son said. "He doesn't feel discriminated against or embarrassed that he has to whiten his name, but this is a very common practice in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China."

Ethan Pan told the board that he was bullied and labeled as a racist in middle school for saying that cancel culture is bad for the country.

"The teacher allowed that to continue," he said. "I'm afraid that this could happen to me and other students in future classes."

Allen Pan said the students are exposed to only one opinion on such issues. He disagreed with the opinions that he said the course offered.

"Nearly every study shows that Asian and white applicants are held to a much higher standard than any other racial group in college admissions," he said. "All we are asking is to be treated fairly in a color-blind setting. Don't discriminate against any group in the name of diversity."

Liu said she objected to consumer economics assignments such as explaining what red-lining and systematic racism are.

"Those types of questions and problems are very divisive and can easily steer students' minds, requiring the student to hold ideological opinions as facts," she said.

She said such assignments remind her of schools in China. There, she said, students receive problems such as "Explain why only communists can save China" and "Why is communism the people's ultimate choice?"

"Teach the kids how to think, not what to think," she said.

Under their policy, school board members do not respond to public comments.

In February, Ethan Pan spoke to the board about his opposition to the mask mandate. Then-board President Terri Walker raised her voice in getting Pan to stop. She was later criticized for how she handled the incident.