Asian, Latino Activists Seek Ethnic Harmony at Schools

Asian and Latino community leaders, accusing Alhambra School District officials of ignoring racial tension on campuses, said they will begin lobbying for changes in the schools to improve ethnic relations.

At a meeting Wednesday in Monterey Park, representatives of the Chinese-American Parents and Teachers Assn. and the League of United Latin American Citizens said they were concerned about two recent fights at San Gabriel High School that some believe were racially motivated. Some school board members have denied a problem exists.

The community members said they will demand improvements in multicultural education and training, the hiring of more bilingual staff and the promotion of Latinos and Asians to high-ranking district positions.

“It is historic that Asians and Latinos are getting together at the grass-roots level,” said Jose Calderon of Monterey Park, a member of the Latin American group and a leader of the effort. “Some school administrators said (the fights) were due to the machismo of the kids. Right now, a real separation between Latinos and Asians exists.”

Supt. Bruce Peppin--whose district encompasses Alhambra, Monterey Park and San Gabriel--was not asked to attend the meeting. He said Thursday that he has not received the group’s proposals, adding, “We’d certainly work with people interested in solving our problems.”