Turning a School Crisis Into an Ethnic Injustice

We’re now into the second week of the Public Emasculation of Ruben Zacarias, L.A.’s besieged and beloved school superintendent. This sloppy, risky and unnecessary operation is getting very painful to watch.

Latinos have reacted with particular agony and outrage at the spectacle of a leader of his stature being ignominiously stripped of power by the new school board majority. In their zeal to appear so darn decisive in confronting entrenched district problems, the split board transferred most authority to a new chief executive, Howard Miller. But instead of firing Zacarias, in some sort of misguided mercy they allowed the veteran Mexican American educator to keep his title and little else, turning him into a foolish figurehead.

Now, some people express surprise that the issue--which started with finger pointing over environmentally toxic school sites--has become the latest ethnic crisis for Southern California.

Critics say they’re astounded Zacarias would consult a lawyer and try to fight back. Pundits mock Latino parents who have rallied behind the former principal, accusing them of blindly playing “ethnic politics.” Even The Times, in an editorial that rang a little aloof, recommended that Zacarias should just be a good boy and roll over, advising the man to pack up his 30 years worth of plaques and community commendations and crawl home.

Doesn’t anybody in this town understand Mexicans?

In folklore, in literature, in history and in song, Mexicans have a long and proud tradition of not backing down in the face of adversity. They don’t always win, but they’re expected to go down fighting. At stake is the honor of the individual, the family and the community.

A popular mariachi song captures the essence of this part of the Mexican psyche: “Ay, Jalisco, no te rajes.” It’s a rousing call to the state and the people of Jalisco to stand tall. Literally, the saying (from the verb rajar) means don’t crack or split.

In other words, stay whole. Preserve your integrity.

You can hear that same exhortation in scores of situations, from schoolyard scraps to daring on the battlefield. It applies most aptly in the face of some injustice or abuse. No te rajes: Don’t let them push you--and by extension, us--around.

So it’s not machismo, exactly. It’s a matter of respect. And few civic leaders in this city have been tarnished with such gross disrespect for their office and their person. Ethnicity aside, it should offend our human sensibilities to witness the political neutering of a dignified and decent man.

Is Zacarias doing a bad job? Don’t ask me. The district hasn’t even given him the benefit of a formal job evaluation. Without that, I wouldn’t presume to judge the man’s performance from my distance.

But performance is not the point. Some Latino leaders privately agree that it might be best for Zacarias to step aside. Now, however, they’ve been forced to rally around him because of the underhanded and arrogant manner in which he was, well, castrated.

By deciding Zacarias’ fate in secret, the trustees ignored the long struggle of Latinos to have a say in civic institutions.

Nowadays, it’s fashionable to think that ethnic groups don’t need to elect one of their own to be well represented. Los Angeles school trustee David Tokofsky, for example, used that very argument to win his seat in a heavily Latino district. On the Zacarias issue, he voted with the board’s only Mexican American member, Victoria Castro, against defrocking the superintendent without public debate.

Believe it or not, Tokofsky and I used to go dancing together. Tara, now his wife, was in my salsa class. He’s not the greatest rumbero, even he admits it. And some Latino critics say he hasn’t been their favorite school official. But perhaps the salsa experience gave this Jewish gentleman a feel for the rhythm of the street. At least he appears to have anticipated the backlash the board’s movida (dirty move) would unleash.

By contrast, the board majority seems way out of step with Latino culture and values. So instead of solving the district’s problems, they inflamed ethnic divisions and created an even bigger mess.

Am I saying the board needs to tiptoe around every group’s silly pride? No, Mexicans also know how to face consequences gracefully.

So fire Zacarias, if you must. Just give the man back his dignity.

Beyond culture, there’s also a practical reason for the board to rescind its rash action. It sends the wrong message to Latino students.

For what good does it do them to get an education if they’re going to grow up and be treated like this?

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Agustin Gurza’s column appears Tuesday. Readers can reach Gurza at (714) 966-7712 or agustin.gurza@latimes.com