Ms. Hayashi's Disrespect for Journalism Students

Ms. Hayashi’s true colors continue to show. A recent visit to her Sacramento Office by local high school students afforded the public and these students a genuine lesson in just how disrespectful a disgraced public official will treat our future leaders.

A group of Castro Valley High Journalism students prearranged a visit to Ms. Hayashi’s office recently, and did so via an assistant in Ms. Hayashi’s office. Apparently, the assistant was not aware the students were planning to practice their journalism skills…though that would seem immaterial under normal circumstances. Well, these are not normal circumstances for Ms. Hayashi’s…remember, she’s a Brain Tumor survivor….and god forbid she answer any questions from journalism students that might dig into her recent shop-lifting conviction that she publicly (via her attorney) attributed to her medical condition.

Ms. Hayashi ostensibly rebuffed and refused to answer any of the student’s questions, and left the journalism students to speculate and draw their own conclusions….which they did.

The Castro Valley High students gave Ms. Hayashi a textbook opportunity to step up, be a leader by example, set the record straight, and be accountable. These basic principles of good leadership are what every teacher and parent want their student/child to learn in California Public Schools.

Regrettably, Ms. Hayashi provided not only lack of good leadership, but glaring proof that not only do our elected public officials see little value in the public education system in California….currently ranked at or near the bottom, but apparently, Ms. Hayashi also believes she has no obligation to the students in our public schools when it comes to their rights to learn the truth and seek an understanding of what our elected officials are doing while on the payroll of taxpayers.

Ms. Hayashi’s impertinence for the students of Castro Valley High School is just a further example of arrogance and contempt by our elected officials concerning the demands of taxpayers and students in California. Ms. Hayashi’s actions differ very little from those of the Board of Regents when they walked out of a meeting during which pointed questions were asked by UC College students.

We advocate that every high school with a journalism department which sits within Ms. Hayashi’s district demand an interview with Ms. Hayashi. In addition, for those journalism students at Castro Valley High, we recommend you request Ms. Hayashi come to your school to answer all your questions. If you have learned anything from this experience it should be….DO NOT let our public officials off the hook when it comes to accountability. You have the right to ask the questions, so ask them, and seek the truth and accept nothing less!