Spin on diversity

Your July 28 article claimed that Superintendent Tony Tata has made good on his intentions to make the faculty of Wake County Schools more reflective of student diversity. Simple math shows this claim is false.

The 8 percent increase in African-American teachers was an increase of 89 teachers, the 26 percent increase in Asian teachers was an increase of 18 and the 9 percent increase of Hispanic teachers was another 14. This was an increase of 121 minority teachers, but the number of white teachers also increased by 341. The increased number of minority teachers was more than offset by the increased number of white teachers.

There simply is no increase in diversity as deceptively touted in your headline, “Wake teacher ranks getting more diverse.” Unfortunately, you were tricked into reporting percentages.

It seems hardly necessary to admonish Tata for spinning the numbers. After all, anyone can examine the data on the school district’s website and verify such a bold claim. That’s why it is so tragic for The N&O to ignore the facts and shout this in a headline. You should have charged the Tata for the advertisement.

Deborah Lamm Weisel

Raleigh