Saying Goodbye to The Primary School
Zuckerberg Closes Schools for Ethnic Minority Communities Amidst Trump's Strict Policies towards Diversity and Inclusion
Fast forward to 2025, and The Primary School, a tuition-free powerhouse championing access to education, healthcare, and social services for underprivileged families and communities of color, is calling it quits. After six years of shaping the lives of over 400 low-income students, the school will shut its doors, with lack of funds cited as the culprit. However, given the deep pockets of its founders, one can't help but raise an eyebrow.
Founded by Priscilla Chan and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, The Primary School initially identified the hurdles faced by families in low-income areas, often devoid of ample educational opportunities. The school's website formerly acknowledged, "Systemic racism disproportionately affects communities of color, and they bear the additional burden of inadequate resources and services." Recognizing this disparity, the school assembled a team of educators, healthcare professionals, and family support specialists to bridge the divide.
However, current events seem to point towards another direction for the school's closure. As early as this year, Zuckerberg and his organization, Meta, pulled the plug on all DEI programs. Coincidentally, The Primary School also fell under the ax as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative revamped its image, stripping references to inclusivity and economic fairness from its website. Reports indicate that the Initiative eliminated its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility team as well.
Such moves follow in Trump's infamous footsteps, who attempted to withhold federal funding from schools promoting inclusion. For families who relied on The Primary School for more than just academic guidance, the school's closure is heartbreaking.
Veronica Van Leeuwaarde, a mom of two former students, shared her tearful story with the San Francisco Standard. Having received help from the school to arrange an appointment for her son's learning difficulties, which eventually led to an ADHD diagnosis, she painfully recalled the countless ways the school impacted her family for the better.
The school will allocate funds to help families enroll their children in other institutions. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, this assistance ranges from $1,000 to $10,000. However, these funds don't go nearly as far as the average private elementary school tuition cost in Palo Alto, which hovers around $35,000, and $16,500 across California.
Oddly enough, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's net worth reaches close to $200 billion, rendering this closure seeming insignificant. It's a puzzling move, taking into account the school's original goal of providing resources to underserved communities.
A slowdown in funding may be the reason behind the school's closure. With contributions dropping from $8 million in 2022 to $3.7 million in 2023, The Primary School's budget has taken a significant hit. Could this project, which promises to make a difference in so many lives, be a worthy investment for its wealthy backers?
- Despite the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's substantial net worth, the closure of The Primary School, a tuition-free education powerhouse, seems perplexing, considering its mission to aid underserved communities.
- The future of education-and-self-development for underprivileged families may face uncertainty as The Primary School, a pioneer in providing resources to underserved communities, grapples with funding issues.
- In a tech-driven world, the closing of The Primary School raises questions about the role of tech giants like Facebook, Meta, and Gizmodo in supporting general-news and politics, especially when these entities have the resources to influence positive change but choose to cut funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
