I was mildly shocked to see the incessant focus on race throughout the five-year plan.  I would hope that our schools would focus more on increasing student achievement, readiness for careers, preparedness for college, and a welcoming environment for all students, not just those who happen to come from particular races.  How much could we achieve, both in relation to our economic costs and the immense amount of time we have to devote to these issues, if we didn't have to spend a substantial portion of a school district's plan on racial issues, including many of which are of dubious integrity.  Has anyone ever challenged the district's use of the term "institutional racism" here, or considered the possibility that the "achievement gap" -- which is nationwide -- doesn't stem from any particular actions of the Seattle Public Schools, but rather, from cultural factors that at least to an extent are the responsibility of our society at large, if not the particular "low achieving" cultures themselves?  I doubt anyone ever challenged the unceasing focus on race and racial issues, including the actual bases for each, throughout this "plan."  I wonder at what point we may abandon excessive political correctness and, instead, actually attempt to better our schools instead of playing the same losing game we have been playing for 30 years, attempting to simply throw more money, more personnel, and more attention at these "problems," each of which could be better spent creating a better future for our students.