Greetings Gabrielle,

There is no implication intended that might disrespect the work of early childhood educators. Indeed, the expertise and knowledge in human growth and development, social constructivism, and content knowledge in symbolism, metaphor, and meaning that those who command the ability to help children discern red from orange as meaningful and abstract concepts can be awe inspiring to observe. Still, I'm not going to pretend that the Kindergarten teacher and the College Professor are engaged in equivalent tasks that benefit from typically equivalent academic preparation and experiences. I'm not going to pretend that explaining the nuances of Critical Race Theory to a college class in the humanities, social sciences, or law classroom is a one-to-one mirror of explaining the symbolic differences of color in the kindergarten classroom, even if one can observe an arc of understanding from the latter to the former. And I'm not going to pretend that the credentialing process for the B.Ed. graduate is equivalent to the credentialing process for the Ed.D. graduate or Ph.D. graduate or terminal masters graduate. In some cases, there can be as much as seven additional years in academic preparation, apprenticeship, research, and scrutiny. Accordingly, my point was and is that value-demonstrated as compensation between the two is a relevant data point in our Union's grievances, and a source of genuine pain for those who recognize they are being exploited by a University that seems to have no problem raising another $3 million for the Golf Team as of the publication date of my open letter.

And if the logic in my response is unpersuasive to you, perhaps you will take me at my word when I say that I regret any inferences that my struggle requires the dimunition of another worthy class of professionals. Should a slight remain, I apologize without reservation.

--Imani Light