Recall School Board movement hero Kit Lam returns to the same old spot campaigning for algebra measure

（SAN FRANCISCO) On February 25, 2024, Recall School Board movement hero Kit Lam returned to the same old spot at Clement Street Farmers Market where he used to gather thousands of signatures for the recall petitions in 2021. This time Lam was a volunteer of Proposition G campaign to bring back algebra classes for students in San Francisco public schools.

Prop. G is a ballot measure in the March 5 primary election proposed to bring back the Algebra 1 courses for 8th grade students at the San Francisco Unified School District. Prop. G needs 50% + one vote to be passed.

The San Francisco Unified School District previously offered Algebra 1 courses to students in eighth grade. But the 8th graders have not been allowed to take algebra classes for the past decade. Prop. G was proposed by D4 Supervisor Joel Engardio. Seven Supervisors voted for Prop. G at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

"The school board moved algebra to high school, hoping it would make math outcomes more equitable. But the well-intended policy had the opposite effect. It held back the kids who love math without providing additional help to the kids who were falling behind," Engardio said in the argument to propose the measure.

"Prohibiting 8th grade algebra made it difficult for students interested in technology careers to advance enough in math to satisfy college requirements. Families left public schools over the issue. Kids who stayed had to double up on math courses or pay for private classes to ensure they reached calculus by senior year," Engardio argued.

"Yes on G, bring algebra back to 8th grade," Lam said to the people passing by his table set up at the Clement Street Farmers Market.

"The map of the school districts in the Bay Area has shown that many of them even teach their students algebra at 7th grade, but the San Francisco School District has pushed algebra classes back to 9th grade at high schools. We are very much behind," Lam spoke to the residents who stopped by and handed them over the Yes on G flyers which included a map of Bay Area school districts introducing Algebra 1 courses from 7th grade to 9th grade.

"Most Bay Area kids can take algebra in 7th or 8th grade... our kids have to wait until 9th," said Lam. "Here in the heart of the tech industry, SF public school kids are at a disadvantage for science and tech careers."

Lam started participating in the political movements in 2021 by joining other parents as volunteers to recall three school board members who were criticized for delaying students back to school during the pandemic and other issues. Lam set up tables at Clement Street Farmers Market in the Richmond District each Sunday to gather signatures in support of the recall movement.

Lam was the volunteer who collected 12,000 signatures to make the petitions qualified on the ballot for election in 2022. San Francisco voters eventually passed all three recall measures.

Since January 2023, Lam has been one of the four legislative aides at Supervisor Engardio's office. Lam announced his resignation on February 23 and was expected to leave the position in early March.