sloppy tweet + sloppy reporting = unfair attack on boba milk

“Lies are half-way around the world before the truth can get its shoes on.” (Attributed to Mark Twain.)

This following was posted on twitter (Bestofnextdoor) by someone in Millbrae Park:

“I agree with the lady who spoke at the public hearing who said kids hanging out a boba milk tea shops are throwing their futures away when they should be studying SATs, nonstop.”

The tweet was immediately discussed in several local newspapers and websites and by others with wider circulation. The reports did not question the accuracy of the tweet. They should have.

I discovered that the “lady who spoke at the public gathering” was Prof. Christy Lao, SF State University, a respected scholar in language education and literacy. She posted a response on Resonate. She pointed out that she did not attack Boba Tea shops, and did not recommend nonstop SAT testprep.  Please read what she really did say.

(http://www.weareresonate.com/2018/03/bubble-tea-apparently-ruining-childrens-sat-scores/#respond)

Christy Lao Reply

It has come to my attention that my remarks at the public hearing on a site development plan, the Millbrae Serra Station Project, at Taylor Middle School, on March 27, 2018 were inaccurately reported on Nextdoor twitter and the twitter post, unfortunately, was quoted in “Some Bay Area Moms Worry Boba Tea is Destroying their Children’s Future” (Nextshark, March 28, 2018). I did NOT attack Boba Milk Tea and did not say students should be “studying SATs, nonstop.”
I DID say that students spend a great deal of time at Boba tea shops because of the shortage of quality after-school activities and enrichment programs that will help our students be more well-rounded.
I also said that “Mills High School does not have the variety and the quality extracurricular activities and athletic programs that Burlingame High School offers. Top tier colleges look for students not only with good grades but students that are well rounded, unique and have their own minds.”