Robert Guen, a Chinese-American former Boston School Committee Member and self-described "de facto spokesperson for the Asian community"--says some Asian-Americans do consider the exam schools' admission policy to be unfair.

"For the basis of getting into examination schools, we're considered in the white category, but in all other categories, we are considered a minority," says Guen. "In that respect, the Asian parents are sort of confused and indignant.

"We are at nine percent of the population, and we are penalized for that, so the only thing fair for Asians is to have admission based on merit," Guen says.

He says that affirmative action might be self-defeating if it benefits economically privileged minority students who do not need special opportunities.

"Giving special consideration due to race is wrong because not all minority students are disadvantaged," Guen says. "There are middle-class minority students who are advantaged because they attend parochial schools or schools in the suburbs."

But Guen concedes that the "system as it is could be unfair."

Plans for Equality

McKinnis says that much needs to be done before there is a level playing field for all races.

"Everything is not equal," she says. "They have made a step forward, but each year, they seem to be going backwards, too."

McKinnis fears that busing will be the next target.

"The next thing you're going to hear is that the school system will return to neighborhood schools, and that is a big mistake because there are certain areas in the black community where there are no schools for those kids to go to," she adds.

prominent black leaders have said they are not asking for a lowering of the standards so they can get into Boston Latin but rather improving the quality of early education so everyone can have an equal chance of getting in.

Alkins would like to see more resources put into the city's elementary and middle schools.

"There's no reason why all the public high schools in the Boston area should not have a level of education equal to the education that the exam schools offer," he says, "Not everyone has to go to the three schools."

McKinnis also wonders why "all schools can't be like Latin and provide a quality education." But she insists that until things change, the Boston Latin School still remains the best school for minority students and should therefore make a special effort to accept them.