Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron sent a serious letter to parents today on racial equality and the need to address racist issues, coming on the heels of the racially offensive Instagram posting by two CHS students that drew attention last week.
It also follows complaints from school board student representative Nina Kambili, who said the district had not done enough to address the problem.
See the letter below:
Dear Columbia High Parents and Community,
The Columbia High School community condemns any actions of students
which mock, debase, or demean others through the posting of images,
ideas, or words on social media or in any other form. Students who
violate our school code of conduct, Board policies, or the law encounter
related consequences.
In the past two weeks, CHS students have had deep, meaningful, and
emotional conversations with administrators and teachers about recent
incidents of bias in our community. We value that discourse and student
initiative and advocacy.
We know our students to be thoughtful citizens of our school community,
kind and compassionate siblings, children, friends, and neighbors, and
recognize the role that we each can and should play in calling out
racist, biased, or bigoted expressions and actions.
We encourage students and parents to talk about their use of social
media. Please be aware that the perceived anonymity of social media,
in many cases, actually encourages and may even hide sentiments and
ideas we most need made public in order to fight against them. Look
at your children’s apps, emails, followers, what they are following,
what they are ‘liking,’ and what they are doing online. Take steps to
make sure you are supervising it and limiting it. Please and contact
school staff as needed to share information or ask for assistance in
helping your students make thoughtful and responsible choices.
Student leaders have begun to organize outreach to pair students at our
middle schools with high school leaders to work together to promote
better understanding and responsible use of social media, and we are
excited about the opportunities for our work.
We also are committed to spending time, talent, and resources on
building a learning environment in which all students and staff find the
content, tools, and desire to combat racism and prejudice. We
continuously work to address historical as well as social and emotional
learning for our students to help them recognize, question, educate
themselves and others around issues of bias, intolerance, and racism,
and any other ‘-ism’ that privileges any one or group over any other to
allow for full inclusion in our school community.
We vow to continue to keep a critical eye on ourselves as educators and
leaders, and ask that you do the same at home as we do this work
together.
Elizabeth M. Aaron, MAT, M.Ed.
Principal
Columbia High School
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