I am writing this evening to share a disturbing bias incident that has taken place at Colonial School.  This afternoon it was reported to me that the “N” word was found carved into the bathroom stall in the boys’ bathroom located near the fifth grade classrooms.

To say the least, this is extremely upsetting as the faculty and I work tirelessly and intentionally to promote friendship, diversity and understanding.  We continuously share the importance with students about the qualities that make all of us unique. That said, our students are in a world that is unforgiving and it is difficult to protect against larger societal influences that may not align with our values as a community. We are contending with a world that has made the “N” word common place and normalized in many venues.  Moreover, YouTube, video games, music and a variety of other influences consistently make their way into our students’ line of sight with heavily charged racial epithets such as the “N” word in plain and accessible view. The frequency with which this word is used in these ways can easily convey the message to our students that it is an “okay” word.

I am not making light of this as an African American woman, and very much understand the reality of what we are all up against.  This language is not condoned nor accepted at Colonial School and we must all work together to ensure that students understand the gravity of this racial epithet even if it is seemingly prevalent in the larger culture.  Below, I will share what has happened so far and how I will address students.

Who was spoken to so far?

To date I have spoken to all of the boys in fifth grade as well as the boys in class 4C and 4M.  I wanted to quickly assess classes closest to the bathroom. I was not able to get to class 4G and third grade due to time constraints.

How students reacted?

Fifth grade students were very upset and couldn’t believe that this happened. Fourth grade students responded the same, but many did not know what the “N” word stood for.

How I plan to address students tomorrow.

I will address all remaining third and fourth grade classes tomorrow. I will explain the word to them and what it has meant in the past. I also plan to share my personal experience with the word as an African American.

How you can support this conversation at home.

I do not plan to use the full word in class with students. If you feel comfortable, please share this word with your child. I will refer to the word only as the “N” word. Please take this time to remind students about the power of words and how they can make people feel uncomfortable.

What happens if the student who committed this act is revealed?

I will work with the student and family along with the district office in a restorative manner. It is my belief that education is paramount whenever a choice is made that has such a negative impact on the school community.

Finally, this is not easy for anyone. Elementary school gives students a consistent place to explore and practice social skills daily. In that space mistakes and missteps are made; as we digest this incident please keep that thought close. At school we will continue to work on and foster the importance of civility, mutual respect and understanding with our students.  They are young and will learn.

If you have questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Tonya Wilson