Dear Students, Parents and Guardians,
Yesterday in Advisory, our students were shown a brief history and participated in a class discussion about the Civil Rights Movement as a way to acknowledge Black History Month.
Today, all students heard a statement that I asked every teacher to read to their Advisory class. The statement is attached below, but the main idea was to address the recent rise in student referrals concerning racial comments or jokes, or using racial slurs here at HMS.
Please have a conversation with your student about this topic. Here at HMS we strive to be a school where differences and being unique is something that is celebrated rather than made fun of. I truly believe we have an opportunity to teach our students how important it is to understand how hurtful hate speech can be and that it is never a funny joke to make.
Thank you for your continued support and please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Scott Stockwell
HMS Principal
scotstoc@hpsvikings.org
PREPARED STATEMENT:
Recently, we have experienced a rise in the use of inappropriate language here at HMS. The language being used is the N-word, teasing students based on appearance, or drawings that feature swastikas or hateful images. Many times these comments are used in conversation or the excuse has been "I'm just kidding around". These types of comments fall under the category of slurs and can be a form of bullying/harassment. Even if you are "just joking".
The Hopkins School District takes incidents very seriously when students make racial remarks or slurs against other students, families, staff members or members of the community. A “slur” is speech, threats, verbal abuse, use of profanity or derogatory comments that make reference to:
A “slur” also includes spreading rumors, jokes, notes, stories, drawings, pictures or gestures that make reference to the same characteristics listed above. These inappropriate comments can be about real characteristics or perceived, which means, you think someone falls into one of the categories but aren't really sure.
Any student who directs a slur towards any other student at school or at a school-related activity and who is reported to the school for making the slur is subject to the disciplinary action described below.
Consequences: Making slurs may result in, but is not limited to, the following:
Phone call to parent/guardian
Conference with any or all of the following: students involved, parent/guardian, administration, counselor, staff members
Detention
Written apology
Loss of school privileges
Suspension/ Expulsion
So What can we do?
1. Never use these types of phrases, even if you are joking.
2. If you hear this from a friend, speak up! Tell them we don't talk like that here at Hopkins.
3. Know the statistics! If two or more people speak up the behavior is 50% more likely to stop, if three or more people speak up, the behavior is 80% more likely to stop!
4. Let a trusted adult know that this behavior is happening. HMS staff will address these issues with the students and families involved.
Here at Hopkins Middle School, we MUST all work together to protect one another from discrimination
