Daniel Wright Junior High School
In Response to Hate Speech
Dear Daniel Wright Community,
As a school administration and staff, we are committed to creating a learning environment that is inclusive, supportive, and safe for all students. Unfortunately, we have experienced an increase in reports of hate speech, inappropriate remarks, and offensive language among students.
These incidents include anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ comments, racial slurs, culturally insensitive remarks, sexually harassing statements, name-calling, and shaming of students with disabilities. We are notifying our D103 community to raise awareness about the seriousness of this issue and inform families about the steps we are taking to address it and move forward.
These incidents are happening overtly and covertly in classrooms, hallways, the cafeteria, on the bus, on social media, and while students are home. Students have reported these acts of hate speech to teachers, staff, and administrators. We have conducted numerous investigations, talked to victims who are fearful of retaliation and sometimes refuse to come to school, and implemented school-wide Social Emotional Learning lessons targeting this issue. Additionally, we have used restorative interventions such as community service, mediations, and behavior contracts. However, we have not seen a decrease in this behavior, and we need our families' support to reinforce our message to students.
We will continue to thoroughly investigate these incidents, and students who are found engaging, supporting, or encouraging these hateful behaviors will face detentions and suspensions, both in and out of school. They may also risk being excluded from grade level field trips, assemblies, and events, as well as being removed from extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports teams. If technology is involved, students may face restrictions or the loss of technology privileges.
We urge every family to have a conversation with their children about this issue and the values they hold as a family regarding how we treat others. The ConnectSafely website provides helpful tips for your reference. Please encourage your children to report anything they see or hear to an adult because we cannot remain silent. We have 788 students in our school, and every single one deserves to learn in a peaceful environment and feel safe in their classrooms, during lunch, and in the hallways. Hate and hate speech have no place at Daniel Wright Junior High School.
Sincerely,
Michelle Blackley, Principal
Melody Littlefair, Assistant Principal for Student Services
Nina Nusbaum, Assistant Principal
Daniel Wright Information
Principals
- Principal Michelle Blackley, Ed.D.
- Assistant Principal Nina Nusbaum, Ed.D.
- Assistant Principal Melody Littlefair