Petitioners Demand Immaculate In Danbury Address Racism

DANBURY, CT — Some current and former students at Immaculate High School have circulated a petition demanding the school demonstrate a deeper commitment to diversity and social justice.

The petitioners want the school to issue a statement condemning racism and police brutality, commit to recruiting a more diverse student body and faculty, establish an Office of Multicultural Education, and allow students to skip school to attend Black Lives Matters protests, among other demands.

Immaculate President Mary Maloney told Patch the school "is exploring this important issue and recognizes that it is a time for new understandings and new initiatives that address racism in all of its forms. We are working actively with our students and expanding professional development with our faculty."

Immaculate's faculty is 90 percent white, Maloney said, and the student body 80 percent white. The petitioners took the school to task for mounting musicals in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 that incorporated blackface, yellowface, and brownface. Maloney said the school is "exploring the thoughts and feelings of all of our students and recognize the need to address the potential cultural sensitivities that might arise from offering traditional musical and drama productions."

The petitioners are demanding the educators "brainstorm ways to incorporate the non-white experience in course curriculum." Suggestions in the petition include incorporating hip hop and rap into music studies, and require students to take at least one semester of African-American literature as part of the English curriculum.

"Current students have appreciated our dialogue and willingness to move forward with positive changes," Maloney said. "There is a steadfast commitment by the Immaculate High School administration to actively promote a compassionate social culture at Immaculate.

The 175 petitioners are calling for an accountability resource for students to file complaints on peers, coaches, teachers, or administrators in regard to "acts of racism, sexism, xenophobia, or malicious homophobia."

"As a faith-based learning community we are committed to taking both immediate and long-term steps to eradicate any traditional practices or vestiges of discrimination, Maloney said. "It is important to note that our Bishop, the Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano, has identified racism as a life issue. We embrace that understanding and will continue effective dialogue with our current students, while we work to foster teachings of respect, responsibility and reverence so that students become compassionate citizens and leaders."