Warnings to South Windsor Parents Considered Before Racially Sensitive Curriculum Is Taught

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT - The South Windsor school system is working on a plan to warn parents in advance before racially sensitive material is taught to their children.

The issue arose recently when parent Sandra Baker learned that certain materials were being read aloud in class where the "n word" was repeated numerous times, which made her daughters feel uncomfortable.

Baker told the Hartford Courant that she was not objecting to lessons being taught, or materials used including a book on slavery called "My Folks Don't Want Me to Talk About Slavery" by Belinda Hurmence. She simply wanted to be warned that the material was being used so that she could prepare her children.

"We understand the teacher's intent was to help students be more empathetic and compassionate, unfortunately it had the opposite effect," Baker told the Courant. "While we are aware that the n-word appears in primary source material, we are concerned about its repetition in the classroom, not only for African-American children, who are often a small minority in the classroom and for whom its repeated use can be traumatizing, but for other children as well, who may be confused about the word's appropriateness."

Schools Superintendent Kate Carter said the district is devising plans to notify parents in advance about sensitive curriculum.

"Without question, the lesson plan, and thus the district, failed students in this social studies class," Carter told the Courant. "Our mission statement clearly communicates our commitment to fostering physically and emotionally safe classroom environments and we did not fulfill our mission that day."

Click here to read the full story on the Hartford Courant website.