JTHS Anti-Racism Statement – Hate Has No Home at JTHS

Within the first few words of the JTHS Mission Statement you will find our school district described as both “diverse” and “unified.” While the first word comes easily to us with the natural make up of our student body, we acknowledge that the second word, “unity,” takes work.

We are shaken to the core by the senseless death of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week and by so many others that proceeded him. The message we are sending today is about unity, and we cannot be unified if we tolerate racism of any kind. We want our students, families, teachers, staff, community, and beloved brothers and sisters of color, particularly our African American community, to know that we see you and we acknowledge the hateful injustice that is occurring throughout our nation. Our hearts are aching and now is not a time to remain silent.

Last year, our JTHS Family and Community Committee developed a Diversity Statement that we want to share once again with you today. This statement was developed in partnership with our students, parents, teachers, staff, Board of Education, and community. Every word was carefully selected to reflect the values and beliefs of our school district.

JTHS Diversity Statement
Joliet Township High School District 204 is committed to cultivating an inclusive community that values and embraces diversity and respects the humanity of all people.

At JTHS our commitment to inclusion, diversity, respect, and the humanity of all includes the education we deliver to our teachers and staff on the topics of white privilege, implicit bias and the systemic historical racism we have seen in the United States for centuries. We want our brothers and sisters of color to know that we seek to understand and that we believe knowledge is power. The horrific racism that we still see in the year 2020 is unacceptable, and we stand united in our fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all. Hate has no home at Joliet Township High School.

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Let’s stand together in non-violence, peace and love so that we can be the light. Together, we can be the change we wish to see. As educators, we believe education is the vehicle for standing up against racism. We must continue to examine our history so that we stop repeating the past. This is only the beginning of our conversation because there is much work to be done.

United as one,

Dr. Karla Guseman
Superintendent