‘We Can And Will Do Better’: Brookline Schools Speak Out On Racism

BROOKLINE, MA — The Brookline School Committee has released a statement in response to recent discriminatory incidents and student walkouts within the district.

The statement comes after hundreds of Brookline High School students walked out of classes earlier this month in response to a series of racist videos circulating social media and racial slurs being screamed in school hallways, according to NBC 10.

"The recent incidents at Brookline High School are the latest examples showing that racism, sexism, antisemitism, ableism, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, xenophobia, and other forms of bigotry and harassment across all of our schools must be combated with renewed urgency and vigor,” said School Committee members. "We are proud of the students who organized and participated in last weeks’ protests. In so many ways, they are leading the adults; we are grateful for their advocacy, but they are children under our care who rely upon us to foster a school environment of safety, respect, and dignity.”

"As the elected officials overseeing the Public Schools of Brookline, we are ultimately accountable for the school system and the success of every student within,” they continued. "And we can and will do better."

The School Committee released the following list of actions that they say will be taken immediately:

• We will pursue training in anti-discrimination and anti-racist leadership for the School Committee, and routinely refresh this training.
• We will empower the superintendent of PSB to embed diversity and a commitment to inclusion, equity and justice across every element of the district's strategic plan to be developed this year, and we commit to identifying or reallocating resources to support this work. The superintendent’s evaluation rubric will explicitly include Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.
• We have established a subcommittee on anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice that will include in its charge an action plan for the School Committee, aligned with the district strategic plan. As a part of this plan, the subcommittee will explore ways to address not only overt forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and harassment but also microaggressions and implicit bias.
• We will review the PSB Policy Handbook through an equity lens, including the possible formulation of an anti-hate speech and iconography policy.
• We recognize the importance of having a School Committee, an administration, and a teaching staff that are more representative of the families that we serve. As a first step, we will explore ways to empower traditionally marginalized communities with opportunities for direct participation in School Committee affairs, including but not limited to appointment of liaisons from these communities.
• We will work with PSB administration to ensure clear and transparent mechanisms for reporting racism, bigotry, discrimination, and harassment against students and staff.

"For those who are skeptical of this commitment - we hear you: the School Committee has not always led in this area, and will certainly make mistakes,” said School Committee members. "We look forward to continued open dialogue with, and feedback from, the PSB community.”

The School Committee also asked parents and community members to help the district reiterate their intolerance for discrimination through the home-school partnership.