New Plan Aimed At Fighting Discrimination In Foxborough Schools

FOXBOROUGH, MA — A big event hasn’t happened yet but the signs of biased-based incidents are in Foxborough schools. Despite the lack of a major incident, Superintendent Debra Spinelli says there have been some fairly subtle and sporadic incidents which are reason enough for a new policy to address racial, gender, religious, and ethnic discrimination.

While the schools haven’t been struck with a recent major case of discrimination, there have been some close to home. In Mansfield, schools officials found racist graffiti inside a bathroom at Qualters Middle School. In Stoughton, there have been several incidents dating back in last November, including a race-related incident at a middle school dance and the discovery of swastikas at the high school.

Even in Foxborough, a resident made headlines over the summer when she revealed that someone yelled a racial slur at here. That led to a Foxboro Jaycees event to stand against hate and promote friendship and togetherness.

READ MORE

• Racist Graffiti Found At Qualters Middle School
• Stoughton HS Student Faces Discipline For Drawing Swastika
• Foxborough Stands United Against Hate

“It hits home because it could happen anywhere. It could happen to us tomorrow,” Spinelli said at a recent school committee meeting. “What’s happening in the world deserves a more specific and direct approach. We can’t keep doing foundation work.”

So far, the school administration and principals have been talking about a strategy on and off for about a year. Out of those conversations came a plan and strategy to address bias and discrimination that kids could be exposed to in school, out of school, or on social media.

“Some (students) are singing rap songs and they don’t understand the words they are singing. I think the point here is to be proactive rather than reactive,” Assistant Superintendent Amy Berdos said.

Part one calls for the schools to continue creating a sense of community and welcoming environments. Aimed at students in all grades, educators will help students understand, religious, cultural, racial, gender, and socioeconomic different.

Part two sets lessons and processes to addresses specific incidents, including an investigation and potential restorative justice. Any processes for discipline laid out in the student handbook would remain in effect and not replaced or overruled by this process.

“In my mind, we entered the school year and we got this problem with young kids who don’t know what they’re saying and it’s not right,” Spinelli said.

Some educators are already trying to learn the skills to address discrimination in schools. Some staff members recently attended workshops at Holy Cross College and Bridgewater State University on addressing those incidents.

Image: File Photo