Hundreds Ask Middletown Schools To Begin 'Anti-Racist' Curriculum

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Approximately 660 current students and graduates of Middletown public schools have signed an open letter that asks the Middletown school district to dramatically change its curriculum to include more education on black and African-American history, as well as history of indigenous peoples and other groups that endured oppression in the United States.

The letter, which you can view here, was signed by hundreds of current Middletown North and South high school students as well as alumni dating as far back as the classes of 1983 and 1976. Many parents of current Middletown students also signed it.

This comes at the same time the valedictorian of Middletown High School North, Jada Tulloch, said in an Instagram post that she survived "years of racial discrimination, oppression and disgusting comments" from fellow students in Middletown public schools.

"Within the past few weeks, Middletown students and alumni alike have come forward to share their experiences with racism in the Middletown Township public school district," read the letter. "It has been very unsettling to hear the ways in which they have been isolated and ridiculed for the color of their skin. Many students and faculty participate in passively racist rhetoric and microaggressions on a daily basis with little to no consequence. It is thus very important for the MTPSD to recognize how its lack of anti-racist teaching has contributed to these experiences."

Middletown is a predominantly (85 percent) white school district. According to 2019 data from the state Dept. of Education, the Middletown school district has 9,500 students total: 85 percent of them are white, eight percent are Hispanic, 1.4 percent are African American, two percent are Asian and 2.7 percent are two or more races. Eleven percent of all students in the district are economically disadvantaged.

Fellow Middletown North graduating senior Luke Ferrell, who said he is a friend of Tulloch's, said in open letter to the community this week that he often heard racially-tinged jokes while attending Middletown public schools — but often simply dismissed it as humor.

"Whether I was walking down the sidewalk or the hallways of my high school, I heard racially insensitive comments and made excuses for it – usually I brushed it off as humor," wrote Ferrell. "Meanwhile, a person of color could’ve overheard the same comment and felt threatened and worthless ... My beloved hometown isn’t in a bubble secluded from the issues of the rest of the world."

"However, not recognizing that this is a problem," said Ferrell. "This ultimately allows a snowball effect of acceptance of more and more 'jokes' and slurs that target minorities."

Middletown schools teach a "heavily Eurocentric curriculum"

The letter said that Middletown schools taught a "heavily Eurocentric curriculum," which the signees said they find "deeply bothersome."

"As (Middletown) students and alumni, we can attest to the fact that we were primarily exposed to white colonial perspectives in relation to U.S. history, and European perspectives in relation to world history," it read. "In fact, our history education, by and large, begins at the brink of colonization and gives little regard to the indigenous peoples that have occupied the Americas for thousands of years ... In order for history, especially U.S. history, to be taught properly, we as students need to learn more about the past and present realities of the indigenous peoples whose stolen land we inhabit."

In 2002, the New Jersey state legislature passed the Amistad Bill, which requires all New Jersey schools teach extensive African and African-American history.

However, the students said "the Black history that students learn in the MTPSD is minimal and, oftentimes, white-washed. Perhaps this is why many among us have just recently learned of the deeply ingrained systemic racism that broods in every crevice of our country, and perhaps even more refuse to acknowledge its very real existence."

For example, Middletown students said they want to be taught about the Tulsa Race Massacre, "as well as the destruction of many other black communities," the Tuskegee Syphilis Study; the Stonewall riots; and the oppression of Native American people." They also want modern-day racist practices explained, such as redlining.

They also want more books taught written by authors of color, citing Kimberlé Crenshaw, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, Gloria Anzaldúa and Cherríe Moraga as examples.

"Whereas authors for younger grades may include Cynthia Levinson, Veronica Chambers, Anastasia Higginbotham or Jason Reynolds," read the letter.

"Students across all grade levels should be reading texts that address topics such as racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, activism, privilege and allyship," read the letter. "Currently, very few of the required readings for students K-12 include texts by authors of color and/or intersectional authors."

Superintendent responds

Middletown schools superintendent Dr. William George said he fully supports Tulloch and the letter signers.

"(This) open letter from students gave me pause to reflect on the role we as an academic institution play in developing a culture of anti-racism," said George.

"The racially insensitive words of a few do not represent the views or a community or our school district," said George in a letter sent home to Middletown parents June 4. "We support our Middletown North valedictorian in using her voice to share her perspective and speak out against racism."

The superintendent also said that Middletown has been making changes to its curriculum in the past two years to incorporate more learning about diversity and the contributions of Native Americans and African-Americans in the area, including working with Monmouth University and Rutgers to address inequities in education. Middletown schools are also in the process of developing a "district-wide Equity Council with students, parents and staff to ... develop a culture of anti-racism," said George.

In the Council, Middletown students at both North and South are encouraged to meet and talk about racism and come up with concrete plans to address it.

The letter signers said they hope the superintendent's proposed changes are not a "hollow statement." They said current efforts by Middletown schools to combat racism "while well-intentioned, are simply not enough."

Related: Middletown Valedictorian: I Survived Years Of Race Discrimination (June 11, 2020)

From the Middletown school district: Developing a Culture of Anti-Racism in our Schools (June 10, 2020)