Superintendent, Student Tackle Racial Bias Incident At Princeton High School

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Public Schools Superintendent Steve Cochrane addressed a recent incident involving racial bias at the school, stating “racism exists in our school as it does in our society.” At the same time, a Princeton High School student posted on her blog that she finds herself waiting for “the next instance of aggressive, malicious assault on the black community in the Princeton Public School System and no longer being surprised when it occurs.”

Cochrane addressed the issue in a post on the school district’s website. He spoke of an incident in which a student was falsely accused because he was black.

“An investigation immediately ensued,” Cochrane said. “The black student was quickly exonerated. The student making the accusation received appropriate consequences.”

Cochrane didn’t elaborate on the specific incident, but student Jamaica Ponder wrote on her Multi Magazine blog that a black student was recently blamed for giving brownies laced with marijuana to another student. The student said he blamed the black student because of his race.

“Why would u tell your mom I gave you pot brownies when I didn’t?” the unnamed student asks another in a text message posted on the blog.

The student responded that someone told him to and that no one would ask any questions “Bc ur black.”

“Black kids’ guilt will not be questioned. Their involvement will be accepted and believed by the administration without question,” Ponder wrote in her post. “ … Princeton, listen to me, we have a race problem.”

It’s a problem Cochrane acknowledges, and knows it’s one the district must tackle.

“As educators we would be naïve to think that we could instantly eradicate it. What we can do – and must do – is acknowledge racial injustice when we see it and teach our students to do the same,” Cochrane said. “Honest acknowledgement and meaningful dialogue are the foundation of racial literacy. As a school district, we are building on that foundation.”

Cochrane touted some of the initiatives the district has taken, including the expansion of racial literacy among students. Part of that effort is training teachers and staff, and focusing on school segregation in Princeton as early as the third grade.

He also spoke of a recent conference involving students called “See Me, Hear Me: Honest Dialogue with Today's Youth.”

“The conference was envisioned and planned by a number of our students of color who wanted to engage our community in discussions of how race, religion, gender identity and economics impact their lives and their learning,” Cochrane said. “And what did our students tell us? Listen to our stories; leverage our energy and ideas into meaningful action; let us join you in making our schools and our society places where everyone can thrive.

“I urge all in our community to listen carefully and compassionately to the stories of our students, our colleagues, and our neighbors. I urge us all to take meaningful action by learning more about issues of racial injustice and by standing up against bias. Finally, I urge us all to join together in supporting the efforts by those in our schools and across our community who are committed to a Princeton that is safe, welcoming, and equitable for all.”

Ponder is the same student who exposed the offensive “Jews vs. Nazis” beer pong game Princeton High School students were playing last year. She also tackled an issue in which a Princeton student is alleged to have used a racial slur in a Snapchat photo.

“As I prepare to depart this town that I love so much, I fear for her future. Something must change,” Ponder wrote in her most recent post. “We need to start protecting our children as opposed to tolerating racially fueled harassment and defamation. When I am no longer here to scream from the rafters about the injustices plaguing our community, who will? These problems will not depart with me. They will continue to destroy us unless there is a valiant effort made to alleviate the venomous force that is racism in Princeton.”

To view a list of initiatives concerning race in the Princeton Public School District, visit princetonk12.org.

Patch file photo