Another racial incident at Churchill HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a thought, has anyone asked the student body as to why they think these "hate crimes" are happening? Are they truly acts of hate or is it ignorance and teenage rebellion?

In our house, we have had discussions about the power of language and symbols. However, as a parent I often feel that words that would have been considered repulsive for my generation has gathered acceptance via music and pop culture. Kids are not ostracized by their peers as they use them in social settings. Instead kids are accepted and viewed as cool by their peers for pushing that envelope against the adult rules.

That is not a recent phenomenon.

So then why does Mrs. Heckert think that calling the acts hate crimes that rise to the level of police involvement will stop the behavior? Is there a better way to create change and understanding of the historic power of what the words and symbols represent?

Case in point, history teaches us that the N word represents a derogatory term meant to segregate and oppress a race because of skin color. A KKK clan robe, a noose, a burning cross, and swastika all represent murder. Not pleasant or funny things when you see them up close or are an actual target in a life threatening way. Students in an affluent suburbia would benefit from the up close and personal experiences that come from the museum exhibits that they are not getting in the classroom. They need an interactive experience to understand the power of the words and symbols they throw around so lightly and with little thought.

Simulations work on kids who already possess empathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a thought, has anyone asked the student body as to why they think these "hate crimes" are happening? Are they truly acts of hate or is it ignorance and teenage rebellion?

In our house, we have had discussions about the power of language and symbols. However, as a parent I often feel that words that would have been considered repulsive for my generation has gathered acceptance via music and pop culture. Kids are not ostracized by their peers as they use them in social settings. Instead kids are accepted and viewed as cool by their peers for pushing that envelope against the adult rules.

That is not a recent phenomenon.

So then why does Mrs. Heckert think that calling the acts hate crimes that rise to the level of police involvement will stop the behavior? Is there a better way to create change and understanding of the historic power of what the words and symbols represent?

Case in point, history teaches us that the N word represents a derogatory term meant to segregate and oppress a race because of skin color. A KKK clan robe, a noose, a burning cross, and swastika all represent murder. Not pleasant or funny things when you see them up close or are an actual target in a life threatening way. Students in an affluent suburbia would benefit from the up close and personal experiences that come from the museum exhibits that they are not getting in the classroom. They need an interactive experience to understand the power of the words and symbols they throw around so lightly and with little thought.

Simulations work on kids who already possess empathy.

Empathy is something that can be taught and supported. Children learn respect and empathy by seeing role models who demonstrate these skills. Role models can include school administrators, teachers, coaches, and student leaders.

Likewise, when these types of individuals demonstrate bad behavior, that behavior is multiplied by the students who follow their example. Churchill has a long history of staff members and student leaders setting the wrong example. The human disconnect and a poor school climate is the result.

Churchill gets an E for supporting the emotional well-being of students.

[Anonymous]

I think the problem is Churchill parents don’t value or model empathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS said the latest incident involved kids handing out "N Word Passes"... i.e., pieces of paper giving white kids permission to use the word. He said the kids he saw giving them out were, themselves, white but maybe it originated from black kids handing them out. Same thing happened at Hoover a week or two ago (black kids handing out N Word Passes to white kids).

I hope Peter Moran is aware that this is going on in more than one school in the cluster. How did Hoover address the problem? What guidance is central office providing schools?

[Anonymous]

Anti semitism is increasing every where. I used to live in the Churchill cluster so I know several people with students there. You can’t make generalizations about a whole community based on the actions of a few people. My kids now go to school 30 minutes from Tree of Life and our school raised money for the victims yet we have the same issues you are writing about (incidents of anti semitism and racism and we have seminars, speakers etc). I think it is all over the US unfortunately and administrators are grappling with how to deal with this since hate does start at home and some parents are not ashamed of what their children do. I don’t have the answer - just wanted to say this is not unique to Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And people here brag the W schools are better.. clearly not.

You're just jealous that you can't afford to give your kids the superior education they'd get at a W school.

[Anonymous]

^^^So Churchill/Whitman/Wootton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many instances of black bullying of white and Asian students elsewhere in MCPS are met with principals alerting the entire school community about unacceptable behavior? This goes on all the time and is largely ignored because leadership is afraid of driving those families away.

Or... how many minority kids commit these hoaxes and are never held accountable?? They are kind of hate crimes of their own.

[Anonymous]

Most are anti-Semitic not sure if racist as a religion not a race

[Anonymous]

For a principal who tweets about Restorative Justice, I wonder why she doesn't go that route vs. the criminal justice system for these types of cases?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a principal who tweets about Restorative Justice, I wonder why she doesn't go that route vs. the criminal justice system for these types of cases?

A big study just came out showing that Restorative Justice doesn't work, let me see if I can fish it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most are anti-Semitic not sure if racist as a religion not a race

Just to broaden your perspective, swastikas in the United States have been used to target many minority groups by White Supremacists. African Americans are one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many instances of black bullying of white and Asian students elsewhere in MCPS are met with principals alerting the entire school community about unacceptable behavior? This goes on all the time and is largely ignored because leadership is afraid of driving those families away.

Or... how many minority kids commit these hoaxes and are never held accountable?? They are kind of hate crimes of their own.

+1.

Those are the worst, because they make everyone else lose credibility.

The latest case seems to be Jussie Smollett. What a disgrace of a guy, I hope he ends up behind bars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a principal who tweets about Restorative Justice, I wonder why she doesn't go that route vs. the criminal justice system for these types of cases?

A big study just came out showing that Restorative Justice doesn't work, let me see if I can fish it out.

Thank you. I would be interested in the study. However, my point is the hypocrisy and double standard in MCPS discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a principal who tweets about Restorative Justice, I wonder why she doesn't go that route vs. the criminal justice system for these types of cases?

A big study just came out showing that Restorative Justice doesn't work, let me see if I can fish it out.

Thank you. I would be interested in the study. However, my point is the hypocrisy and double standard in MCPS discipline.

+1 My children have seen staff members use language that was deeply offensive and hurtful, yet MCPS chain of command protects their own when reported. Examples: a teacher commented in front of a class that a particular female student dressed like a "whore". This student was deeply hurt and embarrassed by the comment. My children also have also heard a different staff member use the words p*ssy, b*tch, f*g, qu**r, when talking with them or other students.

Someone really needs to do a deeper investigation into Churchill. You can arrest the student offenders but the climate is still horrendous if you don't fix the culture of the staff.