Local leaders, educators must fix Acton’s ‘broken school culture’
Which was worse, the extreme ignorance and hateful behavior of the students — or the evasion of responsibility of the adults in charge?
My heart broke when I read the ADL complaint detailing the shocking treatment of a Jewish student and again when former students spoke at the Select Board meeting. Which was worse, the extreme ignorance and hateful behavior of the students — or the evasion of responsibility of the adults in charge? Of course, they are closely related.
This complaint clearly represents the tip of an iceberg. The actions described don’t spontaneously appear in an otherwise healthy system. As it stands now, the unhealthy system — a broken school culture — provides a wobbly foundation for addressing antisemitism.
I strongly support the ADL’s recommendations, but I hope the town leadership and School Committee will address with equal energy an underlying school culture that foments hatefulness and bullying in the first place. Otherwise, recommended programs and systems of accountability cannot succeed the way we need them to.
Every person and institution in Acton has a role to play, students especially. But it’s important that we all are clear: School staff ultimately determine school culture with every decision made about what is acceptable within the school building, how they communicate expectations and address violations. It is their responsibility to create and shape a school culture that upholds the dignity of each student and holds everyone in the building accountable for treating both individuals and the community with respect.
The town and School Committee must make sure this is clearly understood and then support the schools in rebuilding something better — including replacing school leadership or other staff if necessary.
Right now, antisemitism does have a place in our school system.
Nancy Johnson
Darton Street
