Our school district and telling the truth to address our complete humanity

Friends,

I have some thoughts given recent events in the State College Area School District. They are imperfect and limited. They do not address the situation directly, nor do they let anyone off the hook. I offer them as a way of addressing the truth and our complete humanity.

Last night, a citizen shared these words. She said, “We need to promote healing, connection and belonging. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is everyone’s job.” I could not agree more.

This reminded me of something that Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, said. “From the least to the most important event, the affection and respect of others are vital for our happiness.” Our children—no matter who they are—deserve affection and respect.

Swastikas and racial, religious, or gendered epithets have no place in our schools. They are symbols of genocide, enslavement, hatred, and violence. As such, their displays are violent in intent. They must be exposed, resisted, and addressed with truth, compassion, and resolve.

In 2016, I saw John Lewis speak in Philadelphia. Rarely have I been in the presence of someone of such incredible grace. There, before me, was a man who was beaten by police officers with batons, but who always advocated for non-violence. I wish that more Americans were more like him, especially the police who beat him and the politicians who created the apartheid system he was forced to live in. His commitment to non-violence invites all of us to that grace.

As one—and only one—school board member, I promise to do more and better for our kids, no matter who they are. I will learn about and address systemic issues of racism, disrespect, and hatred, including how policies and programming have enabled those issues and can change. I will support restorative practices and circles. I support clearer communication about and promotion of our diversity, equity, and inclusion activities. I support more inclusive hiring practices and programs that increase the retention of minority faculty and staff. As a teacher myself, I support curriculum that tells the truth about our history so that we can reconcile as a community and a nation. I will vocally and forcefully oppose “memory laws” and other pernicious policies at the local, state, and federal level that would whitewash American or world history.

We can embrace something higher than ourselves. If we are to truly get along and move forward as a community, as one nation (under God if you are religious), indivisible, then we have some soul-searching and forgiveness to do together. Former Chief Justice Thurgood Marshall said, “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” Please pay yourself—and your neighbor—the highest tribute. Recognize other’s complete humanity.