EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral offers the following statement to the Easton community:
“I wish to convey the outrage and pain that we feel at the horrific and unjust acts that continue to occur in our country such as those that most recently led to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“We understand that many of our neighbors, peers, children, family members and friends of color are simultaneously feeling fear and experiencing trauma as a result. In a society still marked by prejudice and social injustice, we know that education is a critical tool in reforming such inequities and the violent acts that result from them, and we take this responsibility very seriously.
“As a community of teachers and learners, where every person is both, we must not be afraid to face and address the institutional racism that is entrenched in our society. Together, we must challenge ideas, push thinking and provide information. Denouncing violent acts and racist actions is one step. Communicating and discussing is another. However, without purposeful and intentional education, we cannot hope to bring about true empathy and acceptance of one another.
“As a district, we have embarked on the work of revising our curriculum, reviewing our resources, providing models, offering professional development and engaging our stakeholders. We have benefited from partnerships with the Anti-Defamation League, Raising Multicultural Kids, Bridgewater State University and national authors and speakers.
“As we continue our efforts, we must acknowledge and validate the vulnerability that our families and children of color are experiencing. Every child is loved, and every child is valued. To have to reassure a child of this is devastating and incomprehensible. All children are also likely confused about and angry at what they are seeing. We have and will continue to work to provide the critical supports necessary to help every child know that they are safe in our schools and cherished by our staff.
“We are at the very beginning of our efforts. We have a great deal to learn, to hear and to understand, and we cannot do this work alone. We urge our community to work along with us to develop how our children perceive themselves and perceive others. We promise to never stop our mission of providing equitable and safe educational and social opportunities for children and young adults.”
Parents who find that their child is struggling or confused about recent events are encouraged to contact the counselors or principal of their child’s school to access their services.
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