WRENTHAM– Superintendents Paul Zinni, David Raiche, Allan Cameron and Ingrid Allardi offer the following statement to the King Philip, Norfolk, Wrentham and Plainville School communities:
“Over the last few days and weeks, news regarding a drastic increase in anti-Asian violence and sentiment have resulted in sadness and anger across the nation. We share in that sadness as we mourn the latest victims of a truly devastating act of violence in Atlanta, Georgia this week.
“As educators, we cannot remain silent to the impact these heinous acts have on our students and their families.
“We would like to remind our community members that we stand in solidarity with those who confront racism, bigotry and hate. We remain committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within our school communities. We would also like to remind community members that there is zero tolerance for hate within our schools and within our school community.
“We also encourage all of our students to take an active role in making their school and their community a better and more respectful place. We will continue to seek out new ways to address these issues on both a local and a global scale, so our students are well-equipped after leaving our district.
“We have compiled several resources that we hope will assist community members who plan to begin or continue conversations at home about these issues and topics that remain prevalent throughout our nation. As always, we encourage students with any additional questions or concerns regarding diversity, equity and inclusion to reach out to their respective schools’ administration.”
Resources for Parents to Navigate Conversations and Support at Home
Parents/guardians and extended families can play vital roles in helping students of all ages process their emotions surrounding racially-charged incidents or hate crimes with honest, open discussions about what they have seen and heard through the media, and what they believe about race, racism, justice and other themes.
Resources available include the following:
- Talking to Kids about Asian American Identity & Racism (Zoom Presentation), from Immigrant History Initiative
- Anti-Asian Resources to Support to Asian & Pacific Islander Community, from NBC News
- Addressing Anti-Asian Bias, from Learning for Justice
- Standing Together Against Xenophobia, from Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
Bystander Training: Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian Harassment and Xenophobia
On Monday, March 29 at 3 p.m., Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Hollaback! will host a virtual one-hour, interactive training that will teach participants Hollaback!’s 5D’s: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct; of bystander intervention methodology.
The presentation will begin with a discussion about the types of disrespect that Asian and Asian American people are facing right now — from microaggressions to violence — using a tool called the “spectrum of disrespect.” Participants will also learn what to look for and the positive impact that bystander intervention has on individuals and communities.
To sign up for the Zoom training, click here.
Families looking for additional resources can contact their child’s school principal as well.
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