It had a lasting impact on all the children that participated, not just the children of color. Can we really expect fifth grade to seventh grade students to label an activity as inappropriate and excuse themselves from participating when their trusted principal and teachers put them into that situation?
Lastly, I ask that you consider how the decisions made by HMTCA and Hartford Public Schools, in regards to endorsing the underground railroad activity violates Connecticut’s Code of Professional Responsibility for Educators.
The code states: (1) The school is to create an emotionally and physically safe and healthy learning environment for all students and (2) Consider the family’s concerns and perspectives on issues involving its children and encourage participation of the family in the education process.
A child stated “I was starting to believe what they were saying about me”. I hope this child and all the children who were harmed by the Nature’s Classroom trip are not permanently damaged and get the support they need to heal and develop a healthy cultural identity.
To date, neither 2 the school nor the district has provided an opportunity to debrief parents on the activity, or provided for counseling or support services for students traumatized by this ordeal. All children should be in a safe nurturing environment that encourages a healthy sense of their identity and cultural selves.
Middle school, in particular, is a time to emphasize activities that build confidence in our children and help develop a positive vision for their future. In closing I offer the following three recommendations:
1) Eliminate the Underground Railroad portion for the Nature’s Classroom Field trip.
2) Make sure parents are fully informed about the learning objectives & activities planned on each and every field trip.
3) Hold the adults who planned, supervised and participated in the reenactment responsible for their decision and actions up to and including issuing an apology, debriefing all the families affected by the trip (past and present) and reprimanding school leadership for the handling of this situation.
We’ve provided a packet of information for each of you. The packets contains: a copy of our testimony, and a copy of the Natures Classroom Report from HMTCA. In addition it contains a few letters to the editor from The Daily Hshire Gazette from parents in Northton MA who objected to reenactment and had it stopped in their school district. I’d be happy to respond to any questions you may have at this time. Thank you.
#children #school #underground #railroad #environment
