Bob CollinsWashburn High School officials are citing privacy rules for refusing to say what discipline was handed to students who hung a black doll from a noose, but a blog that covers the minority-ethnic community in Minneapolis says the students responsible got only one-day suspensions.
According to KARE, a small group of students hung a “dark-skinned baby doll by its neck with a piece of string in one of Washburn’s stairwells.”
And it says the district punished those responsible, though it refused to say what the punishment was:
We do not accept racial intolerance in our school district. We are following the school district’s code of conduct in addressing the inappropriate behavior,” reads a statement issued by MPS. “We are also seeking opportunities for these students to take responsibility for their actions through restorative measures. The four students were involved to varying degrees. Because of student privacy, we are unable to share any specific disciplinary actions that were taken.”
KARE said it was unclear if any students were suspended, but blogger Donald Allen claims they received one-day suspensions.
The principal, Carol Markham-Cousins, issued this letter:
Dear Washburn Community,
This week’s message addresses an incident that happened at our school on Friday, January 11. Near the end of the school day, a small group of students engaged in an insensitive activity that involved dangling a dark-skinned baby doll by its neck with a piece of string. Students recorded the incident and images were posted on social media sites. School security cameras also captured the events.
An image such as the one described causes feelings of anger and humiliation, and we intend to provide a safe space for productive conversations to take place. I was informed after school on Friday and took immediate action. We are committed to following the school district’s code of conduct in any instance of inappropriate behavior.
This is an extremely disturbing occurrence and not reflective of the Miller Pride that we promote. Such insensitive behavior is intolerable in our school and school district, both of which are full of diversity and rich in culture.
Due to the gravity of this incident, we are responding in several ways. Aside from following the school district’s code of conduct in any instance of inappropriate behavior, we will be creating opportunities for these students to take responsibility for their actions through restorative measures. We are also seeking opportunities for students to work with our community partners who provide support services so they have the resources they need to be successful.
Because references have been posted on social media sites and students are talking about the incident, it is imperative that our community receives this message and understands that we are aggressively responding. Parents can help their students be safe on social media by teaching them about appropriate behavior, empathy, and how to report abuse to the website administrators and trusted adults at school or elsewhere.
We will promote open dialogue between students and staff in order to learn from this unfortunate episode and create opportunities to talk about race and respect.
Thank you.
Carol Markham-Cousins
Principal, Washburn High School
