A Message of Concern and Support

Dear Newman Community,

 

Given the challenges of the pandemic and the tragic events of the past weeks including the horrific killing of George Floyd, I am writing to share a perspective and to ask for your support.

Over the past week, I have heard heartbreaking stories from members of our school community –teachers, students, and parents. I want to share my deep concern and to ask for our collective awareness of the profound pain and fear that currently exists among members of our community. This pain disproportionately impacts our students, teachers, and parents of color but also is felt meaningfully by many others. As a school originally founded for Jewish orphans, I want to emphasize our historical commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – a commitment even more important and relevant during these challenging times.

A few days ago, as our teachers were returning to campus to be with colleagues and to prepare their classrooms for the summer months, I asked one of our teachers of color how she was doing. Her response was, “I have had better days.” She shared her concern for her sons as well as her husband. I certainly felt her concern for the safety of her family. The pain in her face and the quavering in her voice were heartbreaking.

Other students, parents, and teachers of color recently have shared similarly powerful and personal stories about their struggles with racism and discrimination – both in our school community and beyond. One of our educators of color recently shared with me that she currently feels fragile and unsafe. Several of our black students have expressed their struggles and exhaustion. Members of our school community have been seriously impacted by COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected the black community.

As a school with inclusion as a key pillar in our mission statement, we are committed to the care, respect, and dignity of each member of our community. I am acutely aware of the pain and fear that currently exists among some in our school community. I hope that each of us will listen carefully and consider ways we can be helpful.

I believe these difficult and complicated circumstances provide an opportunity to learn and to help each other. I hope you will join me in in engaging in constructive and meaningful conversations about issues of race and power and in committing to support those in our community who are struggling.

As always, I am grateful for your support during these challenging times.

 

Sincerely,

Dale M. Smith

Head of School