A written message sent to Hamilton Southeastern Schools faculty by Superintendent Allen Bourff about Black Lives Matter (BLM) has created a social media response and a change.org petition campaign.
In his message to the teaching staff, Dr. Bourff writes, “I have heard from a number of parents who are concerned that we are advancing the cause of Black Lives Matter movement within the country.” Dr. Bourff goes on to indicate teaching staff should treat Black Lives Matter as a political, rather than social movement.
The superintendent then goes into detail as to how he recommends teachers deal with the Black Lives Matter movement in the classroom.
“My purpose in sending the above message is to prevent one more stressful issue from distracting you from your daily mission,” Bourff wrote. You can access the entire message at this link.
So far, the response to Dr. Bourff’s message does not appear to have had his intended impact of reducing stressful issues.
Several community organizations have been gathering a response to the message. A Change.org petition drive sending the message that Black Lives Matter is not political has already begun.
The Racial Equity Community Network (RECN) issued a statement critical of the superintendent’s message to the school staff.
“We are disheartened by the statement released by Hamilton Southeastern Schools’ administration that seems to discourage HSE teachers and employees from discussing or supporting Black Lives Matter in the classroom,” the RECN statement says. “The Black Lives Matter movement is not an extremist political group, as many white residents asserted in recent complaints to the school board and administration. The BLM movement isn’t about politics; it’s about humanity. With their statement, the administration chose to uphold white supremacy in its attempt to mischaracterize an important social justice movement.”
The RECN message goes on to say the following:
We believe that following the superintendent’s advice would steal the rights of students to learn about the Black Lives Matter social justice movement that began as a response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer in 2013. All human rights changes in the United States of America (including all the ones cited in the superintendent’s email) started from social movements that launched policy changes. The ‘politicization’ of the Black Lives Matter movement, therefore, is not about choosing political parties, but presents a teachable moment in history for all to learn how social justice movements enter the democratic process in order to help the United States form a more perfect union.
Ultimately, communications like this are an example of systemic racism.
- Our city must reckon with the fact that it continues to prove to BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) residents that Fishers is not a safe place to be their authentic selves.
- HSE Schools must reckon with the fact that missteps like these prove to potential diverse candidates that this district does not provide a safe place for employees to be their authentic selves.
Research shows that attracting and retaining a diverse staff is important for representation and meeting the needs of students.
We must do better.
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So, it appears there is a group of parents pushing school administrators to treat Black Lives Matter as a political movement, and another group arguing BLM is a social movement.
A school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. this evening. It is not known whether Superintendent Bourff or the board will be addressing this issue during that session.