More than three dozen North Penn citizens of all ages and all races gathered Saturday night at Lansdale Borough Hall to brainstorm on ways to end racism in our schools.
From several small discussion groups led by students and former students themselves, the groups formulated solutions to send to the administration of North Penn School District. Assistant forum coordinator Corina Fiore, a curriculum designer and substitute teacher, will combine those ideas into one draft document and email it to attendees for approval.
Soon after, district officials can expect a knock on the door and a delivery from session organizer Anwar Muhammad—in person.
Special Delivery for the District
“I want to personally deliver it, because I want to know that they will never be able to say that they did not receive it,” said Muhammad, owner of The Black Reserve Bookstore and father of district students.
While North Penn Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich couldn’t attend Saturday, two school board members did, as did Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert, whom Dietrich had spoken to via phone a few days before the forum.
“[I’m] looking forward to meeting with Anwar, and for the presentation of the suggestions and solutions that they’re offering that could make things more concrete,” said Dietrich, during a telephone interview with North Penn Now on Monday. “Then we will all roll up our sleeves and come up with appropriate solutions.”
Does Dietrich believe racism exists in the North Penn School District?
Board Member Experienced Racism
“I’m excited about the work they are starting here, and I think the other board members and the superintendent will be as well,” said Elisha Gee, who attended Saturday’s forum, and was appointed in March as the newest member of the North Penn School Board.
“I believe the district will be excited to get this kind of feedback from parents, from students, and from people living here who may not have children in the district but are excited to say what they think and to hear other people,” she said.
Gee says her own children have felt racism in district schools.
“You know, you won’t talk to a mother who has black or brown children who has not had experiences,” Gee said. “I won’t be specific, because it’s private for my family, and I can’t speak for every parent, but my children have had experiences where they’ve felt marginalized, and I’ve felt a sense of bias.”
“I’ve advocated well for my children, and that’s what you do when you have to do it, but I do think it’s reflective of the world,” Gee said. “We are still in America, where there’s work to be done.”
Student Looking for ‘Change’
Saturday’s forum on racism was the fourth held since April.
Juliane Ramić, who was appointed to the school board in December, also attended last month’s forum, focused on schools.
“Anytime you want to advance and progress, you need to have a good understanding of the problem,” she said. “That’s what the last session gave me; kids who had been impacted were speaking out. We had children who were willing to tell their stories – and willing to come back tonight, sit in a group and facilitate the progress.
“Tonight, we have more concrete steps. And for me on the school board, it’s how we’re able to say we all agree on the problem, and then how to set measures and accountability standards.”
Rising 12th grader Molaea Goodman, 17, of Lansdale, says she’s been “bullied for my race at North Penn from fourth grade on.” She said she was “really impressed with what everyone had to say, and I really think it will help with both Lansdale and with the school board.”
Her goal? “I hope to see change—any type of change.”
Addressing Biases and Inequalities
The discussions centered on four areas: Training on curriculum practices and unconscious bias; extracurricular activities and sports; hiring practices to increase diversity; and addressing inequities in disciplinary practices.
While many ideas were generated, probably the largest consensus was on creating a system through which students can feel comfortable reporting such incidents to a diverse panel of teachers, counselors, students and the community willing to investigate and follow through. Linda Fields, a participant and candidate for State Senate in the 24th district, called it “mediation and reconciliation.”
“We need a safe zone for the kids to be able to come to. They need to be able to have a panel of people that they can tell what their issues are—and even if they don’t want to tell someone, they can write it and submit it and it can be read. It can remain anonymous, but at least you’ll have a panel who can look at the issue and address it,” said Fields, herself a long-time union negotiator. “Oversight is key.”
The Human Relations Connection
Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert tied the creation of such a panel to the borough’s own just-passed Human Relations Ordinance. In fact, he used the opportunity to pitch the audience for community volunteers to serve on Lansdale’s new five-member panel.
Herbert, who is expecting his first child next month, knows he has a personal stake in the future of our schools.
“I want to be sure that my child is going into a safe community that encourages inclusion and diversity,” he said. “I think the school district is aware of the challenges they’re facing, and they may have been aware for a long time—but we are now saying definitively: let’s take some action. Let’s challenge it head-on.”
