All tagged Racism

Hateful Vandalism at WES, Investigation Ongoing

Hateful Vandalism at WES, Investigation Ongoing

Swarthmorean Staff
WSSD School Board

Superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille began his remarks at the school board meeting on Monday, November 22, by expressing deep concern about graffiti recently found on Wallingford Elementary School property. He noted that the graffiti, which included a racial slur, was a “gross violation of the school district’s commitment, in its mission statement, to “respect for self and others” and “leadership in the global community” — and he assured those gathered that the district is conducting an investigation into the matter.

The New Normal

The New Normal

Guest User
Editorial

This is not the year they were imagining. This is not the year any of us was imagining. And as our community confronts the gap between what we had hoped for this school year and what it has turned out to be, a question keeps coming up. When will we get back to normal?

Young Activists Lead the Charge on Racial Literacy

Young Activists Lead the Charge on Racial Literacy

Guest User

The Racial Literacy Initiative (RLI), a new organization started by Strath Haven High School students and alumni, is petitioning for an African American Studies course to be added as a graduation requirement at SHHS. RLI was founded to help shift the culture in a school district its members say hasn’t done enough to fight systemic bigotry. They see the course as one tool for fighting racism and promoting equity at the high school. The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District has recently put more focus on issues of race and equity, with the formation this summer of a district-wide committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Resolution Supporting the Development of an Anti-Racist School Climate

Swarthmorean Staff
WSSD School Board

At the July 20 Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board meeting, the board unanimously passed the following resolution, stating “Wallingford-Swarthmore School District School Board unequivocally stands firm in our collective responsibility to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for every student, staff member, parent/guardian, and community member. We commit to use our role as school board directors to recognize, respond, and speak out against injustice and racial inequity in our school community.”

Board Seeks Input on School Calendar, Vows to Fight Racism

Board Seeks Input on School Calendar, Vows to Fight Racism

Rachel Pastan
WSSD School Board

The Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board wants input from the school community. The Board asked Superintendent Lisa Palmer to prepare a survey to be emailed to families (which you may have already received). The results will inform the board’s decision about whether and how to revise the 2020-21 school calendar. Also, Board president David Grande announced the creation of two new diversity and inclusion committees, one community-wide and the other a school board committee. 

WSSD and Community Respond to Racist Video

WSSD and Community Respond to Racist Video

Rachel Pastan
WSSD School Board

Wallingford-Swarthmore School District Superintendent Lisa Palmer reported in an email to WSSD families on Sunday that “a hurtful and disturbing video...is circulating within our community.” School district officials forwarded the video to the Nether Providence Police Department on Thursday, May 28. The department is investigating. Chief David Splain said that the results of the investigation will be presented to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office to determine if a crime was committed and whether to file charges.

Spiderweb

Spiderweb

Rachel Pastan
Editorial

There’s a spider living in the holly bushes outside my house. Every night, it spins a web across my front path. When I go out to walk the dog before sunrise, I run straight into the sticky, invisible threads. This time of year, though, the sun rises early, and I can see the web. That’s how I’ve been thinking about the short racist video that’s been circulating through our community this week and about the many videos over the last months and years showing black people dying at the hands of white people, often police.