Earlier today, two Walt Whitman High School students found a swastika that had been carved into a wooden stool in the school’s science lab. Back in December, the words “Jews Not Welcome” were written on Walt Whitman’s sign and multiple Whitman staff members received antisemitic emails. Incidents of anti semitic graffiti have been found this year at several other MCPS schools, prompting the school system to release a community message asking parents for help with the ongoing problem. Whitman High School principal Robert Dodd wrote the following in a message to the Whitman community:
“Dear Walt Whitman High School Community Members,
I am writing to make you aware of a serious incident at our school today, Thursday, March 23 and how it was addressed. Two students found a swastika carved into the surface of a wooden stool in a science lab. This is a hateful symbol of antisemitism and is prohibited under MCPS Policy ACA Nondiscrimination, Equity. and Cultural Proficiency. Per established protocols, we immediately notified the Montgomery County Police, the Office of School Support and Well-Being, and have filed the appropriate reporting forms for this matter. As always, this type of behavior is deeply troubling and it requires that we immediately begin an investigation. If we are able to identify any student who may be responsible, that individual will face consequences in accordance with the MCPS Student Code of Conduct.
Yet again, I have to write and let our community know about another instance of behavior that is antisemitic. We have done so much as a school community to call out this type of activity and to educate our students while still addressing and healing from past incidents of antisemitism. Subsequently, having to write another letter is very distressing for me and profoundly upsetting for our Jewish community. While it feels like a gut punch to find another example of antisemitic hate, we remain undeterred and will forge ahead with our efforts. Unfortunately, the increase in incidents we’ve experienced at Whitman are on par with a disturbing trend in Maryland. An audit released today by ADL shows a 98% increase in antisemitic incidents in Maryland in 2022.
We are committed to ensuring that all students, including Jewish students, are safe, valued, and can thrive in our school. This week, our PTSA hosted a session called Creating a Community of Care for parents in the Whitman cluster. As such, we will continue to intensify our efforts to use education and our partnerships with community organizations to engage our students, staff, and parents and educate our students while still addressing and healing from past incidents of antisemitism. Subsequently, having to write another letter is very distressing for me and profoundly upsetting for our Jewish community. While it feels like a gut punch to find another example of antisemitic hate, we remain undeterred and will forge ahead with our efforts. Unfortunately, the increase in incidents we’ve experienced at Whitman are on par with a disturbing trend in Maryland. An audit released today by ADL shows a 98% increase in antisemitic incidents in Maryland in 2022.
We are committed to ensuring that all students, including Jewish students, are safe, valued, and can thrive in our school. This week, our PTSA hosted a session called Creating a Community of Care for parents in the Whitman cluster. As such, we will continue to intensify our efforts to use education and our partnerships with community organizations to engage our students, staff, and parents in conversations about respecting and celebrating our diverse community. On April 12, we will be holding student town hall meetings by grade level to review the MCPS Student Code of Conduct and share the school system’s new protocols for addressing specific incidents of hate/bias and discrimination.
Furthermore in May, we will be partnering with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) to provide students with the opportunity to hear from children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Finally, in August, we are again partnering with JCRC and ADL to provide our staff with a comprehensive training on the experience of Jewish students in schools and antisemitism and its manifestation in schools.
We encourage families to have conversations with their students about respecting and showing acceptance to all people and demonstrating understanding of our differences. I also can’t emphasize enough that parents must talk to their children about the serious school consequences associated with engaging in hateful or discriminatory behavior.”
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1 comment
When I went to Whitman in the 80s there was plenty of racism and other hatred, including from the teachers, and nobody made a federal case about it. It was routine to see the n word carved into bathroom stalls, it was routine to hear it, and I never counted how many swastikas I saw. I didn’t call the New York Times when my teachers used the n word. If I had fallen apart over all the mistreatment I received I wouldn’t have survived the following 40 years.
When Jews made racist jokes I didn’t put notes to myself about it in my diary. I mean I certainly remembered it. Now it’s a national incident when a swastika is carved into a single wooden stool? You’re upset because a single kid is a fascist? I get that there are a few people organized enough to send intimidating mass emails, and yes that is a problem. However in the meantime actual nazis are having dinner with a leading candidate for president and in several scenarios he could well take power again. Not to mention that every week there is a new school shooting. Now in that context you are falling apart over a single swastika carved by some disgruntled kid? It just seems like your sensibilities are so brittle, you’re all ready to fall apart over a tempest in a teacup, when the broader issue is that there is a real threat of a fascist government coming back to power in this country, with a mind to vengeance, within two years, and there are real perils facing our children in schools. I’m a bit fed up with it. Grow up please and keep your eyes focused on the broader picture. Honestly, how dare you write an entire article about a single swastika carved into a single stool.