The 1940’s Rodger’s and Hammerstein musical « South Pacific » was a story about racial prejudice. There was a song, so controversial that it was kept off the official soundtrack record; « You’ve Got to be Taught « .
The parents of each generation pass the virus of prejudice. Our society needs a to break this ignorant cycle, through all school systems.
Thank you Sebastopol Times for your leadership in journalism
I was at an extended Taos Roundtable meeting last night. Identical patterns exist here as in Sebastopol, where I lived for many years. Elected officials seem to to assume that, upon being elected, they possess knowledge, discernment, and wisdom lacking among those who elected them. It seems to be a disease of politicians in general.
This is a really disappointing--troubling-- report. As a former teacher and one who saw this happen in my own classroom and school, I also expect the aggression on this child is likely limited to 3-4 other children--and perhaps even 1-2 students, in particular. Who are these kids and who are their families? Before canvassing the entire district, board, and western Sonoma region, has the district and board clearly documented each and every incident and the persons involved? I am entirely confident we will see consistencies on the "who?". Bring these people in accordingly and document these meetings accordingly. I think this step, before a districtwide rollout of a new curricula or districtwide new program, is the most sensible step.
Sebastapol and Sonoma area "listening sessions" ? Well, no....thanks (at least for me). From green energy to child care to city zoning, these sessions are consistently dominated by 3-4 speakers whose only commonality is their remarkable shared capacity not to hear anyone else, absolutely.
My sense is we're obscuring real ownership and real responsibility. This is not about school board sensibility nor their capacity to take "seriously" the issue. Is the school board's lack of "seriousness" leading to what happened at this school? Is their making it a banner issue going to repair it? And please leave the $10K donation out of the conversation for right now. I get it, but citing past money donations as a right to have your schools be less racist is probably not where we should start in this situation.
People know who these kids are. They know the kids who said these things, and exactly why did it happen again? We can get more exact here. Who are these people and who saw it happen and why are we here on a "comments" section at this point?
The principals of the schools in question should be given orders to take whatever legal measures they have to stop this racist bullying. It doesn’t matter what race or ethnicity we are talking about, islamic, jewish, black, brown or asian. It can also happen to those who are gay, lesbian or not gender specific. The perpetrators should be given mental health treatment opportunities as that, in my opinion, is the basis and remedy for all of this. If their parents refuse then those kids should be kicked out, and it be a permanent part of their records. OK, yes, this makes me angry!
There was a “female child suicide” earlier this year as well related to the Sebastopol Union School District’s prior knowledge and “inaction” on Superintendent’s part. The child attended Parkside Elementary which is also under Superintendent Gramm’s control.
The suicide was buried in the press without any known “press followup”… and an Instagram post later mentioned interpersonal family issues were possibly involved as well (from my sources)… but there was no followup article in the Press, the appropriate venue for notifying the public at large (not Instagram).
There are still clear and outstanding “board policy failures” related to both Parkside School and Superintendent Gramm’s poor handling of such a tragic case. Gramm needs to provide answers now about all current and past “bullying complaints to the board”, as opposed to the constant deflection and dismissiveness of such critical issues related to our children’s lives and well being.
It’s interesting that these events coincide with the removal of the Barlow’s Black Lives Matter statue by Sebastopol’s beloved artist Patrick Amiot. I’ve heard rumor it’s going to be replaced by a flag/pole. Where is this town going?
Stop all of the discussions and processes!!! Get a social justice curriculum or bring in teachers or people with in depth knowledge how to stop racist cat calls or inuendos. These children are being traumatized now. More and more makes it go in deeper. How can you learn when you are scared.
The 1940’s Rodger’s and Hammerstein musical « South Pacific » was a story about racial prejudice. There was a song, so controversial that it was kept off the official soundtrack record; « You’ve Got to be Taught « .
The parents of each generation pass the virus of prejudice. Our society needs a to break this ignorant cycle, through all school systems.
Thank you Sebastopol Times for your leadership in journalism
https://youtu.be/VPf6ITsjsgk?si=vhd0K-PHpAws-9hK
I was at an extended Taos Roundtable meeting last night. Identical patterns exist here as in Sebastopol, where I lived for many years. Elected officials seem to to assume that, upon being elected, they possess knowledge, discernment, and wisdom lacking among those who elected them. It seems to be a disease of politicians in general.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS ARTICLE.
This is a really disappointing--troubling-- report. As a former teacher and one who saw this happen in my own classroom and school, I also expect the aggression on this child is likely limited to 3-4 other children--and perhaps even 1-2 students, in particular. Who are these kids and who are their families? Before canvassing the entire district, board, and western Sonoma region, has the district and board clearly documented each and every incident and the persons involved? I am entirely confident we will see consistencies on the "who?". Bring these people in accordingly and document these meetings accordingly. I think this step, before a districtwide rollout of a new curricula or districtwide new program, is the most sensible step.
Sebastapol and Sonoma area "listening sessions" ? Well, no....thanks (at least for me). From green energy to child care to city zoning, these sessions are consistently dominated by 3-4 speakers whose only commonality is their remarkable shared capacity not to hear anyone else, absolutely.
My sense is we're obscuring real ownership and real responsibility. This is not about school board sensibility nor their capacity to take "seriously" the issue. Is the school board's lack of "seriousness" leading to what happened at this school? Is their making it a banner issue going to repair it? And please leave the $10K donation out of the conversation for right now. I get it, but citing past money donations as a right to have your schools be less racist is probably not where we should start in this situation.
People know who these kids are. They know the kids who said these things, and exactly why did it happen again? We can get more exact here. Who are these people and who saw it happen and why are we here on a "comments" section at this point?
Every single child has a right to go to school with “less racism,” regardless of any donation.
Seems logical
Which parents teach or tolerate belligerence? Start there before diffusing to the whole county
The principals of the schools in question should be given orders to take whatever legal measures they have to stop this racist bullying. It doesn’t matter what race or ethnicity we are talking about, islamic, jewish, black, brown or asian. It can also happen to those who are gay, lesbian or not gender specific. The perpetrators should be given mental health treatment opportunities as that, in my opinion, is the basis and remedy for all of this. If their parents refuse then those kids should be kicked out, and it be a permanent part of their records. OK, yes, this makes me angry!
There was a “female child suicide” earlier this year as well related to the Sebastopol Union School District’s prior knowledge and “inaction” on Superintendent’s part. The child attended Parkside Elementary which is also under Superintendent Gramm’s control.
The suicide was buried in the press without any known “press followup”… and an Instagram post later mentioned interpersonal family issues were possibly involved as well (from my sources)… but there was no followup article in the Press, the appropriate venue for notifying the public at large (not Instagram).
There are still clear and outstanding “board policy failures” related to both Parkside School and Superintendent Gramm’s poor handling of such a tragic case. Gramm needs to provide answers now about all current and past “bullying complaints to the board”, as opposed to the constant deflection and dismissiveness of such critical issues related to our children’s lives and well being.
Godspeed!
It’s interesting that these events coincide with the removal of the Barlow’s Black Lives Matter statue by Sebastopol’s beloved artist Patrick Amiot. I’ve heard rumor it’s going to be replaced by a flag/pole. Where is this town going?
When is Part 2 coming?
Saturday or Tuesday.
Stop all of the discussions and processes!!! Get a social justice curriculum or bring in teachers or people with in depth knowledge how to stop racist cat calls or inuendos. These children are being traumatized now. More and more makes it go in deeper. How can you learn when you are scared.