At Upper Arlington Schools, we believe in the power of diversity, the impact of equity, and the strength of inclusion.
The mass murder of eight people last week in the Atlanta metropolitan area, including six Asian women, is a reminder of the increase in acts of violence against Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. Such acts of violence happen far too often and go relatively unnoticed by people outside of these communities.
These incidents are unmistakably acts of racism. We stand in support of our Asian colleagues, students, families, friends and all others impacted by these tragedies.
The Upper Arlington Board of Education has taken a strong anti-racism stance. In a resolution adopted in June 2020, the Board committed to eliminating racism, social injustice, bias and bigotry in our school community. In Upper Arlington Schools, we must take active steps to ensure that every child has a safe space to learn, grow and thrive without fear of prejudice or bias based upon race, color, ethnicity or national origin.
We remain committed to our mission of challenging and supporting every student every step of the way.
As we wrestle with the recent incidents of anti-Asian racism in our country, our school counselors have pulled together the following resources to help families. This article talks about discussing anti-Asian bias and racism with children. Talking to our children about anti-Asian racism in a developmentally appropriate manner is important. Children begin to develop their racial identity at a young age so we must help them have a healthy sense of who they are and celebrate our differences.
According to the authors of this article, here are some ideas of what parents can do to help:
Read books, watch movies and consume media with racially diverse characters. Read with your children or talk with them about what they’re reading.
Be proactive in bringing up conversations about race with your kids. Ask them what they are hearing and experiencing.
Kids will hear what’s happening in the news. Discuss it with them in an age-appropriate way.
Role-play what to do when you see a racist incident. Talk to your kids if a racist incident happens to your child or to someone in your community.
Read this parenting guide for parents of Asian-American teens: How are you and your children talking about racism?
Share these resources from the M.G.H. Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness with your kids.
Explore additional resources for talking about race with younger children such as Embrace Race and PBS Kids for Parents.
Have your child reach out to a school counselor, or contact your child’s school counselor directly, for additional support.