How are Other Schools Combating Racism on Campus?
As we explain in our mission statement, we seek to provide a platform for anyone who witnessed or experienced racism, prejudice, and exclusion during their time at GWA. We aim to create a space where individuals from the GWA community — including students, alumni, faculty, and staff — can be heard and validated. It is our moral imperative to pursue the truth of the student experience at GWA and examine the complex consequences of that experience. We are resolved to end the culture of silence and complicity surrounding intolerance and racism at GWA. While other institutions have taken meaningful action, the GWA administration has continued to deny our requests for a virtual meeting to discuss race and meaningful change at GWA.
Curious about what peer institutions have done to combat racism? Take a look:
· Dr. John Patterson of First Presbyterian Day School issued a statement after the murder of George Floyd.
· Atlanta Girls’ School Head of School, Ayanna Hill-Gill, wrote a Letter on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that names 6 steps the school will take to strengthen their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including anti-bias training, a curriculum review, and engaging parents in dialogues about race.
· Atlanta International School (AIS) published a blogpost, acknowledging that their Black alumni “have not felt that sense of belonging to a unique international learning community that [AIS] strives to create for all of [their] students.” In this blogpost, AIS also shared their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vision, as well as programs, resources, and trainings available to faculty, staff, and families. In addition, AIS has an Equity and Inclusion team.
· The administration of Blessed Trinity Catholic High School published a statement after the murder of George Floyd. The administration followed up with an additional letter, stating, “Since that letter, we have grown more fully conscious of the need to address racism within our own community. We have been reaching out to our families and alumni who have voiced their concerns and will continue to do so.” They commit to seven actions to ensure that all students are treated with dignity and respect, including the formation of a committee tasked with creating a more inclusive educational environment, a comprehensive review of the curriculum, collaboration with guidance counselors to ensure that all students are cared for and feel safe to report incidences of racial injustice or discriminatory actions, diversity and inclusion training, and more.
· Greater Atlanta Christian School’s president, Scott Harsh, issued a statement on June 10, 2020, about race and racism. In addition, GACS conducted a parent survey about discrimination and equity and has plans to implement student and faculty training, a curriculum review, and broader policy changes.
· Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School’s Head of School, Upper School Chaplain, and Director of Multicultural Affairs issued a joint video statement to share their reflections and perspectives on race and racism.
· The Board of Landmark Christian School issued a statement on racism and commits to “reconciling with both alumni and current students who have faced discrimination,” increasing the diversity of faculty, staff, the leadership team, and the Board, and providing a positive environment for a diverse student body.
· Lovett’s Head of School issued a statement, acknowledging that “…our school has not been a safe and welcoming place for all of the students in our charge.” The school held two listening sessions for community members in June focused on making positive changes on race and racism.
· Marist announced action steps they will take to foster an inclusive community. These action steps include creating a parent and student handbook about race and race education, the expansion of a Diversity Advisory Council, the creation of a curriculum task force, a review of their Office of Inclusion & Diversity, and the recruitment of diverse faculty and staff. They have also issued a detailed timeline on implementing these action steps.
· Mount Paran Christian School’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Catina Taliaferro, issued a statement on race and racism. In addition, Mount Paran tracks the diversity of their student body on their website. At present, 22% of their student body is non-white.
· Pace Academy announced a comprehensive Racial Equity Plan on July 2, 2020. The statement reads: “This Action Plan reflects our commitment now and in the future to look critically at our institutional practices, policies and procedures, and to implement meaningful changes in an effort to establish true racial equity, embedding antiracism in all that we do.” The Action Plan requires the involvement of parents, students, faculty, and staff, and includes steps to make the culture of Pace welcoming to all students, an assessment of the curriculum, and a zero-tolerance policy towards racism and hate-speech, among many other things.
· The Paideia School issued a statement on their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and detailed an extensive Racial Equity Plan for the school.
· Providence Christian Academy issued a statement and action plan on their Instagram to address racism on June 10. They state: “It’s clear that we have fallen short in making Providence a safe and welcoming place for all of our students. We regret that, and we’re sincerely sorry. Providence is committed to tangible change so that we can better serve Black students — and all students of color. We are making a permanent, long-term commitment to lead on the issue of race and racial reconciliation.”
It is clear that George Walton Academy is not alone in dealing with issues of racism on campus. Many of the demands from our petition mirror the action steps listed by the schools above. However, until the school commits to change, as other schools have publicly done, the problem of racism will persist at GWA.
Do you want to share your experience of racism at GWA? Contact us on our Instagram @gwaalumniforreform.
