We have deliberately refrained through the years from responding to letters to the editor, regardless of the insults or intentional distortions they have contained about the Oak Park and River Forest High School staff and school community. We have instead chosen to take to heart the valid criticisms, discard what is deliberately hurtful or self-serving, and continue each day to do some of the most important work in the world–preparing young adults for their future roles and responsibilities in society. Today, however, we are compelled to break that long silence.
In its Dec. 6 edition, Wednesday Journal made a decision to rerun an old photograph of student athletes marching around the school in support of lighting the stadium and to print an accompanying letter to the editor that falsely and outrageously identified one of the students in the photo as a gang member.
In fact, the head football coach, his dean, and his teachers know this student as a fine young man with good grades, a superb attendance record and a spotless discipline record. As a school community, we have gathered around him and his family to pledge our support.
Our collective outrage is directed not only at the very real harm done this young man but also toward the racism implicit in such a letter and its publication. Racism spawns baseless assumptions, driven by the color of a student’s skin. Racism underlies the callousness or carelessness of decisions to publicize such assumptions. Racism undermines the progress we make as a school and community in overcoming the challenges inherent in genuinely embracing diversity.
We are proud that the naked ugliness of this episode has inspired the students, faculty, staff and families at Oak Park and River Forest High School to redouble our public and private commitments to working together with candor, dignity, respect and understanding.
Dr. Barry Greenwald
President District 200 Board of Education
Dr. Susan J. Bridge
Superintendent/Principal
