I wanted to reach out briefly in a somewhat belated response to the events that transpired on March 15th in Christchurch, New Zealand. In the days and weeks since we learned more about the motivations of the perpetrator in the attack, I've had a number of families and staff reach out to me to express their sorrow for the loss of life in New Zealand, their concern about the experience of Muslims both locally and abroad, and their hopes for a more accepting society. My goal in writing this message is to convey and renew a vision of a school community that values acceptance, kindness and grace.
Over the past few years, whenever I hear accounts of discrimination or mistreatment in the news, in our community, or in our school, I am reminded of the responsibility I have as a leader to be clear about our values and priorities as we look to educate this group of children as future citizens and leaders in the world. The work we are trying to do at Horace Mann has, first and foremost, always been an effort to create an inclusive environment where all students are welcome, regardless of some perceived difference. I look at every child who walks through our doors and desire for them to be embraced by the world for who they are, regardless of appearance, ability, religious belief, political affiliation, immigration status, family makeup, or other identity. Each day, we talk to our students about the importance of stepping into someone else's shoes, about listening to more than one perspective before making a judgment, about solving problems in a constructive way, and most importantly about being kind. This isn't easy work, but it is the right work, and our hope is that over time, the students will internalize these ideas and espouse and practice them in their adult lives.
Given events like the ones that have transpired in recent times: the mosques in New Zealand, the synagogue in Pittsburgh last year, the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Carolina in 2015, or the acts of hate and intolerance that flood the news on a daily basis, the only hope we have of building a better future is to teach each other that underneath all of the divisions, we really aren't that different. To me, this isn't about politics...it is about human decency. Right now, fear and ignorance propel the hate that we experience in the world, and our collective obligation as educators at Horace Mann must be to dispel this fear and counteract ignorance. To that end, we will continue to share and listen to our personal stories, to voice our hopes and struggles, and hopefully learn from one another. Perhaps the fear and ignorance we hold will be replaced with mutual understanding, respect and love for one another.
Attached is an article I recently shared with our staff on this topic:
http://www.startribune.com/your-little-muslim-neighbor-needs-love-after-christchurch/507377722/
I look forward to your continued support in this work.
Mark Nardelli
Principal
