- UHS
- Homepage
Incident at UHS
Dear Uxbridge School Community:
This letter addresses a serious and deeply concerning incident that came to our attention earlier today. We were alerted to the presence of a racial slur within a book used in a classroom at our school.
Let me be unequivocally clear: the use of racial slurs is abhorrent and has absolutely no place in our school. We are committed to fostering a learning environment where all students feel safe, respected, and valued. The presence of this offensive language within a textbook is a grave violation of that commitment.
Upon learning of this incident, we immediately initiated an investigation. While the investigation did not conclusively determine the origin of the slur, we are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness.
Here are the steps we are taking:
-
Immediate Removal: The book containing the racial slur has been immediately removed from all classrooms and will not be used again.
-
Curriculum Review: We are conducting a comprehensive review of all curricular materials used within our school to identify and remove any instances of bias, hate speech, or offensive language or graffiti.
-
Emphasis on Language: We will be incorporating into our curriculum a greater emphasis on the power of language, the importance of respectful communication, and the harmful impact of racial slurs and other forms of hate speech. Our goal is to ensure that these conversations are not only part of our curriculum but are deeply integrated into the fabric of our school culture.
-
Community Dialogue: We encourage open and honest dialogue with our community on this critical issue. We welcome your input and feedback as we work together to address this matter and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
-
Inventory: We have reviewed inventory procedures to ensure that we can track to whom texts have been assigned with a greater degree of consistency.
In short, we do not and will not tolerate the presence of hate speech in our school. Please know that the potential for criminal charges exists in the event that the perpetrator of this act is identified. We are committed to creating a learning environment where all students feel respected, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential, and we appreciate your support and cooperation toward those ends.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael D. Rubin
Principal, Uxbridge High School