I sent the following email to our staff the evening our Capitol was attacked by a violent mob of extremists:
Wednesday, January 6th
10:02 p.m.
Dear Faculty and Staff:
Like you, I have been stunned by the appalling events that took place in our nation’s capitol today, and I remain glued to the news to try and make sense of it all. As I write this, the Senate and House of Representatives have reconvened and are proceeding with their Constitutional responsibility to affirm the Electoral College votes.
With our students arriving back into classrooms tomorrow, I know many are wondering what, if anything, they should or can say to students about what happened today in Washington, DC. Please know that I encourage you to check in with your students and allow them to process the events that have unfolded.
Parents and families certainly have a primary responsibility to frame these events for their children within the context of their understanding and values, and I respect that.
As educators, we also have a responsibility to teach our students about these events in the context of our educational program and our values as a district, including the values embedded in the Portrait of a Needham Graduate. I encourage you to allow students to process this historical event in developmentally appropriate ways, and please lean on one another, your principal, and curriculum leaders for support and assistance.
Sometimes teachers worry about saying or doing the right thing in the classroom, especially when it comes to a topic that could be construed as political in nature. In fact, I have previously advised teachers to steer clear of advocating a political position in school, and I stand by that guidance. However, talking about what happened today is not about advancing a political position or promoting a political viewpoint, it is about acknowledging an assault on our democratic institutions, a duly certified election, and the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. What happened today was an unlawful attack on the nation's Capitol and the U.S. Constitution.
Allowing students to engage in discussion and conversation about these issues will never be considered partisan or political in our schools and classrooms. Our students need opportunities to discuss and process these events within a safe educational setting with caring, knowledgeable, and trusting adults.
One of my favorite New England poets, Elizabeth Bishop, reminds us: “Democracy in the contemporary world demands, among other things, an educated and informed people.”
It’s our duty to help our students understand themselves, one another, their community, and their responsibilities as a citizen of our country, this imperfect union we call the United States of America.
Respectfully,
Dan
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