Hate Has No Place Here

This was not the post I was planning to write. I was planning to write about our Master Plan and how we will all compromise to ensure we can move forward with our $150 million bond approval in EG. Then I got a text message from Dr. Patricia Page letting me know that hate speech was written on the tennis courts at the high school. 

When I heard that word, I was transported back to elementary school. Growing up just north of New York City, I attended one of the first "integrated" schools, where students were bussed in. Of course, I didn't know any of that at that time. I just knew I went to school. It didn't matter that others didn't all look like me. Pennington-Grimes was the school I attended from Kindergarten through 6th grade. We had neighborhood students and others from different parts of Mt. Vernon. It didn't matter - they were my classmates, I didn't care how they looked. I didn't know any better. 

I heard it at school and repeated it at home, much to my mother's despair. I was told in no uncertain terms that this was a word that represented hate. It was clear I could never use that word. 

I don't use that word. Not in jest. Not in song. Not ever. 

If we are to truly embrace the notion that All Means All in East Greenwich Public Schools, we cannot ever use that word. Period. Full Stop.  

Short. Sweet. To the point: Hate has no place here.