MISHAWAKA — The South Bend chapter of the NAACP is calling for increased accountability and response from Penn-Harris-Madison schools after a Penn High School student reportedly used racist language during a student broadcast of a March 6 basketball game against Riley High School.
But P-H-M administrators say they’ve already taken steps to address the incident and are taking the matter seriously, but federal student privacy laws prevent them from discussing the student’s discipline publicly.
According to a video posted on Facebook viewed by The Tribune, during the Penn student broadcast of the March 6 boys sectional basketball game against Riley, a student announcer could seemingly be heard making monkey sounds and using a racial slur three times while Kelin Webster, a Black player from Riley, was shooting a free throw.
Another broadcaster then could be heard criticizing the language.
In a March 7 email to school families, Penn Principal Rachel Fry said the livestream ended as quickly as possible, and Penn’s recording has been removed and is no longer accessible. The video still exists online in versions captured by viewers. Fry also said the school is following the student code of conduct in addressing the behavior.
On Tuesday, the NAACP sent a press release about the incident, saying the organization did not find clear provisions addressing the use of derogatory language in the student code of conduct handbook and called for revisions to the policy. The press release also said the NAACP “has been compelled to meet with teachers, students, and administrators in response to ongoing incidents of racial discrimination within the PHM School District.”
Because of this, the NAACP said, the organization requested that the student involved and his or her parents be required to write a paper “examining the harmful impact of racist language on individuals and communities” and present their findings during a South Bend school board meeting. The organization also called for PHM to create a task force to examine implicit bias within the district, assess its impact on students and staff and recommend “meaningful and enforceable corrective measures.”
Lastly, the NAACP requested that Superintendent Heather Short write a statement outlining how the incident will be addressed and what steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“In closing, the use of hateful, racist language by a student in a public broadcast demonstrates that there is still important work to be done to protect the dignity and worth of every human being,” the NAACP press release says. “This moment calls for reflection and accountability within the PHM school community. We welcome continued dialogue with community leaders as we work together toward a just resolution.”
Later on Tuesday afternoon, P-H-M sent a statement from Short in response to the NAACP press release. In her email, Short said the district shares the community’s concern about the incident.
“Language like this is hurtful and offensive, not only to the person it was directed toward, but to the entire community,” Short writes. “It is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. In every P-H-M school we teach our students to be respectful and to treat others the way they would want to be treated.”
She said P-H-M is taking the matter “very seriously,” and board members, school administration and district leadership understand the gravity of the situation. Administrators spoke with members of Riley High School and SBCSC leadership after the incident happened and over the weekend, Short said, and she extended apologies of her own to the Riley student who was subjected to the language and Riley High School in general.
P-H-M has “thoroughly investigated” the incident and has identified the student involved, Short’s email said, but because of federal privacy laws, the district is unable to provide any details of disciplinary action.
“Our district remains committed to reinforcing expectations for respectful behavior and ensuring our schools are places where all students feel safe, valued, and supported,” Short writes. “We appreciate the advocacy of community organizations, including the NAACP, and their work to strengthen our community.”
Email South Bend Tribune education reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: NAACP demands public action on racial slurs in Penn student broadcast
Reporting by Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
