If you support children having a safe environment to learn and play at school, then you can make a difference by signing this petition. For five years in our small community in Sharon, Massachusetts, families of color have watched their children return home from East Elementary School in tears and with broken hearts. Our young children, who should experience a supportive opportunity to learn, have instead suffered from a pattern of bullying, hostility, and discrimination. Those who have come forward to share their concerns have experienced retaliation by staff, teachers, and administrators. Families have bravely continued to advocate for their children but the issue has sadly remained unchanged. After filing complaints about our childrens' experiences, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has determined non-compliance by the school. Unfortunately, the school district has failed to take action. We are calling for our community and parents and others who care about our children to help raise the volume that we demand change in the leadership of the school for negligence in not taking care of this issue. The school has shared their DEI policy as their solution, but this is a superficial step, as no change has happened for our families. 

As we prepare for what should be an exciting back-to-school timeframe, parents with children from diverse backgrounds are instead nervous, afraid, and concerned. We are hoping for a change to be made before the 2024-2025 school year.

Here is a description of some of what our children have experienced:

1) Ignored and not offered opportunities to contribute to discussions in the classroom.
2) Criticized, glared, and yelled at by teachers and staff.
3) Falsely accused and investigated without reason. 
4) Required to walk in the back of the line each day while peers are rotated and given the chance to lead the line in hallways. 
5) Hearing negative and inflammatory words about themselves and their families (comments include “Your parents do not raise good kids.” "You are not going to have friends in middle school" "Their parents are stupid")
6) Forbidden from partaking in snack time with their class peers.
7) Treated inhumanely and refusing necessary medical treatment (e.g., a child with an ankle injury was forced to limp across the school alone without any assistance).

Please help us and our children. Write to the School Committee with emails (sc@sharonschools.net) and sign the petition and share it with your friends and family who care about children. Thank you for caring and helping us!