Students, Alumni, Teachers and Community for the Right to Learn is composed of Hockinson School District alumni, students, and teachers. We believe that all students have the right to learn from many different perspectives, and they deserve a greater degree of exposure to diversity. In an economy that requires a high degree of cultural competency, knowledge about a wide range of racial and ethnic experiences is paramount for success.

We are in the midst of what could be a very pivotal moment in our country’s history. We wish to use this time to advocate for greater educational resources in the Hockinson School District. 

We have proposed to the superintendent and school board members four topics for consideration:

1. Incorporate more multicultural texts into the curriculum at all grade-levels, from primary school through high school. 

2. Provide teachers with training that addresses what language is appropriate to use when educating students about racial bias, historical patterns of trauma, and the systemic injustices that still contribute to the marginalization of communities of color in present-day U.S. 

3. Increase staff diversity. A growing body of literature suggests that “minority students often perform better on standardized tests, have improved attendance, and are suspended less frequently (which may suggest either different degrees of behavior or different treatment, or both) when they have at least one same-race teacher.”

4. Bolster existing curriculum that promotes critical thinking and analytical skills. In an increasingly divisive media and sociopolitical landscape, it is crucial that students understand how to deconstruct language and the use of rhetorical devices.  

Please join us by signing this petition to show support for Hockinson students' right to learn. Students are our future, and while Hockinson currently provides students with a rigorous academic setting, we want to create the environment where students can go on to successfully embody Hockinson's mission statement: "to inspire all to live with strong core values, to become competent, responsible learners, independent thinkers, and positive contributors to our changing world.”