It is no secret that both covert and overt racism still plague today's society and have done so for hundreds of years. It is also no secret that the main weapon we can use to eradicate racism is education, especially on topics pertaining to the black experience in America and the existence of white privilege. As alumni and community members of Southern Lehigh School District, we care for the education and moral growth of our school, and we ask that sweeping reforms be made and measures implemented to effectively combat white supremacy and racism. It is simply not enough for the superintendent to say that their efforts to fighting against racial disparities include “providing resources, access to services, and the opportunity to engage with us in conversation.”

There have been countless instances of racism in our school alone, and the school board has failed to address these issues and effectively use them as learning experiences for students moving forward. SLSD consists of a majority white population from affluent backgrounds, and implementing proper anti-bias (including anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-xenophobia, anti-homophobia) training and education will allow students of other racial and socioeconomic backgrounds to thrive and learn safely in a more welcoming environment, rather than continue to witness and experience white supremacy and other forms of discrimination or oppression. 

As educators, it is YOUR responsibility to shape the minds of future citizens who enter the real world committed to actively building and supporting a better future for people of ALL backgrounds. We implore the school board to consider implementing any of the following measures over the next few years. 

1. Mandatory, year-long course in grades 7, 9, and 12 that focus on anti-racism and the experiences of people of color in America from 1492-present.

2. A required high school history class that focuses specifically on the Black experience in the U.S., including the economic, social, and political implications of racism from 1619-present that incorporates materials written by black people, including primary sources. 

3. A zero-tolerance disciplinary system towards students and staff who perpetuate white supremacist ideas, which includes public recognition of the event, anti-racism training for everyone involved, and, as punishment, an essay on racism in America and suspension/expulsion.

4. Monthly workshops from grades 7-12 that focus specifically on anti-racism, anti-bias training, and dismantling and invalidating white supremacist beliefs. 

5. Mandatory workshops for grades K-6 that focus on fostering an anti-racist and anti-biased learning environment, and learning how to respectfully and responsibly discuss differences in race, culture, and ethnicity, in addition to learning about the racial disparities that exist in the United States. 

6. Monthly anti-racism and anti-biased training workshops for all staff and faculty members that focuses specifically on educating students from different backgrounds. 

7. A requirement that at least half of materials studied and used to teach in all subjects across all schools include those written by people of color.

8. A demonstrable commitment to hiring Black people and people of color in all subjects across all grades in facility and support staff for every school in the district. 

9. A commitment to holding assemblies at least once a month that feature guest speakers of color who address issues of racism and white supremacy in society.

10. Making available, both digitally and in person, wellness resources for students of color addressing anti-racism.

In order to shape responsible future citizens of America, students must be educated on racial inequality. These changes must be implemented in order to assure a comprehensive education on anti-racism. We encourage you to sign this petition to stand for what’s right, and commit to eradicating racism at its root. If the school district is truly committed to “the on-going hard work and difficult conversations that need to happen” like the superintendent acknowledges, they must hear our demands and implement them as soon as possible.