Coronavirus Update June 5
Update from the Superintendent of Schools
Update: June 5 2020
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Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed— |
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Langston Hughes |
Dear Harrison Learning Community,
I met with students today, hurt, confused, and troubled by the tragic events unfolding before them, and worried about what they portend for their America. In his poem, Langston Hughes mourns the dreams denied so many, yet still believes the dream of America possible. Tragically a man was crushed from above,
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
During this quarantine, I have repeatedly reminded myself, and you, the children are always watching. I am a father, a teacher, a human being; I struggled to watch the video of George Floyd, denied the very air he needed to breathe, murdered. What have our children learned from watching? Will they see in us the sadness, compassion, and outrage at man’s inhumanity to man? I learn from watching the children as well. I am heartened by demonstrations demanding better of us; in those crowds, I see a diversity of young people rising together, they are our greatest hope.
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed
Let it be that great strong land of love
Overcoming systemic racism requires changing hearts and minds and is the integral work of an exceptional education system. During my 21 years in Harrison, the Board, community, and I have systematically removed barriers that marginalized many and valued few. The work has been difficult, yet essential. Changing hearts and minds takes time, patience, and unyielding values. We invited every student to participate fully in an enriched education, academic performance soared. We behave differently than the rest of the world – on purpose. We prepare our students to change the world, using their intellect and humanity so they might…
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed
The nation mourns, a tragic tableau plays out across our screens, and our children are watching. In this moment of reflection, our children can be proud of the district’s abiding commitment to all of our students, seeing them fully - socially, academically, culturally, as valued members of our school community.
Langston Hughes laments at the closure of each stanza in his classic poem that...It was never America to me. Our work in Harrison is to make certain that the great promise of America is a dream fulfilled for every one of our students. It is our work, our purpose, and our commitment to you.
Live with optimism and faith in the power of our children to... Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed...
Sincerely,
Louis N. Wool Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools