Sunday, October 29, 2023

8:46 p.m.

Dear Needham Public Schools Families:

Over the weekend I contacted a Needham resident who reported on FaceBook that dozens of high school aged young people were gathered on his street Saturday evening, apparently seeking entry to a house party of a neighbor who is of high school age but who is not enrolled at Needham High School. 

He explained that as they left the street a few in the crowd were heard to yell antisemitic slurs, including, “I love Hitler!” The person who posted this on FaceBook did not report the incident to the neighbors or Needham Police who I have subsequently confirmed have not received any reports of such an incident but are now aware of it.

While we do not know exactly what happened or who was involved this past Saturday evening in a Needham neighborhood, it is necessary to be clear:  Any use of antisemitic, racist, or hateful speech directed at any person at anytime in any venue is never condoned and will always be condemned by the Needham Public Schools. Vile and hateful slurs go against the values of the schools and are clearly in stark contrast to the values of the Needham community.

Regardless of who the young people were, their hateful and antisemitic slurs have now reverberated through social media causing anxiety and fear in the Needham community.

The administration of Needham High School and the Needham Public Schools work hard to instill the values of respect, belonging, and human dignity during the school day. However, we can’t possibly police or control the behavior and language of students outside of school; there are appropriate limits to what we can and should do. Parents, caregivers and adults have the responsibility of guiding and directing young people at home and in the larger community. School staff, parents, and other caring adults must collaborate and work together to call out behavior that is below the standards and expectations of this community; and we must do this for each child, regardless of school affiliation.

As your superintendent for 18 years, I have watched your children grow and learn in the Needham Public Schools, and, like you, I am immensely proud of them. They are amazing, respectful, and generous young people.  It is uncommon behavior for our students to use hateful and repugnant speech; but it can happen and when it does, we must call it out, hold responsible individuals to account, and work to repair any harm that has been caused. 

In this case, we must acknowledge the contemptible speech and hope that parents, in collaboration with the schools, faith communities, and other caring adults, speak to their children about the impact of the words they use, especially when they are caught up in a moment of adolescent exuberance or rowdiness.  The schools will continue to reinforce the expectations for appropriate and respectful behavior that I know the adults in this wonderful and caring community have for all of its children.

Finally, please know that if your child has heard about this incident or is impacted by it, our school staff, including our teachers, administrators, and counselors stand ready to support them.

Sincerely,