Mock passes that allowed students to use a racial slur were circulated at Winston Churchill High School last week and the Potomac school’s principal on Monday denounced the “racist, hurtful act.”
In an email message sent to parents and students, Principal Brandice Heckert condemned “N-word passes” but did not elaborate on who sent them, and announced that a PTA meeting next week will focus on combatting racism and bias.
“I am deeply disappointed and appalled that any student in our school would choose to engage in such a racist, hateful act,” Heckert wrote. “Not only is this behavior hurtful to our community, but it also undermines all the great attributes our students have to offer.”
A school district spokesperson said the passes were distributed to about 15 students during Friday’s lunch period and one student alerted administrators.
Three students involved in creating and distributing the passes will be punished according to the Student Code of Conduct, but Heckert did not outline specific punishments. The Student Code of Conduct outlines disciplinary responses to harassment, ranging from community service to expulsion.
The school system’s nondiscrimination, equity and cultural proficiency policy says discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.
Recent hate and bias incidents, such as a swastika painted on the outside of Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville three weeks ago, are a “symptom of what’s happening throughout the country, Winston Churchill PTA President and civil rights lawyer Bruce Adelson said Tuesday.
He condemned the passes and encouraged school leaders and families to continue talking to students about the history and context of racial slurs because they may not understand.
“Having very intensive, detailed dialogue is key to getting to the root of issues that involve bias,” Adelson said. “What people forget is these are children — they’re not 25, they’re not graduate students. They may not fully understand the context of what they’re saying, segregation and racism in the United States.”
In 2017, nearly half of all bias incidents reported to county police stemmed from school-related events, and hate crimes across the nation have increased annually since 2016.
The 2,123 student high school has been named a national Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education and has one of the state’s highest graduation rates. About 9 percent of its students are black.
“I feel very fortunate to be the principal at Winston Churchill High School, but acts of hatred and intolerance frustrate and sadden me because I believe that we are better than this,” Heckert wrote. “This act, or like behavior, is not how I want or expect Winston Churchill students to be remembered.”
Hecker did not respond to a request for comment.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
