Thread by @JasonMMarkey

THREAD for my students and fellow principals.

The day after the 2016 election a teacher called me to the room simply saying the students needed me. I didn't really know what I was walking into until I saw the students (all Latino) in a circle and they asked me to sit down #NPC19

One of the students who I knew very well asked if they could trust me because they really need to talk to me....

Why did they have to ask if they could trust me?

They didn't know if I supported these sort of statements...

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”

"The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families. They care about their lives, don't kid yourself. When they say they don't care about their lives, you have to take out their families,"

All Muslims should be banned.

Countless misogynistic comments and alleged actions.

Go back to where you came from? Chants of send her back?

And countless more.

I listened to that group of students for the rest of the period, pledging my support to them as people. Understanding why they felt compelled to ask this question of trust in me but it is still tearing at my core.

These kids know me. I traveled with some of those very students to Peru on a service trip. I taught and coached their older siblings and cousins. They know I preach kindness and respect.

In reflection I know, kindness does not always mean anti-racist. It does not always mean I'm willing to stand up against Islamaphobia, xenophobia, and sexist acts. These students and countless others have watched kind people stand on the sidelines.

My Privilege as a white male in this country is I can sidestep all of this. I don't need to engage. In fact, the only possible way all of these things can negatively impact my livelihood is if I take a stand. If I act. And especially in a way that is visible to our students.

They don't know the actions I may or may not take privately.

So the question is, is it too political? Is it my role?

As we come together as principals for our annual conference I have decided that my students, my friends, my neighbors, and many of my colleagues are feeling

as though some people in the country not only don't want them here but our comfortable enough in that notion to chant in unison with the President as the cheerleader.

We all know, that if I or another principal would say or tweet these things we would be held accountable, so I can't have my students, my neighbors, my friends wonder where I stand.

It's not political. It's bigger.

It's being kind and acting. It's being a community. It's being an American. It's that we need them to know they are in a school community that still cares for them, values them, and continues to be a better school community because of them.