'Open Letter to the Easton Diversity & Inclusion Task Force'

"Open Letter to the Easton Diversity & Inclusion Task Force"

by Emma Waksenboim

Dear DEI Task Force,

My name is Emma Waksenboim and I am a sophomore at Joel Barlow High School. I believe that this survey would be very beneficial to both students who are struggling and also for just general data collection regarding inclusion. I myself, as both a religious and ethnic Jew, have seen and heard anti-Semitic jokes and behavior within the school. From hearing a classmate call their “friend” a “dirty Jew” on Zoom, and saying “Shoo the Jew” at a sports practice, many do not realize the impact that it has on the people around them. If data was collected, and it was shown that many Jewish students feel the same way that I do, the school could have a talk or add a quick lesson to raise awareness and teach students to be more respectful. I have witnessed many students use microaggressions towards POC, people who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, are disabled, etc. By collecting data, it could potentially create more change—a numerical value rather than stories (although we should believe anyone who speaks about their experiences). I recently asked a friend what she thought of the survey:

“Sometimes talking to a staff member can be difficult because they don’t understand your experiences or what you're going through. I do think that it would be beneficial because students might feel more comfortable answering questions on their experiences in school because it (the survey) is anonymous.”

Although many students are comfortable in school, they agree that others should get to feel safe and accepted in the community. Many students prefer to be anonymous because of their gender identity or sexuality (and perhaps because they have not come out to parents, friends, or staff members). My friend, Nell Williams, who was a student at Barlow for her freshman year (now goes to boarding school) also agreed that the survey would be helpful:

“I think that it would be beneficial to me as well as my peers because knowing that the school and/or district has statistics of how students are actually doing and feeling about certain things would make me more comfortable. Additionally, the school can understand the student body better, which can lead to decisions with the student’s best interest in mind.”

It is clear that students see change to come if this survey was put out for students.

Sincerely,
Emma Waksenboim