Phoenixville Student Reps. Address Equity From Their Viewpoint

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Uncomfortable conversations are not indoctrination, according to a Phoenixville Area High School senior who is one of two representatives to the School Board.

Aubrey Wright and Scout Woronko are student representatives to the Phoenixville Area School District Board of Directors. The two agreed to talk with Patch about the school district's work on matters of equity and inclusion after some recent contentions arose in a board meeting.

Also present in the virtual meeting were Phoenixville Area High School Principal Dr. Craig Parkinson and PASD Communications and Community Relations Coordinator Sandra Claus.

Aubrey Wright (A.W.) is going into a second year as a student representative to the Phoenixville Area School District Board. She is a senior at Phoenixville Area High School.

Scout Woronko (S.W.) is a junior at Phoenixville Area High School. The coming school year will be her first as a student representative. Both representatives are active in sports and clubs at the high school and must have demonstrated leadership qualities to hold the positions.

Patch: Of course you cannot speak for every individual student at your school, but you have been chosen as representatives of the PAHS student body. So, I will receive your remarks as coming from two students chosen as representatives, respected by their fellow students, but not necessarily expressing the opinions of every student.

Students are at the center of recent criticisms of Equity and Inclusion initiatives in many places. This is why what you have to say is important, not just to me, but to your school community, and even more widely.

How do you understand your school’s pursuit of equity? Why do you think it was approved in Phoenixville Area School District?

A.W.: The initiatives are there to encourage every single student. I see every teacher, every coach, everyone working toward that. A focus on equity pushes us higher, toward an awesome outcome.

S.W.: The school district wants to give everyone opportunities; that is why they've put the initiatives in place.

Patch: The Initiatives call for an emphasis on social justice in Social Studies. Have you seen that emphasis?

A.W.: After three years of high school here, I can say that in every social studies class, teachers are teaching from different perspectives, not just a white, Western view. In Current Events, we are expected to see the world critically.

S.W.: In my U.S. History class we have discussions, we are talking to our peers about the material. We look at injustice in history, and the emphasis pertains mostly to race. There are other topics that were not touched on as much, like LBGTQ rights, but they were discussed. We have open choices for assignment topics, so we might choose to study those topics more.

A.W.: The curriculum does touch a little on everything, but I've asked that women's history and LGBTQ history be focused on more as Civil Rights topics — after I did a related project during COVID.

Dr. Parkinson: While teachers are teaching from the curriculum, there is latitude to touch on other topics because Civil Rights movements do include areas other than race.

Patch: In a recent PASD School Board meeting you asked the board to continue to make mental health resources available, and to "be pro-active, not reactive" in the face of a student mental health crisis made worse through the pandemic.
Do you think the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives are also helping with student mental health?

A.W.: Student mental health issues have definitely increased. The focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is definitely helping because when people feel less marginalized, they're more comfortable. The idea is for everyone to feel accepted.

S.W.: If students feel more accepted, and access more opportunities — which is the goal — mental health improves. There are resources, more new clubs for different groups, so no one is left marginalized.

A.W.: There is an incredible support system in place here, in Phoenixville School District. You can find help if you are looking for help.

Patch: What would you like the community to know about being a student at PASH in 2021, and the attention given to Equity and Inclusion?

A.W.: I am so genuinely proud to be a student here. Phoenixville School District has a truly diverse student body, we are taught different views and to think critically about them.

S.W.: Being in this place makes me hopeful.

A.W.: It's a super special place. It gives me hope, also, that there can be change.

Patch: There is a criticism that equity initiatives are teaching non-minority — white — students that they are “oppressors.” What do you think, either personally or as you have observed among the students you represent?

A.W.: (Superintendent) Dr. (Alan) Fegley's letter to the School District addressed critical race theory. It's not part of the curriculum in Phoenixville schools. We're taught to have uncomfortable conversations. Uncomfortable conversations are not indoctrination.

S.W.: These conversations need to be had. Being aware of my privileges and advantages as a white student does not mean I am an oppressor. I know I can't adequately represent everyone, as a student representative, but I think there are some wrong impressions. People have to educate themselves beyond just looking things up on Wikipedia.

A.W.: Yes. I understand I have certain privileges as a white person, but we are taught equity. We want to see everyone succeed.

Dr. Parkinson: These students embody Phoenixville Area High School very well. They've said it all.

Sandra Claus: We teach not what students should be thinking; we teach students to think. The student representatives demonstrate this very well. I'm very proud of them.

PASD's webpage on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can be found here, with links there to specific training and initiatives.

The students' remarks come in the larger context of recent reporting nationwide related to critical race theory, a body of legal and academic scholarship that has for decades asked questions about structures and systems that continue to support racism, especially in the United States. NBC recently reported on a national movement focused on school boards and critical race theory.

A right-leaning New York-based news publication on June 2 published a column telling readers to fight critical race theory by controlling school boards.

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