Dear Waldorf School at Moraine Farm Community Members,
Our school was created to cultivate compassion and moral strength in our students and our community. We stand squarely in our values to declare that racism has no place in our school. Black lives matter. Today, and every other day, we stand with our Black students, families, alumni, partners, and the entire Black community to speak out against injustice and bigotry, and to promote a world of kindness and equality.
We grieve along with the world.
For George Floyd. And Breonna Taylor. And Eric Garner. And Michael Brown. And Philando Castile. And Sandra Bland. And for the thousands of Black Americans two-and-a-half times more likely to be killed by police than White Americans. And we grieve against a backdrop of Black Americans dying right now of COVID-19 at rates three times higher than White people.
The racial disparity in this country is deep, shocking, and heartbreaking. But grief is not enough.
Social renewal and social justice is the foundation of Waldorf education. As a Waldorf school, we hold the dignity of life and the human being at the center of our work. In the words of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, “It is our responsibility to bear witness to what is happening in the world, to elevate the voices of marginalized people, to change the course of inequities, and to break down structural prejudice in all forms where it exists.”
We have compiled the following resources (thanks in part to AWSNA) for families confronting and discussing racism:
- Talking about Race: a new portal from the National Museum of African American History & Culture and the Smithsonian
- Anti-racism Resources for White People: a compilation of resources for White people and parents to deepen our work in anti-racism
- Array Now: Started by Ava DuVernay, director of Now They See Us, this is a compilation of African American independent films; an array of stories and voices
- Teaching Tolerance: Teaching about race, racism, and police violence
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice: Curated by Medium and updated regularly
As a school, we are asking ourselves tough questions and diving deep to answer them. It is up to us to take the path toward true equity and justice. There are no easy answers. We welcome all participation, whether through our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, through discussion, or through action. Please join us.
We find strength in our community and hope in the belief that our commitment to love, compassion, and moral strength will fuel the transformation to justice that our nation urgently needs.
Sincerely,
Theresa Riddle, Board Chair
triddle@waldorfmoraine.org
Heather Collis-Puro, Interim Faculty and Administration Director
hcollispuro@waldorfmoraine.org
Deann Reyes-Wangh, Co-chair of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
dreyeswangh@waldorfmoraine.org
Anita Haller-O’Neill, Co-chair of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
ahalleroneill@waldorfmoraine.org