Weymouth Public Schools Are Committed to Diversity and Inclusion 

WEYMOUTH — Superintendent Jennifer Curtis-Whipple, on behalf of the staff of the Weymouth Public Schools, publicly condemns the incidents of police brutality and violence that have stirred an emotional, open and honest dialog in the nation over the past month.

“The killings of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks at the hands of police were avoidable tragedies that shook our nation, and I wholeheartedly denounce the actions that led to the loss of life. I also recognize the importance and necessity of the conversations that have taken place since, both nationwide and right here in Weymouth,” Superintendent Curtis-Whipple said. “The reality is that racial inequity is real, and we cannot be silent on this topic. Here in Weymouth we have a very diverse community and we are working to foster a community of tolerance and appreciation of our differences.”

Superintendent Curtis-Whipple also supports the right of those in the Weymouth Public Schools to peacefully assemble and protest to make their thoughts, feelings and grievances known.

“We are not going to solve every problem and overcome every bias overnight, but we are committed to the task at hand, because every student in Weymouth deserves equal footing,” Superintendent Curtis-Whipple said. “There is a clear desire to address these issues in the community and in our schools. We are here to listen to these concerns and encourage anyone in the district, including our students and their families, to come forward so that we can engage in an open dialogue and answer questions in an honest, developmentally appropriate way.”

The Weymouth Public Schools can be reached at 781-335-1460 if any parent, guardian or student has questions or just needs to talk.

The district has also been making strides to address the issues of diversity and inclusion, including encouraging discussion among members of the WPS leadership team, partnering with groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and its World of Difference Institute, adding new books to the libraries at the primary schools throughout the district that focus on diversity and inclusion, and re-evaluating its curriculum to focus more on the social-emotional learning of students.

“Programs and partnerships are only part of a deeper conversation that our communities will need to have over the coming weeks and months,” Superintendent Curtis-Whipple said. “We cannot hide this reality from our children — not when it’s this important and pressing. We will continue to listen and grow as a district so that we are as best prepared as possible to address these important issues in a unified voice for the benefit of us all.”

###