This piece is written by a Palestinian-American who wishes to remain anonymous for safety reasons. She met two empty souls. It filled her with clarity.
Ah, the greatest white woman hits- tone policing, racism, defensiveness/making it about herself, the veneer of "niceness" over cruelty. I'm sorry you had to go through this; thank you for sharing this beautifully written piece.
As a Muslim raised, pro-palestine father, TNCS was the most inclusive school I could find for my child. At this and every school, there is already an "im entitled to my opinion, free speech includes lies, those who yell loudest are right" undercurrent, as there is across the USA. Keeping slogans off of kids clothing only helps to reduce the antagonizing and anxiety producing bullshit that comes with that. I'm glad the school continues to reinforce this rule, and continues to school the students on inclusivity and decency toward each other. Your characterisation of the two heads does not sound at all like them. I'm sickened and directly affected by American racism, especially toward Muslims and Arabs, it is rife. But I have never encountered that with the TNCS school, and it's the first place my child has ever felt that the faculty were on their side.
A very important read especially for us white folks. If you want to be a true ally, the first step is listening with with open ears and an open heart. Someone else’s lived experience is not a political debate.
Wow. So you don’t even have a child that goes to this school? And you’re filled with this much rage? It’s hard to read this piece with any real trust in the content of how this really played out, given the overflowing emotional state of the author. In fact, the case the author is trying to make only proves that the schools decision not to allow any clothing outside of college or university gear, is the right one, as the whole policy exists to help minimize distractions for a student body that struggles with the executive functioning to complete their work with even the most “mild distraction”. And perhaps do some research on this “white private school” before starting down a path of such ignorance that you detract from your own desire to have others understand, and want to get behind, your rally cry. There are many “white private schools” in Richmond, but this isn’t one of them. This is a school of need, not of want. These families have sought out this school, moved across the country, uprooted their other children, simply to help their child with a unique learning style, to have the opportunity to learn in a way that ensures they grow up knowing they are smart, capable humans. And if there is any private school in Richmond that’s more inclusive, that’s created more true empathy and compassion in their student body, show me. Because I promise you - there isn’t one. I respect the deep desire to feel heard and seen for the truly awful war crimes you described, but a school full of young students is not the place to go put your rage on display and try to effect any change or support for your cause. This is about as powerful as the man standing on 95 with his F Biden poster. Go make better use of your time.
I am a mother of a student of color at TNCS. All students are asked to wear shirts with no big symbols not even NIKE or ADIDAS across the shirt. This has nothing to do with stifling YOU, a non parent. Bc once that door is open, people can wear any symbol they want, including racist ones. Free speech isn’t just about what YOU agree with. It opens a door to all kinds of things, including more nefarious slogans. I don’t want my child having to fight to learn while being attacked by different ideologies. You made a scene, exposed this school to unnecessary attacks. Again, you have no real investment in the students or the environment, you just want your agenda to be heard, the students who have to be there everyday be damned, I guess. This whole post was actually disturbing because have you considered they don’t want to allow this because there are also other agendas that could be upsetting to the kids if allowed?
Ok how the hell do you expect people to be empathetic about your story when you are shitting on white people for no reason?? This post is whats wrong with our society today. As a person of color, I am fully aware that private schools often fail to address issues of discrimination. But the way you handled this situation is atrocious.. Whoever wrote this should feel ashamed.
Wonderful piece! Thank you so much for writing it. I learned so much specifically “don’t pour into an empty soul”. Sending the author love and hugs. This experience draws out all the key components of white feminism. It’s useful to see it illustrated like this.
This is why most private schools have dress codes, to avoid all of this nonsense that just becomes a distraction, and especially at a place where kids struggle with distraction and learning challenges. This jewel of a school, started by a handful of parents in the 70's to help their own children who struggled with Dyslexia, who couldn't get adequate help in the public schools is not the place to wage war over the situation in Gaza. To compare this school to an old-money private school for the elite only is so far off-base, it's not even in the ballpark. This school started from scratch with very little resources and has scraped by and persevered to become the school it is today. Schools like this are so scarce that many people drive from up to an hour away to send their kids there. The staff and faculty there are some of the finest and most dedicated people you will ever meet. It's obvious that the writer of this article came in loaded for bear, with presuppositions about the school that she then self-validated in this hit job of a piece. Schools don't want to be in the position of deciding what speech is fine and acceptable and what is not. That is not fair to anyone. What if a kid wanted to wear a shirt that said "Go Israel, Beat Palestine". Wouldn't the writer be enraged, rightly, if that were allowed? Or a shirt that said, "The South will Rise Again." I'm not saying either of these are the same as "Free Palestine". I happen to agree that Palestine should be free. But you get the conundrum, the rabbit hole, that schools get into once they allow anything and everything. Someone will always be mad. Everyone loves free speech until it's something you don't agree with. So, that's why rules should be followed. So many private schools make students wear a uniform. The new school tries to give students more freedom in that regard. They can wear street clothes, but with certain restrictions.
Which school in Richmond Virginia do you recommend for children with learning difficulties? Or would you recommend our children not receive the learning accommodations they need to avoid the association with a school whose demographic is predominantly white (like our city). Please give advice for those of us parenting here in the real world and not martyring on the internet.
Thank you so much for your voice, Queen Anonymous. This piece showcases the everyday supremacy and xenophobia that is plaguing every institution in the United States. The New Community School IS every U.S. institution. These administrators ARE every CEO, dean, principal, etc--unless that CEO, dean, principal, etc is actively using their position to ensure the institution is aware and responsive to all individuals and communities--especially the most vulnerable: Until we all reckon with and acknowledge the systems we are upholding, even unintentinoally, it will remain this way. It requires each of us--specifically those with privilege-- to call out harmful systemic behaviors, regardless of their "intent", and cease to participate until they do better. It requires each of us to use our voice and speak up. We all have a choice. The right thing is not always easy, but collectively doing the right thing even when it's uncomfortable is the only way we pave the way for meaningful change.
First off, free Palestine. No cap. God damn the Zionist occupation of a sovereign people and the genocide taking place there which has been the obvious and ignored outcome of rampant imperialism in the region since the formulation of the militarized nation state of Israel. Shame on our country for aiding and abetting this human atrocity for the sake of proxy warfare, effectively forming a private security entity of forced armed service to defend our interests in the region.
Also, shame on our country for sending money to fund the occupation of Gaza rather than allocating that money to getting our children the educational services they need, including and especially kids with learning disabilities like the ones who attend The New Community school (a fact you conveniently left out of your feckless, low-brow tirade). This sort of tawdry virtue signaling by mellow-dramatic allies and their token brown friends hurts the cause of the Palestinian people by turning atrocity into another westernized culture war du jour full of liberal pearl-clutching over a hooded sweatshirt. I’m glad you’re getting your 30-seconds of attention by all these whites lining up to dry your tears. Hopefully you take all this anger and do something with it more useful than a self-congratulatory blog post.
I am so sorry for the experience you and your friend went though, and appreciate you sharing it.
“When you meet an empty soul, you don’t pour into it.” SO WELL SAID! Thank you to the author of this piece.
Ah, the greatest white woman hits- tone policing, racism, defensiveness/making it about herself, the veneer of "niceness" over cruelty. I'm sorry you had to go through this; thank you for sharing this beautifully written piece.
As a Muslim raised, pro-palestine father, TNCS was the most inclusive school I could find for my child. At this and every school, there is already an "im entitled to my opinion, free speech includes lies, those who yell loudest are right" undercurrent, as there is across the USA. Keeping slogans off of kids clothing only helps to reduce the antagonizing and anxiety producing bullshit that comes with that. I'm glad the school continues to reinforce this rule, and continues to school the students on inclusivity and decency toward each other. Your characterisation of the two heads does not sound at all like them. I'm sickened and directly affected by American racism, especially toward Muslims and Arabs, it is rife. But I have never encountered that with the TNCS school, and it's the first place my child has ever felt that the faculty were on their side.
Free Palestine.
A very important read especially for us white folks. If you want to be a true ally, the first step is listening with with open ears and an open heart. Someone else’s lived experience is not a political debate.
Wow. So you don’t even have a child that goes to this school? And you’re filled with this much rage? It’s hard to read this piece with any real trust in the content of how this really played out, given the overflowing emotional state of the author. In fact, the case the author is trying to make only proves that the schools decision not to allow any clothing outside of college or university gear, is the right one, as the whole policy exists to help minimize distractions for a student body that struggles with the executive functioning to complete their work with even the most “mild distraction”. And perhaps do some research on this “white private school” before starting down a path of such ignorance that you detract from your own desire to have others understand, and want to get behind, your rally cry. There are many “white private schools” in Richmond, but this isn’t one of them. This is a school of need, not of want. These families have sought out this school, moved across the country, uprooted their other children, simply to help their child with a unique learning style, to have the opportunity to learn in a way that ensures they grow up knowing they are smart, capable humans. And if there is any private school in Richmond that’s more inclusive, that’s created more true empathy and compassion in their student body, show me. Because I promise you - there isn’t one. I respect the deep desire to feel heard and seen for the truly awful war crimes you described, but a school full of young students is not the place to go put your rage on display and try to effect any change or support for your cause. This is about as powerful as the man standing on 95 with his F Biden poster. Go make better use of your time.
I am a mother of a student of color at TNCS. All students are asked to wear shirts with no big symbols not even NIKE or ADIDAS across the shirt. This has nothing to do with stifling YOU, a non parent. Bc once that door is open, people can wear any symbol they want, including racist ones. Free speech isn’t just about what YOU agree with. It opens a door to all kinds of things, including more nefarious slogans. I don’t want my child having to fight to learn while being attacked by different ideologies. You made a scene, exposed this school to unnecessary attacks. Again, you have no real investment in the students or the environment, you just want your agenda to be heard, the students who have to be there everyday be damned, I guess. This whole post was actually disturbing because have you considered they don’t want to allow this because there are also other agendas that could be upsetting to the kids if allowed?
Ok how the hell do you expect people to be empathetic about your story when you are shitting on white people for no reason?? This post is whats wrong with our society today. As a person of color, I am fully aware that private schools often fail to address issues of discrimination. But the way you handled this situation is atrocious.. Whoever wrote this should feel ashamed.
Wonderful piece! Thank you so much for writing it. I learned so much specifically “don’t pour into an empty soul”. Sending the author love and hugs. This experience draws out all the key components of white feminism. It’s useful to see it illustrated like this.
What’s so ironic is the school has the word “community” in its very name. Free Palestine
This is why most private schools have dress codes, to avoid all of this nonsense that just becomes a distraction, and especially at a place where kids struggle with distraction and learning challenges. This jewel of a school, started by a handful of parents in the 70's to help their own children who struggled with Dyslexia, who couldn't get adequate help in the public schools is not the place to wage war over the situation in Gaza. To compare this school to an old-money private school for the elite only is so far off-base, it's not even in the ballpark. This school started from scratch with very little resources and has scraped by and persevered to become the school it is today. Schools like this are so scarce that many people drive from up to an hour away to send their kids there. The staff and faculty there are some of the finest and most dedicated people you will ever meet. It's obvious that the writer of this article came in loaded for bear, with presuppositions about the school that she then self-validated in this hit job of a piece. Schools don't want to be in the position of deciding what speech is fine and acceptable and what is not. That is not fair to anyone. What if a kid wanted to wear a shirt that said "Go Israel, Beat Palestine". Wouldn't the writer be enraged, rightly, if that were allowed? Or a shirt that said, "The South will Rise Again." I'm not saying either of these are the same as "Free Palestine". I happen to agree that Palestine should be free. But you get the conundrum, the rabbit hole, that schools get into once they allow anything and everything. Someone will always be mad. Everyone loves free speech until it's something you don't agree with. So, that's why rules should be followed. So many private schools make students wear a uniform. The new school tries to give students more freedom in that regard. They can wear street clothes, but with certain restrictions.
Absolutely incredible piece 🇵🇸✊🏽
Which school in Richmond Virginia do you recommend for children with learning difficulties? Or would you recommend our children not receive the learning accommodations they need to avoid the association with a school whose demographic is predominantly white (like our city). Please give advice for those of us parenting here in the real world and not martyring on the internet.
Thank you so much for your voice, Queen Anonymous. This piece showcases the everyday supremacy and xenophobia that is plaguing every institution in the United States. The New Community School IS every U.S. institution. These administrators ARE every CEO, dean, principal, etc--unless that CEO, dean, principal, etc is actively using their position to ensure the institution is aware and responsive to all individuals and communities--especially the most vulnerable: Until we all reckon with and acknowledge the systems we are upholding, even unintentinoally, it will remain this way. It requires each of us--specifically those with privilege-- to call out harmful systemic behaviors, regardless of their "intent", and cease to participate until they do better. It requires each of us to use our voice and speak up. We all have a choice. The right thing is not always easy, but collectively doing the right thing even when it's uncomfortable is the only way we pave the way for meaningful change.
First off, free Palestine. No cap. God damn the Zionist occupation of a sovereign people and the genocide taking place there which has been the obvious and ignored outcome of rampant imperialism in the region since the formulation of the militarized nation state of Israel. Shame on our country for aiding and abetting this human atrocity for the sake of proxy warfare, effectively forming a private security entity of forced armed service to defend our interests in the region.
Also, shame on our country for sending money to fund the occupation of Gaza rather than allocating that money to getting our children the educational services they need, including and especially kids with learning disabilities like the ones who attend The New Community school (a fact you conveniently left out of your feckless, low-brow tirade). This sort of tawdry virtue signaling by mellow-dramatic allies and their token brown friends hurts the cause of the Palestinian people by turning atrocity into another westernized culture war du jour full of liberal pearl-clutching over a hooded sweatshirt. I’m glad you’re getting your 30-seconds of attention by all these whites lining up to dry your tears. Hopefully you take all this anger and do something with it more useful than a self-congratulatory blog post.
I am so sorry that you had to experience this on top of all the other utter awfulness. Sharing far and wide.