Students, parents and community members gathered for the last school board meeting of the year in Forest Hills. Recent controversy has many ready for public comment on the canceling of "Diversity Day."In the beginning, board member Leslie Rassmussen was told 'Diversity Day' was canceled due to an error."I was told it was related to a permission slip error," she said. That was not the case. In response, more than 300 students walked out in protest at Turpin and Anderson High School.“I think they just want their voices heard. These students were hurt and that’s just the reality. The students rallied. They showed grace and maturity and they put on their own diversity day. They raised about twelve thousand dollars to make that happen," Rassmussen said.Wednesday night those students along with their parents and community members would show up to the school board meeting, asking that 'Diversity Day' be reinstated. “The decision to cancel diversity day has robbed many of us from a great learning opportunity. I attended the event last year and I can say it was deeply engaging and educational," said one student. “Since Anderson Township is a predominately white community, my fellow students and I need to learn about diversity. We need to be prepared for life after high school," another student said.Among those speaking were executives of Fortune 500 companies; stating diversity, equity and inclusion are at the height of what companies are teaching their employees and that starting now is the way to go. Turpin Junior, Hannah Smith, spoke about how diversity day helps educate her friends about her culture. Barely making it through her speech, she spoke with WLWT after the meeting. "It makes me sad almost as if we are going backward instead I feel like we should be going forward. That was the purpose of diversity day to educate people not only about race but to start a conversation about how people are different in our community and we need to recognize their differences," Smith said.The school board did not mention 'Diversity Day' as part of the meeting. They also did not say whether 'Diversity Day' would return on school grounds next year.
Students, parents and community members gathered for the last school board meeting of the year in Forest Hills. Recent controversy has many ready for public comment on the canceling of "Diversity Day."
In the beginning, board member Leslie Rassmussen was told 'Diversity Day' was canceled due to an error.
"I was told it was related to a permission slip error," she said. That was not the case.
In response, more than 300 students walked out in protest at Turpin and Anderson High School.
“I think they just want their voices heard. These students were hurt and that’s just the reality. The students rallied. They showed grace and maturity and they put on their own diversity day. They raised about twelve thousand dollars to make that happen," Rassmussen said.
Wednesday night those students along with their parents and community members would show up to the school board meeting, asking that 'Diversity Day' be reinstated.
“The decision to cancel diversity day has robbed many of us from a great learning opportunity. I attended the event last year and I can say it was deeply engaging and educational," said one student.
“Since Anderson Township is a predominately white community, my fellow students and I need to learn about diversity. We need to be prepared for life after high school," another student said.
Among those speaking were executives of Fortune 500 companies; stating diversity, equity and inclusion are at the height of what companies are teaching their employees and that starting now is the way to go.
Turpin Junior, Hannah Smith, spoke about how diversity day helps educate her friends about her culture. Barely making it through her speech, she spoke with WLWT after the meeting.
"It makes me sad almost as if we are going backward instead I feel like we should be going forward. That was the purpose of diversity day to educate people not only about race but to start a conversation about how people are different in our community and we need to recognize their differences," Smith said.
The school board did not mention 'Diversity Day' as part of the meeting. They also did not say whether 'Diversity Day' would return on school grounds next year.
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