Day Middle School Principal Brian Turner sent this letter to parents Friday afternoon. The content of the graffiti isn’t described.
Dear Day Family,
I regret to inform you that hateful graffiti was found written on a bathroom wall yesterday at Day. The police were notified immediately and are currently conducting an investigation. The Superintendent, the Mayor, and the Day faculty have also been alerted.
Such deplorable acts are unacceptable, will not be tolerated, and do not define our inclusive school community. If you or your child has any information about the person who may have committed this offense, please contact the police immediately. Information can be submitted to the Community Services Bureau at 617-796-2103 or via the anonymous tip line at 617-796-2121.
As I described in an earlier message, we have begun a series of discussions with students, faculty, and community to strengthen our educational efforts to combat anti-Semitism and insure a supportive learning environment. I met with the Day staff earlier this week, began a series of conversations with students yesterday, and look forward to hearing from you at the forum for Day parents on Wednesday, March 9th at 7:00 p.m. or at the Parent-Principal coffee on March 11th at 8:00 a.m.
Many of you may be aware of media reports of the incidents here at Day. I thank you for supporting our students and school as we address these incidents and discuss ways in which we can come together as a community.
Sincerely,
Brian Turner
Principal Turner and Superintendent Fleishman met with the Day faculty on Tuesday afternoon (3/1/16). At this meeting, Mr. Turner admitted that a teacher informed him of the bathroom graffiti in October — and he did nothing but forward it to an assistant principal to handle. Principal Turner admitted that a student took a picture of the graffiti andshared it with a parent who then contacted Mr. Turner — and he still did nothing more to address the issue. Turner admitted that a faculty member informed him of the swastika — and he did nothing but forward it to a vice principal to handle. And finally, he admitted to meeting with a faculty member on the topic of his inaction on the swastika and telling the faculty member that the incident was no big deal, that such hate speech happened all the time, that the faculty as a whole overreacts to such incidents, and that the faculty member who he was meeting with stirs up trouble. Mr. Turner further stated that at the time he contacted by Mr. Fleishman and the Newton police regarding these incidents, he did not recall the “Burn the Jews” graffiti being reported to him.
Shame on Brian Turner and shame on the school administrators and school committee members who continue to defend him when they know the truth.
Principal Turner and Superintendent Fleishman met with the Day faculty on Tuesday afternoon (3/1/16). At this meeting, Mr. Turner admitted that a teacher informed him of the bathroom graffiti in October — and he did nothing but forward it to an assistant principal to handle. Principal Turner admitted that a student took a picture of the graffiti andshared it with a parent who then contacted Mr. Turner — and he still did nothing more to address the issue. Turner admitted that a faculty member informed him of the swastika — and he did nothing but forward it to a vice principal to handle. And finally, he admitted to meeting with a faculty member on the topic of his inaction on the swastika and telling the faculty member that the incident was no big deal, that such hate speech happened all the time, that the faculty as a whole overreacts to such incidents, and that the faculty member who he was meeting with stirs up trouble. Mr. Turner further stated that at the time he contacted by Mr. Fleishman and the Newton police regarding these incidents, he did not recall the “Burn the Jews” graffiti being reported to him.
Shame on Brian Turner and shame on the school administrators and school committee members who continue to defend him when they know the truth.
If this is true, he should be out on his ear.
If this is true, he should be out on his ear.
I agree wholeheartedly.
I agree wholeheartedly.
The key phrase is “if this is true.” This is one anonymous account of what allegedly was said at a private meeting.
The key phrase is “if this is true.” This is one anonymous account of what allegedly was said at a private meeting.
@Tricia – I think his inaction and lack of following procedure, which have been verified, were bad enough that he should at least be suspended and possibly dismissed. I carefully added “if this is true” to my preceding post because I would not want any action taken based solely on unverified rumors.
@Tricia – I think his inaction and lack of following procedure, which have been verified, were bad enough that he should at least be suspended and possibly dismissed. I carefully added “if this is true” to my preceding post because I would not want any action taken based solely on unverified rumors.
Simple solutions: Contact David Fleishman and ask for the truth or attend the forum at Day on March 9th at 7:00 PM and ask Brian Turner himself. Keep in mind this was originally promoted as a community forum regarding the incidents. Now, it’s being promoted as a forum for Day parents. Move on, nothing to see here. Speaks volumes.
Simple solutions: Contact David Fleishman and ask for the truth or attend the forum at Day on March 9th at 7:00 PM and ask Brian Turner himself. Keep in mind this was originally promoted as a community forum regarding the incidents. Now, it’s being promoted as a forum for Day parents. Move on, nothing to see here. Speaks volumes.
Don’t worry, TfN, I am a Day parent, and I’ll be there. You?
Don’t worry, TfN, I am a Day parent, and I’ll be there. You?
Sadly, I don’t think that they will every find the real perpetrator – the parent(s) who espouse hatred and venom in front of young ears. Children are born color blind; hatred of another for reasons of race, religion, ethnic origin, gender orientation, etc. – those are all learned.
We can and should discipline this behavior. The challenge is changing the heart and mind of a child who expresses this form of hatred against others.
Sadly, I don’t think that they will every find the real perpetrator – the parent(s) who espouse hatred and venom in front of young ears. Children are born color blind; hatred of another for reasons of race, religion, ethnic origin, gender orientation, etc. – those are all learned.
We can and should discipline this behavior. The challenge is changing the heart and mind of a child who expresses this form of hatred against others.
Tricia, I’m not a Day parent. Just an extremely concerned citizen. The March 9th meeting was originally described by Turner himself as a community forum and I planned to attend. With this latest incident, he has reworded it to be a forum for Day parents. As such, apparently I am unwelcome. I find the change to be a strategic one on his part. Less people means less heat. Make no mistake, though — these incidents and Mr. Turner’s gross negligence in handling them affect all of Newton.
To the Day parents who read this, I implore you: Before March 9th, contact Day faculty members who work with your children and ask them for the truth of these matters. Ask them exactly how Brian Turner has handled these anti-Semitic incidents. Mr. Turner (and seemingly the Newton Public Schools administration as a whole) is in full spin mode. This was not a failure of the protocols on how to handle such situations. This was Principal Turner choosing multiple times not to FOLLOW the protocols. Plain and simple. Get the facts from the faculty, bring them to the forum, and ask Brian Turner for his version. See how they compare and contrast.
Tricia, I’m not a Day parent. Just an extremely concerned citizen. The March 9th meeting was originally described by Turner himself as a community forum and I planned to attend. With this latest incident, he has reworded it to be a forum for Day parents. As such, apparently I am unwelcome. I find the change to be a strategic one on his part. Less people means less heat. Make no mistake, though — these incidents and Mr. Turner’s gross negligence in handling them affect all of Newton.
To the Day parents who read this, I implore you: Before March 9th, contact Day faculty members who work with your children and ask them for the truth of these matters. Ask them exactly how Brian Turner has handled these anti-Semitic incidents. Mr. Turner (and seemingly the Newton Public Schools administration as a whole) is in full spin mode. This was not a failure of the protocols on how to handle such situations. This was Principal Turner choosing multiple times not to FOLLOW the protocols. Plain and simple. Get the facts from the faculty, bring them to the forum, and ask Brian Turner for his version. See how they compare and contrast.
@TfN can you enlighten us as to what the protocols are? Are they in writing somewhere? Thank you!
@TfN can you enlighten us as to what the protocols are? Are they in writing somewhere? Thank you!
Lisap, here is a link to the protocol which was mentioned in the Globe article about Turner’s inaction:
http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/cms/lib8/MA01907692/Centricity/shared/nps%20policies/Memorandum%20of%20Understanding%202015.pdf
Also, here is a link to an article from the Newton Tab regarding a nearly identical incident at Brown Middle School less than a year ago:
http://newton.wickedlocal.com/article/20150428/news/150426422
It was handled in a completely different and, more importantly, appropriate fashion. Are we to believe that Brian Turner was completely unaware of the Brown incident and the protocol?
Lisap, here is a link to the protocol which was mentioned in the Globe article about Turner’s inaction:
http://www.newton.k12.ma.us/cms/lib8/MA01907692/Centricity/shared/nps%20policies/Memorandum%20of%20Understanding%202015.pdf
Also, here is a link to an article from the Newton Tab regarding a nearly identical incident at Brown Middle School less than a year ago:
http://newton.wickedlocal.com/article/20150428/news/150426422
It was handled in a completely different and, more importantly, appropriate fashion. Are we to believe that Brian Turner was completely unaware of the Brown incident and the protocol?
Thank you TfN for linking the mandatory reporting procedures and an incident that was properly handled. There is a stark contrast between what happened and what should have happened. There is no excuse for a principal not following a well defined NPS procedure, twice.
Not only did the Brown Principal know about, understand and follow the protocol, he expressed praise for the students who reported it.
Thank you TfN for linking the mandatory reporting procedures and an incident that was properly handled. There is a stark contrast between what happened and what should have happened. There is no excuse for a principal not following a well defined NPS procedure, twice.
Not only did the Brown Principal know about, understand and follow the protocol, he expressed praise for the students who reported it.
@TfN, Thanks for the links but let’s hang on a minute here. The protocol requires reporting hate crimes but there is a very significant distinction between a suspected hate CRIME and hateful speech or grafitti. You can have the latter without the former. It is quite a big leap to conclude that he failed the mandatory reporting of a crime based on information that is available to the public.
@TfN, Thanks for the links but let’s hang on a minute here. The protocol requires reporting hate crimes but there is a very significant distinction between a suspected hate CRIME and hateful speech or grafitti. You can have the latter without the former. It is quite a big leap to conclude that he failed the mandatory reporting of a crime based on information that is available to the public.
PS – I was only just able to access some additional information about what was posted a in the school and agree that it should have been reported.
PS – I was only just able to access some additional information about what was posted a in the school and agree that it should have been reported.
@Lisap – can you tell the rest of us what it was?
@Lisap – can you tell the rest of us what it was?
Included under Manatory Reporting is “… any incident involving an actual or suspected hate crime or violation of civil rights …” So “suspected” is indeed treated the same in the protocol as it finds no “significant distinction.”
Just what we know from the principal himself fits this description.
Included under Manatory Reporting is “… any incident involving an actual or suspected hate crime or violation of civil rights …” So “suspected” is indeed treated the same in the protocol as it finds no “significant distinction.”
Just what we know from the principal himself fits this description.
@MGWA,
Sorry if I sounded cryptic (reading and writing from my phone earlier) – it’s information reported in the Globe that I wasn’t able to access previously relating to the message scrawled in the bathroom. I had missed that a message had been written there. I do think that the message could be construed as a threat and I think that specific incident should have been reported for investigation. The symbol scrawled in the snow off of school property is another matter which I do not think is a covered under section IV of the memorandum of understanding. Again, sorry for the confusion.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/02/newton-principal-failed-report-anti-semitic-graffiti/JQy4HKuFraZwr2OcyzgNnN/story.html
@MGWA,
Sorry if I sounded cryptic (reading and writing from my phone earlier) – it’s information reported in the Globe that I wasn’t able to access previously relating to the message scrawled in the bathroom. I had missed that a message had been written there. I do think that the message could be construed as a threat and I think that specific incident should have been reported for investigation. The symbol scrawled in the snow off of school property is another matter which I do not think is a covered under section IV of the memorandum of understanding. Again, sorry for the confusion.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/02/newton-principal-failed-report-anti-semitic-graffiti/JQy4HKuFraZwr2OcyzgNnN/story.html
@Lisap – thanks. For others who are wondering, the article says it was reported that the graffiti in the bathroom said “Burn the Jews.”
@Lisap – thanks. For others who are wondering, the article says it was reported that the graffiti in the bathroom said “Burn the Jews.”
@mgwa,
Yes, very, very ugly and shocking.
@mgwa,
Yes, very, very ugly and shocking.
But still no information on the content of this third, most recent incident? All three are disturbing but this one is particularly bold, coming while there is so much attention.
There’s a story about the first two incidents in the Globe today but it does not mention the most recent incident (can’t find that link).
But WHDH did report it on Friday.
But still no information on the content of this third, most recent incident? All three are disturbing but this one is particularly bold, coming while there is so much attention.
There’s a story about the first two incidents in the Globe today but it does not mention the most recent incident (can’t find that link).
But WHDH did report it on Friday.
Time for the School Committee to show some real leadership and take some disciplinary action against the Principal for remaining silent. He knew better! The Superintendent’s defense of the Principal is so weak.
Time for the School Committee to show some real leadership and take some disciplinary action against the Principal for remaining silent. He knew better! The Superintendent’s defense of the Principal is so weak.
There’s a reason why today’s Globe article only mentions the first two incidents: it was actually posted on March 2, before the most recent email from Brian Turner was sent. I’m not sure why the Globe took four or five days to print the online article. Took a bit of searching, but here is the link: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/02/newton-principal-failed-report-anti-semitic-graffiti/JQy4HKuFraZwr2OcyzgNnN/story.html.
The story is so old, in fact, it still says that Wednesday’s meeting is for the community. It came out before it became a “forum for Day parents,” as described in the email above.
There’s a reason why today’s Globe article only mentions the first two incidents: it was actually posted on March 2, before the most recent email from Brian Turner was sent. I’m not sure why the Globe took four or five days to print the online article. Took a bit of searching, but here is the link: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/02/newton-principal-failed-report-anti-semitic-graffiti/JQy4HKuFraZwr2OcyzgNnN/story.html.
The story is so old, in fact, it still says that Wednesday’s meeting is for the community. It came out before it became a “forum for Day parents,” as described in the email above.
The Boston Globe had a follow up story to this today . . . . anyone want to discuss?
The Boston Globe had a follow up story to this today . . . . anyone want to discuss?
Horrible incidents and terrible handling of them. Despite the botched handling of the situation by the principal, there’s no sign of malice by anyone in the administration.
If anything good can come out of this, I think it’s that all administrators across the entire school system will not be making those kinds of mistakes again any time soon.
I agree, Jerry. I feel confident that no administrator is going to act dismissively about hate messages again.
Horrible incidents and terrible handling of them. Despite the botched handling of the situation by the principal, there’s no sign of malice by anyone in the administration.
If anything good can come out of this, I think it’s that all administrators across the entire school system will not be making those kinds of mistakes again any time soon.
I agree, Jerry. I feel confident that no administrator is going to act dismissively about hate messages again.
Here’s a link to today’s Globe article:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/09/third-incident-anti-semitic-graffiti-found-newton-middle-school/g3hb3X0Toi9WdwMnqfBqmJ/story.html
Here’s a link to today’s Globe article:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/09/third-incident-anti-semitic-graffiti-found-newton-middle-school/g3hb3X0Toi9WdwMnqfBqmJ/story.html
The thing is – did you think an administrator would do nothing about hate speak before this happened at Day? I did not.
Did I think another incident would happen after the first two were brought out in the open? No, I did not.
So we have a brazen offender(s) and a principal acting in a way I would never have predicted. There need to be consequences for the first two incidents being swept under the rug. But also the naïveté that makes people sure it won’t happen again needs to be adjusted to recognize an administrator’s choices will still need to be examined. There is no rule in life saying one person gets caught so it follows no one in a similar position will do it again.
Perhaps there needs to be more than one person, the prinicipal, to notify when you see wrongdoing so more than just the principal can make decisions on a follow up action.
The thing is – did you think an administrator would do nothing about hate speak before this happened at Day? I did not.
Did I think another incident would happen after the first two were brought out in the open? No, I did not.
So we have a brazen offender(s) and a principal acting in a way I would never have predicted. There need to be consequences for the first two incidents being swept under the rug. But also the naïveté that makes people sure it won’t happen again needs to be adjusted to recognize an administrator’s choices will still need to be examined. There is no rule in life saying one person gets caught so it follows no one in a similar position will do it again.
Perhaps there needs to be more than one person, the prinicipal, to notify when you see wrongdoing so more than just the principal can make decisions on a follow up action.
I want to add that the conclusion being drawn that there was “no malice” on the part of the principal, while unknowable but possibly true, has no bearing on this situation. There was definitely malice on the part of the perpetrators. Whatever reason the priniciple used to justify doing nothing doesn’t require malice although it does prolong it and the result is the same – students and teachers who saw the hate speech were affected.
Did he have someone paint over the etching on the bathroom stall because he knew it was an awful message or did he just leave it there because it was no big deal and didn’t warrant action? I’m hoping he had it removed, which was a decision he made because it warranted action.
He made choices. Just because he didn’t write the hate speech doesn’t mean he didn’t continue the malice by not reporting it.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil was that good men should do nothing.” Edmund Burke, Charles Aked, etc.
I want to add that the conclusion being drawn that there was “no malice” on the part of the principal, while unknowable but possibly true, has no bearing on this situation. There was definitely malice on the part of the perpetrators. Whatever reason the priniciple used to justify doing nothing doesn’t require malice although it does prolong it and the result is the same – students and teachers who saw the hate speech were affected.
Did he have someone paint over the etching on the bathroom stall because he knew it was an awful message or did he just leave it there because it was no big deal and didn’t warrant action? I’m hoping he had it removed, which was a decision he made because it warranted action.
He made choices. Just because he didn’t write the hate speech doesn’t mean he didn’t continue the malice by not reporting it.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil was that good men should do nothing.” Edmund Burke, Charles Aked, etc.
Meanwhile, over at Newton South last night, in the boys basketball division playoff between Newton North and Catholic Memorial, hundreds of CM fans chanted “You Killed Jesus” to the North community. No reporting in the Boston media yet, but here’s the link from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/03/12/fans-cheering-for-catholic-basketball-team-shout-you-killed-jesus-to-opposing-players/?postshare=5901457787379937&tid=ss_tw
Meanwhile, over at Newton South last night, in the boys basketball division playoff between Newton North and Catholic Memorial, hundreds of CM fans chanted “You Killed Jesus” to the North community. No reporting in the Boston media yet, but here’s the link from The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/03/12/fans-cheering-for-catholic-basketball-team-shout-you-killed-jesus-to-opposing-players/?postshare=5901457787379937&tid=ss_tw