Adrian W. Harries | Community Unit School District 300
Adrian W. Harries | Community Unit School District 300
In a letter to school staff at Community Unit School District (CUSD) 300, the district’s leadership stressed an unbiased approach to the Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal.
However, in doing so, Adrian W. Harries, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Community School District 300, may have tripped up on his own message.
“Kyle Rittenhouse has become associated with those seeking to halt demonstrations,” Harris said in an email to faculty. “Thus, for some this case may ... question ideals of fairness and the importance of humanity for many marginalized groups and individuals allied with those from marginalized groups.”
Harries and the school district have noted teachers are not to discuss Rittenhouse’s acquittal after the return from Thanksgiving break.
“Our goal when we return from break is simple,” he wrote. “We ask that teachers not engage in discussion related to the Kyle Rittenhouse case to avoid triggering students who have deeply entrenched views and feelings regarding the verdict. We realize that it may be tempting to engage in such a discourse, as there are several civic, historical and educational ramifications of such a case. However, we believe that these cases often tip-toe political values and views, and it is difficult for a person to avoid presenting the perusal biases in such a discussion.”
The portrait Harries painted for children over the break was one of struggling alone.
“Unfortunately, due to the holiday season, our children will be without support while grappling with the ideals of fairness, self-worth and American values on humanity that the case evokes,” he wrote.
Harries was hired last fall. In his previous role as a school principal in Evanston, he received harsh criticism for holding separate staff meetings for white and black employees.
Harries made over $155,000 per year at Evanston before taking on his role at Community School District 300.
The school has been one of several to release statements in the wake of the trial.
See the full text of Harries’ letter below:
This week as you prepare to enjoy your Giving of Thanks break with family and cherished friends, please recall that our students continue to lie through traumatizing times. On Friday, November 19th, the Rittenhouse court proceedings came to a close, with Kyle Rittenhouse being found innocent on all counts.
While some agree with the verdict, many students from marginalized groups will view the result as continued proof that within our society, some American’s matter more than others. While all parties associated with the case were of the same race, Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber, and Gaige Grosskreutz have become related to support for ongoing protest. In contrast, Kyle Rittenhouse has become associated with those seeking to halt demonstrations. Thus for some this case may bring not question ideals of fairness and the importance of humanity for many marginalized groups and individuals allied with those from marginalized groups.
Unfortunately, due to the holiday season, our children will be without support while grappling with the ideals of fairness, self-worth, and American values on humanity that the case evokes. I hate to say they, but in a perfect world, the trauma of the court case will have dissipated when our students return to us on November 29th. That, unfortunately, is highly unlikely.
Our goal when we return from break is simple. We ask that teachers not engage in discussion related to the Kyle Rittenhouse case to avoid triggering students who have deeply entrenched view and feelings regarding the verdict. We realize that it may be tempting to engage in such a discourse, as there are several civic, historical, and educational ramifications of such a case. However, we believe that these cases often tip-toe political values and views, and it is difficult for a person to avoid presenting the perusal biases in such a discussion. Further, we ask that teachers be vigilant in their observation of students to ensure that students are not triggering one another by discussing the court case. We hope that students will not utilize the outcome to “tease or belittle” their classmates, but we want to be prepared for the worst.
Teachers who observe students in a state of depression concerning the case should refer to their social worker of counselor. We know that counselors may not be equipped with the skills to discuss these specific issues, but they are often the most capable of assisting with student regulation and can provide a little more support in a personalized manner.
We thank you in advance for your assistance in guiding our students through the delicate times, and we wish you a wonderful Giving of Thanks break.
Adrian W. Harries (he/him/his)
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Community School District 300
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