<div dir="ltr">That is a great question and part of our school's work toward antiracist teaching and learning. We have a whole district committee that focuses on building into the curricula texts, materials, and resources that speak to a variety of similarities and differences across (and more often, within) cultures. <br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black">Best,</span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><br></span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><i>~Dr. Thor</i></span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/E15PSgqyoVRZn8jxI5hQbUsQHBfz0LowCQFVcOpbLg83l7iL2dVgGh_iyaDxUU-z5Gtu3xpIH_YK_BuFQRGkmK2mpzZALqG8E6wNOKuX2DhfjATu2LqKAtDUde07jX0owTdE_5v7" width="96" height="96" style="border:none"></span><b><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><br></span></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black">THOR</span><span style="color:rgb(139,139,139)">BOUCHER, Ph.D. </span></font></font></b><br></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span></span><span style="color:black"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Principal,</font></span></p><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:medium;color:black">Monroe Elementary School</span><br><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:medium;color:black">San Francisco Unified School
District</span><br></p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font face="Calibri" size="3">260 Madrid Street</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font face="Calibri" size="3">San Francisco, CA 94112</font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font face="Calibri" size="3">O: 415.469.4736<br></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font face="Calibri" size="3">E: </font><span style="color:blue"><font face="Calibri" size="3"><a href="mailto:bouchert@sfusd.edu" target="_blank">bouchert@sfusd.edu<br></a></font></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="color:blue"><font face="Calibri" size="3"><a href="mailto:bouchert@sfusd.edu" target="_blank"><br></a></font></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri" size="3" style="background-color:rgb(0,0,0)" color="#ffffff"><i>"People who are closest to the pain should be closest to the power." ~ Ayanna Pressley</i></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" color="#000000" size="3">
</font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Nov 1, 2022 at 11:14 AM RJ Johnson <<a href="mailto:rmjwell@gmail.com">rmjwell@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>I appreciate making space for the people who are within the school community now. I also wonder how to prepare our learners to show respect for people and cultures that they haven't encountered yet. It is one thing to hold space for someone you know and engage with on a day-to-day basis; how is the concept of respect for differences being taught to apply to people with whom we don't have the benefit of familiarity?</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for all you the dedicated teachers and staff at Monroe do!</div><div><br></div><div>RJ<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Nov 1, 2022 at 9:47 AM Boucher, Thor <<a href="mailto:bouchert@sfusd.edu" target="_blank">bouchert@sfusd.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Happy to help!<div><br></div><div>Our school does not participate in religious holidays as a mainstage event. For example, dia de los muertos is a cultural event, not a religious event. We also try to use more inclusive language like winter break (in lieu of Christmas break) and spring break (instead of Easter). We ask teachers to consider their families and students when having classroom celebrations (we have a high percentage of Jehovah's Witness families that do not celebrate birthdays) and several students where the mother is not present, so Mother's Day could be a sensitive topic.</div><div><br></div><div>If there are events that you feel may not honor your family's beliefs and values, please let me know so we can work towards an amicable solution. <br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black">Best,</span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><br></span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><i>~Dr. Thor</i></span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/E15PSgqyoVRZn8jxI5hQbUsQHBfz0LowCQFVcOpbLg83l7iL2dVgGh_iyaDxUU-z5Gtu3xpIH_YK_BuFQRGkmK2mpzZALqG8E6wNOKuX2DhfjATu2LqKAtDUde07jX0owTdE_5v7" style="border: medium none;" width="96" height="96"></span><b><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><br></span></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black">THOR</span><span style="color:rgb(139,139,139)">BOUCHER, Ph.D. </span></font></font></b><br></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span></span><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Principal,</font></span></p><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:medium;color:black">Monroe Elementary School</span><br><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:medium;color:black">San Francisco Unified School
District</span><br></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">260 Madrid Street</font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">San Francisco, CA 94112</font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">O: 415.469.4736<br></font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">E: </font><span style="color:blue"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><a href="mailto:bouchert@sfusd.edu" target="_blank">bouchert@sfusd.edu<br></a></font></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="color:blue"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><a href="mailto:bouchert@sfusd.edu" target="_blank"><br></a></font></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font style="background-color:rgb(0,0,0)" size="3" face="Calibri" color="#ffffff"><i>"People who are closest to the pain should be closest to the power." ~ Ayanna Pressley</i></font></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Nov 1, 2022 at 9:11 AM RJ Johnson <<a href="mailto:rmjwell@gmail.com" target="_blank">rmjwell@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>Thank you for the prompt reply!</div><div><br></div><div>My only other question is how is space being held for atheists during cultural celebrations of any sort that have religious connections?</div><div><br></div><div>RJ<br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Nov 1, 2022 at 9:05 AM Boucher, Thor <<a href="mailto:bouchert@sfusd.edu" target="_blank">bouchert@sfusd.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Good morning, <div><br></div><div>Yes, we have an altar for dia de los muertos, which is a cultural and teachable opportunity for students to express their culture and heritage. This is school-wide and a part of our Latino/a Heritage celebration.</div><div><br></div><div>Kelly's costume yesterday was worn on costume/fantasy day, which is imitating cultural traditions and could be interpreted as mockery. </div><div><br></div><div>If Kelly was wearing her costume as an expression of her faith, I am sure we can hold space for her to share that with her class/school. If it was worn as a costume that imitated someone else's beliefs, that would be considered cultural appropriation. </div><div><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black">Best,</span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><br></span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><i>~Dr. Thor</i></span></font></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/E15PSgqyoVRZn8jxI5hQbUsQHBfz0LowCQFVcOpbLg83l7iL2dVgGh_iyaDxUU-z5Gtu3xpIH_YK_BuFQRGkmK2mpzZALqG8E6wNOKuX2DhfjATu2LqKAtDUde07jX0owTdE_5v7" style="border: medium none;" width="96" height="96"></span><b><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black"><br></span></font></font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><span style="color:black">THOR</span><span style="color:rgb(139,139,139)">BOUCHER, Ph.D. </span></font></font></b><br></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span></span><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">Principal,</font></span></p><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:medium;color:black">Monroe Elementary School</span><br><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:medium;color:black">San Francisco Unified School
District</span><br></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">260 Madrid Street</font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">San Francisco, CA 94112</font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">O: 415.469.4736<br></font></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><font size="3" face="Calibri">E: </font><span style="color:blue"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><a href="mailto:bouchert@sfusd.edu" target="_blank">bouchert@sfusd.edu<br></a></font></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span style="color:black"><span style="color:blue"><font size="3" face="Calibri"><a href="mailto:bouchert@sfusd.edu" target="_blank"><br></a></font></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font style="background-color:rgb(0,0,0)" size="3" face="Calibri" color="#ffffff"><i>"People who are closest to the pain should be closest to the power." ~ Ayanna Pressley</i></font></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">
</font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, Nov 1, 2022 at 8:52 AM RJ Johnson <<a href="mailto:rmjwell@gmail.com" target="_blank">rmjwell@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>Hi, Dr. Thor.</div><div><br></div><div>It was relayed to me that Kelly's Halloween costume had to be amended to remove the wings and halo for concerns connected to religious representations on school property.</div><div><br></div><div>This morning, Frances was telling me that an altar was being put together (I was unclear on if it was in her class or for the school as a whole) and she was invited/asked to bring in a photo of a deceased relative/loved one to display on it.</div><div><br></div><div>Could I ask you to clarify Monroe's philosophy regarding these two situations?</div><div><br></div><div>Sincerely,</div><div><br></div><div>RJ Johnson<br></div></div>
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