Jenison Public Schools Hold Town Halls to Address Racist Incident at Basketball Game

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GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, MI Jenison Schools leaders work to explain to students why racist jokes and stereotypes are hurtful after students were accused of making racist monkey noises during a basketball game the weekend.

The district held town halls and conversations with middle school and high school students on Monday, Dec. 19, in an effort to explain how hurtful the events of the Friday basketball game were, Superintendent Brandon Graham said in a letter Monday. to families.

RELATED: Jenison Schools Investigate Students Making Racist Taunts During Basketball Game

The superintendent said he wanted students to take time to pause, learn, heal and grow after the incident.

A witness to the game, featuring Jenison Schools vs. Wyoming Schools, earlier told MLive that he heard the noises, particularly in the second quarter when a black Wyoming player stood on the free throw line.

Stereotypes, racist jokes and insensitive behavior are never acceptable, and such behavior dehumanizes people and does not exemplify the character traits we expect of all Wildcats, Graham wrote. We took the time today (Monday) to intentionally start conversations about how we continue to improve and reinforce expectations about who we are at Jenison.

For students in grades 7 through 12, the district held assemblies Monday morning to talk about what happened Friday and how it hurt the community. Administrators have reinforced what is expected in how Jenison students and staff treat others, and what will not be tolerated as a school.

Middle and high school staff also conducted conversations with students in class on Monday about how to learn and grow together through this incident, Graham said.

Jenison staff also addressed the Friday incident with fifth and sixth graders on Monday. The teachers spoke about the stereotypes that had been used and why those actions were offensive, dehumanizing and hurtful, Graham said. Teachers discussed how students should represent the district by demonstrating integrity, respect, and empathy in the community.

For elementary students, the district continued on Monday with regular and intentional instruction on how character is essential in everything we do, Graham said. Teachers matched read-aloud books with the district’s monthly Wildcat Way character traits as usual, he said.

On Sunday, the district held a special meeting with high school student representatives, staff, and administrators to discuss the school’s overall culture, how race and diversity play a role in that culture, and how how students and staff can do better moving forward, Graham said.

In an email to parents on Saturday, Dec. 17, Graham said the students exhibited racist behavior during junior college and varsity basketball games on Friday, Dec. 16.

This sickens me and does not represent the Wildcat Way character traits that we expect of all of our students. More importantly, it does not represent who we are, who we aspire to be, or the behavior we accept at JPS, Graham wrote.

Julian Goodson, a private basketball coach, attended Friday night’s game to support players from both teams. He said he first heard barking coming from Jenison’s student section that turned into monkey noises.

Goodson described the racist noises as occurring more during the second quarter when a black Wyoming player stood on the free-throw line in front of Jenison’s student section.

The Jenison administration is investigating the incident and will hold the responsible students accountable, Graham said.

The district has already apologized to Wyoming for the behavior of its students, Graham said, adding that the district will also work with the neighboring district to remedy the situation and work with the players directly affected.

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