Student Leaders Poised to Take Action

On Monday September 27, forty-five Woodstock High School students came together at the Killington Grand Hotel to educate themselves on racism and other social justice issues. Led by members of the Social Action Club, the students examined the school's proposed Anti-racism policy and reviewed a presentation put together by a Dartmouth Sociology class on Racism at Woodstock.

The Dartmouth students interviewed current students and alumni last spring about attitudes towards race/racism at WUHSMS. From those interviews they found that black students felt that they have had to represent their entire race at Woodstock. The presentation also mentioned that white students at Woodstock have a low awareness regarding issues of race/racism.

“I learned a lot about why we need to change certain things and how some students might feel about how our school works,” Freshman Izzy Cellini said after watching the Dartmouth study on racism at Woodstock.

The students also took a look at and provided feedback on the proposed WCSU Anti-racism policy.

“I like how we actually looked at the policy,” Senior Liam Brennan noted. “I like how the superintendent was there as well.”

In addition students played a game developed by Dartmouth students that fostered conversations about perception and social justice issues.

“I learned different perspectives other than my own. I can now empathize a bit more,” Sophomore Maggie Mello said. Empathy was a big recurring theme in the presentation; empathy for these students who might have to deal with microaggressions.

The students also discussed action steps to make positive changes at our school. Some examples are: changing our mascot to be more inclusive, prohibiting hate symbols on school grounds, creating an email hotline where you can anonymously report hateful acts and educating students and faculty on ways to be allies to people who are sometimes marginalized.

“It opened up so many possibilities; there were so many good ideas!” Social Action Club president Morgan Myers said. The Social Action meets during second ARE time in room 20 for those interested in taking action.