Marin students seek stronger anti-racism laws for schools

Black students in Marin County plan to confer with Assemblymember Damon Connolly to discuss tougher laws against racist behavior in schools.

The online meeting is scheduled for Thursday, according to Connolly’s office. The participants will include members of the Black student unions at Tamalpais High School, Novato High School and San Marin High School.

“I think it’s a huge issue of why racist acts aren’t called out,” Emily Uhlhorn, a Tamalpais Union High School District trustee, said during the district board meeting on Tuesday. “I applaud this effort and I hope Connolly is receptive — and other legislators, obviously.”

The students are proposing an amendment to the state education code that would make racist behavior a specific violation. The proposal defines racist behavior as “derogatory remarks, racial slurs, exclusion based on race, racially motivated harassment, or any act that denigrates an individual or group based on their racial or ethnic identity.”

The amendment would state such acts are “strictly prohibited” and call for disciplinary action against offenders. It also would require schools to establish “prevention programs and resources aimed at educating students about the impact of racism and promoting cultural awareness.”

Leslie Harlander, president of the Tam Union board, said that while the proposal is an “admirable effort” and the district will support it, officials should continue to take action locally to prevent racist acts and respond to them strongly.

“I hope we don’t give the impression that our hands are completely tied” by waiting for changes in state law, Harlander said.

“We have to be accountable right now,” Harlander said. “We have a lot at our disposal to execute. It comes down to us holding ourselves accountable, the students accountable and the community accountable.”

Superintendent Tara Taupier said the amendment would further emphasize the seriousness of racist acts.

“California’s commitment to diversity and equity necessitates a proactive approach to ensure that all students feel safe, respected and have a sense of belonging within their learning environment,” she said in a staff presentation.

The district has responded to a string of racist occurrences over the past several years, including a bigoted video that circulated among students last fall. The incident prompted a lawsuit by an employee who said he was seriously injured breaking up a campus fight after officials failed to notify him about racial tensions over the video.

“Establishing racist behavior as a separate violation will provide clearer guidance for school administrators in enforcing disciplinary measures, ensuring consistency across school districts and reducing ambiguity,” Taupier said at the board meeting.

The state education code already covers such violations in a general way, trustee Cynthia Roenisch said. She said the district has taken disciplinary action in many cases, but is not able to discuss them for privacy reasons.

Roenisch said she hopes the amendment goes forward, but even if it doesn’t, “the district is not standing static.”

“I respect the spirit of this, the feeling behind this and the concern behind this,” she said.

Marin City activist Terrie Green said one of her family members, a Tam High football player, was a victim of racist speech by other players.

“He had gotten to the point where he didn’t want to go to school anymore,” she said. “That hurts you to your core.”

The district’s response included a warning that sports teams would have to forfeit games or perhaps a season if another violation occurred.

Green suggested that the state send officials to the high school to observe what’s going on and perhaps attach more seriousness to the violations.

“We have to do something different,” Green said. “When I look at all the hate that’s happening, we cannot afford it.”