UPDATE The principal of Westport’s Staples High School says students have been sharing “offensive and defamatory memes” on a Facebook page and asked parents to support efforts to stop the practice.
James D’Amico: denounces Facebook postings. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
In a letter to parents Thursday, James D’Amico also disclosed that about a dozen students were so upset by Tuesday’s presidential election results that they met with school counselors.
D’Amico, who took over the post on July 1, explained that memes are “images, video, text, etc. that are modified generally with captions that are usually intended to be humorous.”
But he said “the vast majority of the memes shared on this page were offensive and mean-spirited to say the least. We are fortunate that a brave student came forward to share this information with us.”
Several students said the closed Facebook group has been around for some time and its existence has been widely known.
Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer said students involved in the page have been identified and will have to perform community service as a result, News-12 Connecticut reported. Neither Palmer nor D’Amico responded to WestportNow requests for comment.
D’Amico said the Facebook page did not involve bullying or targeting of individuals “but any derogatory and insulting language detracts from the learning environment.”
“There are undoubtedly other online forums where such negativity exists as well, and so we will be looking for ways to bring our school community together, using this unfortunate situation as a learning opportunity,” he said.
The principal said Tuesday’s election compounded the situation, taking an “emotional toll on many of our students, some of whom were very upset throughout the day.”
He added: “Our staff was wonderful in helping these students find a forum to talk, and around a dozen of these students met with school counselors during the day. If your student is particularly upset, and you think it might be affecting them in school, please contact us.”
D’Amico told parents they can reinforce school efforts by reminding their students that while online remarks can be superficially removed, “there is always a record somewhere of online activities” that could affect the students in the future.
He concluded: “I know we all share in the hope that the experience with these situations will serve an important moment of learning, and that students through conversations at home and school, will feel empowered to stand up for what is right.
“Thank you for your support of our school, and I look forward to our partnership moving forward.”
Here is the text of the D’Amico letter:
Dear Staples Parents,
On Monday, it was reported to school administration that there was a private Facebook group where students were sharing offensive and defamatory memes with one another, If you are not familiar with the term, memes are images, video, text, etc. that are modified generally with captions, that are usually intended to be humorous. The vast majority of the memes shared on this page were offensive and mean-spirited to say the least. We are fortunate that a brave student came forward to share this information with us.
My message to the student body yesterday was simply that all of us need to feel empowered to be upstanders in the face of hateful speech toward others. In this case, there was no bullying or targeting of individuals, but any derogatory and insulting language detracts from the learning environment in our school community. There are undoubtedly other online forums where such negativity exists as well, and so we will be looking for ways to bring our school community together, using this unfortunate situation as a learning opportunity. One way we will do this is to proceed immediately with engaging students about our guiding principles, being Socially and Emotionally Aware, Kind With Sincerity, Principal in Thought and Action, and Learning Always.
Compounding this situation, the results of the presidential election took an emotional toll on many of our students, some of whom were very upset throughout the day. Our staff was wonderful in helping these students find a forum to talk, and around a dozen of these students met with school counselors during the day. If your student is particularly upset, and you think it might be affecting them in school, please contact us.
In both of these situations, it is an important reminder for all of us who support these students that situations that occur outside of school have a real effect in school and potential long-term impact on their lives. We have reminded students in school that what they say, either verbally or online, has the power to positively or negatively influence others. You can help us reinforce at home that while online speech in groups or messages can be superficially removed, there is always a record somewhere of online activities, At some point in the future, someone might be able to find their words, and make judgments about their character.
While we know that adolescents will make mistakes and poor decisions, we can remind our students that a strong community is one that creates room for disagreement and debate with respect, civility, and tolerance. A bright spot has been that in the last couple of days, I have had several students come to me and offer ideas on how they can be part of the solution, and participate actively in improving our school climate.
I know we all share in the hope that the experience with these situations will serve an important moment of learning, and that students through conversations at home and school, will feel empowered to stand up for what is right.
Thank you for your support of our school, and I look forward to our partnership moving forward.
Sincerely,
James D’Amico
Principal
When did the school administrators and teachers become politicians. When will you start teaching those young minds critical thinking and how to learn our democratic process. People voted in Tuesday
I am disgusted by Mr. D’Amico comments to the students and the letter to the parents. This was a fair election and the people voted fairly for Donald Trump via our democratic process. People need to accept the outcome and move on. Stop influencing the kids based upon your beliefs. I thank god that my daughter is only four years old and she will not be attending this school anytime soon. Hopefully, the administration will be much different by then. I am disgusted that my tax dollars are paying this principals salary. Time to have input in our school officials. We are paying their salaries.
Disgruntled Westport resident.
Anthony Joseph
I am proud to have graduated from a high school that cares for the whole student. When actions make the learning environment feel unsafe, then it is the job of administrators to intervene.
I also fail to see how notifying parents of school-related use of support services is in any way political. This decision to disclose seems based on a desire for transparency and an affirmation of Staples’ commitment to social awareness. Mr. D’Amico should be applauded for modeling this kind of commitment, just as students should be taught that seeking help when needed is a good thing.
Perhaps the issues of the defamatory memes and election-response in the same article has blurred the issues together, when the school was handling separate issues
I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. D’Amico but am proud to call him the Principal of my high school.
Morgan Patrick
Brown ‘16
SHS ‘10
Wow. I have to say that I am taken aback by the above comments. By contrast, I have a 6-year old and I more than welcome the schools assistance and efforts in anti-bullying, anti-hate and stress management – it takes a village. There is absolutely nothing in that letter that insinuates party affiliation – only assistance in managing emotions that already exist. Our kids are getting more and more involved in politics at an early age, This is great, but they are still young and vulnerable and new to this kind of intense conflict. I for one am thankful that the school is there to head off racist, hateful and bullying type behavior… and to offer constructive suggestions on ways to deal with all kinds of emotions, I am also thankful for the look ahead and discussion with regard to what the impact of social media can have on our kids down the road.
The anger and defensiveness of these posts suggests a deeper issue that needs to be addressed – you are on your own for that, ” A strong community is one that creates room for disagreement and debate with respect, civility, and tolerance.”
Mr. D’Amico, thank you for the assistance and thoughtful discussion.
Sincerely,
A Thankful Westport Resident