Elementary School Teachers Wear BLM Shirts to Talk About ‘Systematic Oppression’
Elementary school teachers in Washington state plan to wear “Black Lives Matter” t-shirts at school to inspire race dialogue.
The teachers at John Muir Elementary claim they have a responsibility to speak up, reports Opposing Views.
A third grade teacher who plans on participating said being silent on Black Lives Matter issues would be “unforgivable.”
“To be silent would be almost unforgivable, and I think we have been silent for almost too long,” Marjorie Lamarre, who teaches third-grade, said.
The t-shirts, paid for by donations, read, “Black Lives Matter, We Stand Together.” The name of the school is underneath the slogan.
Jennifer Whitney, the teacher behind the idea, said she wanted to start a conversation about race and secondarily, to examine why black people have higher incarceration rates. She also wants to discuss why black people have lower college graduation rates.
“It is part of the oppression, the systemic oppression that continues on,” Whitney claimed.
The day the teachers wear the shirts, community leaders will greet students as they make their way inside.
One teacher said while he expects some contention, it could be a good opportunity to have a discussion with those who disagree.
“I think that is an invitation for families in the community that might not agree with us to come in and have a discussion with us,” JR Lorca said.
Students are wearing “Black Lives Matter”shirts at other schools as well.
Students at a local high school in Arizona staged a protest after two students were told to remove their “Black Lives Matter” shirts. Approximately 10 students walked out of school chanting, “Stand up, Fight back,” to protest the school administrator’s decision.
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