A Massachusetts school district has apologized for designating a time slot specifically for families of color to attend an event on its available summer resources before most other families.
The Cambridge School District had designated a time slot for “priority families” to attend a planned roller-skating event prior to the rest of the district’s families. The skating event would have allowed parents to learn about resources available from the district during summer vacation.
Those designated as “priority families” were “families of color, free/reduced lunch, families who have a child with disabilities and families whose first language is not english.”
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In a statement to the Washington Examiner, a spokesperson for the school district said that it regretted using the term “priority families” and that it was “not our intent to cause any harm in any way.”
“Cambridge Public Schools deeply values equity and ensuring valuable information is accessible to each and every one of our families,” the district said. “In an effort to reach and engage with families who are sometimes marginalized and underrepresented at districtwide events, a dedicated time was set aside at the ‘Rollin’ and Summer Resources’ event.”
The flyer garnered attention online Tuesday after it was shared by the popular Twitter account Libs of TikTok.
The Massachusetts school district is the latest to draw controversy for hosting a racially segregated event. New York City’s public school system was recently the subject of a federal civil rights complaint after a Manhattan junior high school segregated students by skin color for discussions on social justice.
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The practice of segregating students by race for social justice initiatives has ties to critical race theory, which says American institutions are systemically racist and oppressive to racial minorities. By segregating students by race, advocates say discussions on racism and social justice can be more properly tailored to students.
