A Kansas school district may become one of the first in the nation to prohibit any “microaggression,” making violation of the ban punishable for both the K-12 students and faculty.
The board of education of Lawrence Public Schools plans to vote on the proposal to impose consequences for staff or students who commit a microaggression or display offensive symbols. The board defines microaggressions as “subtle but offensive comments or actions directed at a minority or other non-dominant group that are often unintentional or unconsciously reinforce a stereotype.”
“Any student or employee who violates the Discrimination and Harassment Policy is subject to disciplinary action,” said Julie Boyle, the communications director for Lawrence Public Schools.
Microaggression, a term first coined at Harvard in the 1970s, has seen a rise in popularity at college campuses today, but the Lawrence school district may be the first to enforce such a policy in elementary and secondary education. Students or faculty who violate the policy may be subject to firing or expulsion, among other disciplinary actions.
The editorial board of the Topeka Capital-Journal raised two questions worth considering in response to this potential policy: “Who will be the arbiter of what’s offensive? How will teachers and administrators punish students for ‘unintentionally’ or ‘unconsciously’ offending someone?”
No answer has been given on either inquiry.
The school board’s policy advisory committee was inspired to consider this policy following an incident where a student arrived at school flying a confederate flag in the back of his vehicle. Students complained and signed a petition to have the flag removed. Eventually, the school’s administrators forbade the student from flying the flag because it disrupted the learning environment.
The vote to enact the policy was scheduled for June 27, but was pushed back to allow for more discussion and debate.
