Words Matter

As I was catching up on emails, I came across the following message from our kids’ elementary school principal:

Dear Laurel Ridge Elementary School Community,

I am writing to let you know that we have recently been made aware of a student using racist language at school today.

I want to reiterate that FCPS does not tolerate discriminatory harassment in our schools. This incident does not align with the environment we seek to cultivate at Laurel Ridge Elementary School. FCPS has made a commitment that when incidents like this occur, we will be transparent in addressing them and clear in our commitment to our school environment.

Every student in FCPS has the right to feel safe, respected, and affirmed in our schools. Words matter — in every context and every situation. In partnership with the FCPS Chief Equity Office, we will continue working within our school to foster dialogue about dignity, belonging, and humanization. I encourage you to engage in these conversations at home as well.

I am grateful that FCPS doesn’t tolerate these types of behavior. In reminiscing, I wondered if the middle school I attended had this policy in place. In my middle school, I was called all sort of names including “Chink,” “Ching Chong,” “Gook,” and “Slanted Eyes.” Even though I did not understand English, I could tell the sounds of those words weren’t nice. Of course, I could read the smirks on their faces.

Most of the time, I ignored their bullying. One time—after my father left us to go back to Vietnam permanently—I couldn’t take it anymore. I got into a fight with another kid because he called one of those names. After the incident, the assistant principal asked me what happened. I didn’t know enough English to tell him that another student had used racist language against me. I was suspended for three days.

I didn’t even know what suspended meant until he told me to pack my bookbag, go home, and stay home for three days. Staying home for three days was a punishment? The consequence of staying home for those three days was that my grades dropped from As to Cs. My name was taken off the honor roll list. From that day on, my revenge was to focus on my studies. If I couldn’t beat them with my fist, I could beat them with my GPA.

Even though those years are now way behind, I can never forget. Raising four boys, I always checked with them to see if they were being bullied or discriminated against with racial slurs. I am relieved that they haven’t had to deal with these incidents.

I am glad that our principal addressed the issue and brought it to our attention. Racial discrimination has no place in our schools.