LMSD Super Lays Out Plan Ahead After 'Merionite' Controversy

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — The Lower Merion School District's superintendent addressed controversial pieces in the student publication "The Merionite" in a letter to the school community, and outlined steps the district will take moving forward.

Two pieces in the publication ran on Dec. 20 with opposing views on the Israel-Hamas war, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the history of violence in the region, among other complex topics surrounding the conflict.

The pieces stirred much controversy in the community, prompting the district to issue a statement averring its dedication to students' free speech.

Since then, Superintendent Steven M. Yanni issued a letter to the community sharing more detail on the pieces and what the district will do in the future regarding free speech, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and more.

Yanni highlighted three areas the district will focus on when school resumes after winter break.

They are:

1. Clearly communicating to students, families and the community the differences between Constitutionally protected speech and hate speech. While we have policies about discrimination and equity, we believe having clear definitions of hate speech will serve our students, staff and community well as we forge ahead as a community that will likely continue to face angst over community, regional, national or international events. Since the publication of the two opinion pieces in The Merionite, I have heard from parents/guardians, staff, student free-speech activist groups, scholars and others about them. The messages from members of each of these groups are similar; however, the stance of each group is not aligned, which tells me we need to be more explicit about how we view student speech and expression.
2. Providing learning opportunities for our students and staff and resources for our community about antisemitism. We will do the same for Islamophobia, as well as provide continued guidance for recognizing and countering bias and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, biological or asserted gender, etc. Instances of antisemitism are not always overt; they are often nuanced and go unchecked, not only in schools, but in communities and across the world. It is important that we provide the requisite tools students, staff and community members need to have to recognize and interrogate bias, discrimination and other harmful actions.
3. Continually evaluating our curriculum to ensure it is inclusive of all the students we serve. This means that we are actively examining our curriculum and resources to ensure that we not only devote the necessary time and attention to the history and cultures that reflect the diversity of our students.

"This work cannot be reduced to a checklist." Yanni said in his letter. "That means we will not provide singular messaging or episodic learning just to say we took action to improve conditions. Instead, we will provide periodic and ongoing learning and resources aimed at keeping the work top-of-mind. We will also encourage our students’ families to reinforce at home the learning taking place at school."

Yanni acknowledged the "the hurt and fear that the most recent edition of The Merionite... has caused among some members of our community."

"I often say that there’s a difference between intent and reality," he said. "Although it was not the intent of the District, The Merionite, LMHS, or any of its students or staff to create hurt and fear, that is what has occurred for many people in our community."

Yanni said the district supports, values, and respects "every student and staff member that are part of our school communities, regardless of their race, religion, biological or asserted gender, political view or any other characteristic that makes them who they are."

He also said the district supports, values, and respects "our students’ families and the community at large."