State’s commission on discrimination and hate crimes has heard from the people on the front lines – high school students

Posted on December 6, 2021
Serena Thakkar, a student at St Charles East High School, says procedures at her school are lacking. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – A two-hour online town hall is an example of what Gov. JB Pritzker wants to see from a rejuvenated Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes – even if some of the students had tough talk for what they believe are schools not doing enough.

“Racial bullying is a type of racism where someone’s bullying focuses on the victim’s race, ethnicity, or culture,” said Lori Martinez of Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. “We need to create a system where someone calling someone a slur outweighs calling someone a cuss word.”

“A lot of the times, we see that bullying occurs in classes, in the hallway at school, in the cafeteria, (but students and staff nearby) are simply not educated or well-equipped to address the issue at hand,” said Hoffman Estates’ Dhruv Patel, who suggests more state-mandated training.

Another student took aim at her own school. Serena Thakkar said St. Charles Eash High School seems to be more concerned about its image than in how its students feel.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…