Name: Massachusetts students punished for racial views

Date: 1995 - present

Location: North America

SubjectRacial/Ethnic

MediumPersonal Opinion


Artist: Five students at the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School

Confronting Bodies: School officials

Date of Action: March 2001

Specific Location: Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Description of Artwork: The five students wrote negative racial comments on a school survey.



Description of Incident: The students of the Montachusset technical school were asked to complete an anonymous survey concerning their opinions of the school. Five students wrote negative comments about other ethnic groups in the school. All of the students recived an immediate, three-day suspension. One of the students was recommened for psychological counseling before being allowed to return to school. Another was asked to leave and the other three were permitted remain in the school, however the incident was marked on their school records.



Results of Incident: The Worchester County Chapter of the ACLU demanded that the reports be removed from the student's records. The ACLU charges the school with entrapment, suggesting that the school asked their anonymous opinion and is using it to punish them.



Source: Mass Mic News

Submitted By: NCAC


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