TOPSHAM

A Maine lawmaker is calling for tolerance and respect for diversity after hateful literature was distributed in Topsham.

In one instance, an offensive, discriminatory note was passed from one Mt. Ararat Middle School student to another on Inauguration Day.

State Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, shared a photo with The Times Record of a hand-written note he said was passed by a Mt. Ararat Middle School student to a fellow middle school student on Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.

The note included hateful rhetoric toward Asians, Mexicans and Jews, and included a $1 bill to “fix” the student’s “features.”

Mt. Ararat Middle School Principal Josh Ottow notified parents Tuesday that a student “used disturbing and discriminatory language toward another student.”

Ottow said the incident was addressed through a disciplinary process.

“An isolated incident of behavior such as this does not represent the positive norms of our school community,” said Ottow.

Superintendent Brad Smith said Tuesday that incidents involving race, religion, sexual orientation or any kind of harassment or discrimination at School Administrative

District 75 must be taken seriously.

“And at the same time we need to realize that we’re dealing with young people who are learning and often times reflecting different things they see and hear in the community without understanding the impact they have,” he said.

Smith said the district must take both a disciplinary and teachable approach toward these instances.

“In my 17 years in the MSAD 75 family and 10 years teaching in other schools, I’ve never seen so much bigotry and hate speech,” said Berry, a parent who used to teach in SAD 75. “Clearly it is a moment for every one of us to stand up and recommit ourselves to the tasks of safety, community, democracy and equality. It is also a chance to help our young people learn from history and build a better future for their own and future generations.”

In his letter to parents, Ottow shared how the school is promoting kindness, respect for diversity and compassion. Last month it brought many students to the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine and in November staff talked to students about how to treat others in response to the tone of current events.

There are also several student leadership groups that promote a positive school environment, according to Ottow. In the fall, eighth grade students created Change the World Team, a club focused on the positive values of kindness, respect and tolerance in the school community.

In a separate incident on Monday, Ku Klux Klan fliers were found in Topsham, Freeport and other Maine communities.

Smith said he doesn’t believe there is a direct connection between the student note and the KKK fliers found in Topsham.

“I think they are indicators of the work we have ahead of us in our schools and, quite frankly, our communities and country,” he said.

Smith said he’s reaching out to the community and hopes SAD 75 can work with the community in the coming days to put forth some education opportunities for both students and adults.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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