‘Concord Middle School’ fine — but not as good as ‘Ellen Garrison’

I am writing as a Concord resident, mother of three school-aged children (one in middle school), and a career teacher.

As a white adult who has the privilege of working with young people, I feel it is imperative upon me to do my own work around issues involving diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

The past we honor often shapes the future we desire, and so it is with the proposal to name the new middle school in honor of Concord native and civil rights activist Ellen Garrison.

The Concord Public School System prides itself on the DEIB work it does to ensure all of our students feel welcome. The emphasis on “windows and mirrors” within the curriculum is a good case in point. Students are exposed to a wide range of age-appropriate learning experiences that enable them to see a window into the lives and experiences of cultures that may be less familiar to them, while also providing mirrors where they can see themselves and their experiences in the content.