Latest news with #AaronSpence
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Virginia school officials respond to middle schooler's bullying of 5-year-old Asian boy
[Source] Aaron Spence, superintendent of the Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia, issued a statement on Tuesday condemning a now-viral video showing a middle school student harassing a 5-year-old Asian boy with racial slurs. Catch up: The April 5 incident saw the perpetrator from Eagle Ridge Middle School use ethnic slurs while following the frightened preschooler, who repeatedly pleaded 'Don't hurt me!' as he ran to his home's door. At one point, the younger child is seen covering his face with a blanket while other kids laugh in the background. The victim's parents, Ashley Long and Sean Yang, who immigrated from China, previously shared that their son appeared confused by the slurs, having never heard of them before. The video was reportedly shared in a student chat group before another parent discovered it and alerted the family. What school officials are saying: In his open letter Tuesday, Spence stressed that 'hate speech and racial slurs have no place in our schools or in our community' and encouraged families to 'teach our children to see their classmates and their neighbors not as 'others,' but as fellow human beings deserving of compassion and respect.' He also shared steps the school district is taking to address the situation, including offering mental health support to the victim and his family and resources to the school through its Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility. The middle schooler, on the other hand, is expected to undergo 'restorative practices.' Trending on NextShark: The incident has been reported to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. The Rebel Yellow has reached out to Long's legal team for updates. A 2021 survey by Act To Change, Admerasia and NextShark found that 80% of Asian Americans have experienced bullying, either in-person or online, while only 38% of Asian American youth report bullying to adults, compared to 63% of their non-Asian peers. Resources are available here. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Loudoun County Public Schools middle schooler calls 5-year-old boy racial slurs in video
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. () — A video of a middle schooler calling an Asian American boy racial slurs received local and national attention, sparking outrage among community members who called for action from Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). The 5-year-old boy's family shared the , which appears to have been filmed by the middle school student outside of the 5-year-old's house. In the video, you can hear the boy saying, 'No, don't hurt me,' as the middle schooler calls him racial slurs. The boy says, 'Save me,' and tries to run away. At one point, the middle schooler says, 'Listen here, fella. Are you having dumplings for dinner?' 'We will hold you accountable': DC Attorney General sues five drivers for traffic violations, $425K in unpaid fines After about two minutes, the boy's mother opens the door and her son runs inside. LCPS Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence confirmed that the middle schooler attends Eagle Ridge Middle School, noting that the incident happened outside of school hours and off school grounds. Spence said that racial slurs and hate speech have no place in LCPS schools or in the broader Loudoun County community. 'In a wonderfully diverse county like Loudoun, it is not just our responsibility, it is our moral obligation, to honor the dignity and humanity of each individual,' he wrote in a statement, in part. 'We must teach our children to see their classmates and their neighbors not as 'others,' but as fellow human beings deserving of compassion and respect. We recognize the powerful expectation that schools lead the way in modeling what is right and just. And we embrace that responsibility.' DC Councilmembers weigh in on Commanders stadium deal Eagle Ridge Middle School Principal Scott Phillips shared a similar sentiment, calling the behavior captured in the video 'unacceptable.' Philips said that school officials were treating the matter 'with the seriousness it deserves,' but could not share specific details about individual student records or disciplinary actions. LCPS said it was taking the following steps in light of the incident: Discrimination is not tolerated and incidents of harassment, hate speech and bullying are addressed in the Student Code of Conduct. LCPS policy is already clear on this. Policy 8030 Regulation 8030.3 The school has been directly engaged with the students and parents involved and is offering support through the school's Unified Mental Health Team, including for the 5-year-old child and his family, who were the target of hate speech. The Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility is offering supports and resources to the school, and the school's Equity Team is developing a campaign through the school's advisory program to ensure students and staff are reminded about LCPS' expectations for non-discrimination and to help students and staff think about positive and proactive steps we can take to end racial harassment in the school and community. LCPS takes a strong position against these behaviors and has the following resources available for staff, families, and students: Student Mental Health Services Bullying Prevention | Student Services LCPS Protocol for Responding to Racial Slurs and Hate Speech in Schools Immediate Actions A woman said in a Facebook that her friends' 5-year-old was the boy in the video. She shared a statement from the boy's parents in which they called for a 'safer, kinder America.' The parents stated on a website that they reported the incident to the school and police, but that 'accountability remains uncertain.' This moment offers us a chance to pause, reflect, and recommit to the shared values that bind us: inclusion, empathy, and a deep belief in the worth of every person. Let us use this as an opportunity to reset how we treat one another and how we teach our children to do the same. Aaron Spence, LCPS Superintendent Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
