FOREST HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Daniel Behm, Superintendent

6590 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 phone: (616) 493-8800 fax: (616) 493-8519
website: www.fhps.net
All learners achieving individual potential.

September 12, 2016

Dear Forest Hills and Grand Rapids Families,
It is a privilege to attend a football game on a Friday night. Its a privilege to live in a country where
our rights and freedoms have been secured by the sacrifices of blood, identity, and liberty of our elders
and ancestors. Its a privilege to not have to think about certain things and to not have to know about
certain thingsto not have to know, for instance, the dual history of certain icons, symbols, and
words. Whether our privileges are derived from the circumstances of our birth, our race, our
geography, our work, or our wealth, our blind privileges can produce a poverty of perspective and
understanding.
One of the lessons we learn as youth is that if our actions cause harm to others, the impact is the same
regardless of ones intent. On Friday evening, September 9, during the football game between two
wonderful schools, the actions of some and the inaction of others brought disrespect and confusion to
many. Injecting partisan politics into a community football game and into a commemoration of the
events of September 11th is inappropriate. Parading our current United States flag in a manner that is
inconsistent with proper etiquette is disrespectful to all who have served our nation. And, to wave a
historical version of our flag, that to some symbolizes exclusion and hate, injects hostility and
confusion to an event where no one intended to do so. To our gracious hoststhe students, families,
staff, and community of Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills High School and Grand Rapids Public Schools
and to the student-athletes, coaches, officials, and supporters of both teams, we are truly sorry. These
actions are not characteristic of our schools, our staff, our students, or our community, and they
represent a lack of knowledge. As a learning organization, in the days, weeks and months to come, we
have a unique and precious opportunity to use our districts Guiding Principles to continue to grow,
build understanding, and demonstrate the true nature of our students, families, staff members, and
community.
We are grateful to have Grand Rapids Public Schools as a partner in educational athletics and we look
forward to many more meetings as part of the OK Conference. Our hope is that we not only meet
together as we play sports, but, more importantly, that we can spend time building relationships and
interweaving the threads of a stronger and more vibrant fabric that unifies our broader community. I
am heartened by our students from Forest Hills Central who have taken the initiative to reach out to
their peers at Ottawa Hills High School. This work happens through unhurried dialogue, listening,
sitting side-by-side, and taking action. This work does not happen through tweets, posts, political
posturing, or retreating to our familiar bubbles.
We are grateful to have partners in this work. Our own Global Learners Initiative has provided our
community with knowledge- and love-filled champions. Even though our Global Learners Initiative
has been in place since 2008, we have much more work to do and more people to connect.
Too much of the rhetoric in our society today, and witnessed by young people, fails to meet the
standards of civic and civil discourse. Our youth can model a different way. If we create the right
conditions, they can lead us from pain to progress. We can and will have dialogue about fear, justice,
racism, rights, freedoms, responsibilities, personal convictions, and howeven in our polarized
political climatewe can work to form a more perfect Union.

FOREST HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Daniel Behm, Superintendent
6590 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 phone: (616) 493-8800 fax: (616) 493-8519
website: www.fhps.net
All learners achieving individual potential.

Our youth represent our future and, working together, we will live out our mission to partner with our
community to provide all learners with the opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and
experiences to build meaningful and productive lives.
Our work continues. We look forward to your involvement and continued support. Please stay tuned
to our website www.fhps.net and FHPS District News for more information and how you can be
involved.
Thank you for your support as we continue to serve the children and families entrusted to our care.
With deep respect and appreciation,

Dan Behm
Superintendent