Boyd’s response to slur is proper
In recent weeks, Lowell witnessed not one but two egregious displays of anti-Semitism. It now has the opportunity to reflect and confront the antiSemitism, bias and bigotry these moments represent.
The first incident involved a statement on live television by an elected official, an incident that was all the more disturbing when it was not immediately called out. The second occurred in its aftermath when Superintendent Joel Boyd’s Jewish faith, rather than his leadership in calling out the offensive anti-Semitic slur, became the story (Superintendent Boyd’s Reckless Words Cause Harm, March 2, 2021).
Boyd’s initial statement was swift, clear and concise, referring to School Committee member Robert Hoey’s actions as “abhorrent” and affirming that there is no place for any form of bigotry within the Lowell Public Schools. Drawing on his expertise as an educator and his own experience, he described the harm and impact of anti-Semitism.
As the leader of a 14,000 student school district, he saw the value in recognizing the incident as a teaching opportunity. Drawing on one’s own experience with hate is a sign of courage and leadership.
Despite his bravery, clarity, and resolve, Boyd has been criticized for the personal nature of his response and for not calling on the resignation of Robert Hoey from the School Committee.
School superintendents in Massachusetts report to their elected school committees and Lowell is no exception.
Boyd reports to Hoey, among others on the board. Criticizing him for not publicly calling on his boss to resign defies logic and accepted protocol. Boyd rightly called on Hoey to take personal responsibility for his hateful conduct, leaving it to the elected officials and community to demand his resigna
tion.
When Boston School Committee Chairman Michael Loconto resigned last year after he was heard mocking Asian names during a live broadcast, calls for his resignation were swift, but they did not come from Boston Public School Superintendent Brenda Cassilius. As in Lowell, they came from elected officials and the community.
Many who spoke up reflected on their lived experience with anti-Asian bigotry, providing poignant and personal illustrations of the lasting harm inflicted by such hurtful remarks.
A communitywide commitment to call out all forms of hate regardless of where it appears is the starting point for healing and change. Silence, whether in public or private, is the fuel that allows anti-Semitism, racism and all forms of bigotry to thrive.
The barrage of questions and insinuations that Boyd would have acted differently had the slur been directed at a different group are outright offensive, particularly those that draw on age-old anti-Semitic tropes relating Jews and money. At a time highlighted by an uptick in hate, his courage in sharing personal experience is a strength that should be applauded rather than cynically disparaged.
It is simply wrong to characterize Boyd’s words as harmful. Rather he leveraged his role as Lowell’s top educator to challenge his students and school community to reflect on what happened and use it as an opportunity to inspire change. Lowell’s dynamic and diverse student body now have an opportunity to act on Boyd’s call to action and fill the leadership void by becoming the community’s role models.