NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The City School District of New Rochelle has finally broken its silence, four days after a video of Ray Rice assaulting his then-finance now-wife Janay Palmer.
After a week of ducking questions, the school district’s public relations firm, has distributed a pair of coordinated letters from Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne and New Rochelle High School Principal Reggie Richardson.
Dr. Osborne condemned Rice’s behavior depicted in the video and expressed his hope for “healing and growth for him, his family and our community”.
Osborne framed the issue in the context of being opposed to “physical violence to settle differences”. He did not explain what “differences” Rice was settling in the video.
Richardson also condemned Rice’s behavior while offering support for Rice and his family.
Richardson framed the issue in the context of being opposed to “solving problems with physical violence” as not being “acceptable”. He did not explain what “problems” Rice was solving in the video.
Richardson said the District would “continue to address domestic violence as a serious issue”. He did not provide any examples where the District had previously addressed domestic violence as a serious issue but announced that the high school’s second annual Human Rights Week would focus on “women’s issues and domestic violence” and that the school would “reach out and partner with local, regional and national experts and organizations to invite them to join us in the effort to educate our children and community about these vital topics”.
On the matter of Ray Rice jerseys and the Wall of Fame, Richardson confirmed Talk of the Sound’s prior reporting that Rice had been removed from the Wall of Fame and his Baltimore Ravens jersey removed from the gymnasium. He then offered a tortured rationale.
Richardson says that Ray Rice was removed from the Wall of Fame because its purpose is to “honor the individuals included and present them as role models to inspire our students” implying that Rice is not a role model for New Rochelle High School students.
Richardson says that Ray Rice’s retired #5 New Rochelle High School jersey “will remain retired” because “the jersey was retired in recognition of Mr. Rice’s athletic accomplishments — accomplishments that have not changed.”
Richard skipped over explaining why Ray Rice’s #27 Baltimore Ravens was removed but through his omission implies that the Ravens jersey was removed because it was not displayed at New Rochelle High School in recognition of Mr. Rice’s athletic accomplishment.
If Rice’s Ravens jersey was not displayed in recognition of Mr. Rice’s athletic accomplishment then on what basis was it displayed — and on what basis was it taken down?
In a Journal News article that was published nationally in USA TODAY, the New Rochelle Schools Athletic Director said the removal of Rice’s Ravens jersey was not permanent, implying the jersey could go back up on the wall of the gymnasium.
“When you put people up on a wall of fame, it’s an inspiration to the kids in the school,” said Steve Young, New Rochelle High School’s athletics director. “It becomes a teachable moment for the kids, that when something like that happens, there’s a consequence.”
Young, the school athletics director, said while officials took down the jersey for now, it could conceivably go up again.
“This wasn’t permanent, but it’s a message to our kids that actions like this have consequences,” he said.
Young said he still supports Rice and that the former running back is welcome back at the school.
Neither Young or Richardson addressed a third Ray Rice jersey, his #27 Rutgers jersey, which is displayed on the wall of the weight room at New Rochelle High School (pictured above).
If Rice’s Ravens jersey taken down because it was not a “retired” New Rochelle High School jersey then on what basis is Rice’s Rutgers jersey being displayed — even as Rutgers is taking down Rice photos and videos.
The full letters from Osborne and Richardson follow:
Osborne_Final_RayRice_Letter_9_11.pdf
Osborne_Final_RayRice_Letter_9_11.pdf
September 11, 2014
Dear CSDNR Family,
In the last few days, each of us has seen and heard about the actions of former New Rochelle student and football player Ray Rice, and we all condemn such behavior. Our community stands united in the belief that
physical violence to settle differences cannot be condoned.The images are very personal for our community, as Mr. Rice grew up in New Rochelle, attended New Rochelle schools, and played football for New Rochelle High School. Many of us know Mr. Rice and his family, have celebrated his undeniable accomplishments, and now hope for healing and growth for him, his family and our community.
This episode is a poignant reminder that domestic violence can affect anyone, and is an ongoing challenge faced by people every day across all walks of life. As a school community, this brings to the forefront our shared obligation to educate children and adults about ways to build healthy relationships and prevent domestic violence. As educators, we are now focused on helping the CSDNR community learn more about these critical issues, particularly as we approach Domestic Violence Awareness Month, marked each year in October. Find more information from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence here:
http://www.ncadv.org/takeaction/DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth.phpPrincipals and key staff in all CSDNR schools stand ready to appropriately address these issues for children of every age. Each of our schools has dedicated personnel available, including teachers, counselors, psychologists, social workers and administrators, all caring professionals who are prepared to help our children.
Please reach out and share your ideas with us as we all work together to become better informed, increase awareness and focus on efforts to learn how to prevent domestic violence.
Most Sincerely,
Brian G. Osborne, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
September 11, 2014
Dear NRHS Community,
In the last few days we have seen former New Rochelle High School student and football player Ray Rice in the news. We condemn his actions and know that solving problems with physical violence is never acceptable. Here at NRHS, we remain firmly committed to teaching respect for everyone, and will continue to address domestic violence as a serious issue.
This is undeniably painful for us all, as Mr. Rice was and still is a member of the NRHS family. Many of us know Mr. Rice and his family, and we all understand how his actions have created a difficult situation for
them, but we are here to support them. Now, we will address the issues involved head on and take positive action to educate our students about these critical and sensitive matters.To do this, we at the high school have thoughtfully considered the next steps we must take and have determined both a short term and longer-term course of action. First, Mr. Rice’s Wall of Fame photograph at NRHS has been removed and his Baltimore Ravens jersey taken down; the purpose of our Wall of Fame is to honor the individuals included and present them as role models to inspire our students. Second, Mr. Rice’s retired #5 jersey will remain retired. The jersey was retired in recognition of Mr. Rice’s athletic accomplishments — accomplishments that have not changed. Finally, we have dedicated and highly trained staff available to provide a structured, safe space for students to discuss the issues, questions and concerns highlighted by the situation this week.
Looking forward, during our second annual Human Rights Week at NRHS, the program will focus on women’s issues and domestic violence, giving our students and community the opportunity to openly, honestly and constructively address how we can best prevent this type of violence. As educators, we will embrace the opportunity to reach out and partner with local, regional and national experts and organizations to invite them to join us in the effort to educate our children and community about these vital topics.
As our Human Rights Week programming develops, we look forward to sharing more details with you. In the meantime, be assured that we here at NRHS remain focused on taking care of your children, with whom we
are privileged to spend each school day. Please reach out to us as we all work together to meet this challenge and set an example for our students of which we can all be proud.Most Respectfully,
Reggie Richardson, Principal, New Rochelle High School
The District’s PR firm asked if I had any questions: “Please contact either Tanya Hunt or Allison Gilbert with any questions.”
So, I replied:
I have many questions.
1. Why did it take four days for the District to issue a statement; and three days after Ray Rice was removed from the Wall of Fame and two days from a decision to take down the Ravens jersey?
2. Mr. Richardson states “The NRHS #5] jersey was retired in recognition of Mr. Rice’s athletic accomplishments — accomplishments that have not changed.” NONE of Rice’s ” athletic accomplishments” have changed so why was the Ravens jersey singled out? If the Ravens jersey was not displayed at the school in recognition of Mr. Rice’s athletic accomplishments then on what basis was the Ravens jersey taken down?
3. Steve Young is quoted in USA TODAY saying that taking down the Ravens jersey “wasn’t permanent”. Are there any current plans to restore the Ravens jersey to the wall in the gym? What circumstances would need occur for this to happen? Or is this just a matter of waiting until public attention shifts elsewhere?
4. Steve Young is quoted in USA TODAY saying that “It becomes a teachable moment for the kids, that when something like that happens, there’s a consequence.” If taking down the jersey is not permanent then what consequence is he talking about?
5. The NRHS jersey and a Rutgers jersey are still displayed at the high school but the Ravens jersey was removed — what is the logic here.
6. Both Obsorne and Richardson frame the issue with Rice assaulting Janay Palmer in the video. Osborne does so as being opposed to “physical violence to settle differences”, Richardson as being opposed to “solving problems with physical violence”. What “differences” or “problems” do they believe Rice was “settling” or “resolving” in the video.
7. The USA TODAY article makes a point I have raised myself…
In New Rochelle, the taking down of the NFL jersey and removal of the placard caused confusion among some students, particularly because the jersey Rice wore while a student at the school bearing the No. 5, which school officials subsequently retired in tribute to him, remained on the gym’s wall, said Justin Cossifos, 15, of New Rochelle.
“I don’t know why they left one up and took one down,” he said.
Every students I have heard or read discussing this issue is similarly confused.
Can you comment on that student’s confusion?
UPDATE: Not surprisingly the offer to answer questions was not genuine. Here is the answer I reply I received from Tanya Hunt.
Thank you for reaching out to us. The district’s statements regarding this story are contained in the letters from Dr. Osborne and Principal Richardson.
My reply:
You invited me to ask questions, right?
“Please contact either Tanya Hunt or Allison Gilbert with any questions.”
Why invite me to ask questions if you do not intend to reply to any?
Skip that, rhetorical question.
