Racist Incidents Seen In Schools Across MA: Patch PM

Worcester MA

15 November, 2021

2:41 PM

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MASSACHUSETTS — It's Monday, Nov. 15. Here's what you should know this afternoon: Quincy Public Schools are grappling with a second video containing racist language — this one coming from students at Point Webster Middle School.A woman was beaten and nearly carjacked early Saturday morning after she stopped to help a man who had crashed his car along Park Avenue in Worcester.Massachusetts health officials are tracking a rise in opioid-related overdose deaths. Scroll down for more on those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today. Today's Top Story Three Massachusetts school systems are dealing with reports of racist acts, as well as accusations that the school districts have failed to properly address the problems. In Braintree, about 300 high school students walked out of class Monday morning. The students held a peaceful protest in support of racial justice both in town and across the United States. Students walked to the Five Corners, escorted by school administrators and local police, where several students spoke and held signs. Quincy Public Schools are grappling with a second video containing racist language — this one coming from students at Point Webster Middle School. The video was created by three eighth-graders and "contained racist language directed at specific students at Point Webster Middle School," Principal Christine Barrett said in a letter to parents. In her letter, Barrett said the video was shared within the school community and called it "very disturbing to all of us." And in Danvers, the school committee will meet in executive session Monday and vote to place Superintendent Lisa Dana on administrative leave. The Danvers Teachers Association is the latest group to criticize how the district administration and School Committee handled accusations of racist and homophobic hazing within the high school hockey program in recent years. Like this article? Sign up for our newsletter and get it delivered every weekday. It's free! Monday's Other Top Stories Good Samaritan assaulted: A woman was beaten and nearly carjacked early Saturday morning after she stopped to help a man who had crashed his car along Park Avenue in Worcester, according to police. The woman pulled over in the Webster Square area around 2 a.m. Saturday after she saw that the man had crashed into a sign. When she got out to see if he was OK, he ran to her car and got in the driver's seat, police said. Opioid deaths on the rise in MA: Since January, there have been 1,613 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, approximately 21 more deaths than in the first nine months of 2021, or a 1 percent increase, said the DPH. Cop on leave after OUI arrest: A Norton police officer was arrested on multiple charges and has been placed on administrative leave following a car crash that hospitalized a woman. Officer Joshua Archer, 31, of Norton was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury, Norton police said. Holiday lights coming to Patriot Place: Get in the holiday spirit at Patriot Place's "Magic of Lights," which will return to Gillette Stadium this year with some new festive displays after its inaugural season in 2020. "Magic of Lights" is a drive-through experience featuring themed light displays created using LED technology and digital animation, officials said. Massachusetts: Tell Someone You're Grateful For Them This Holiday Season Picture This: Former Red Sox star dead at 45 AP Photo/Michael DwyerFormer major leaguer Julio Lugo, best known for being the Red Sox starting shortstop on Boston's dominant 20o7 World Series team, has died. His 46th birthday would have been Tuesday. They Said It "I didn't grow up here, I don't have that same deep-rooted connections some do — but I do love the deep roots people have in Framingham." Framingham City Councilor-elect Leora Mallach on her first-ever run for office (and win).