CCHS Addresses Sept. 11 Poem Controversy

Some parents in Concord are upset after what they described as an inappropriate acknowledgement of Sept. 11, 2001 at Concord-Carlisle High School. 

On Thursday morning, CCHS Principal Peter Badalament issued a statement to the school community saying administrators had students at the forefront of their thinking in choosing to acknowledge 9/11 with a poem "focused on cross-cultural understanding rather than unsettling words and images associated with the event." 

You can read the full statement below, and be sure to check back with Patch for more on this story as it develops. 

Here's the full statement: 

We had the well-being of students at the forefront of our thinking when we chose to acknowledge 9/11 by reading a poem that focused on cross-cultural understanding rather than unsettling words and images associated with the event.

We greatly respect all those who died and suffered loss on 9/11, the responders who gave their lives, as well as those who have served and continue to serve our country. We remain grateful for these heroic citizens.

We read the Pledge of Allegiance every day at Concord-Carlisle High School. Yesterday was the first Wednesday of the school year; we were unaware that our student Pledge reader had an internship commitment on this day. This was our responsibility to know. We humbly apologize that this oversight and communication gap occurred. 

We will integrate the feedback that has been offered into our future work with students. We remain committed to creating an inclusive and positive culture for all members of the school community.