Discontent Over Racially Segregated Workshops at Manhattan School
At PS 003 Charrette School in Manhattan’s West Village, the administration is organizing workshops that separate students and families into “affinity” groups based on race and ethnicity, an approach that legal experts are calling discriminatory.
A recent invitation posted online asks parents to consider questions like, “What does it mean to be white in PS3’s diverse community?” The message encourages parents to participate in these discussions designed to explore racial identity—but notably, white parents and teachers are instructed to join a different group.
Scheduled for June 16, the “Listening Circles” will be conducted in collaboration with Liberation Spaces, a consulting organization focusing on equity and justice. Participants will engage on platforms like Zoom before breaking into smaller groups determined by racial identity.
“Please bring your perspectives and ideas for our school’s future,” the invitation continues, yet it explicitly encourages only BIPOC individuals, while white participants are directed elsewhere.
This separation has startled many parents and educators. Moshe Spern, President of United Jewish Teachers, mentioned concerns from PS 3 parents regarding the intent to group families racially, noting that the recommendation seems counterproductive to community building.
Legal opinions strongly criticize this separation. A civil rights lawyer pointed out that enforcing racial divisions contradicts a historic Supreme Court ruling which deemed “separate but equal” education unconstitutional. William Jacobson, a law professor, remarked on the illegality and immorality of such practices, emphasizing that public school policies should include all families, regardless of race.
Jacobson also noted that these practices may extend to unlawful employment actions, reasserting that engaging outside consultants does not relieve schools from their legal responsibilities.
Interestingly, PS3 has a predominantly white student body of around 600, and some community members, including Jewish parents, felt sidelined by the discussions, especially given the rising incidents of anti-Semitism. One parent emphasized the need for inclusive conversations around race that acknowledge all community issues.
Although PS3 promotes itself as a school that fosters collaborative discussions, Principal Hilary Casado did not provide commentary on this event. Instead, representatives stated that the PTAs manage this “Listening Circle” initiative independently, stressing a commitment to creating an inclusive environment.
However, Jacobson warns that schools could be liable for facilitating such racially exclusive programs, particularly since the event is prominently featured on the school’s website.
In a wider context, this focus on race-based discussions may attract scrutiny from the current administration. Recently, the Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation into similar initiatives at City University of New York, which allegedly favored nonwhite minorities despite claims of inclusivity.
The debate around these affinity groups continues. Supporters argue that they aim to address longstanding discrimination and systemic issues, while others question the effectiveness and legality of segregating discussions by race.
