Noose Used To Threaten Student At Malibu High School: Principal

MALIBU, CA — Multiple students used a noose to threaten a peer at Malibu High School, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced Saturday. Malibu High School officials launched an investigation aimed at holding the students behind the noose accountable and also to find out why so many students knew about without reporting it.

The noose, which was found in the film production class green screen room on the Malibu High School campus, was used in a threatening and intimidating way and was directed at student, according to Malibu High School Principal Patrick Miller. School officials immediately removed the noose and launched an investigation, Miller said in a statement to the Malibu High School community over the weekend.

"A noose has no place in a school classroom. It is a symbol of bigotry and hatred directed against African Americans," Miller said. "It is upsetting, unacceptable, and not conducive to a safe learning environment for all of our students. It also is a symbol of suicide and mocks the seriousness of this mental health concern."

School officials found that several students in the SharkTV class created and displayed the noose at varying times over multiple weeks. Many students were aware of the noose and didn't notify an adult on campus to have it removed or stop the behavior as it happened, "which is upsetting," Miller said.

Malibu High School film students work in multiple spaces throughout campus, and students were using and displaying the noose when the teacher was not present in the room, the statement said. School officials are working to improve procedures with staff in order to ensure these spaces are "inspected on a consistent schedule," he said.

Discipline will be handled in accordance with the California Education Code and applicable school and district policies once the full investigation is complete, Miller said.

"We will use this opportunity to remind ourselves why we are here," Miller said. "This is an opportunity for education — a time to declare that we, as a school community, stand for respect and inclusion, a place where all are free to learn in a safe and welcoming environment. Regardless of students’ intention in this specific incident, there is clearly ongoing work for us all to do and I hope you will reinforce our expectations with your children."

Principal Miller's full statement is below:

Dear Malibu High School Community,

At Malibu High School, we take our responsibility for student, staff, and community safety very seriously and are reaching out to proactively let you know about an incident we are currently investigating. Every student should feel welcome at MHS. Unfortunately, recently our community was wounded by an unacceptable incident, one that regardless of students’ intention, can be described as a bias incident.

There was a report received late last week of a noose present in the film production class green screen room on campus and that it had been used in a threatening/intimidating way directed towards another student. We immediately located and removed the noose and began an investigation which we are still in the process of completing. A noose has no place in a school classroom. It is a symbol of bigotry and hatred directed against African-Americans. It is upsetting, unacceptable, and not conducive to a safe learning environment for all of our students. It also is a symbol of suicide and mocks the seriousness of this mental health concern.

At the conclusion of the full investigation, discipline will be handled in accordance with California Education Code and applicable school and district policies. At this time, we’ve determined several students in the SharkTV class created and displayed the noose at varying times over a multiple week period. We also have determined that other students used the noose at varying times. We know that many students in the classroom were aware of the noose and did not take actions to notify an adult on campus to have it removed or stop the behavior as it occurred, which is upsetting. Given the nature of the class, the film students work in multiple spaces and throughout campus and the students were engaging in this behavior when the teacher was not present in the room. In addition to the investigation and addressing students, we are working to improve procedures with staff in order to ensure these spaces are inspected on a consistent schedule.

Every day, acts of intolerance can manifest themselves (ie: name calling, slurs, casual put downs, text, “jokes”). In my 13 years in this community, I have had to confront these issues with students in elementary, middle and high school. We will use this opportunity to remind ourselves why we are here. This is an opportunity for education, a time to declare that we, as a school community, stand for respect and inclusion, a place where all are free to learn in a safe and welcoming environment. Regardless of students’ intention in this specific incident, there is clearly ongoing work for us all to do and I hope you will reinforce our expectations with your children.

We realize the sensitivity to growing intolerance online and in society. Everyone that calls MHS home (students, staff, families, alumni, community) must know that hate, disrespect, and bullying behavior have no place on this campus. Our staff and I will continue to be vigilant and will address any slur, taunting, teasing or intimidation that is observed or reported. We appreciate the student who initially came forward and others who have since stepped up to inform school officials of this incident. Please remind your children to report anything they hear or see that is not right, inappropriate, might be suspicious or dangerous by telling an adult, school official, reporting to local law enforcement, or even to the We Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME. If they tell you, please inform us immediately so we can respond accordingly.

Sincerely,

Patrick Miller
Principal