Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Darienne Driver says district students are being urged to talk about this month’s violent protests over the police shooting of an African-American man.
Milwaukee police say Sylville Smith was armed when a patrol officer shot him to death on Aug. 13. Two nights of public unrest followed.
Driver said teachers and students at public schools that reopened this month have already been talking about the incidents, and more will do so on the first official day of school Thursday.
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“Sometimes, all it takes is, ‘How do you feel?’ You know, it isn’t anything miraculous. But being able to create a space and an opportunity to have that conversation,” Driver said.
Milwaukee schools should be a place for healing, Driver said. She’s planning a school year kick off rally Thursday morning at a school in the Sherman Park neighborhood, near the site of the shooting and demonstrations.
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