4 Hawthorne Vlg #D
Franklin, MA 02038

I went to FHS for my freshman year. While i was there i was viciously hate crimed mentally and nearly physically. I brought this to the officials who TOLD US THAT WE COULD TRUST THEM and they made me look like the person to blame. Because I a member of the LGBTQ have mental issues and cannot make connections, tell that to the other students who heard the slur being thrown at me. Thanks for the life lessons, i certainly didn’t learn anything else at this school! I went from a B student at this school to an A student at another (after i had to transfer due to the lack of support)! I hope to God that no other member of the LGBTQ has to go through what i did at FHS, it’s a scary thought for me. Students should feel trust in their teachers, not fear. Not fear that the teacher will stab you in the back and tell you are a bully for taking someone else’s words. I can’t describe how much of an awful time i had here, i just hope if anyone reads this they listen to me.

Communication exists in a newsletter only that constantly has incorrect information. Kids whom lash out cause they've had enough bullying tend to be the ones punished not the bullies themselves. Some teachers are excellent and caring while more than half forget these are middle schoolers and to treat them as such (meaning not adults just basically becoming a teen). Environment is not a happy one at the school. Principal is rarely seen and doesn't know kids names.

My daughter attended Kindergarten here and we had to sell our home and leave Franklin due to her horrible experience. She was bullied for the color of her skin (we're South Asian), in Kindergarten! Her teacher, though excellent, was not aware of it due to the large class size. The principal (Ashley) however, gets the award for continuing and supporting racism. When I brought up the situation with her, she initially blamed my daughter for bringing it upon herself. When I insisted, she spoke with the parents of the bullies. Then, that was it. She did not follow up with me, with the class or with anybody else. There was no systemic change. We were lucky enough to be able to leave the town. I later connected with various other minority parents and heard many stories of racism in the entire school district. We now live in a top school district with a lot of diversity. Kindness, equality, hope and good behavior are part of the school district's guidelines!! The difference is night and day in my daughter's experience. If you are not white, I would strongly caution you against buying a home in Franklin. Please don't put your children through needless suffering.