Bousquet Weighs In On Voc-Tech Complaints

A group of students at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School will be participating in a forum on Friday afternoon to discuss racial issues at the school saying it is a matter that needs to be addressed.

Henry Bousquet, who represents Ward 3 on the New Bedford City Councilor and a teacher at the school called in to the Phil Palelogos show Thursday morning to say he believes the environment at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School is that of an inclusive and welcoming community.

He said he was shocked to see the school being portrayed in such a negative light.

"For a small group of people to paint the whole school with this brush, that there's something devious happening at Voc-Tech, is very disheartening to me," said Bousquet "I really don't believe this sort of atmospere exists."

Bousquet says that there may be students who feel that they are being mistreated.

"If you believe that you're being harrassed or treated differently, then that's your reality, I don't want to discount that for anybody," said Bousquet.

However, Bousquet says there are people in the school that the students can approach with their concerns.

"If they don't want to talk to their teachers...they can go and speak with a school adjusment counselor, we have a school psychologist, we have guidance counselors, the school nurse, the coordinators, there are plenty of people who care about the kids at Voc-Tech," said Bousquet.

The forum is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Friday and Bousquet says he plans to attend.