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Rice was cut from the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL earlier this week after a video surfaced of him striking his wife and knocking her unconscious before dragging her out of the hotel elevator.
In a letter to the community, Osborne said that the behavior exhibited by the former New Rochelle star running back in the video is unacceptable. Just two years ago his team won the Super Boawl and Rice was the toast of the town as his jersey was retired..
“In the last few days, each of us has seen and heard about the actions of former New Rochelle student and football player Ray Rice, and we all condemn such behavior. Our community stands united in the belief that physical violence to settle differences cannot be condoned.”
This week, Rice’s jersey and a plaque honoring the former football star were removed from New Rochelle High School. School officials believe that this incident can be a teachable moment for teachers and students.
“The images are very personal for our community, as Mr. Rice grew up in New Rochelle, attended New Rochelle schools, and played football for New Rochelle High School. Many of us know Mr. Rice and his family, have celebrated his undeniable accomplishments, and now hope for healing and growth for him, his family and our community,” Osborne said.
Osborne said that the school district was prepared to address the issue of domestic violence with students of all ages. Teachers, counselors, psychologists and social workers are all trained and prepared to answer any questions that may arise.
“This episode is a poignant reminder that domestic violence can affect anyone, and is an ongoing challenge faced by people every day across all walks of life. As a school community, this brings to the forefront our shared obligation to educate children and adults about ways to build healthy relationships and prevent domestic violence.”
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