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TROUBLED TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS CLASS EXPERIENCED. THEY DIDN’T DESERVE THAT. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT. >> TEACHERS AT DAVIS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IN DORCHESTER BROUGHT SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS TO THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS LAST WEEK, THEY LEFT UPSET WITH BY WHAT AND THEY LEFT UPSET WITH BY WHAT THEY SAY HAPPENED ON THE FIELD TRIP. >> IT WAS WHEN WE GOT OUTSIDE THAT THE KIDS SAID THAT THE LADY SAID NO FOOD, NO DRINK, NO WATERMELON. >> TEACHER MARVELYNE LAMY SAYS A SECURITY GUARD FOLLOWED THE 26 STUDENTS INSIDE. >> AS SOON AS WE WOULD WALK, HE WOULD WALK, WHEN WE WOULD STOP, HE WOULD STOP. SO AT THAT POINT I GREW UNCOMFORTABLE SO I TOLD THE KID WE ARE GOING TO GATHER UP AND GO >> ONE OF THE GUESTS SAID TO OUR STUDENTS, I HOPE YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION T THE EXHIBIT SO YOU DON’T BECOME A STRIPPER. THAT WAS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE TO SAY TO US SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS. >> MY ASSUMPTION WAS THAT THERE WAS A SENSE OF UNWELCOMENESS AND THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFE SPACE. MUSEUM LEADERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE NOT FINISHED THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THEY HAVE A MESSAGE TO ALL STUDENTS THINKING OF COMING TO THE MFA. >> I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THEIR MUSEUM, THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL THE AGENCY TO WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS AND KNOW THAT THEY BELONG HERE. >> I HOPING THAT AS A RESULT OF AM THIS THAT THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN TO ANOTHER GROUP OF STUDENTS. MUSEUM LEADERSHIP PLANS TO MEET IN PERSON TOMORRO

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The Museum of Fine Arts is promising to do better after a Boston teacher said she was horrified by comments made to her students during a recent class trip. “They didn’t deserve that. No one deserves to be treated like that,” said teacher Taliana June. Teachers brought students from Davis Leadership Academy to the museum for a field trip last week. They said some students left in tears. “It was when we got outside that the kids said that the lady said, ‘No food, no drink, no watermelon,’” said teacher Marvelyne Lamy.She said the security guard followed the 26 students into the museum. “As soon as we would walk, he would walk. When we would stop, he would stop. At that point, I grew uncomfortable, so I told the kids we are going to gather up and go,” Lamy said. “One of the guests said to our students, ‘I hope you’re paying attention so you don't become a stripper,’” June said. “That was completely inappropriate to say to a seventh grade student.”“My assumption is that that there was a sense of unwelcomeness. There was a sense that this was not a safe space,” said Makeeba McCreary, the MFA’s chief of learning and community engagement. MFA officials said they have not finished their investigation into what happened, but said they want to extend a message of welcome to all students who would like to visit the museum. “I want them to know that this is their museum, that they should have all the agency to walk through those doors, and know that they belong here,” McCreary said. “I’m hoping that as a result of this, that this doesn't happen to another group of students,” said Lamy. Full statement from the MFA: "The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s recently adopted Strategic Plan came with a commitment to renew our invitation, welcome, and engagement of new audiences, particularly those that reflect the diversity of our city. As we work to grow our community, we need to be sure that everyone feels welcome here - this is their museum."Last week, a number of students on an organized visit encountered a range of challenging and unacceptable experiences that made them feel unwelcome. That is not who we are or want to be. Our intention is to set the highest of standards, and we are committed to doing the work that it will take to get there."We were extremely troubled to learn about the experience a class from the Helen Y Davis Leadership Academy had at the MFA. Immediately after being made aware of the situation, Makeeba McCreary, the MFA’s Chief of Learning and Community Engagement, reached out to Christopher Coblyn, Interim Executive Director of the Academy to apologize and work together with MFA Protective Services to investigate the details of what happened. McCreary and Coblyn have been in direct communication since the day of the visit. We deeply regret any interactions the class had that led to this outcome and are committed to being a place where all people trust that they will feel safe and treated with respect. We look forward to ongoing conversation and commit to using this situation as an opportunity to learn and create a culture of unwavering inclusion."