VERONA — It was the second time in three months that community members came before the Augusta County School Board to ask that something be done about racism in the school division.
At the May 2 regular meeting, Leigh Ashely Harden detailed to the board acts of racism directed against her 8-year-old son, an elementary school student in Augusta County.
Harden said that in first grade, a classmate told his son that his skin looked like tree bark. This year, a classmate told Harden’s son that they couldn’t play together because he didn’t have blond hair and blue eyes. And in the most recent incident, Harden said a classmate used a racial slur when referring to her son.
“None of these three incidents were communicated to me by my son’s teacher,” Harden said. “It was my son who told me about it.”
Harden said that when she contacted the school administration about it, she was told they were mean kids.
“It’s not just kids who are naughty,” she said. “It’s not just bullying. It’s racism.”
Five people followed Harden, speaking to the school board about racism in the school division.
In March, Felicia Calloway was one of four people to speak on the issue during delegations. Calloway told the board that in April 2023, she was bringing food to her children at Wilson Memorial High School when two students harassed her as she entered the school. These are the same kids who Calloway says racially harassed her son without any repercussions. Calloway told the board that she was meanwhile escorted out of the school because she said something back to students.
“It’s sad that I didn’t even get to embrace love for my children that day like I had wanted in an environment that was supposed to be safe and supportive for all,” Calloway said. “But are Augusta County schools really safe for everyone? Or are they safe for just one specific culture?”
Last January, a student at Beverley Manor Middle School was identified as sending threats on social media. The student’s mother, Melissa Turner, told the News Leader that her son admitted to doing it, but that it was in response to an incident of racial bullying by another pupil. Turner said her son created the account hoping the administration would think the other student did it and suspend him.
Turner addressed the board at its May meeting.
Although the school division has not spoken about any of these issues at a public meeting or addressed the concerns publicly, President David Shiflett recently told the News Leader that the school board is not ignoring the concerns.
“We’ve had staff look into this,” Shiflett said. “I don’t know if that’s something we’ll necessarily discuss, but we’ve asked staff to look into that and report back to us.”
Shiflett said that while the board was aware of most of what was heard during public comments, some stories have changed over time.
“There’s always more than one side to a story,” he said. “I’m not saying that takes away from what they said.”
Harden told the board she was also the target of racism while attending Augusta County schools, but she never shared that with anyone at the time.
“I internalized and realize now that I never completely understood these feelings or how to deal with them at such a young age,” Harden said. “I, too, was afraid to speak up because I felt outnumbered. I felt like there were more kids who would be on the side of those making racist remarks than on me.”
She said this is still happening 20 years later, calling on the board to take meaningful action to combat racism.
The News Leader reached out to Harden and asked what she would like to see the board do to address the issues she described.
“I’m not an expert in this area but I’ve done some research and I have some ideas,” Harden said. “Provide anti-racist training for staff. Hold public meetings to give a voice to those who do not have a voice. Revise disciplinary policies to more effectively combat racism. Create educational programs to alleviate racism and bias in schools.”
Sharon Fitz, co-founder of Waynesboro’s RISE, also spoke at the Augusta County School Board’s May meeting. After the meeting, she told the News Leader that the school division must begin by recognizing the existence and problem of racism in our schools, and then be willing to work with others who are truly equipped to facilitate the difficult conversations that need to be had place.
She wants to see the school division adopt policies and practices that will contribute to remedial approaches to disciplinary matters rather than what she calls knee-jerk punitive actions.
Fitz said: “Racism disrupts the learning experience and emotional and social development of young people whose hearts, souls and minds are filled with possibilities and dreams that are stifled by the failure of those charged with to take care of it. with the ability to view them as valuable human beings.
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— Patrick Hite is the News Leader’s education reporter. Story ideas and advice are always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Racism still prevalent in Augusta County schools, parents say
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