Published: May 14, 2008 10:05 am         

Group asks for ban on racially offensive symbols in schools

CUMBERLAND - A group of area residents formed in response to recent racial tensions in the Allegany County school system asked the Board of Education on Tuesday to ban the wearing and display of the Confederate flag on school property.

William Peck, a member of Concerned Citizens, asked that the board consider adopting a policy that would prohibit the display of symbols that promote "racial hatred or racial prejudice" on school grounds, including parking lots and athletic fields.

He said the symbols, including the swastika, are reminders of "racism and bigotry" and are a "disruption and distraction" to the learning environment. Board President Fred Sloan promised Peck the board would "take it into order." No other board member offered comment to the discussion.

Bruce Peck said that racial tensions began to flare in the fall. Complaints were lodged, he said, but "it seemed like no one wanted to do anything about it. Everyone put blinders on."

Charles "Robin" Woods, an outspoken critic of a host of county issues regarding the status quo and the African-American community, said the display of the Confederate flag and other hate symbols "brings and breeds hatred." Woods asked that the board "take a stand" and draft a prohibitive policy despite possible litigation in the future.

"There may be some feedback from the other side, but so what," Woods said. "That's what courts are for. We shouldn't have to suffer the indignity."

Norma Blacke Bordeau, president of the Allegany County Chapter of the NAACP, said she first heard of racially motivated harassment by a student at Fort Hill High School in the spring of 2007. The student was an athlete, Bordeau said, and was being physically harassed during competition at Greenway Avenue Stadium.

"People were not blind this was going on," Bordeau said. "There's a great deal of evidence things are not right, things are not equal."

The board, spearheaded by Superintendent Bill AuMiller and Fort Hill staff, has taken steps to alleviate the situation and quell racial tensions. Students from all three high schools have started a series of culturally sensitive conflict resolution forums administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.