Parents outraged after ‘whites' and ‘colored' signs are posted above water fountains in Georgia elementary school
Students reported seeing the signs above water fountains and in the cafeteria at Honey Creek Elementary in Conyers, Georgia, southeast of Atlanta, according to local outlet WSB-TV.
School officials said a teacher put up the signs as part of a history lesson on Ruby Bridges, the first Black student to desegregate a U.S. school in 1960 at just six years old.
'The district provides teachers with curriculum documents that include recommended and vetted resources and activities,' Principal Adriene Lanier wrote in a message Wednesday to parents. 'In this instance, the teacher did not adhere to the approved resources or recommended lessons provided by the district.'
While 'we do not believe there was any ill intent, the activity was not included in the teacher's submitted lesson plan and was not approved by school administrators,' Lanier added.
But parents and community members called the move unacceptable.
'My son was over a water fountain drinking, and there was a 'for colored only' sign above and he was made fun of by the other children,' one parent told WSB-TV. 'To me, that's not a history lesson.'
'Things can be taught in a way that doesn't inflict trauma on children,' another parent told the outlet.
That parent asked WSB-TV to keep her name private over concerns about racist backlash: '[I'm] trying to limit as much backlash as I can, because I know there are racist individuals in this world unfortunately,' the parent added.
The Rockdale County and Georgia NAACP chapters have both condemned the teacher's signs, calling it an 'act of racial hostility that reopens wounds still felt by generations of Americans who have fought, and continue to fight, for equality and dignity.'
'This moment demands more than outrage — it demands action," the chapters said in a joint statement. 'Accountability is non-negotiable. But accountability alone is not enough. This moment must spark comprehensive, systemic change.'
The chapters called on the Rockdale County School District to implement changes to their training and education programs, including 'mandatory anti-racism education rooted in historical truth,' 'mandatory anti-racism education rooted in historical truth,' and 'transparent engagement with parents and stakeholders, rooted in trust, equity, and repair.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
3 days ago
- ITV News
Appeal for cards to mark Southend Royal Navy veteran's 100th birthday
A branch of the Royal Naval Association is appealing for well-wishers to send 100th birthday cards to a Second World War veteran who served in the Arctic Convoys to make his surprise celebration extra Shelley, who joined the Royal Navy aged 17, served as a seaman gunner and said earlier this year: 'There's not many of us left.'The sailor, of Southend in Essex, was on a ship in Hong Kong when news came through of Germany's surrender, and said in a previous interview that it 'couldn't have been better'.'The war killed so many people it's unbelievable,' he said. 'All around, the Americans, Russians, all the Allies, the same with the Germans.'But you were doing a job, the same as they had to. It's either kill or be killed.'When we heard about victory in Europe, everybody got together and we all had a good old drink up and jolly up, and couldn't welcome it much better.'Mr Shelley, who has no known surviving family, will turn 100 on September Hawes, chairman of the Southend branch of the Royal Naval Association, is appealing for people to send birthday cards for Mr Shelley, which will be collated at the local branch and shown to him at a party on the day. The 76-year-old said Mr Shelley was the branch's 'last Arctic convoy veteran and also he was at D-Day'.Mr Shelley's carer Paul Bennett said Mr Shelley was on the HMS Milne on D-Day 'supporting the chaps going off to land in craft ashore in Normandy and he was a gunner keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft'.Mr Hawes said the veteran had previously been the local branch's chairman, secretary and treasurer but 'as he got older he had to stop some of those jobs'.'He's always been there, he's always got a smile, he always wants to chat,' he said.'He really deserves something, he has been one of our founder members way back in 1980 I think it was when the actual club opened.'He's always been with us on the Remembrance Sunday in his wheelchair and somebody's pushed him up to the cenotaph at Southend.'He is hoping to collate at least 100 birthday cards for Mr Shelley.'I think he's going to thoroughly enjoy it, he really will, he'll be over the moon,' said Mr Hawes.'Dougie always likes to let everybody know he's there and this will blow his socks off I think.'Mr Hawes, who was a chef and baker on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, is to make Mr Shelley's birthday cake – a Victoria said Mr Shelley 'does like his tot of rum' and that this would be offered to guests, with a bottle of Pusser's Rum presented to the Hawes asked for birthday cards for Mr Shelley to be sent to the Royal Naval Association club, 73-79 East Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6LQ.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
The wonderful 100th birthday appeal for a World War II veteran
The wonderful 100th birthday appeal for a World War II veteran The Royal Naval Association are trying to arrange a special surprise for Dougie Shelley, who will turn 100 in September War veteran Dougie Shelley (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) A branch of the Royal Naval Association is calling for the public to send 100th birthday cards to Second World War veteran who served in the Arctic Convoys to make his surprise party even more memorable. Dougie Shelley, who joined the Royal Navy at just 17, served as a seaman gunner and said earlier this year: "There's not many of us left." Mr Shelley, who has no known surviving family, will celebrate his 100th birthday on September 23. The Southend resident was stationed on a ship in Hong Kong when news of Germany's surrender reached them, and he previously stated that it "couldn't have been better". "The war killed so many people it's unbelievable," he said. "All around, the Americans, Russians, all the Allies, the same with the Germans. But you were doing a job, the same as they had to. It's either kill or be killed. "When we heard about victory in Europe, everybody got together and we all had a good old drink up and jolly up, and couldn't welcome it much better." John Hawes, chairman of the Southend branch of the Royal Naval Association, is urging people to send birthday cards for Mr Shelley. Article continues below These will be gathered at the local branch and presented to him at a celebration on his special day. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here Second World War veteran Dougie Shelley in his younger years (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) The 76-year-old chairman described Mr Shelley as the branch's "last Arctic convoy veteran and also he was at D-Day". Mr Shelley's carer Paul Bennett said Mr Shelley was on the HMS Milne on D-Day "supporting the chaps going off to land in craft ashore in Normandy and he was a gunner keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft". Mr Hawes said the veteran had previously served as the local branch's chairman, secretary and treasurer but "as he got older he had to stop some of those jobs". "He's always been there, he's always got a smile, he always wants to chat," he said. "He really deserves something, he has been one of our founder members way back in 1980 I think it was when the actual club opened. "He's always been with us on the Remembrance Sunday in his wheelchair and somebody's pushed him up to the cenotaph at Southend." He is hoping to gather at least 100 birthday cards for Mr Shelley. "I think he's going to thoroughly enjoy it, he really will, he'll be over the moon," said Mr Hawes. "Dougie always likes to let everybody know he's there and this will blow his socks off I think." Mr Hawes, who worked as a chef and baker on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, is to prepare Mr Shelley's birthday cake – a Victoria sponge. Article continues below He said Mr Shelley "does like his tot of rum" and that this would be offered to guests, with a bottle of Pusser's Rum presented to the veteran. Mr Hawes asked for birthday cards for Mr Shelley to be sent to the Royal Naval Association club, 73-79 East Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6LQ.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Appeal for 100th birthday cards for Second World War veteran
Dougie Shelley, who joined the Royal Navy aged 17, served as a seaman gunner and said earlier this year: 'There's not many of us left.' The sailor, of Southend in Essex, was on a ship in Hong Kong when news came through of Germany's surrender, and said in a previous interview that it 'couldn't have been better'. 'The war killed so many people it's unbelievable,' he said. 'All around, the Americans, Russians, all the Allies, the same with the Germans. 'But you were doing a job, the same as they had to. It's either kill or be killed. 'When we heard about victory in Europe, everybody got together and we all had a good old drink up and jolly up, and couldn't welcome it much better.' Mr Shelley, who has no known surviving family, will turn 100 on September 23. John Hawes, chairman of the Southend branch of the Royal Naval Association, is appealing for people to send birthday cards for Mr Shelley, which will be collated at the local branch and shown to him at a party on the day. The 76-year-old said Mr Shelley was the branch's 'last Arctic convoy veteran and also he was at D-Day'. Mr Shelley's carer Paul Bennett said Mr Shelley was on the HMS Milne on D-Day 'supporting the chaps going off to land in craft ashore in Normandy and he was a gunner keeping the skies clear of enemy aircraft'. Mr Hawes said the veteran had previously been the local branch's chairman, secretary and treasurer but 'as he got older he had to stop some of those jobs'. 'He's always been there, he's always got a smile, he always wants to chat,' he said. 'He really deserves something, he has been one of our founder members way back in 1980 I think it was when the actual club opened. 'He's always been with us on the Remembrance Sunday in his wheelchair and somebody's pushed him up to the cenotaph at Southend.' He is hoping to collate at least 100 birthday cards for Mr Shelley. 'I think he's going to thoroughly enjoy it, he really will, he'll be over the moon,' said Mr Hawes. 'Dougie always likes to let everybody know he's there and this will blow his socks off I think.' Mr Hawes, who was a chef and baker on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, is to make Mr Shelley's birthday cake – a Victoria sandwich. He said Mr Shelley 'does like his tot of rum' and that this would be offered to guests, with a bottle of Pusser's Rum presented to the veteran. Mr Hawes asked for birthday cards for Mr Shelley to be sent to the Royal Naval Association club, 73-79 East Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6LQ.
