Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 20, 1993 TAG: 9304200312
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
Scruggs is the Franklin County High School teacher alleged to have referred to a Black History month event as a "nigger" program.
"I don't feel we need people with that frame of mind in the school system," said Clyde Dodson, whose son is a ninth-grade student at the high school. Dodson made the remark after addressing the board in a closed session.
After hearing from Dodson, local NAACP President Linda White and at least one other person in the closed session, the School Board and Superintendent Leonard Gereau had little to say.
"Concerns brought to our attention today in executive session will be dealt with," Chairman Jack Newbill said before moving on to other business.
For the first time Monday, one group of Franklin County blacks stood firmly behind the School Board.
James Pearson, secretary of Pigg River Baptist Ministerial Alliance, said members of 19 churches in Franklin and Floyd counties supported Gereau and the School Board.
"The concerned parents group does not speak for the majority of blacks in Franklin County," Pearson told the board.
"We ask that you bring this to a speedy conclusion with minimum disruption to our students, our schools and our community."
White, who has revived the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter in Franklin County, said after the meeting that she didn't appreciate Pearson's remarks.
"The black community has always had to deal with Uncle Toms and we still have to deal with Uncle Toms," she said, "and some of them might be preachers."
After Monday morning's meeting, Pearson declined to elaborate on the statement he gave to the board. Contacted by telephone later and told of White's comment, Pearson said:
"The Bible says if I have a concern, I should love my brother and sister. I love her very much."
Monday's School Board meeting was moved to an auditorium at Benjamin Franklin Middle School to accommodate the 20- to 30-person delegation of black parents and community members who wanted to address the board. But since the topic involved specific students and teachers, members of the group chosen to speak to the board spoke behind closed doors.
White and Dodson said the meeting's success in restoring the confidence of blacks in the school system will hinge on how the School Board responds to Monday's comments.
White said Gereau and the board indicated they would respond within a week.
"Some of them had heard what I said before and some had not," White said. "I want to give them some time. They seemed to be paying attention, now whether they'll be responsive or not, I don't know."
The board did announce its plans to bring together parents, teachers, church leaders and others to form a 40- to 45-person multicultural commission. The commission would work toward devising a kindergarten through 12th-grade curriculum that would include materials from various cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
Dodson said he thought Monday's meeting was a good first step - if the School Board "is sincere." But the School Board alone is not responsible for race relations in Franklin County, he said.
"The school system can do all it wants to do, but if the people in the community don't interject some feelings it won't matter," Dodson said.
by CNB