Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A North Carolina schools superintendent has apologized for a mock “slave auction” in which white middle-schoolers pretended to sell their Black classmates.

“Actions such as these, they just do not reflect who we are as a school system,” Chatham County Schools Superintendent Anthony Jackson said after parents raised an outcry. “And I say, unapologetically, will not be tolerated in the school system.”

The school board adopted some policy changes and will also review the student code of conduct and discipline policies involving acts of racism, Jackson said. Some parents complained that several students involved were given just a one-day suspension.

A coalition of local groups called on the board Monday to address the situation at the J.S. Waters School in Goldston and require the instigators to apologize, news outlets reported

The mock auction happened in the presence of staff and faculty and was recorded on video, according to a Chatham Organizing For Racial Equity press release. The K-8 school about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Raleigh has 195 students, and 68% are white.

“These students were emboldened to not only commit brazen and overt acts of racism but to retaliate further and continue their aggression after serving a perfunctory one-day suspension,” the coalition said.

The coalition also wants the district to raise the penalties for school employees who engage in racist behaviors, including making it a fireable offense.

Christy Wagner made an emotional plea to the board, saying she learned what happened on the baseball field from another parent and had to explain to her biracial son why he shouldn’t have to suffer such racism in silence.

“The reality is these acts of racism are not only happening here in Chatham County but across North Carolina and across the country,” said Wagner. “More should be done around addressing racism in schools, because no parent should have to stand here after hearing their son was sold in a slave trade at school.”

The school board unanimously approved Jackson’s proposed policy changes and regulations as part of a comprehensive plan for accountability for racist incidents in schools, support services for students and training for staff.

Jackson directed the board to authorize a list of new regulations, to direct staff to “begin a full top-to-bottom review of our student code of conduct” and to authorize a district-wide training protocol, including establishing channels of communication with parents and local community organizations.

 

Photo via Peyton Sickles/Chatham News + Record.

 

Related Stories
‹
Investigation: No Adults Involved in Mock Slave Auction
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS An investigation found that students at a North Carolina school pretended to “sell” Black classmates at a mock “slave auction” recently, but no adults were involved, school system officials said. Chatham County Schools officials said in a statement Monday that the code of conduct is being revised to ensure incidents […]
Chatham County Roundup: County Commissioner Karen Howard
Chatham County Commissioner Karen Howard joins 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Tuesday, August 6.
Chatham County Commissioner Shares Latest on Bynum Contamination, Wolfspeed Development
Chair of the Chatham County Commissioners Karen Howard spoke with 97.9 The Hill about major stories happening in Siler City and Bynum.
George Moses Horton Middle School Students Rank 4th in Capitol Hill Challenge
George Moses Horton Middle School in Pittsboro ranked first among middle schools nationwide and fourth overall in the 2023 Capitol Hill Challenge, a national financial education program. Each of the top 10 schools will attend a reception in the U.S. Capitol on June 14 and have the opportunity to meet their members of Congress. As […]
5 Juveniles Charged With Making Threat of Violence at Chatham Middle School
Five juveniles have been charged after threatening messages against Chatham Middle School in Siler City circulated on social media earlier in May. Authorities investigating the threat — which said it would carry out violence against students and teachers on May 15 — now believe it was a prank the juveniles never intended to carry out. […]
Speaking of Schools: Cindy King and Carrie Little of Chatham County Schools
As pre-K programs are enrolling for Chatham County Schools, Pre-K Instructional Facilitator Cindy King and Executive Director of Federal Programs Carrie Little join 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell to talk about early childhood education.
Chatham County Roundup: Randy Voller of the Chatham County Line
Publisher and editor of the Chatham County Line Randy Voller joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Tuesday, March 15, for this week's Chatham County Roundup! Voller discusses a recent controversy around the local school district, as well as a recent positive event he attended. Plus: the Board of County Commissioners primary and general election cycle appears to be a busy one and longstanding challenges of growth are likely to be among key issues.
Chatham County Roundup: County Commissioner Karen Howard
Chair of the Chatham County Commissioners Karen Howard joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Tuesday, February 15. She shares thoughts on the board's recent appointment of Robert Logan to the board's District 4 seat, as well as details on the county's latest mask distribution efforts. Plus: Chatham County Schools passes an update to masking indoors and the county shares revaluation statistics.
Chatham County Roundup: Hannah McClellan of the Chatham News + Record
Chatham News + Record reporter Hannah McClellan joins 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell for the Chatham County Roundup on Tuesday, December 28. She details updates from the Chatham County Schools district, including early reactions to the omicron variant's spread, a new enrollment report and teacher pay changes.
Fire Destroys Mobile Learning Units at North Chatham Elementary
An overnight fire left several mobile units at North Chatham Elementary School burned to the ground on Sunday. A release from the Chatham County Schools district alerted the community of the fire, saying no one was injured. The fire destroyed five mobile units on the school grounds, but the elementary school’s leadership is working to […]
›