Controversy Growing Around Segregation Photos Shown to Kindergarten Class

Courtney Francisco,

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RICHFIELD, NC — Controversy is growing around a kindergarten school assignment at Richfield Elementary. It centers around four photos showing segregation.Β 

The assignment asks children to look at people in the photos and decide how they feel: happy, angry, sad, or lonely. One shows a white child holding a sign that says “No Coloreds”. Another shows a man holding up a sign that says “Whites Only.”
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Is it too soon for Kindergartners? Β The Richfield School guidance counselor didn’t think so.Β 
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“Kindergarten is a little too young,” said Doug Buckwell. “Give them a chance to get in there and feel it out.”
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Buckwell’s little girl is five. Then, there’s Clara Cole. She teaches Pre-K. When she was her students’ ages, it wasn’t just a photo. Segregation was reality.
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“Children need to be taught a lot of things earlier,” said Cole. “Maybe they would realize or comprehend what’s going on in our society.”
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Richfield Elementary parents want to know the purpose of the pictures.
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One viewer emailed WCCB Charlotte saying, ” I AM DISGUSTED that CHILDREN THE AGE OF SIX are being exposed to such degrading material. Our generation has evolved and moved past the prejudices of our elders…Or at least I had HOPED WE HAD…Can you imagine how the children can get negative influence being exposed to these?”
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Turns out, the word of the month was “Courage”, and the lesson was centered around Ruby Bridges, the first black Kindergartner at a once all white school in New Orleans in 1960.
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“This one’s pretty smart,” said Buckwell pointing at his little girl. “So, she could probably understand it.. I think it’s still a little too young, should be something parents at home probably should talk about.”Β 
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Some wonder if it doesn’t taint children who never saw differences in color.
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“I think it’s needed, maybe if they were a little older, maybe first or second or third grade,” said Cole.Β 
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The school district says if a parent has a complaint about the lesson, they can send a written request for reconsideration of instructional materials. The procedures for review will be followed as outlined in School Board Policy #3190.
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At this time, the principal has not received such a request.