The Georgia NAACP and the Rockdale NAACP are following an investigation into Honey Creek elementary school after students reported seeing ‘whites only’ and ‘coloreds only’ signs above a water fountain and by the nurses office.
According to the Rockdale County Board of Education, the signs were put up as a part of a social studies lesson on the Civil Rights Era and the historical figure Ruby Bridges. The board has stated that the signs were not a part of the curriculum and the teacher acted without administration approval.
The district has said that while it may have been offensive, they don’t believe there was ill intent behind the incident.
Both the Georgia NAACP and the Rockdale NAACP have called upon the school district “to take swift and transparent action—not only to hold those involved accountable but to implement district-wide anti-racism education, [and] cultural competency training for staff and students…”
This incident has reignited conversations from three years ago on how to teach children what some consider ‘divisive’ concepts about racism.