It could be one of those he-said, she-said stories or something more ridiculous, but the Riverview Gardens School District has the makings of a full-blown controversy on its hands.
It started with a phone call to our newsroom at KMOX. A parent had heard from his daughter who heard from another student that the principal of the high school had nixed thoughts of holding graduation at the Family Arena in St. Charles, because he felt that, if things got out of hand, the police would not be kind to the black folk, and there could be police brutality.
The father is upset and shocked that a school official would say such things to students. He’s also worried that, if true, the message to these black students is: mistreatment awaits you in certain places, and don’t go where you aren’t welcome.
There are conflicting reports now as to who said what. District officials are checking it out, but they said they didn’t hear the conversation firsthand, so they can’t comment.
They did explain that the Family Arena was never selected in the first place and that the May graduation ceremonies have long been scheduled at Powell Symphony Hall. The district says they were concerned about crowd control in such a large venue and the ability of families to see and hear, but race had nothing to do with it.
What is wrong with this picture? Why would any adult in a position of authority make such comments to students?
But, wait a minute.
Aren’t there places you won’t go, places you won’t live? Don’t you give your children the same advice, even telling them to avoid certain types of people?
So, where did he go wrong?
A school official reportedly made the comments after getting advice from his staff. You know about the perception of St. Charles. Lots and lots of white people, not many black people. Translation: we aren’t welcome.
And some measure of that was confirmed by the Metrolink sales tax extension vote. Remember that one? While some voters didn’t want to approve the tax, others apparently didn’t want certain people taking the commuter train and infiltrating their community.
But aren’t there plenty of black people in St. Charles, living and working and loving it?
And if there is enough racial insensitivity and fear of police brutality to stop an entire school district from holding it’s commencement there, let’s hold some roundtable discussions with city leaders; let’s link arms and march into St. Charles with banners held high, chanting something that rhymes.
Or perhaps the school official in question needs to take a long, deep, cleansing breath and let go of his fear and prejudice instead of stunting the emotional and spiritual growth of young people.
Stay tuned to find out what happens next and what student leaders at Riverview Gardens have to say.
