Dozens of black parents want kids out of school ( enrollment of 1,456 students, about 1,200 are American Indian, while the majority of the rest are black)

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Posted on Thu, Nov. 07, 2002

Associated Press

PEMBROKE, N.C. - Parents of nearly 50 black students at Purnell Swett High School say they are planning to transfer their children from the school because of racial unrest.

There have been several racial incidents at the school this year, including fights between black and Lumbee Indian students. Last week, a letter circulated at the school that referred to blacks as "the enemy."

But some Robeson County school board members said pulling students out of the school would only contribute to the problem.

"I understand it is a safety issue, and every parent wants to do what's best for their child," chairman Mike Smith said. "But a mass exodus of one race is not good. We will have to learn, live and work together and try to work through these problems whether they are racial, social or whatever."

Maxton Mayor Lillie McKoy, who is serving as a spokeswoman for the black parents, said she expects more requests to transfer by the end of the week. A majority of the black students who attend Purnell Swett live in Maxton, which is a few miles west of the school.

"The schools have been instructed to deny these requests," McKoy said. "We may have to depend on the board of education. That's all right. We can go through the process."

School board policy allows transfers because of child-care needs, disciplinary or behavioral problems, curriculum offerings, handicap conditions or a change of address. The principal can approve a transfer if space is available at the new school.

After an Oct. 7 fight between black and Lumbee students at the school, about 100 American Indian students and adults held a protest at the school. The students contend that Lumbees got harsher punishment than blacks after the fight.

The school has an enrollment of 1,456 students, school secretary Querida Hunt said Thursday. About 1,200 are American Indian, while the majority of the rest are black, according to the school system.

School officials asked the N.C. Human Relations Commission for help in dealing with racial tensions at the school. A representative with the commission plans to establish a human relations council for a meeting in the next few weeks.

School board member Brenda Fairley said she is considering moving her son from the school, where he is a senior.

"All I know is if a child feels unsafe in any environment and wants to be transferred out, I have to support it," Fairley said. "I don't want to see anything happen to that child."

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2002


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