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The meeting took place in Provo March 16, but KSL suspects many communities throughout the state could benefit from similar candid discussions about racism surfacing in the public school system.
In the Provo meeting, concerned parents focused on their kids. A recent rash of racial slurs aimed primarily at student athletes brought the issue to a head. Little was done by school officials, said some of the concerned parents, when the racial epithets were hurled by opposing players at African-American, bi-racial and Hispanic students.
It is far too easy to dismiss such incidents as relatively innocuous displays of competitiveness in the heat of battle, not comprehending what it means to be on the receiving end hateful slurs.
"So much of this is so inappropriate and our kids are not being protected." (Tamu Smith, Parent)
In KSL's view, it's good to get such feelings out on the table - for those with concerns to talk it out. Similarly it was good to hear Provo School District administrators pledge to nip the problem in the bud.
As we suggested, other school districts in Utah would benefit from similar frank discussions about what may be going on in their communities. There's simply no place for racism in Utah's schools.
