CHS RACIAL ISSUES DRAW ANGRY STUDENTS AT BOARD MEETING

Racial concerns were front and center at the school board meeting Thursday night as many Columbia High School students, most of them students of color, spoke out about the recent racially offensive Instagram posting that many took as a sign of a bigger problem.

You may recall that the posting of two CHS students in dark facial scrubs -- which resembled old time blackface -- was put on Instagram with racially offensive comments earlier this month. 

The students, now sophomores, said the photo was actually a year old and apologized, claiming they did not mean to be offensive. Still, it drew concern from other students and administrators.

Several students spoke Thursday night and said the incident is only a small part of a racial problem they claim is at the high school daily.

See some of those comments below:




Superintendent John Ramos said the district "absolutely regrets these images and comments, at the same time we recognize this as a teachable moment." He later said, "we must remember that these are children and they should not be vilified."

Ramos also hinted that part of the problem is a national "conversation" that accepts such views, a veiled attempt to link it to Donald Trump's comments on immigrants and Muslims.

He said it, "plays to people's lower nature and gives tacid permission for people to say whatever they want to say no matter how offensive."

Board President Elizabeth Baker said "the testimony we've heard tonight underscores the challenges we all face in the community and as adults in terms of modeling what's right for children."

The board's student representative, Nina Kambili -- who drew attention for a Facebook post that was critical of the district -- added that she was "absolutely floored by the things people had to say" at the meeting.

She later added that at CHS "defacto segregation continues to go on."