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SUBSCRIBER EDITORIAL
Having sat
through two very
lengthy B.O.E. meet
ings and receiving
numerous phone
calls, both negative
and positive, I felt
compelled to express to this community
my view, as a member of the B.O.E. on
the issue of preserving B-H-L Middle
School. I feel the issue should have been
addressed separately from the building of
the two middle schools and carefully in
cluded more input from all sectors of the
community. Nevertheless, that is water
under the dam at this point, but it ap
pears the unsettling concern is the preser
vation of the historically Black school,
Burney-Harris-Lyons.
First, let us go back when history was
first being recorded. In the book of
Deuteronomy 4:9 & 10 verses, in the Bi
ble it says: “Only be careful and watch
yourselves closely so that you do not
forget the things your eyes have seen or
let them slip from your heart, as long as
you live, teach them to your children and
their children after them.’’ I feel local
author, advocate, supporter of public
education and attorney, Michael Thur
mond, best described the preservation of
history by a paradoxial example of the ac
count in Deuteronomy and best describes
how history is truly preserved by way of
living instructions on a day to day basis.
He echoed how, he, personally visited
classrooms, which included both black
and white children. By simply asking the
question: “who was Mrs. Burney and Dr.
Harris?’’Not one child could give the
historical significance of who they were,
which concurs with my belief on how
history is truly preserved. If in fact, those
children were preserving history by atten
ding that B-H-L building, they would
have responded knowledgeably about
these two historical people. It proves
history is not retained in a building, book
or symbol, but it is retained in the hearts
of everyone who has been placed in the
authority to teach, be it parent, teacher,
pastor, grandparent, big brother or sister.
Secondly, I hope my vote simply rein
forced the very reason why I am there on
the board of education. Hopefully, to
make sure all 10,000 plus children in this
community don’t have to go to school in
the inferiorly built schools as I did - yes,
I was once a part of segregated public
schools here in Athens and I experienc
ed the cold winters and hot summers and
the inadequately built class rooms. I
desire better for my children and every
child today — they deserve it.
Lastly, I would like to challenge this
Athens-Clarke Community to get involv
ed in this educational system on a day to
day basis. Not just when you are insulted
or your pride is questioned, but because
you want your child to have the best
educational opportunities they can by
providing a positive atmosphere of love,
support and encouragement. But most of
all by taking each moment you can and
teach your child the self worth and digni
ty of all races and cultures — That’s how
we truly preserve history.
Joan Jewell-Barnett
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ZEBRA VOL. 1 ISSUE 5