If the Klan robes are revealing our sordid history, what’s the problem with historical reenactment?
Updated at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday with comments from the Anti-Defamation League.
Updated at 1:29 p.m. Tuesday with news on civil rights meeting today.
Without knowing the exact context of the school assignment, it is hard for me to get worked up over the four Lumpkin County students wearing Klan costumes. If the purpose of the class assignment was to show how cowardly, hateful and pathetic the Klan was, then I have no objections to the historic reenactment. I want students to see what guises hate has taken historically so they can recognize it today.
I would have asked the principal beforehand and likely sent a note home to parents, but all that may have happened in this case. It is not surprising that the sight of students in white robes would be startling, but I would want to see the finished product and whether it contributed to students learning about this dreadful part of American history.
A history teacher in Dahlonega was placed on administrative leave Monday after she let four students wear Ku Klux Klan outfits in a historical reenactment. Catherine Ariemma, a five-year veteran with the Lumpkin County school system, teaches an advanced placement history class at Lumpkin County High.
Her students were filming reenactments of various historical periods last week, and four donned Klan outfits, superintendent Dewey Moye told the AJC.
Students from other classrooms saw them as they walked through a hallway while wearing the costumes to an outdoor shoot, he said, adding that the parents of an African-American child later complained about it.
She said she continues to stand behind the video project and the lesson it was to convey to her students.
“This project was about racism in U.S. history,” Ariemma said. “Not just racism against African Americans, but racism as a whole.”
She said including the Ku Klux Klan was an essential piece.
“You cannot discuss racism without discussing the Klan,” she said. “To do so would be to condone their actions.”
She admitted that she may have made a mistake by letting the students film the Klan reenactment on campus.
“I feel terrible that I have students who feel threatened because of something from my class,” Ariemma told the AJC. “In hindsight, I wouldn’t have had them film that part at school.”
Ariemma is an award-winning teaching. Last year, the Georgia Senate passed a resolution lauding her “dedication to her students and her profession” after she was honored as Lumpkin County High School’s 2009 STAR Teacher. The Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program is sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and recognizes teaching excellence.
Moye said Ariemma has never been reprimanded for missteps and that she has always been an “outstanding” teacher. But he said he could not ignore this incident.
She could lose her job over it.
The Anti-Defamation League weighed in Tuesday with this statement:
The Anti-Defamation League, today said that Lumpkin County School Administrators acted appropriately in ordering administrative leave for a teacher who allowed students to parade in Ku Klux Klan costumes in the school. The teacher, Catherine Ariemma, acknowledges now that it was a mistake to allow her students to walk through school in the Klan attire. “But,” said ADL Southeast Regional Director Bill Nigut, “unfortunately she should have known better than to allow it.”
“Some students tell us they were offended, others say they were frightened when confronted with fellow students dressed in Klan garb, one of the most toxic symbols of racism and religious bigotry in American history.” After a conversation with Lumpkin County Superintendent, Dewey Moye, Nigut said he was pleased that school officials recognize the seriousness of the incident. “We understand the teacher involved has had a stellar career but the school had no choice but to condemn her decision in this matter.”
And now there is a release about a meeting between Lumpkin school officials and civil rights activists Tuesday afternoon:
Civil and human rights leader Rev. Markel Hutchins has called a meeting today at 4:00 pm with Lumpkin County Schools Superintendent Dewey Moye, Sheriff Stacy Jarrard, County Commission Chairman Dr. John Radar, Dahlonega Mayor Gary McCollough and other officials to discuss the recent high-profile, racially tense incident of students wearing KKK attire at Lumpkin County High School in Dahlonega, a small city in North Georgia. The leaders will meet at the Lumpkin County School System and will emerge at approximately 5:00 pm to address the media.
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361 comments Add your comment
Smart Yankee
May 25th, 2010
12:48 pm
It just figures, people were “offended”, by the history class. Get over it morons. By ignoring something, doesn’t mean that it has not happened. The Lumkin Bumpkins, were only trying to make a class lession more interesting. Apparently, it has worked. Hopefully, the teacher can keep her job, or move out of the “special ed” school, she now teaches at. Did I “offend” anyone? I hope so.
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
12:48 pm
Ezra… should the teacher have put on a “play” showing the Crusades? How about the Inquisition? I guess THOSE “christians” didn’t kill any muslims or jews…right?
How about we put on a play that shows “witches” being burned by “christians”… because to be honest… I’m curious here… how many people have been “murdered” because of the christian cult? Does one cult WIN over another based upon “how many they murdered”??? Seems to me that christianity is right up there with murdering other “citizens”…all in the name of YOUR religion.
jules
May 25th, 2010
12:49 pm
There is also that DUMBASS teacher in Cobb that wants to teach by rap music!
jules
May 25th, 2010
12:51 pm
PBM the only way we are going to get this utopia that you want is to have ignorant victims that did not have this happen to lose the poor me card…
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
12:52 pm
Proud…do you believe in Adam and Eve being the ones that “started” humanity? That THEY were created by YOUR god (as opposed to all other human created gods)? If so…how did all of these other races start to begin with anyway? Of COURSE “evolution” can NOT be part of your answer…. (because species NEVER “CHANGE” over time)….
New School
May 25th, 2010
12:53 pm
Sorry Jules, I’m afraid that ain’t gonna happen. I hear you get 20 poor me cards in every deck of race cards. :->
Uhm
May 25th, 2010
12:54 pm
New School, I would break them all up among 5 classes and give everyone the same opportunity to learn the same things. That’s called equality. That way the 30 “superior” kids will learn the same things that the other 120 kids are learning and not be subjected to foolish antics like this teacher in Dahlonega. Make sense now?
jules
May 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
NS yea you do and I am just so sick of it I wanna puke… it does no good. its so much better to be a survivor to be a victim… and here is the kicker “THOSE” are the ones that feel entitled…. (them saying) My great granny was a slave so I am going to hate the rest of the white community for the rest of my life.. it does not matter if someone of that color helped me or not.. I am still going to be a damn child and hate them
Uhm
May 25th, 2010
12:56 pm
And also, if these “superior” kids are so bright, if they are learning alongside the “lesser” kids then maybe they can help them and everyone can have the same opportunity to be good students. Wouldn’t that be great? Why segregate?
ATL
May 25th, 2010
12:58 pm
I’m sorry I’m Black, and yes kkk is history and also today. Slavery is history too, we all have taken history in school or read about it. We as black people take things to far sometimes and then it get out of hand. Give this teacher a chance why don’t some of you BLACK PARENTS SIT IN ON HER CLASS WHILE SHE’S TEACHING AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN AND WILL LEARN.
Those students need that teacher, I belive shes a good teacher. We as blacks need to be more EDUCATED.
A
May 25th, 2010
12:58 pm
God has killed exactly 33,041,220. And is real Old Testament.
Death by Christians is too big to add up in the time I’ve got.
Go to: http://exchristian.net/exchristian/2002/10/how-many-people-have-been-killed-by.php
No totals but worth the read.
Really last post.
jules
May 25th, 2010
12:59 pm
UHM not ever one is the same.. get the heck over it.. some are meant to be presidents, some are suppose to be CEO, some are suppose to be the ones that pick up the trash…..
Where YOU in that CLASS, Are you that teacher, do you know exactly what was in her heart when she was trying to teach this class?
New School
May 25th, 2010
12:59 pm
Uhm, no sense at all. Your method is called “the lowest common denominator”.
They essentially learn the same “things” but your method really holds back the brighter students. Wait, are you joking with me? No way can you not understand this.
jules
May 25th, 2010
12:59 pm
(((A)))
Uhm
May 25th, 2010
1:02 pm
No, I was not in that class. I am apparently not “superior” enough to be admitted to that part of my taxpayer funded public school system. However, it doesn’t matter what the teacher had in her heart when she was trying to teach. What matters is what she taught, and it is not something that I believe should be a part of public schools. What was posted earlier was that what she was doing was okay by “AP Class” standards, even though it wasn’t based on Georgia Public School standards. This is why I would like to remove “AP Classes” from the public schools. Go to a segregated private school if you want that, and have mommy and daddy pony up the tuition.
What the kids learned was that it’s okay to be racist if your teacher says so. That might not have been what the teacher had in her heart, but that was the result. That’s not the lesson I want taught with my money, and I’m sad to hear that you think it is. I weep, again, for our future.
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:04 pm
Jesus Uhm, lets see why that wont work.. the smarter kids get bored and the slower kids get frustrated…..
Uhm
May 25th, 2010
1:04 pm
New School, if the “superior” students think they are too good for the schools my money is paying for, then I have absolutely zero problem with their mommy and daddy ponying up the cash for them to go to a segregated school geared towards them. No way you can not understand this.
New School
May 25th, 2010
1:06 pm
Uhm, you’re losing me. Being racist is now determined by the costume you might put on for a school class function? Wow, I thought it might be more of how you act, talk, think and treat people.
Saul Good
May 25th, 2010
1:06 pm
Proud…thanks for your post… I appreciate the effort. History has shown us that there is (and will always be division) among races and nationalities…. but ONLY when there are those that do NOT see another “human”… they see skin color. We are ALL humans. Not ONE of us of ANY color is “better” compared to another… We can NOT change the color of our skin…but we CAN change the “brainwashing” of children that takes place because of religion.
Just imagine… if just a moment…that NO children born from today on were told ANYTHING of the “cults” and “religions” of the world… can you argue that it would NOT bring more peace in the world? If those being born right now in Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, United States, France, Russia, etc…. were NEVER taught a religion…that this world MIGHT just be a bit more peaceful?
New School
May 25th, 2010
1:07 pm
Uhm, you were never in an AP class, were you?
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:10 pm
Good Lord Uhm you are the one that needs to home school your child that way they can be just as narrow minded as you are… I weep for our future on people like you…. Shit happens and we need to learn about it and from it… You cant take parts of the history and not the other.. that is just stupid….
I have more of an issue with girls taking nude pics of them selves and the principle gets fired over looking at her phone than I do my black child to learn about the KKK
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:11 pm
NS I doubt she was an sounds very bitter over it….
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:12 pm
you are the one that needs to home school your child that way they can be just as narrow minded as you are… I weep for our future on people like you…. Shit happens and we need to learn about it and from it… You cant take parts of the history and not the other.. that is just stupid….
I have more of an issue with girls taking nude pics of them selves and the principle gets fired over looking at her phone than I do my black child to learn about the KKK
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
If she gets fired… she needs to sue the crap out of the system just like the one that was wrongly accused of molesting those girls
Son of an Educator
May 25th, 2010
1:13 pm
Proud (or is it pathetic) Black Man, Please do not use a word (patronize) unless you understand its meaning. But I guess your comment about me is in line with your ignorance about the Tea Party movement (I am notwhere close to a tea party member). The fact that you continue to insert your disdain for the Tea Party, and have judged the Tea Party to be racists, refects your ignorance – or whatever the political version or “racism” is – that is to say, you view the tea party movement as politically inferior to your views, and you do so based on your own ignorance, as opposed to information/fact. Perhaps you would do well to work on your self-esteem issues. If you take “pride” in being a victim, or pride in the suffering of your ancestors, yeah, then I guess the name suits you.
Uhm
May 25th, 2010
1:14 pm
Yes, one of the ways of being racist is by wearing insensitive clothing. If I wear a t-shirt that says F the N’s, then I’m being racist. You’re saying that if I wear that t-shirt at the request of my teacher in a “superior” class, then it’s okay? Do you not really see the all kinds of wrong in that statement?
And no, I am proud to say I went to a school that did not segregate students based on their superiority. I’m sure that if they did, I would not have gotten as good of an education as I did, because they would have kept the good stuff for the “superior” kids. I just wish kids today had the same opportunities to learn that I had.
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:17 pm
Uhm lose the superior word..
Uhm
May 25th, 2010
1:19 pm
But that’s your term, jules!
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:20 pm
LOL NO its not… you are acting like a victim and its not a good color on you
New School
May 25th, 2010
1:21 pm
Uhm, you are too funny!
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:22 pm
Who was it that told her to put on her big girl panties…. aint that the truth….. life is not rainbows and sunshine… get over it
Uhm
May 25th, 2010
1:29 pm
Well I am glad to see that the debate is over considering that the only things that can be said are the use of the (correct) terms I used and about what kind of underwear I have on. I wish no ill will upon either of you, jules or New School. We just all have different opinions, and I just happen to have the right one. Take care!
ron
May 25th, 2010
1:31 pm
We are wearing out the word racist. When one has no way of carrying on the conversation they yell racist. It will lose its meaning if we keep using it to end each conversation.
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:31 pm
Uhm you are delusional
H
May 25th, 2010
1:32 pm
People, people, calm down…I have the solution that will eliminate racism in this country and keep people from being so “sensitive” about their race…so here is what I propose, each year we will have a “Racial Olympics”…a governing board committee, which consists of representatives of all races in the US, will decide which events will be appropriate for the 2 week competition… events may include everything from sports to solving math problems…people can choose to pull for their own race or another race (doesn’t matter, it’s America!). At stake will be that losing race has to “give up” something (for a year) that the winning race chooses…example: whites defeat blacks = No black History celebrations in public schools, blacks defeat whites = whites are not allowed to play golf for a year…etc. What do y’all think? It’s still in the developmental stages but I think it could work? It could also help stimulate the economy!
New School
May 25th, 2010
1:32 pm
Keep this mess up and the next thing you know there will be no more Civil War reinactments because those Rebel uniforms are offensive. Everyone knows every Rebel soldier was all for slavery and every northern soldier had a pure heart.
Wait, weren’t there slaves in the north too? I should keep quite about that – don’t want to clutter up my generalizations with facts.
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:35 pm
H! hey tiger woods plays golf so will it only be white people to lose playing? If mexicans lose does that mean no tacos for a year and then what about red necks.. You and I both know that is not on race there at all
New School
May 25th, 2010
1:35 pm
Yes, Uhm, you have dazzled and thoroughly defeated us with your brilliance.
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:37 pm
LOL NS
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:38 pm
New School there were also WHITE slaves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
H
May 25th, 2010
1:39 pm
Jules, there are limitless possibilities here… red necks could possible lose NASCAR for a year…Mexicans would not be allowed to purchase burritos from the QT in groups of 3 or more, etc…
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:41 pm
Who will lose the Ga peaches and watermelon or fried chicken!
New School
May 25th, 2010
1:42 pm
H, I’m a redneck and I need my people to be left out of these olympics. The stakes are just too high.
H
May 25th, 2010
1:43 pm
Again, that would be left up to the governing committee to decide before each event.
jules
May 25th, 2010
1:44 pm
H most feared words are … I am from the goverment and Im here to help you
H
May 25th, 2010
1:46 pm
New School, you will be able to vote on your representative so I suggest finding someone who shares your peoples’ best interest at heart. Foxworthy would be a good Rep!
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
May 25th, 2010
1:48 pm
EZRA AND ANGELA SOUND LIKE THE CLAN WIFES.I THOUGHT THIS BLOG WAS FOR ALL COMMENTS,BLACK AND WHITE.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
May 25th, 2010
1:57 pm
Son of educatur,your simple minded and insecure to argue behind a key board to someone you will never know or never see.
Ms Concern:
May 25th, 2010
1:58 pm
@Pi$$onaDAWg: ARE YOU A KLANSMEN? because you are a real ignorant bufoon. This teacher made a really bad choice, in addition to the students parents who allowed their children to take part in this. But you are only comfortable in what you know and have been taught. She could have shown a movie on the KKK, there are many documentries out there about it.She violated School policys and rules, she didn’t notify or consult the principal Because she knew they would have said no to paradeing the KLAN Uniforms in or outside of the school. If this was a class project, then why were the students paradeing through the cafeteria when the students were at lunch? (She has a schedule). She knew what she was doing, She may be a good teacher to some, but was this a supposedly innocent. THERE IS NOTHING INNOCENT ABOUT THE KKK AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR IN AMERICA, THEN AND NOW. The Black Panther Party, The Civil Rights Movement. are not hate organizations. AS FAR AS THE YOUNG BLACKS KILLING EACH OTHER AND THE DRUGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS CALIFORNIA, I SEE YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR HISTORY, DRUGS WERE PLANTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES, YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMMORROW. WE ARE NOT THE DISTRIBUTORS. I SEE YOU KNOW SOME OF THE SLANG, WHAT PART DO YOU PLAY.
jules
May 25th, 2010
2:01 pm
Elvis if this is the case then the black history month should be stopped, the black colleges need to be closed and the list goes on…… this is just so everyone can be together and if one cant be taught the other one cant either..