WS Chronicle

Support for Atkins and Principal

To The Editor:

I have just finished reading the Chronicle newspaper as I have been doing so since its inception. In fact, the former editor and founder invited a number of people to ascertain the feasibility of an African American newspaper. I supported him then and I have been a supporter since its existence. I am an advocate of the free press and free speech, but with caution. I believe in accuracy and truth as we know it. I did not observe under the leadership of Ernie Pitt and The Chronicle allowing any of his supporters or readers to write any story in which there was division in the two races. Nor was there division in wording, such as ‘Whitewashing’ as we observed in the June 16 Chronicle. 

I am a graduate of Atkins High School and proud of it!  The school was located on Cameron Avenue and by law it was separated by races. After Brown vs. The Board of Education in 1948, the Supreme Court outlawed separate schools for children and I hope it continues that way. I fully understand now why my Dad, long ago, voted for children to go to school together. Education is neither Black nor White, it certainly can be low performing – it happened with the Atkins Academic and Technology School. That is why it was necessary to change the course.  I will not discuss why it was low performing, I was not there. I know Mr. Childress was hired to bring about a new direction for the school. I believe this was done by the board and also the community. 

A number of us advised that there should be one principal at the school rather than three. I do know that Mr. Childress did not run children away nor push children out of Atkins High School – I do know that!  The community was concerned about why the African Americans were not going to Atkins School. Upon trying to find the answer, an African American counselor stated that the African American students did not choose to learn with the new rules being inaugurated. For example, they wanted to keep the cell phones in class, they did not want uniforms, they wanted to have more freedom with moving around in the school, etc., etc. That’s just part of it. 

Mr. Childress used every method that he could to recruit African American parents and students to the school to give them a reason why the school was being operated the way it was. He went to churches and schools in the African American communities to recruit the students. He gave reasons why he had to change the rules so that the kids could perform academically. I believe we should, as African American parents, impress upon our students that they must follow rules and regulations that will lead toward a positive outcome in the school system and that would lead them toward a diploma and degree. And, in fact, it will do just as Atkins High School is now by being an A-performing school rather than a D or F performing school.

Virginia K. Newell

Winston-Salem, N.C.

In-depth story applauded

To The Editor:

Kudos to Tevin Stinson for his article entitled “Whitewashing Atkins High School.” I have been a subscriber to The Chronicle for several months and this is the most honest and conversation-inducing article I have read so far. I’d like to see more of this kind of reporting done by the paper.  

Along with representing the African American community comes a responsibility to dig into injustices. What about more articles on the regentrification of minority housing complexes – not just a mention, but a real, in-depth account of the impact on people? What about articles on gun violence and how it is affecting the minority populations? What about the incarceration of minority men and racial profiling by the police?

I am a 72-year-old white woman who has done years of volunteer work with disenfranchised people. I want to know the real facts and not just superficial accounts. You may even want to consider a series that would address some of the issues I mentioned.  

Keep up the good work like you did on the Atkins article. This starts conversations and helps people realize the injustices suffered by so many. Let’s make our community a better place to live for all people.

Barbara Campbell

Lewisville, N.C.