Letter to the Editor: Board of Education 'Wiggled Its Way' Out of Naming New Middle School for Prominent Black Educator

Dear Editor,

Local residents are outraged after the Barrow County Board of Education "flip flopped" on naming the new school after a long time prominent African American Educator, Professor L. D. Sims.

Professor Sims was educated at UGA, taught and Principled at the segregated Glenwood High in Barrow County, and he also served for many years on the Barrow County Board of Education.

According to the President of the Glenwood Alumni Association, Johnnie Lay Burkes, the Barrow Board of Education had agreed to name the next school after something of Black Heritage, 12 years ago when the Board chose the name of the last new school.

Mrs. Lay Burkes said to the Board at the last school board meeting: "you didn't have a problem naming the other schools in our community after"(prominent white men) "Russell, Haymond Morris, Kennedy, or even Apalachee" (after Indian Heritage).

Why is it STILL that the procedures mysteriously change is when it is time to honor some of the many uncounted contributions made to our society by African Americans?  

The correct decision could have been a great teachable stride in the right direction since Glenwood lost it's school name after the schools were integrated.

The worst part about the entire ordeal is the cowardly way our school Board wiggled its way out of acknowledging this historic African American Educator by using our children as scapegoats.

The Barrow Board said that they allowed the 5th graders to decide on the name of the new school.  

No reasonable adult would expect 11 year old kids to know about Professor Sims and the sacrifices he and his widow (also a retired longtime Barrow County Educator) Mrs. Mary Ford Sims made to educate thousands of children from every racial background. 

Anyway, the school will be named Bear Creek Middle School. It is being named after a reservoir that is not even in Barrow County!

It is a darn shame that in 2013, the Barrow County School Board would rather name a school after a Bear than a Black Man.

There will be a meeting to discuss the Barrow Boards unique choice for decision making when considering to preserve and acknowledge the contributions to our entire society by African Americans.

The meeting will be at White Oak Springs Baptists Church in Winder GA, on Thursday April 4 at 6:PM.  

Feel free to contact me via email or 770-725-9191. 

Thank You,
Barnard Sims
Community Activist

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