Wilmington NC Schools: Don't Ban Author C. Edgerton for Exposing Discrimination

  • by: Susan V
  • recipient: New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Tim Markley

Wilmington, North Carolina has been graced with the talents of a famous American writer who’s taken time from his duties as Distinguished Professor of Creative writing at UNC Wilmington to volunteer as a tutor at his children’s elementary school.

Clyde Edgerton, inducted this year into NC’s Literary Hall of Fame, was also just last month banned from all public schools in New Hanover County - after he filed a complaint against his children's school for racial discrimination.

According to the Raleigh News & Observer, Edgerton’s complaint pointed to numbers showing 37 white, 6 Hispanic and 2 black students accepted into a popular Spanish immersion program, which the Wilmington Star News calculated to be 73% white students accepted from a population made up of only 44% white.

In his letter banning Edgerton from all district schools, Superintendent Tim Markley alleged Edgerton had obtained private school records illegally, but Edgerton told the press the accusation was not true.

Edgerton said he had tried to resolve the issue internally but got nowhere, and then it became public and embarrassing for the school. Even though Edgerton’s efforts have ultimately resulted in plans for an expanded program with a more equitable selection process, the ban remains in effect.

Markley is not only depriving Edgerton of the right to visit his own children at school but other Wilmington school children of a valuable asset - over what appears to be a childish display of pride by school administrators. Sign this petition to insist Markley drop this ridiculous ban on Clyde Edgerton’s presence on New Hanover school property.

To New Hanover School Superintendent Tim Markley: 


As a former NC teacher and author of a non-fiction book about the rise of Jim Crow and the years of senseless and cruel discrimination in NC, which just happens to have its roots in Wilmington, I am writing in support of Clyde Edgerton's efforts to expose discrimination in the selection process of the Spanish immersion program and to insist the absurd ban on his presence on New Hanover school property be removed.


[Your Comments]


As several news sources on ths story report, in the end, Edgerton's questioning of the fairness of he selection process for this special program has led to what appear to be some very positive results.


Wilmington's Star News Online says that "beginning with the 2016-17 school year, the program is moving to the Gregory School of Science, Mathematics and Technology and a lottery will be used to determine admissions,"  which will replace the previous "first-come, first-served" approach to getting into the program.


Edgerton's claim that the former approach has stacked the deck against minorities is supported by the fact that no black students at all were enrolled in that program during the 2014-15 school year.


It has taken courage and persistence to bring reform to this discriminatory practice, whether it was intended to be so or not, and for that Edgerton deserves applause not prohibition.


Therefore I, the undersigned insist this absurd ban on Edgerton's presence on New Hanover school property be removed.


Thanks for your time.


[Your Name]

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