Editorial: Burke High School – Quality Education Project

I did not attend Burke High School, but I am a Charlestonian and for many reason, the entire debate regarding the future of Burke High and Middle is extremely fascinating. Growing up in Charleston, I have slowly seen the changes over the past twenty years – at least since Hugo. Our city, which has always been beautiful, has become home base for many retirees and families deciding to return to the South. With the influx of new citizens, the development of downtown Charleston For those of you who have fought the good fight, tirelessly sat through the school board meetings, protested, signed petitions, etc, it looks like there is some good news after all.

Burke, the historically black high and middle schools received some great news at last night’s school board meeting. As an update from last night’s meeting and per the email sent from the Quality Education Project, here are some updates:

1) The School board rejected the resolution to re-name Burke Middle School – “Charleston Middle School” and the issue of naming the school has to go back to the “naming committee”

2) The School board passed the QEP resolution which asks the board to keep Burke as a traditional, non-charter school

Now, these 2 small victories are not guarantees, however it appeared to everyone who attends these meetings that there was already a plan in place to make various changes to Burke High and Middle Schools. There were various proposals and changes that many parents and constituents of Charleston County claimed they had no idea who had been implementing these changes and suggestions.

It appears that the school board has heard the concerns of the community and is working to resolve some of the concerns, but only because a small group of parents, alumni, and citizens have pressured them into understanding the effects of these changes.

Dr. Millicent Brown, who was one the first Black children to integrate SC schools, spoke at a recent school board meetings and summed up her concerns perfectly. She explained to the new Principal (after he stated he didn’t care what the name of Burke Middle School was, he simply cared about the future of the children). Dr. Brown explained that his statement drew some red flags. She expressed that black Charlestonians and African-Americans in general have had a long history of whites coming in and “removing” their history. The erasing of our culture has been an ongoing problem in this country and throughout our local communities, and the need for the “new downtown residents” of Charleston to simply move into the community and decide they want to change the name of this school is simply another example of the removal of African American culture and history.

Later, the Principal apologized, stating he didn’t mean it in ‘that way’. However, I believe that Dr. Brown’s point basically puts into perspective what the alumni and parents have been trying to explain to the Charleston County School district and D20.

Again, this was small victory for many parents, teachers and alumni of Burke, but they still have a long fight ahead. The downtown communities are filling with families who are moving to the city. These families come with large wallets and they are full of new ideas, especially because they have small children and they want their children to attend the schools in the community where they reside. These new citizens have every right as tax-paying residents of the city to demand the best for their children; they also have every right to demand changes. Let’s hope that long-standing Charleston residents and parents and our new residents can come to an agreement that is beneficial for all of the children of Burke High and Middle.