Racial Harassment at Avon High School

(Avon, OH) The NAACP is investigating complaints of racial harassment at predominantly-white Avon High School.

Juanita Rouse said her son, Adrian, 18, who is biracial, has been the subject of racially tinged comments since moving to the high school last year.

Some students suggested that Adrian be designated as the senior "Most Likely To Go To Jail," Rouse said.

Principal Chad Coffman believes the problems have been corrected and Superintendent Jim Reitenbach said they were isolated occurrences. To help avoid similar incidents, the senior class designations for "Most Likely To Go To Jail" as well as "Most Likely To Have Babies" have been eliminated. And, of course, there will be more diversity and tolerance training.

Since the harassment doesn't seem to have progressed to anything more serious than name-calling, I suspect it's isolated. After all, kids will be kids. Nonetheless, it's prudent to emphasize to the student body that harassment will not be tolerated.

Another suspicion I have is that, if at all possible, the NAACP will make this situation out to be a much greater problem than it is.