KC-area school removed poster supporting Black Lives Matter. Is equality controversial?

A bulletin board at Bingham Middle School in Independence was set to welcome students with messages of inclusion, declaring, “You matter!” The letters “BLM” and the words “Bear Pride!” with a rainbow of colors were also featured along with the word “love.”

But before students arrived for in-person classes Aug. 24, administrators removed the poster. Apparently, telling students that they matter — and that Black Lives Matter — is verboten in the Independence School District.

A social media post celebrating the return to school that included a photo of the poster was also pulled down.

“Sprucing up the Halls @ Bingham Middle School - getting ready for Monday!!! #isdstrong @Bingham Bears,” the tweet said. A screenshot of the now-deleted post was sent to The Star Editorial Board.

School principal Brett Playter said the poster and the tweet were taken down because they violated district policy.The Independence school board prohibits teachers and staff from expressing views considered political, religious or controversial.

“This would apply to instruction regarding religion, politics, Trump, Biden, Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, MAGA, etc.,” Playter wrote in an email. “I reminded our staff about our board policy at the beginning of the school year as we are moving into election season.”

But saying that “Black Lives Matter” is not political — and it shouldn’t be controversial. Eradicating racism is a human rights issue, and should be an objective that we can all agree on.

Don’t we want every student to hear that message?

Addressing discrimination faced by students who identify as LGBTQ is equally important.

If supporting marginalized students is off-limits, Independence School District officials should rethink their policies

What does it tell those students when a message of inclusion is removed? Playter didn’t reply to that question.

Independence Superintendent Dale Herl, school board President Denise Fears, board Treasurer Matt Mallison and board member Blake Roberson all failed to respond to messages seeking comment.

Understandably, teachers and staff at Binghman were reluctant to speak out.

“Educators have long been at the forefront of the civil rights movement,” Mark Jones, spokesperson for the Missouri chapter of the National Educators Association, said. “The NEA has a long history of supporting LGBTQIA students.”

Expressing support for Black Americans’ right to equality isn’t partisan. Telling marginalized students that their well-being matters should be standard operating procedure.

The fact that Independence School District officials aren’t willing to say that is troubling. Hiding behind board policies is a cop-out.

All students deserve to know that they are respected and loved. And teachers and staff shouldn’t be muzzled when they let young students of color know that their lives matter.

This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "KC-area school removed poster supporting Black Lives Matter. Is equality controversial?."