Black Mountain, NC - SLRC Chairman H.K. Edgerton is traveling to Moulton, Al to address the Lawrence County Board of Education this evening at their 7 PM meeting regarding their ongoing ban of Confederate symbols in the Lawrence County, Alabama schools.

Edgerton is the Chairman of the Board of Advisors of the Southern Legal
Resource Center, and a life member of the NAACP. Edgerton is the immediate past President of the Asheville, NC branch of the NAACP, he also considers himself a Confederate Southern American.

Edgerton volunteered to provide a tolerance seminar for the Lawrence County Schools entitled "teaching Y'all Tolerance," as part of a 4 page proposal sent to the Board of Education last November, which if implemented would return Confederate symbols to Lawrence County Schools. THe SLRC cooperated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans in drafting and preparing the proposal. The text of the proposal is printed below this release.
 

NORTHWEST BRIGADE
ALABAMA DIVISION
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS

November12, 2001

Mr. Dexter Rutherford
Superintendent
Lawrence County School System
14131 Market Street
Moulton, AL 35650

Re: Confederate Symbols in Lawrence County Schools

Dear Mr. Rutherford:

It was a pleasure meeting with you last week in your office and at the meeting of the Lawrence County Board of Education. As we stated, it is the position of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to cooperate and assist the public schools in their mission of educating the next generation of Alabama citizens.  Part of that position demands that we support the Constitutional and civil rights of all Lawrence County students when we take the position that the respectful use of the Confederate flag on clothing is protected by the United States and Alabama Constitutions and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Because the problem seems to lie in the lack of knowledge regarding Confederate symbols among a small minority of Lawrence County students and administrators, the Sons of Confederate Veterans want to provide a comfort level for the Lawrence County schools that will allow them to return Confederate symbols to their rightful place in a school setting.

Pursuant to our promise to you and the Board of Education, the Alabama Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Southern Legal Resource Center, and Yow & Associates have thoroughly discussed this matter and in return for restoring respectful use of the Confederate flag to the Lawrence County schools, we make the following proposal:

1. Lawrence County in the War Between the States

     With the help of student members in the Moulton SCV Camp, the Alabama Division will prepare and install an exhibit made up of letters, photographs and maps of the War in Lawrence County, underscoring the incredible
hardships and tragedies suffered by all the citizens of Lawrence County during a very turbulent period.

2. Teaching y’all tolerance

      A one-hour to one-day seminar conducted by Mr. H. K. Edgerton of the Southern Legal Resource Center.  Mr. Edgerton is chairman of the Board of Advisors of the SLRC and is a past president of the Asheville. North Carolina, NAACP. The program is based on The Consideration of Others Program in use by the United States Army.  Students will participate in groups of 10 to 20 with an adult team leader in a seminar designed to foster self-respect and respect for the beliefs and values of others and how those beliefs or values are different from or the same as other seminar members.  Seminar members will discuss the Bill of Rights and how those rights are affected by the school environment.  Respect for other beliefs, customs and values will be stressed as necessary to preserve a learning environment in a diverse school system.  Students completing the seminar will sign a pledge to respect the beliefs of others.  Part of the program might include a consideration of others skit performed before a school assembly.  Several programs on the First Amendment in school are available from the Freedom Forum of Arlington, Virginia.  For those students who complete the program and sign the pledge, the school would allow them to inoffensively wear symbols such as the Confederate Flag or Malcolm X.  Violation of the terms of the pledge cancels the student’s right to wear their symbol.  This program was implemented by an assistant principal at Woodford High School in Woodford, Kentucky.  The program was successful until her retirement and the program was discontinued.

3. Essay Contest

Offered by the Alabama Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans -- $100.00 on Lawrence County in the War Between the States.  Three prizes available: one each of $100.00 for high school, middle school and primary school.

4. Essay Contest

Offered by the Southern Legal Resource Center -- $100.00 on Free Speech and Responsibility in a School Setting.  Two prizes available: one each of $100.00 for high school and middle school.

5. Essay Contest

Offered by Charles Yow, Sr., Yow & Associates Law Firm -- $100.00 on Native Americans Who Serve the Confederacy.  Three prizes available: one each of $100.00 for high school, middle school and primary school.

6. Library Books

Books on Southern and Confederate History, Civil and Constitutional Rights, and Native American topics will be donated for use in the Lawrence County School System.

7. Reenactment encampment

To be organized by local reenactors under the supervision of the Alabama Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans. War Between the States military encampment utilizing Union and Confederate soldiers, with Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry arms represented. 1860’s civilians may also participate.  Where possible, reenactment soldiers will demonstrate camp life, drill, and use of black powder weapons, as well as first person interpretation on soldier life in the 1860’s. Students will learn 19th Century drill (good for JROTC).

8. Field trip

The sky is the limit; will have a War Between the States
theme.

9. Music program

Will introduce students to Alabama music of the 1840’s, 50’s, and 60’s as performed on original instruments.  This could include fifes and drums and a Confederate Military Brass Band concert.  Coordinated with the musical program will be a seminar on 19th Century dance, social graces, and deportment.  The final exam will be a 19th Century Ball at the end of the school year.

10. History and Controversy of the Confederate Battle Flag

Seminar discussing the history of the Confederate flag, its true symbolism and its place in modern life.  This can include a discussion of the religious aspects of Confederate symbolism where appropriate.

11. Women’s seminar

Will present the woman’s world of mid-19th Century Alabama to include a fashion show of the 19th Century fashion to be presented by student models.

12. Genealogy

Presented by the Alabama Division Sons of Confederate Veterans. Seminar participants will learn the rudiments of genealogy research and will learn by researching their own family.

13. Church Service

A 19th Century Church Service will be offered off-campus for interested students.

14. The Confederate experience in Alabama

Seminar sponsored by the Alabama Division, SCV, will cover all aspects of the Alabama experience between 1860 and 1865. Seminar will include civilian, military, men, women, free and slave experience.  Mr. H. K. Edgerton and Mr. Nelson Winbush of Florida will be available to discuss the African-American experience in the War, especially those blacks, free and slave, who loyally served the Confederacy.

The attached Guide to Confederate Issues in North Carolina will be used as text for this seminar.  The Guide is now being prepared with an Alabama perspective.

As you can see from the many programs that can be offered to students of Lawrence County, coordination with school officials and community members will be essential.  Obviously all the programs cannot be offered at the same time.

After your Board has had a chance to digest this information, please call at your earliest opportunity so we can choose the appropriate next step.

The Alabama Division, the Southern Legal Resource Center, and Yow & Associates look forward to working with the Lawrence County School System to implement this exciting program for Lawrence County students.

Sincerely,

Steve Turner
Northwest Brigade Commander
Sons of Confederate Veterans

CC: Avery Hudson
Kirk D. Lyons, Esq.
Charles Yow, Sr., Esq.
Thomas McAlpine, Esq.
Larry Becraft, Esq.

The SLRC is non-profit, tax exempt, South Carolina public law firm that specializes in cases involving Southern Heritage violations.