A Georgia elementary school is facing backlash after a teacher put up “For Whites Only” and “For Colored Only” signs around campus as part of a history lesson on segregation.
The signs were put up over water fountains and inside the cafeteria, per WSB-TV.
The incident reportedly took place on April 15, when a teacher at Honey Creek Elementary School in Rockdale County, GA, put up segregation-era signs during a lesson about Ruby Bridges, the first Black child to integrate an all-white school in the American South in 1960.
Several parents at the school expressed outrage upon learning the news, according to ABC affiliate WSB.
Nikisha, a mom of two, told reporters that her family was “disgusted” after her children came home and described seeing the signs at school.
“I thought it was like racist, and I thought nobody should feel that way,” Nikisha’s son Kingston, 10, a 5th grader, said. “I don’t think anyone should feel like they shouldn’t belong in certain areas because of their skin color.”
“My son was over a water fountain drinking, and there was a ‘for colored only’ sign above and he was made fun of by the other children. To me that’s not a history lesson,” another said.
A third concerned parent, who asked to remain unnamed, told WSB that there are “far better ways to teach these lessons without inflicting trauma on students.”
An investigation was launched by the school after parents expressed concerns. In a schoolwide letter, the principal explained:
“You may have heard that we, along with our district human resources department, have been investigating an incident reported to us that involved a social studies activity based on a historical figure in American history that was not approved,” the letter read.
“Upon learning of the activity, we communicated directly with the parents of students who may have been affected. In this instance, the teacher did not adhere to the approved resources or recommended lessons provided by the district.”
“While we do not believe there was any ill intent, the activity was not included in the teacher’s submitted lesson plan and was not approved by school administrators,” they added.
A Rockdale County Public School spokesperson confirmed that the incident was currently being investigated.
“This is being investigated through the district’s human resources department, and we have taken the appropriate action to address the reported information,” they said.
“The teacher did not have any discriminatory intent, and this was not a prank,” they added. “This activity did not align with district expectations, and we recognize that this may have been hurtful.”
The Georgia and Rockdale County NAACP weighed in on the controversy in a joint statement released on April 24.
“The Georgia NAACP and The Rockdale County NAACP are appalled and heartbroken by the deeply disturbing incident at a Rockdale County school, where a water fountain was defaced with a sign reading ‘White Only.’”
“This isn’t just an act of ignorance—it’s a chilling echo of our nation’s darkest chapters. It is a stark reminder that the legacy of segregation is not history for many—it is still a lived reality,” their statement read, according to FOX5.
“Let us say this with absolute clarity: Racism has no place in our schools, in our communities, or in our country. This was not a prank. This was an act of racial hostility that reopens wounds still felt by generations of Americans who have fought, and continue to fight, for equality and dignity,” they added.
Both organizations called on the school district to move “move swiftly and decisively” and not only hold those involved accountable but also “implement district-wide anti-racism education, cultural competency training for staff and students.”
“This is not just about one school,” they said. “This is about who we are as a society, and what we choose to tolerate. We will not be silent.”
