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SYRACUSE - Feelings are mixed regarding the worksheet that started it all, but there is no disagreement about the Klan's appearance at Syracuse Elementary on Friday.
As Syracuse resident Bill Rogers succinctly put it, "I think they stink."
The Klan gathered at the school in support of Lera Reinholt, a fourth-grade teacher whose lesson on Indiana history included a worksheet on the inner workings of the KKK. Reinholt issued a statement saying she did not want the Klan's support, but 16 Klansmen showed up anyway.
Dave, a Dana employee, thinks the Klan was using the worksheet for its own benefit. "It's just an opportunity for the KKK to have an outing - they're always looking for a reason to demonstrate," he said.
"If they're trying to show what they're all about, they're doing an injustice by rallying at an elementary school."
A lot of parents decided to pull their children from class on Friday. One father who had lunch with his daughter said of the 23 students in her class, 15 were present. And about one-third of students normally in the cafeteria were not there, he said.
Michelle Maisonneuve took both of her daughters out of school. "I didn't want them to be here. I didn't know what was going to go on," she said. "They were trying to say it's a normal day at school, but that's a bunch of crap."
She said eight were missing from her daughter's class and there was "stuff all over the windows" so the kids couldn't see out.
"It was stupid of the Klan to come because the teacher said she didn't want their support," said Jason, a Wawasee High School student.
"They should have held (the rally) someplace else - anywhere in Syracuse but the elementary," said R.C., another Dana worker. "Elementary kids are too young to learn hate so fast."
Barry Williams, also from Dana, agreed. "There is no appropriate place for that," he said. "I don't think they should be rallying at a place where I pay my tax dollars."
Some, including Williams, believe Reinholt should leave the school system. "I think they should get rid of that teacher for her insensitivity. She should have realized something like this would happen," he said.
"They should terminate her," said Mitzie, a parent. "I think she put all the kids in jeopardy."
"Even if she did make an error in judgment, look at what it's done to this town - all the media, the Klan; we don't need those people here," said Maisonneuve.
But Reinholt, who has been with the corporation about 27 years, has many supporters, including Delores Shively of Syracuse.
Shively said she was a student of Reinholt's in 1969 and her daughter was in her class last year and took the same quiz. She said she didn't have a problem with the quiz because the lesson was about racism. "I would rather my child learn about it from (Reinholt) than from a KKK member or a skinhead," she said.
She said she has a problem with the students being locked in their school like prisoners as a result of the media blowing everything out of proportion. She doesn't think the Klan would have come if not for the media involvement.
Neal, another WHS student, also believes things were blown out of proportion. "It wasn't that serious. It was extra credit - they weren't forced to do nothing," he said.
"She didn't do anything against the law," agreed Jason. "She was told to destroy the paper and she did, so I don't think anything should happen to her."
