After Inquiry, Principal Removes the Word ‘Creator’ from School Creed

The other day, I posted about Hope Elementary Charter School, a taxpayer-funded school in North Carolina that had a school creed with a questionable reference:

Students are encouraged to memorize the Creed and recite the creed daily after morning announcements.

I am special because I have been made in the Creator’s image

Even though the school was originally established in 1998 as a private Christian school, they’ve been a public charter school since 2001. That reference had no business being there.

So I emailed Principal Clarissa Fleming asking why it was there, explaining why it shouldn’t be there, and requesting a response.

I’m pleased to report that she wrote back to me to say that there is no longer a reference to any “Creator.”

The new creed shortens that first line, removing God in the process:

Students are encouraged to memorize the Creed and recite the creed daily after morning announcements.

I am special.

That’s quick action on the part of the principal, so I thank her for making the change. I only wish she would have done it herself many years ago.

Sometimes, all it takes to make change happen is raising awareness about the issue.