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Valley Swim Club-Huntingdon Valley: Are Racism Allegations Fair?
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by Tina Kells | July 9, 2009 at 02:46 pm
10695 views | 37 Recommendations | 178 comments
The sad story of the 65 kids of Creative Steps Day Camp verses racism at The Valley Swim Club may seem like something from a near century ago, but it actually happened in 2009, when the US is being led by its first African-American president.
As NowPublic editor Karen Hatter reported The Valley Swim Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania accepted a $1900 fee from Creative Steps Day Camp only to turn 65 young kids away over a stated issue of "complexion." The Valley Swim Club not only sent the kids away, it refunded the fee and banned the kids of Creative Steps from ever returning.
The story smacks of a kind of racism most of us would like to believe is dead in the USA, shining a bright light on the fact that racism is still alive and well. The Valley Swim Club racism case has not gone unnoticed in Washington. US senator Arlen Specter announced plans to launch a discrimination investigation against The Valley Swim Club.
Arlen Specter was not the only person in Pennsylvania who found what appears to be a Valley Swim Club ban on minority kids outrageous. Local groups and businesses stepped up and expressed their disgust in a proactive way; Girard College boarding school offered their pool to the Creative Steps kids, and local ice cream parlor Gumdrops & Sprinkles gave the day camp a party of candy and ice cream making for free.
The banning has caused so much controversy that U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) plans to launch an investigation into the discrimination claim.
"The allegations against the swim club as they are reported are extremely disturbing," Specter said in a statement. "I am reaching out to the parties involved to ascertain the facts. Racial discrimination has no place in America today."
A protest is planned outside the gates of the Valley Swim Club Thursday night (July 9, 2009).
An investigation into the matter may be the only way that the truth of the events can come out and The Valley Swim Club has said it will cooperate. The Valley Swim Club has remained closed since the incident was exposed in the press and members have stepped forward to clarify the club's position. The club has repeatedly stated that race was not a factor in the banning of the Creative Steps kids.
If the position of The Valley Swim Club is to be believed, racism was not the reason the kids were banned... it was a matter of another "ism," age-ism. Adult members of the club, many of whom are seniors, say they objected to having large groups of children swimming at the pool regardless of their race. Many of these members have stepped forward saying the use of the word "complexion" in the official Valley Swim Club press statement has been misunderstood.
Club members, who were at the pool on the day of the incident, came forward Thursday to defend the organization.
"This has nothing to do with race," member Lori Slowinski said. "I paid my money for a private swim club…if they're gonna have it out to camps, then I want my money back."
Jim Flynn went right to the club president after the kids took the plunge into the pool.
"I was the first person to talk to the president, because the pool was overcrowded," said Flynn. "As members we have nothing to hide. There's good people here."
Daniel Veres, a 16-year old Hispanic teen who is also a member, says the entire situtation is just a misunderstanding.
"We're not judgemental, we're just friendly," Veres said of the mostly white club.
For the children involved, the entire situation has left them simply sad and confused.
The Valley Swim Club blames a poor choice of words on the part of its representatives for the perception that race was a factor in the decision to ban the kids of Creative Steps Day Camp. For its part, The Valley Swim Club-Huntingdon Valley has unequivocally refuted all allegations of racism and has replaced its entire website with a single page statement which reads:
The Valley Club is deeply troubled by the recent allegations of racism which are completely untrue.We had originally agreed to invite the camps to use our facility, knowing full well that the children from the camps were from multi-ethnic backgrounds. Unfortunately, we quickly learned that we underestimated the capacity of our facilities and realized that we could not accommodate the number of children from these camps. All funds were returned to the camps and we will re-evaluate the issue at a later date to determine whether it can be feasible in the future.
Our Valley Club deplores discrimination in any form, as is evidenced by our multi-ethnic and diverse membership. Whatever comments may or may not have been made by an individual member is an opinion not shared by The Valley Club Board.
What do you think? Was racism a factor or was it really a matter of adults not wanting large groups of kids at the pool? Please comment and let us know if you believe The Valley Swim Club's hindsight explanation.
Do you accept that the statement "There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club" has been misunderstood due to poor word choice? Or do you think this is all nothing more than poorly executed damage control? Racism or no, you tell us...
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (178)
at 16:38 on July 9th, 2009
As an educator, and a director of programs that have included facilities with swimming pools, one knows the capacity of a pool the day it is opened. There is a law that the max. capacity must be documented and visable for all patrons. The fact that the club had the audacity to state they "underestimated the capacity" is unbelievable.. The director of the program would have been aware, it is there job to be, of the capacity of the pool, as well as insurance logistics etc. It is obvious there was an issue of race and/or socio-economic status among the members of the club. Unfortunately, the club chose to back the wrong people. One cannot run a club like that and not know the capacity of the facility--it just does not match up. The club in just trying to cover their rearends... I hope this incident has the kind of negetive impact on the club as it did on those young children...
at 16:46 on July 9th, 2009
I feel that the immeadiate
at 17:30 on July 9th, 2009
I do not believe for a minute that overcrowding was the reason for kicking the minority kids out of the Valley Swim Club pool. In my village, a similar suburb, but of Manhattan, we welcome about 50-60 minority kids per day in our town pool during the month of August. Perhaps a few pool members have complained of overcrowding, but their protests were never taken seriously because everyone concerned knew that they did not want the minority kids. I am afraid that racism is alive and thriving in Huntington Valley, PA
at 18:57 on July 10th, 2009
dont blame huntingdon valley, the club is out of huntingdon valley and is actually in philadelphia. county line road splits huntingdon valley and philadelphia and it is on the philadelphia side so theres no reason blaming huntingdon valley because i live there and it is a peaceful town and this whole thing is a misunderstanding!!!
at 08:19 on July 11th, 2009
Youre wrong that it is not in HV. It is inside the boundary with Philadelphia.The boundary of Philly is next to the Valley Club. It is just over the Philadelphia side in HV. County Line divides Montgonmery & Bucks County.
at 13:37 on July 12th, 2009
peaceful but very very racist
at 05:28 on July 11th, 2009
Your pool might be of different size. I'd say that thats not really a valid comparison sorry.
at 17:50 on July 9th, 2009
We don't know the whole story here. 65 daycare kids in a pool at once? As a fomer lifeguard - I can say, that's a nightmare. It's one thing to be at capacity with FAMILIES there, but just a handful of daycare supervisors for 65 kids?! Well behaved or not, that's dangerous. And the lifeguards are still responsible if something were to happen. Also, how many guards were on duty? How many supervisors did the daycare have? Do we know if they revoked other daycares as well? Despite the some of the members' poor choice in words, I don't think we know enough about the story - and a lot of people are flipping the race card before knowing all of the facts. Think of the young children too - if it indeed was a misunderstanding, what are they going to learn from all of this? It's not exactly a lesson of tolerance, that's for sure.
at 04:18 on July 10th, 2009
It didn't say they were all in the pool, It said, that's how many came to use the pool. They didn't even have time to get in the pool, because of the snooty people.
at 09:48 on July 10th, 2009
i could have sworn that the children heard racial remarks from from members...... I think that in itself makes the entire situation racial regardless of a misunderstanding or not. Theres only so much misunderstanding that can be derived from a comment like " what are all these black kids doing here?" and " i am scared they'll do something to my child"
If it was done for any other reason then these comments should not have come up and the children be them blue green white pink yellow or black should not have been subjected to hearing these comments. It hurts as an adult, how much more a child?
please!@#$%%^
at 05:55 on July 11th, 2009
O.o They actually did get in the pool...
at 09:56 on July 10th, 2009
I THINK WE KNOW ENOUGH NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT THERE ARE HEAVY RACIST OVERTONES, UNFORTUNATELY IT GOT OUT OF HAND AND I SUSPECT THE CLUB THOUGHT IT WOULD GO AWAY WITH A SIMPLE REFUND . THE CLUB SHOULD HAVE POLED THEIR MEMBERSHIP BEFORE ACCEPTING THE KIDS AND SAVED THE KIDS FROM A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE . WE KNOW RACISM EXIST AND WILL ALWAYS EXIST SO YOUR LIFE GUARD THEORY IS NOT FEASIBLE. THE KIDS WILL SUFFER FROM THE EXPERIENCE LONG AFTER IT IS OVER REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, .MOST RACIST ARE NOT TOO OPEN THESE DAYS AS NOT TO CAUSE SITUATIONS LIKE THE ONE WE NOW HAVE,HOPEFULLY IT WILL TEACH SOME PEOPLE TO USE BETTER JUDGEMENT IN FUTURE SITUATIONS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE FEELING TOWARD OTHER RACES ARE. YES I AM A BLACK AMERICAN. THIS IS AMERICA YOU CAN LIKE WHOM YOU CHOOSE OR DISLIKE
at 07:03 on July 13th, 2009
I agree- poll the memebers first. Don't harm the phsyches of innocent children and think a refund will undo the damage. Hatred will always leave a scar, especially when unwarranted- these children did nothing wrong to warrant such an attack.
at 10:56 on July 10th, 2009
I was also a lifeguard and swimming instructor.I worked in a black community which had summer camp programs, we had lot's of diversity white,asain,hispanic,etc.I say it is a nightmare to you because you seem to be white.I think if it were 65 white kid's you would not be making excuses for this club.The owner/operator would not overbook the pool ,the memberes complained and the owner was trying to keep his regular members happy.
at 20:45 on July 10th, 2009
I completely agree with you kristing.. I am currently a lifeguard & swim instructor at a pool in California. Every year we have summer camps come in & we generally have a rough day when they do come in. Numerous things happen, including fighting, rowdy behavior, breaking showers & drainage stoppage, broken soap dispensers, stolen personal items. You name it. I work in a public pool and even then the regular patrons (mostly African American) complain when the camps come in because of the chaos. I was accused a couple of times of being racist becuase I benched kids from the camp for fighting which is ridiculous becuase both my children are mixed race. We have a rough time accomidating the camps, becuase often times the camps understate the amount of kids coming in or there is not enough adult supervision w/ the camps themselves and we are a public pool, I can imagine a private pool. I do feel a poor choice of wording was used but I question wether or not this was a race issue.
at 05:22 on July 11th, 2009
I agree. There are only as much as 2 life guards on duty at a time in the valley club. The life guards ages range from 16-18 on average. 65 young kids along with the many other members in the valley club crammed into a small pool which is already slightly chaotic is a safety hazard. It would not have mattered what color these kids were. As to the comment of "What are all these black kids doing here?"I believe that it was just a statement made because of something out of the norm was happening. With the general population in the club consisting of 1 race 65 members of any other race would have simply been out of the norm. Parents were angry because the camp was overcrowding the pool...
at 07:25 on July 11th, 2009
The whole story is that the Club officials allowed this to happen full knowing how many kids were coming. They woulsd have been full aware of how many lifegaurds they needed, etc. Please do not try to help hide the clear fact of racism here.
at 19:29 on July 11th, 2009
we are hearing excuses not legimate reasons from the swim club. And last time I was at a swimming pool, life guards handled a much larger crowd, so that a bunch of crap.
at 04:13 on July 12th, 2009
Kristing
What exactly is the race card? The kids heard what they heard, we heard and read what the Hunt Valley spokes person said regarding "...changing the complexion...of the club",
Are you saying that anytime a person is discriminated agaisnt they should keep their mouth shut or be accused of, as you say, flipping the race card? Is this the new tactic of racists, accuse the discriminated person of taking a "misunderstaing" and calling the discriminator out?
Just asking, because I like to know what I'm up against.
at 16:38 on July 14th, 2009
I commend you for stating all the preparation that come into play with allowing 65 children to swim at any particular location, but no one associated with the club has mentioned the factors you bring up as reason for revoking the daycare's contract. Some of you out there making excuses for this occurance are speaking as if the daycare made a suprise visit to the club-the were well aware and true colors prevailed-the children recieved a first-hand account of racism in 2009. You take a look at the little boy crying from that experience and ask yourself again if it was a simple misunderstanding.....
at 19:26 on July 9th, 2009
I am not buying the statement from John. Sorry. This is racism at it's purest form. Sad that there is such. If it were in issue of overcrowding, then the Valley Club could have decided to make some agreement with the day camp facility regarding the amount of children who could go. For Example, the day camp director could have set-up for half to go one week and the other half the following week. John, the board of directors, whatever, got pressured in some way by a member or some members, who knows, and thought that the decision they had made would have satisfied whomever. Did they not know that these children are human? That they have feelings and desires just like any child? That they were so looking forward to their summers at the pool? Some of the best memories for a child come from summers by the water, be it the ocean, a lake, a pool. None of these children deserved this. None. Step back, take a look at America. Remember who we are, where we come from.
at 05:25 on July 11th, 2009
Where is your proof this is racism in it's purest form. Look at the facts and tell me which one breaks through to you as such without a good defense.
at 19:29 on July 9th, 2009
I am not buying the statement from John. Sorry. This is racism at it's purest form. Sad that there is such. If it were in issue of overcrowding, then the Valley Club could have decided to make some agreement with the day camp facility regarding the amount of children who could go. For Example, the day camp director could have set-up for half to go one week and the other half the following week. John, the board of directors, whatever, got pressured in some way by a member or some members, who knows, and thought that the decision they had made would have satisfied whomever. Did they not know that these children are human? That they have feelings and desires just like any child? That they were so looking forward to their summers at the pool? Some of the best memories for a child come from summers by the water, be it the ocean, a lake, a pool. None of these children deserved this. None. Step back, take a look at America. Remember who we are, where we come from.
at 19:30 on July 9th, 2009
whoever aceepted the day care's contract and $$check should be fired if they could'nt figure out if their own pool could handle the extra capacity. that's plain STUPIDITY! at this point if I were a member I would quit my membership as I would be embarrareesed to be involved with a club that can't make basic deceisions AND who turns away these kids who just came to swim BECAUSE YOU SAID THEY COULD! shame on the valley club! now that is just for stupidity, if it were racist........oh boy...just get off the planet already!
at 05:52 on July 11th, 2009
As I have already stated it is hard to imagine how 65 kids can impact a pool. When I say 500 people are coming to a concert how much room do you think that takes up? The pool makes plenty of basic decisions, As for the camp in question I doubt they could have fun because it was so crowded and if I were the president I would certainly put safety over any fun in question. Your last comment I didn't really understand.
at 19:33 on July 9th, 2009
Here, here for The Valley swim club member(s) who voiced their own opinions / remarks. It’s a private club. It’s about high time. Why must Whites in America continually walk upon eggshells concerning Blacks; particularly in Philadelphia. Perhaps when many Blacks shed their “entitlement” culture, perhaps then many Whites will be less “uppity”...
at 03:44 on July 10th, 2009
Speaking as a white man married to a black woman, with two bright, handsome, intelligent and world-aware boys (the older of which is at this moment on a plane for an international ambassador mission), I'm glad to see the "pure" white "race" sliding headlong into minority. There is only one race...and we are all human. Illusions and sentiments to the contrary are ignorant and wrong-headed. Anybody who passed high school biology knows this: Kingdom -> Phylum -> Class -> Order -> Family -> Genus -> Species.
Homo sapiens.
It's not just a scientific term. It's what unites us all, and "complexion" changes it not one bit. So all you racists out there...do the rest of us a favor, STFU and crawl quietly into the hole where you belong.
at 11:17 on July 10th, 2009
In response to you, you are a extremely ignorant person. One day you will feel the same way those kids felt. One day hopefully before you die you will feel the pain of racism!
at 08:44 on July 13th, 2009
It's a private swim club that signed a contract and took their money in order for these children to swim I am sure on scheduled days known to the pool. Why would you congratulate people on speaking out in such a hateful way against children? Put yourself in the place of one of those children or one of their parents. I don't believe anyone has been walking on egg shells there.....
at 12:34 on July 21st, 2009
I'm white and I think it is awful what happened to those kids. I'm glad the swim club is getting bad press. Closed minded people of any race irritate me...but especially white people because it embarrasses me.