Newport Harbor High apologies for halftime show

Deirdre Newman

NEWPORT BEACH -- Newport Harbor High School officials have apologized

for a halftime show at Friday’s football game that students and staff

from the opposing school charged was racially insensitive because of the

use of a Confederate flag.

A 7-by-9-foot painting of the Confederate flag was used by the

school’s band for the first time this season as a backdrop to its ongoing

production. It immediately drew the ire of administrators, parents and

students from Westchester High School in Los Angeles, which has a large

population of African American students.

The halftime Civil War-themed production “Requiem for Soldiers, A

Nation Divided Stands United” also features an equally sized painting of

an American flag on the opposite side of the field.

While Newport Harbor band teacher Rob Henthorn said the Confederate

flag was only used to set the scene, Westchester officials said it was in

bad taste to include it because it still symbolizes slavery to African

Americans.

“They could have done the same thing with the same effect without the

flag,” Westchester Principal Dana Perryman said. “As soon as they saw the

audience, they should have adjusted.”

Newport Harbor High Principal Michael Vossen acknowledged that he felt

the choice of the Confederate flag was inappropriate. He and Henthorn are

in the process of drafting a letter of apology to Perryman.

“Unfortunately, there are symbols in our history that are painful, and

the Confederate flag is one of those,” Vossen said. “The school needs to

be as sensitive as it can regarding that issue.”

For the rest of the football season, the Confederate flag -- as well

as the American flag -- will be covered, Henthorn said.

The band has presented the Civil War production since the beginning of

the football season to illustrate the theme that the United States can

come together even when it is in conflict with itself.

Eyebrows started to be raised at the game when the flag was uncovered

in preparation for the halftime show.

Perryman said she and some Westchester parents walked over to Newport

Harbor’s side to get a closer look at the presentation.

“There were several people from the school that were really apologetic

and said there was no harm intended,” Perryman said. “But they could have

made a public apology. My parents were really upset.”

While Henthorn said he is sorry that some people found the flag

offensive, he contends the whole issue has been blown out of proportion.

Some of his students agree.

“It’s just immature,” trumpet player Fernando Barragan said. “We’re

just telling a story. It’s not like we’re taking a side in history. We

didn’t intend to offend anyone.”

Perryman said the Confederate flag controversy did not cause any

animosity between players on the field or detract from the game itself,

which Westchester won.

-- Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .