It absolutely bothers me and I thought I had been clear about that. But, your underlying tone has been to blame the community for the action of 5 kids and I think that is inherently wrong. Creston cannot come up with a course or program that will eliminate racism or explain the actions of these individuals. As nobody could. Yes, there is some "kids being kids" excuses being used but I promise you most in town are taking this very seriously. What I'm doing about it, and I hope other parents are too, is having serious, open discussions with my kids about what is right and wrong and how we treat other people no matter their race, religion etc. This is also being discussed in the classrooms. There is no magic formula here and I think that's what you're looking for.
I know there is no magical formula. And I know I'm just an online lookyloo.
But here are some things I wish I was reading about:
Creston is holding a Community event with speakers from several minority groups. Perhaps a number of these.
Creston School District (donations welcome) to take kids to more ethnically diverse locations to meet other kids at other schools. (Somebody fix this idea.)
My small town Iowa Church sometimes hosted or visited an African American Church...shared worship service. Picnic after.
With respect, and I know I sound upset but the thing is I am just concerned, back in the 60's my Dad and all of us were poor as poor gets. Living in a small Iowa town after Dad had tried jobs in other small Iowa towns and always seemed to be the guy promised big things but they never came. We lived across from the City Park and on a particular day an African-American family was in the park, and an older brother watched the town cop tell them they had until nightfall to get out of town. (Their car was being worked on.) Dad heard of this and went to the park, talked with them, eventually they were in the house having a meal and preparations were made to let them stay if their car wasn't done by nightfall.
Dirt poor understood being treated like dirt. Funny thing is, a few years later and that ship not only came in but Dad was making what must have been among if not the highest wages in that town. But that's another story.
Dad also had a young child from inner Chicago stay with us in the summers as part of a Civil Rights Program.
I grew up hating racism because I was taught to hate it.
See how that works? Not to you, but to the town, quit bitchin' and get to teachin'.