Swim club president’s denial
of race bias doesn’t hold water

The board president of a private swim club in a Philadelphia suburb now claims safety concerns caused him to cut short the first visit of 65 black and Hispanic day campers from the city, and refuse future visits by them.

Alethea Wright, director of the Creative Steps camp that had paid $1,950 to The Valley Club of Huntingtindon Valley, Pa., for weekly pool use, sees racism as a prime motive.

A July 9 story included this quote: “I heard this lady, she was like, ‘Uh, what are all these black kids doing here?’ She’s like, ‘I’m scared they might do something to my child,’” said camper Dymire Baylor.

And then there was this:

“When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool,” Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. “The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately.”

John Duesler, Valley Club president, seemed to confirm racial bias as a motive when he explained the club’s actions by saying, “There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.”

Today, Duesler acknowledged he had made “a terrible choice of words.” He denied any racist motive and denied having heard any racial comments on the day the Creative Steps kids were made to leave. Duesler said if members made comments of that kind, they didn’t represent the club’s position.

According to Duesler, most of the Creative Steps kids couldn’t swim, so they all stayed in the shallow one-third of the pool. The crowding that resulted presented a serious safety concern.

That was a valid concern. But a swim club president with more than a chlorine cake for a brain and a modicum of kindness and decency could’ve handled the situation in a way that allowed all the kids to enjoy the pool, with no hurt feelings.

Imagine if Duesler had sent an employee out to a store and then called the Creative Step kids out of the pool so he could speak to them.

Kids, your group is too large for all of you to get in the shallow end of the pool at the same time. With everyone in there at once, it’s too crowded for you to have fun, and it’s a safety concern for us.

So, I’m going to ask that only half of your group will get in the pool at one time, for a half hour. Then, the other half will get their chance to play in the pool. We’ll change places every half hour.

I know you’ve been looking forward to coming out here, and that waiting for your turn isn’t much fun. So, to make the wait easier, we’ve got some Popsicles and Fudgcicles for you to enjoy. Thanks, kids, for being patient. Every one of you will get time in the pool, and I hope you all enjoy your visit.

Then, Duesler should’ve talked to Wright, to see if Creative Steps could make two visits a week, with only 32 or 33 kids at a time.

As things stand now, The Valley Swim Club’s actions have generated bad publicity across the country and are being scrutinized by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

We would like to see an attorney come forward with an offer to sue the club, pro bono, for breach of contract. That’s especially called for because Wright claims the club knew beforehand how many children would be coming.

Duesler continues to deny any racial prejudice was involved in his words or deeds. We’d like to believe that, but can’t help but think he’s just on a COYA mission.

Fortunately, another area organization with a pool has offered to host the Creative Steps campers. Here’s hoping those kids have such a good time that they forget the ugliness and disappointment of their Valley Club experience.