Local Students Interviewed for CNN Series on Race

If you tuned in to CNN this week, you may have noticed a familiar school flash on the TV screen — in West Orange.

The school for Anderson Cooper's special report on race titled, "Kids on Race, The Hidden Picture."

Thirty first-grade students — 15 Caucasian and 15 African-American students — were randomly chosen and interviewed for 15 minutes each.

Dr. Melanie Killen, the segment's child development expert and a professor at the University of Maryland, interviewed the students on Jan. 11 and 25 at the school.

During one of the filming days, the CNN crew had set up camp in the library. The students were called in one by one.

Sound equipment, small TV monitors and a slew of cables adorned the library, standing out against the backdrop of shelves stuffed with books. The two small windows in the library's door were taped over with white paper, keeping curious eyes at bay.

As each of the students were called in, they sat at a round table, facing Dr. Killen, enveloped by bright lights and heavy cameras.

According to CNN, the students were shown ambiguous images and asked questions such as "What's happening in this picture?", "Are these two children friends?" and "Would their parents like it if they were friends?"

Mt. Pleasant Principal Michael Schiavo told Patch the school boasts similar achievement levels for both Caucasian and African-American students — one of the reasons the school was among the lucky participants.

He said roughly 41 percent of Mt. Pleasant students are African-American and 31 percent are Caucasian.

"I am extremely proud to have our first grade students involved in such a groundbreaking study. We truly epitomize a culturally diverse and integrated school. We are proud of our diversity and hope to lend a truly unique perspective to this special report, and represent the West Orange Schools and our community," Schiavo said in a statement.

The series will cut to the core of race relations in modern America by delving into a child's perspective.

According to a CNN release, the groundbreaking report shows how a child's interpretation of a picture shifted when the race of a charter was swapped. The study will analyze how and if race affects a child's selections of friends, how the racial makeup of a school affects opinions on race and how children form their thoughts on race.

The series will air this week at 8 and 10 p.m.