Baltimore County schools excel again in Black
Saga state competition
BCPS students dominate elementary school level, place well among
middle schools - 3/21/07

Winning teams from Warren Elementary School (in white) and Rodgers Forge Elementary School (in red) celebrate their Black Saga victories.

The questions, reverberating around the cavernous gymnasium inside Towson University’s Burdick Hall, might stump even the most avid student of history.

“Two African American women have served on Presidential cabinets,” intoned Dr. Charles Christian, the moderator for the annual state championship Black Saga and the founder of Black Saga. Across the stage from him, 10 teams of nervous middle school students from across Maryland listened intently. “The first served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Jimmy Carter in 1977, and later became Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. The second is now serving as President Bush’s Secretary of State. Name them.”

The 10 teams – including squads from Sudbrook Magnet Middle School in Pikesville and Franklin Middle School in Reisterstown – scribbled furiously on sheets and, as time was called, spoke their answers to judges. “Patricia Roberts Harris,” most of the students said, earning them one point. “Condoleeza Rice.” Two points.

Checks from $100 to $300 went to students on teams that took the top three places on both elementary and middle school levels.

And so the competition went on a snowy Saturday, March 17, as elementary and middle school teams from throughout Maryland vied to be among the top 10 qualifiers for the final championship rounds of Black Saga, an intense, fast-growing, and home-grown contest that challenges students to learn the answers to more than 800 questions about the African American history.   

Repeating their success from previous years, Baltimore County public schools commanded the competition on the elementary school level and placed well in the middle school division. BCPS elementary teams took six of the top 10 rankings, while Sudbrook and Franklin finished third and fourth, respectively – their standings the result of a suspenseful tie-breaker round. 

Among the elementary schools, BCPS swept the first four places. A team from Rodgers Forge Elementary School in Towson came in first, followed in second place by a team from Warren Elementary in Cockeysville, third place by a team from Westchester Elementary in Catonsville, and fourth place by a team from Cromwell Valley Elementary in Towson. In addition, a team from Deer Park Elementary in Owings Mills placed seventh, and a team from Wellwood International in Pikesville placed ninth.

Rodgers Forge Elementary School coaches Elizabeth Reighart and Phyllis Zaremba enjoy the competition.

The dominance of Baltimore County has been a trend established as the popularity and interest in Black Saga has grown over the last several years, according to organizers. “The growth of the Black Saga program in our schools and our continued success at the statewide level demonstrate once again the abilities, commitment, and teamwork of our students and the outstanding support they receive from teachers, administrators, and their families," said Rex Shepard, coordinator of secondary social studies programs for Baltimore County Public Schools. "Black Saga challenges students to develop study skills and discipline, engages the community in celebrating academic prowess, and unites our entire school community -- including students of all races and cultures -- in understanding our shared humanity and history."

Last year, Baltimore County achieved similar results -- winning first, second, third, fifth, and ninth places in the elementary division, and one middle school team placed in the top five. In 2005, Baltimore County won first, second, fifth, and ninth places in the elementary division as well as tying for third place, and two middle school teams placed in the top ten.

And for the fourth year in a row, Baltimore County fielded more teams than any other school district in Maryland. Forty-five of the 111 Maryland schools competing represented Baltimore County. In the elementary division, 35 Baltimore County public schools participated, along with a total of 30 additional schools from Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties. In the middle school division, 10 Baltimore County public schools participated, joining a total of 36 additional schools from Baltimore City and Charles, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties. A few private schools were among the participating schools at both levels.

Students who competed in the state Black Saga finals wore ribbons and medals during competition.

Initiated by Dr. Charles Christian, author of Black Saga: The African American Experience and Distinguished Professor at Coppin State University, the Black Saga competition begins each fall when students begin competing first against teams within their schools and counties before moving up to the statewide finals.

At the finals, the top five teams at the elementary and middle school levels won trophies and other prizes. In addition, students on the top three teams at each level received cash prizes ranging from $100 to $300 per student. The top ten teams in both divisions will be honored at a special Black Saga Banquet on April 29 at the University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center in Adelphi, Md.

At the statewide event, Dr. Christian served as moderator as the three-member teams battled wits. Throughout the day-long event, the Burdick Hall gym hosted scores of exciting parents and participants, a visit from Dr. Lenneal Henderson of the University of Baltimore, who provided spectators with a riveting one-man program called “Thurgood is Coming” in which he portrays U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and the championship rounds of competition.

Baltimore County elementary public schools participating were:

Bedford Carney Cedarmere Chapel Hill Church Lane Colgate Cromwell Valley Deep Creek Deer Park Dogwood Dundalk Elmwood Harford Hills Hawthorne Hebbville Johnnycake Joppa View Logan

Lutherville Laboratory Mars Estates Milbrook Oakleigh Pinewood Pleasant Plains Randallstown Red House Run Rodgers Forge Scotts Branch Warren Wellwood International Westchester Westowne Winand Winfield Woodbridge Woodholme Woodmoor

Baltimore County middle public schools participating were:

• Deep Creek
• Deer Park
• Franklin
• Lansdowne
• Meadowood Education Center
• Ridgely
• Southwest Academy
• Sudbrook Magnet
• Windsor Mill
• Woodlawn

Story by Charles Herndon, communications specialist. Photos by Brice Freeman, communications director.

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