CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP) _ A school district in Virginia plans to offer a high school Appalachian history course in response to a flap over displaying Confederate symbols in public schools. The Roanoke Times reports that the Montgomery County school board approved the new elective course last week, along with elective courses in women’s studies and entrepreneurship. In November, the board banned apparel displaying Confederate and other symbols in public schools. That decision followed protests over Christiansburg High School’s ban on Confederate symbols on student vehicles in the parking lot. Confederate symbols have come under increased public scrutiny since the June 17 massacre of nine black worshipers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Dylann Roof, the white man charged in the slayings, had been photographed holding the Confederate battle flag.
