This report presents information from a 1997 community forum of the Vermont Advisory Committee on racial harassment in Vermont public schools. Parents, students, teachers, administrators and community and advocacy group representatives offered their views on racial harassment in the public schools, describing them as hostile and unfriendly places wherein racial slurs, epithets, and physical assaults occurred. The committee concluded that: racial harassment was pervasive in and around Vermont's public schools, and elimination of this harassment was not a priority; coordinated leadership by elected officials, business leaders, and education officials was needed to improve racial relations; existing state law was deficient in addressing these problems; staff shortages and limited resources available to the Vermont Department of Education made it difficult for the Department to set the elimination of racial harassment as a statewide priority; and the Vermont Human Rights Commission had insufficient resources to effectively address reported racial harassment incidents. Recommendations for each of these problems are presented. Relevant letters, policy, and legislation are appended. (SM)