Teacher under siege for slavery math question resigns
The AJC is reporting the Gwinnett third-grade teacher under siege for the slavery-themed math questions has resigned.
As we know in any profession, there are freely chosen resignations and there are highly recommended resignations. I wonder which this was.
A Beaver Ridge Elementary School teacher involved in giving slavery themed math questions to students has resigned, a Gwinnett County Schools spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday.
The unidentified teacher quit during a human resources investigation into the origin of the homework assignment. School officials said one teacher created the slave math questions, which used references to beatings and picking cotton to link a history lesson about Frederick Douglass to math computation. It was used in four classrooms.
Sloan Roach, a spokeswoman for Gwinnett Schools, said the teacher who resigned is one of four under a personnel investigation. She said the school probe concluded late Tuesday. “The principal will move forward immediately to fill the vacancy created by this resignation,” Roach said in a statement. “As this is a personnel matter, the district will not elaborate further.”
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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146 comments Add your comment
Dr. Proud Black Man
January 18th, 2012
1:42 pm
IF this teacher didn’t have enough common sense to come up with better questions this is probably a good thing.
Pluto
January 18th, 2012
1:52 pm
There, now all of you blood thirsty vigilantes should be happy. Another person has lost their job. Ding-dong the witch is dead!
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:00 pm
Dr. PBM
ive created some controversial assessments as well. many of them on purpose because i was teaching a particular unit or lesson. when ive done it without intent, i corrected course, apologized and moved on. “intent” should be part of the argument but it isnt. black folks got mad and lord knows when they get angry about math problems and the language used somebody better get fired. i wish blacks had this kind of enthusiasm about their dropout, drug, and pregnancy rates.
Former History Teacher
January 18th, 2012
2:00 pm
This teacher did not appear to be a qualified teacher and it is good he/she is gone. Diversity training will not instill common sense and that was a major part of the problem. I have been through diversity training for educators in 3 different states and found it to be almost useless in the classroom. Common sense and an open mind were more essential. The problem here seems to be unqualified teachers and not a lack of diversity training.
Dr. Proud Black Man
January 18th, 2012
2:08 pm
@WAR
” i wish blacks had this kind of enthusiasm about their dropout, drug, and pregnancy rates.”
And I wish whites would quit stereotyping us. Btw why are you a racist White Aryan Resistance?
Dr. Proud Black Man
January 18th, 2012
2:10 pm
@ Former History Teacher
Well said!
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:13 pm
FHT
i agree. even in diversity training people relied on prejudices and stereotypes through jokes and other remarks because they were uncomfortable. waste of time and money because we never got to really talk about issues and how to solve them.
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:18 pm
PBM
lolololololololol. would you be surprised if i told you that i too am a “proud black man”? but then you would probably call me an uncle tom (without reading the book or knowing anything about the character). or what if im a young black woman, who is an educator and tired of blacks complaining and fighting about math problems in a class and not the number of little black girls who are discouraged from taking difficult math classes. what if i was a young white teacher who watches blacks each day complain about their child’s grades, but dont seem to enforce the value of studying? alot of what ifs, but you dont know my gender or race or religion or culture or anything. just my words.
so PBM…who is really being racist?
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:20 pm
PBM
just got the white aryan resistance thing…definitely funny now! lmaoayda!
darattler
January 18th, 2012
2:28 pm
@War – I wish more whites had this kind of enthusiasm about stopping child molestation, serial murders, bombing American citizens and incest.
carlosgvv
January 18th, 2012
2:29 pm
If the teacher is white, this is easy to understand. If black he/she will get Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to come and demonstrate while he/she sues the school for racism.
Frankie
January 18th, 2012
2:33 pm
carlosgvv is that the only thing you can think of to say…hell you have said it on evry related blog abuot this subject….we get it your an ignorant racist and you don’t knw any better…..we get it
Will management resign as well?
January 18th, 2012
2:34 pm
Wasn’t this partly the failure of management at the school as well? Apparently teachers were rushed, pressed for time, told to ‘integrate’ their math lessons with social studies but not given any training in how to do so. The lesson also did not undergo the mandatory content review…whose fault was that?
It just seems really easy to scapegoat one or a few teachers here – and then pretend that everything is okay once a few people are fired! – when what we are really looking at is a much larger breakdown in teacher training and oversight. Where were the managers in all of this? What was their job???
Shouldn’t the principal have to resign too?
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:36 pm
darattler
you really think child molestation, serial murders, bombing American citizens, and incest is somehow exclusively white? you really wrote that? i guess whites dont like southern foods? i guess blacks make up the majority of food stamp recipients? i guess whites cant jump? i guess blacks dont like swimming? i even bet you believe that black history month is in february because whites wanted it in the shortest, coldest month of the year? you sound like “proud black man”. look at my response to him @2:18 and take it as an address to you too.
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:38 pm
will management
lessons rarely go under review. not enough time or manpower. some of the other teachers who worked on this should have caught this grave mistake and corrected it. so to answer your question directly…no.
Prof
January 18th, 2012
2:43 pm
In the general interest of peace and harmony, I just Googled “White Aryan Resistance,” cited by Dr. Proud Black Man. It is indeed a white supremacist organization headed by a former KKK leader, based in California, and well within the focus of the FBI. Maybe, WAR [acronym for, say, Wesley Arnold Rolfdoogle?], some other moniker is in order? For your 2:18 pm post doesn’t sound in line with that viewpoint!
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:45 pm
darattler
oprah, dc snipers, umar farouk abdulmutallab, perry… examples of your claims and all black.
Dr. Proud Black Man
January 18th, 2012
2:45 pm
@ WAR
Based on your 2:18 response I don’t have to guess AT ALL who you are. Like we say in Georgia, ” a hit dog will holla!”
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:50 pm
prof
i appreciate the benefit of the doubt. but i cant change it simply because some fools took the letters WAR and sullied it. although none of them listed below are acronyms for me, here are other acronyms of WAR:
WAR We Are Right
WAR What A Relief
WAR Web Application Archive
WAR War and Romance (defunct Wrestling Promotion in Japan)
WAR Washington Association of Realtors
WAR Weekly Activity Report
WAR Willing, Able and Ready
WAR With All Risks
WAR Wide Angle Reflection
WAR Work Authorization Request
WAR Wartime Asset Redistribution
WAR Work Acceptance Record
WAR Women Against Risk (Harm Reduction Project)
Beverly Fraud
January 18th, 2012
2:51 pm
“This teacher did not appear to be a qualified teacher and it is good he/she is gone. Diversity training will not instill common sense and that was a major part of the problem.”
Well if these questions were par for the course, he/she probably wasn’t the brightest bulb in the light factory. And yes, diversity training can’t fix that.
Just a guess here, but since Gwinnett was most likely hell-bent on finding a scapegoat/way out of this mess, the fact that that the teacher resigned (and perhaps cut off some major avenues of recourse) indicates that perhaps this teacher isn’t a master strategist, in or out of the classroom.
WAR
January 18th, 2012
2:59 pm
beaver ridge has some pretty good CRCT math scores. then again with all the cheating thats been going on lately who can really trust the data. but if the data is true, a few slave, jew, and redneck jokes wont hurt as long as the kids keep learning.
anyone agree?
WAR
January 18th, 2012
3:00 pm
darattler………
John Konop
January 18th, 2012
3:02 pm
It was obviously not a very good implementation of an idea. Yet the concept of combining other subjects into math has merit. The biggest problem is how to many times now we have become so harsh on mistakes people make. All of us have made mistakes and hopefully we learn from them. We should focus more on solutions over harsh punishment. This lack of allowing rational solutions for people verse harsh punishment has lead to the bizarre discipline rules in schools, harsh drug laws, mandatory sentencing ……..And at the end all it has done is create more problems than it has solved.
I do not know the teacher or the details other than what I read. But I would guess from what I have read she was only trying to enhance education not attempting to hurt students. It would of made more sense to work with the teacher on sensitivity issues rather than pin a “Scarlet Letter” on her.
WAR
January 18th, 2012
3:04 pm
folks its about that time and its been fun but until then remember: WAR keeps peace.
Inman Park Boy
January 18th, 2012
3:05 pm
Pure bullying, that’s what it was.
Beverly Fraud
January 18th, 2012
3:09 pm
I hope for the teacher’s sake, he/she consulted with an EXPERT opinion before resigning.
tim
January 18th, 2012
3:11 pm
The teacher should of told everyone to go to hell.
Beverly Fraud
January 18th, 2012
3:12 pm
Still I wonder; how many TENS OF THOUSANDS of children’s educational outcomes would have been ENHANCED in Atlanta, if the NAACP had been JUST as vocal about the cheating in Atlanta Public Schools when AJC reporter Paul Donsky BLEW THE LID OFF THE facade way back in 2001?
Yes 2001. It was known THEN.
Dr. Proud Black Man
January 18th, 2012
3:19 pm
@ WAR
Yes it has been fun but once again, “a hit dog will holla.” lol…
drew (former teacher)
January 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
OK…here’s one: A slave, a jew, a redneck, and a mexican walk into a bar…
Beverly Fraud
January 18th, 2012
3:34 pm
Ok…here’s one. 3 sentient beings enter into a bar. An ambiguous conversation, of an undetermined nature, occurs between the 3 of them.
How many special interest groups are offended by what was said?
Unfunded pension
January 18th, 2012
3:34 pm
NAACP can hang another scalp. Didn’t do a dangbthing for blacknchildren in the process. The NAACP is just perpetually offended and chronically ineffective.
Drake
January 18th, 2012
3:52 pm
I guess US History teachers will just be skipping the Civil War now?
Better ignore Columbus in the Caribbean too.
And the Salem Witch Trials for good measure.
Drake
January 18th, 2012
3:54 pm
This teacher did not appear to be a qualified teacher and it is good he/she is gone
You’re basing this on one assignment that ties math lessons to a part of America’s history….an accurate part of America’s history.
Ron Burgundy
January 18th, 2012
3:54 pm
Again we as a society pile on if there is a hint of racism but celebrate Muhammad Ali(draft dodger and womanizer), MLK (man of God who is also a womanizer), Bill Clinton (perjurist and womanizr).
I thin maybe we should take this same vitrol and put it towards other society issues like poor parenting.
To Carlosgvv from Good Mom
January 18th, 2012
3:58 pm
The teacher is a Hispanic male.
grandpa
January 18th, 2012
4:01 pm
This teacher, I believe, did use bad judgement. We live in the Atlanta area where the”Race Card” gets played any time someone feels like it. The NAACP does more to stir up trouble then good. That’s the way they keep their jobs, stirring it up. People should be allowed to confront people who use bad judgement in a way that doesn’t make our state look like the fools we are.
To Grandpa from Good Mom
January 18th, 2012
4:09 pm
Gramps you say “People should be allowed to confront people who use bad judgement in a way that doesn’t make our state look like the fools we are.”
That sounds like you are advocating sweeping it under the rug and hiding the bad. If, as you say, we are fools, then our state deserves the bad rap and we should own it or work to change it.
To Drake from Good Mom
January 18th, 2012
4:11 pm
Drake you say “You’re basing this on one assignment that ties math lessons to a part of America’s history….an accurate part of America’s history.”
Drake, where and when did slaves pick oranges in the USA? Please enlighten us.
masterprince32
January 18th, 2012
4:14 pm
You all have twisted this in every kind of way possible Would anyone be complaining if I sent homework with my 3rd grade students.” If 10 Jews were working in a concentration camp and 5 were beaten and 3 were sent to a gas chamber how many jews would be left…?” If any of your 3RD GRADERS brought home this kind school work I think you all would have a problem! People have a lot to say when the shoe is on the other foot. You all know deep in your hearts this was absurd!!!!
Fredrick Douglass was not taught as a slave. He’s taught as an abolitionist Why couldn’t they just stay on those lines? The 3rd grade Bio in which teachers are to use doesn’t even contain in info about him being beaten. I say again these were Third Graders not High School or college students.
KIM
January 18th, 2012
4:20 pm
The losers here are the kids in this kind, meek, culturally diverse teacher’s classroom. So, Proud Black whatever, how do you ever expect all people to revere all people? Your moniker suggest it all: you are biased. And, unfortunately, others like you will forever fall on the horrors of your ancestors to justify your pityful excuse of worth. Additionally, I say to GCPS: shame on YOU. You could have used this as a teaching moment far different than the lesson learned. The lesson is not what you intended: GC is NOT an employer of choice. An employer of choice would have sat down the parents and teachers and had a discussion about what this paper suggested. It could have been handled by everyone far differently. And everyone would have one. Now no one did…especially the kids.
KIM
January 18th, 2012
4:23 pm
won
masterprince32
January 18th, 2012
4:27 pm
For all of you who feel these questions were ok to be sent home for 3rd Grade work. Please explain why? Yes we will always play the race card because it the race card is dealt. Situations that happen to our ethnic group you do not hear happening with any other! Last reason why race is a factor. Just think african americans have only been able to vote in this country for 47years. So why would we not think about is this way. No one uses history and math about the Asian camps we kept during the war.
masterprince32
January 18th, 2012
4:29 pm
@ DR. Whitey! Dude look at what you said University President!! Not 3rd graders!!!
White Man with Moderate Self Esteem
January 18th, 2012
4:35 pm
Dr. Proud Black Man, why are you so proud?
carlosgvv
January 18th, 2012
4:49 pm
Frankie – 2:33
Calling me names does not invalidate anything I have said and will NOT make it go away.
January 18th, 2012
5:07 pm
Situations that happen to our ethnic group you do not hear happening with any other
Ahhh..playing the victim role, and attempting to identify with an entire ethnic group.
Way to stay classy there.
Michael
January 18th, 2012
5:23 pm
I’ve been in Georgia 25 years and these recurring stories always make me smile. It’s like I’m in a movie.
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
January 18th, 2012
5:27 pm
@masterprince32 “Fredrick Douglass was not taught as a slave. He’s taught as an abolitionist Why couldn’t they just stay on those lines? ”
It is rather difficult to teach about someone being an abolitionist without mentioning slavery. “Hey kids, we are going to learn about Frederick Douglass who was an abolitionist. But I can’t actually tell you what he was trying to abolish because someone might get offended.” Doesn’t work very well, does it? Besides, how Frederick Douglass is taught depends upon the type of curriculum a district has chosen to use. The biography my school uses for Frederick Douglass includes an entire chapter about his early life as a slave – it makes his strong passion as an abolitionist much more meaningful to the students.
Watering down history does not benefit anyone. Should children be taught about beatings? Not as a matter of course, though such questions do arise in my room when we discuss Frederick Douglass… questions like, “Why was slavery so bad?” Some children know enough about slavery to bring up whipping and beatings. Do I hush them up because someone else might not like hearing about it? Should I play down the negative impacts of slavery and leave out the worst parts, giving the impression it was not that horrible a situation? Or should I actually teach some truth – that people were horribly mistreated sometimes? I generally fall in favor of honesty in teaching, but after this? I am not so sure. Maybe I should just leave my students uninformed, or worse, misinformed so I don’t risk upsetting anyone.
Frankly, I find the suggestion that we should exclude mentioning the issue of “slavery” when studying the life of a man who suffered under the regime of slavery and spent his life trying to get rid of the practice of slavery rather bizarre.
Old Physics Teacher
January 18th, 2012
5:39 pm
And now you’re going to notice another 500-1000 potential teachers have decide to get a degree in business, science, math, or some other field instead of teaching. I agree this was a stupid act. I seriously doubt the person who answered the phone at Walmart telling a customer complaining about “Happy Holidays” that the holiday was there long before there was a Christmas got fired. Their manager just set there and took the heat and cow-towed to Bill O’Reily, and it all went away. His/her administrator probably threw the young teacher under the bus for their own protection.
Keep it up; keep it up. Let’s destroy public education just like the “Powers That Be” want to. Except you better be prepared to pay dearly for that private tutor for your kids when the public schools disappear..
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
January 18th, 2012
5:40 pm
P.S. I totally agree the questions were inappropriate and should never have been written. They were insensitive and thoughtless on the part of the teacher. And in reference to the “beating” question, I personally think children are exposed to too much violence too early.
That said, I do find the strongly expressed concern about the “beating” question somewhat puzzling considering the music, movies and television shows my young students regularly discuss, much of which contain a great deal of violence and explicit material. I hardly think hearing about a beating is going to warp them for life. Some of them have suffered far worse offenses in their own lives. I am really more concerned about the real life beatings, shootings and violence some of these children suffer each day in our country.
Rockerbabe
January 18th, 2012
5:49 pm
Are you happy yet?
Ole Guy
January 18th, 2012
6:01 pm
Discretion is…and always has been…the better part of valor. Unfortunately, both seem to have become obselete.
Careful, Ron…them thar “wordy dirds” are viewed unfavorably by a psuedo-religous readership which seems more concerned with “being nice” than with hard cruel reality.
grandpa
January 18th, 2012
6:04 pm
I do not advocate throwing this under the rug. Why could the parents go to the school and have a meeting with the teacher and the principal instead of screaming to the media. Playing the Race Card. I think in this area it is the First thing you do. The rest of the country laughs at you, you fool.Keep stirring it up so Jesse has something to do.
masterprince32
January 18th, 2012
6:08 pm
You all that think I’m not being classy by the statement I made. Do your own research! Here in GA alone you tell me how many of any other Ethnic group just in 2011 that were shot in the back by police unarmed. Among other things!! Its funny how you comment on a peice of my statement!
masterprince32
January 18th, 2012
6:20 pm
@ Iove teaching etc….. “The Reader” in which they were supposed to go by. Never spoke of him being beaten its talks of him learning how to read from the slave masters children and how he paid them to teach him. Tell one place where you have ever read of Fredrick Douglass being beaten? No one is watering down Salvery. Would you all be saying the same if this were JEWs or Asians? Of course not…. This is what I’ve posted before…You all have twisted this in every kind of way possible Would anyone be complaining if I sent homework with my 3rd grade students.” If 10 Jews were working in a concentration camp and 5 were beaten and 3 were sent to a gas chamber how many jews would be left…?” If any of your 3RD GRADERS brought home this kind school work I think you all would have a problem! People have a lot to say when the shoe is on the other foot. You all know deep in your hearts this was absurd!!!!
Fredrick Douglass was not taught as a slave. He’s taught as an abolitionist Why couldn’t they just stay on those lines? The 3rd grade Bio in which teachers are to use doesn’t even contain in info about him being beaten. I say again these were Third Graders not High School or college students.
Dr. Proud Black Man
January 18th, 2012
6:21 pm
Yep, no racism here. Just a bunch of condescending white folks trying to tell us how to think and feel. And to Kim telling us that we are trying to gain sympathy about what our ancestors went through…you must think after the civil war we were all holding hands singing Kumbya. Slavery doesn’t bother me, Jim Crow does. While you might think my name makes me biased I think your lack of a cogent answer makes you ignorant.
masterprince32
January 18th, 2012
6:25 pm
if I sent homework with my 3rd grade students.” If 10 Jews were working in a concentration camp and 5 were beaten and 3 were sent to a gas chamber how many jews would be left…?” If any of your 3RD GRADERS brought home this kind school work I think you all would have a problem! People have a lot to say when the shoe is on the other foot. You all know deep in your hearts this was absurd!!!!
GeeMac
January 18th, 2012
6:31 pm
Wow! This topic has really exposed the dark underbellies of more than one poster here. I actually shared an earlier post and accompanying article with students in my basic reading and writing class as part of our persuasive writing remediation unit. Understand that these students all have IEPs for learning disabilities, but it did not take them very long to conclude that there are two sides to this story and that they couldn’t accurately assess blame without more information. My students are all African-American, as is 99% of our school. They were offended by the questions (as was I, but I didn’t share that with them) but decided to reserve judgment on the teacher in question due to a lack of full context. They then completed a writing assignment, their purpose being to advise the school board on how this issue should be handled with the teacher in question, and all wrote that the teacher should not be fired, that the other teachers who also used the questions should bear some of the responsibility, and that math teachers shouldn’t mess around in social studies!
Mahopinion
January 18th, 2012
6:44 pm
@ Masterprince-
I have yet to see anyone say it was ok to send these questions home. What I have seen is people saying the RESPONSE was over blown, up to and including the entry of the NAACP in to the discussion.
Drake
January 18th, 2012
6:50 pm
Drake, where and when did slaves pick oranges in the USA? Please enlighten us.
Florida….
Drake
January 18th, 2012
6:52 pm
Anyway, I’m pretty sure the beef against this guy wasn’t
“Wait a minute, he said slaves picked oranges??! That’s not cotton! Let’s get him!!!”
Maureen Downey
January 18th, 2012
6:59 pm
@To all, Just put about 15 comments in moderation — we can’t seem to discuss any issue with reverting to overt racist drivel.
The reasons why the slave imagery was offensive should be clear to all parents, not just African-American ones. I don’t understand the commenters who continue to blame overly sensitive black parents. Any parent with a brain would be offended by these questions. I question the critical thinking skills of the posters who contend that the complaints about these bizarre math question reflect a desire to avoid teaching kids about slavery. These math questions were not about teaching slavery and its history. That is the problem.
Maureen
Are We There Yet?
January 18th, 2012
7:00 pm
@ Mahopinion
“I have yet to see anyone say it was ok to send these questions home. What I have seen is people saying the RESPONSE was over blown, up to and including the entry of the NAACP in to the discussion.”
Well… here is a stamp of approval on this blog from Drake
“This teacher did not appear to be a qualified teacher and it is good he/she is gone
You’re basing this on one assignment that ties math lessons to a part of America’s history….an accurate part of America’s history”.
Do you have another way to justify the questions?
Are We There Yet?
January 18th, 2012
7:05 pm
Exactly!
“The reasons why the slave imagery was offensive should be clear to all parents, not just African-American ones. I don’t understand the commenters who continue to blame overly sensitive black parents. Any parent with a brain would be offended by these questions.”
GeeMac
January 18th, 2012
7:06 pm
Thank you, Maureen. You know I don’t post often, but follow the blog daily. There are a number of unfamiliar posters on this one and I was frankly appalled at some of the comments. As a white parent, I would have absolutely questioned the questions, in the same way that my mother, oh so long ago when I was in 6th grade, questioned some of my “Knowledge Bowl” study questions that used incredibly poor grammatical structure, Educators should exercise better judgment (and grammar!)
GeeMac
January 18th, 2012
7:08 pm
And uh-oh! I spy a comma splice in my above post. Egad!
DC Master Educator
January 18th, 2012
7:10 pm
This entire conversation is buffoonery. Regardless of the age of the children or the race of the children or teacher, the math problems created lacked rigor, and were meaningless busy work. Additionally, the content of the word problems did nothing to develop a higher-level of understanding of Frederick Douglas. If one wanted to help students learn more about this man why not create math problems about the number of books he read or the number of speeches he gave. Better yet create math problems about any of his accomplishments. A simple statement of Fredrick Douglas was born a slave but with the help of abolitionists learned to read, write and compute. That statement lets the students know some biographical information about the man. A deeper dive into his biography would then be discussed in reading or social studies class. Just a thought from someone who evaluates teachers, curriculum and instruction.
Mahopinion
January 18th, 2012
7:15 pm
@ are we there yet-
Evidently we are reading Drake’s statement differently. I certainly don’t read what he wrote as saying the question was acceptable. What he appears to be saying is that the question was based upon a time in history, that while we would rather sweep it under the rug, happened none the less. A more qualified/experienced teacher would have used better judgement when trying to incorporate one lesson with another.
Jordan Kohanim
January 18th, 2012
7:19 pm
GeeMac- great posts and thanks for turning embarrassment into a teachable moment. Come back and post more often!
Would you let them debate it, or would you fear it would get too heated? Too controversial, perhaps?
The questions were undoubtedly wrong, but I agree with your students. There are two sides and more than one individual is responsible.
carlosgvv
January 18th, 2012
7:25 pm
Good Mom – “the teacher is a Hispanic male”
Oh really? The latest AJC story says the teacher is “unidentified” Maybe you should share your knowledge with them.
GeeMac
January 18th, 2012
7:25 pm
Thanks, Jordan. We did in fact debate the issue before they wrote as it is a very small group. It was such an interesting conversation. Their initial reaction was one of disgust, but all it took was for one student to raise the point that we didn’t know anything about the teacher or the lesson presented in class. I have to say, I was very proud of their ability to sift though the information presented.
GeeMac
January 18th, 2012
7:27 pm
Meant to say “sift through the information presented and form their own conclusions.”
Ron
January 18th, 2012
7:35 pm
What a shame this teacher had to resign due to “trendy” educational policies that would mix history and math in the first place. Yes, the math problems were in poor taste, but losing (pressure to resign?) one’s job over this is berserk!
One Parent's Opinion
January 18th, 2012
7:41 pm
If you ask me, it is the black race that is the most racist today, and the NAACP promotes racism. I find it incredible that they would not want slavery talked about and taught in schools. These homework questions were probably given out with the knowledge that the students would understand the content based on what they were studying in class. Slavery should not be shocking to them or something they do not understand. All races have been slaves at some point in history, not just the black race. It’s unfortunate that the parent on the news complaining, was not better informed about what his child was studying. I bet there are a lot of open houses and teacher conferences, that he like many parents did not attend, but amazingly this parent found time for interviews. He and the media took this and blew it way out of proportion to gain headlines. You should all be ashamed!
It is very sad that even one teacher felt the need to resign because of homework questions about slavery They probably felt like they had no choice. Never mind that teachers spend their own money on books and supplies for their students, and devote their lives to teaching them. We all know they don’t a lot of money even if they have a Masters Degree.
Frederick Douglass would be ashamed to hear about this, and that any teacher lost their job by teaching students about his life and slavery. Our country went to war to make sure that slavery was abolished, and that war was fought by whites, blacks and all races.
Can you imagine if the white race had a “Miss White America Pageant”, or if they had a group called the “National Association for the Advancement of White People” (NAAWP). That would be called racist. Everyone that called for these teachers resignations should be ashamed of yourselves. There are so many worse issues that you should all be concerned with like drugs and dropouts to name two.
WAR
January 18th, 2012
7:45 pm
one parent’s opinion
white people do have a white pageant called “miss america”
the national association for the advancement of white people is called “nra (national rifle association)
but sense i women and guns, i guess your imagination will get a pass.
Drake
January 18th, 2012
7:48 pm
Slaves picked and slaves got beatings. It happened. Wasn’t the class just talking about former slave Frederick Douglass?
Here’s the standard:
How did growing up in the south affect Frederick Douglass’ feelings about how different groups of people were treated?
So the Georgia Department of Education wants the kids to know how Douglass, who was 42 at the start of the Civil War, felt about how “different groups” were treated while he was growing up. He saw beatings. He saw slaves working in the fields. He got beat. He worked in the fields.
I don’t think anybody’s trying to claim that slavery is a good thing or that blacks should be beaten. It was an odd choice for a question, but still tied to the social studies content and the Georgia Standards. I hate that the man had to lose his job for this.
WAR
January 18th, 2012
7:48 pm
“you have seen how the man became a slave… now see how the slave became a man.”
frederick douglass , battle with mr. covey
WAR
January 18th, 2012
7:54 pm
this would have been a wonderful moment for the teacher to explain to the parents the intent, apologize, and move forward. but in a society of extreme zero tolerance, the teacher is unemployed, the kids dont have an instructor, and the parents are happy. and that is whats most important…happy, dumb a$$ parents.
Mahopinion
January 18th, 2012
8:04 pm
@ War-
The NRA is really the national association for the advancement of white people? Really? Goodness, I wonder how, as a Hispanic female, my membership was ever approved.
WAR
January 18th, 2012
8:06 pm
mahopinion
i was only having fun. i am a member of the nra as well.
Jack
January 18th, 2012
8:16 pm
Since Jesse and Al were mentioned above, it got me to wondering where they might be. This math question dust-up is tailor-made for them.
Prof
January 18th, 2012
8:19 pm
@ carlosgvv, January 18th, 7:25 pm: “Good Mom – “the teacher is a Hispanic male”
“Oh really? The latest AJC story says the teacher is “unidentified” Maybe you should share your knowledge with them.”
This latest AJC story states that teacher is unidentified by the school involved. An earlier AJC story reported that the complaining parent identified his son’s teacher as Hispanic and used the pronoun “he.”
WAR
January 18th, 2012
8:20 pm
jesse and al are not the voices of black folks anymore. tavis smiley and cornell west are now. and if you dont know who they are dont worry. the rest of America doesnt either.
Dr. Proud Black Man
January 18th, 2012
8:25 pm
@ One Parents Opinion
“If you ask me, it is the black race that is the most racist today”
No one asked you.
“I find it incredible that they would not want slavery talked about and taught in schools.”
I find it typical that you can tell a bald face lie and think no ones going to call you on it. Do you have any sources where the NAACP doesn’t want slavery discussed in school?……….Thought so. Once again I don’t claim to speak for ALL black OR white people but slavery doesn’t bother me. HOWEVER Jim Crow, which is the real outrage, does. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand that One Parent.
I love teaching. I hate what it is becoming...
January 18th, 2012
8:43 pm
@masterprince32 “You all know deep in your hearts this was absurd!!!!”
I do not recall saying anything which suggested I think the questions asked were at all appropriate. In fact, I said several times they were not.
@”Tell one place where you have ever read of Fredrick Douglass being beaten?”
I never suggested teaching that Frederick was beaten. Nor did I suggest it was in the biography we use. However, the fact that he was born into slavery and ran away to avoid it *is* mentioned and makes his life’s work that much more relevant to students.
@Fredrick Douglass was not taught as a slave. He’s taught as an abolitionist Why couldn’t they just stay on those lines? The 3rd grade Bio in which teachers are to use doesn’t even contain in info about him being beaten. ”
Are you confusing two separate issues. Explaining that Frederick Douglass was a slave does NOT equal teaching he was beaten. But you CANNOT do a good job of teaching about Frederick Doulgass without discussing slavery! How can you discuss being an abolitionist, if you do not discuss what he was trying to abolish?
Frankly, I think you should reread my comments since you seem to be taking most of them completely out of context.
Like I said before...
January 18th, 2012
9:01 pm
I got a right to hostile!! Al and Jesse are not coming. No checks will be scratched. It’s how they play the game. NAACP didn’t have to come out for this one either. As long as people of color are being mistreated, in this case the children, “we” will always be there to hold people accountable. I put “we” in quotes because I know there are non-Black enlightened people that will be there to fight.
The question was brought up why were people of color not going off when Beverly Hall and her crew got busted. The reason why is because no one in their right mind would think APS was the only ones cheating on the CRCT tests. You don’t think the suburban “good” schools are exempt from cheating?? In this case, there is caught and not caught. Anytime you have these standardized tests you open yourself to cheating. 60 Minutes just did a piece on a guy that made a ton of money by taking the SAT for students.
This teacher resigned because his conscious was bothering him. There should be three others following him out the door. As I said before as well, “in a school that is mostly ebony, the black culture should be pumped up steadily.”
exteacher
January 18th, 2012
9:04 pm
As a former teacher from Gwinnett, it is no surprise that this teacher was thrown under the bus, and Sloan Roach dusts her hands off and hopes this sacrifice helps. This BS artist helps this district cover up all the misdeeds of its often awful administrators who spend less time at school than in the palace that serves as a central office. What an out of touch lazy bunch. I can tell you this principal and many others have no idea what is going on in the warehouses they call schools. Very glad to be gone and watching from the sidelines.
Oprah
January 18th, 2012
9:05 pm
Was the teacher white or black. Must be black cause we haven’t heard that said repeatedly.
Prof
January 18th, 2012
9:08 pm
@ masterprince 32, Jan. 18, 6:20 pm: ““The Reader” in which [the students] were supposed to go by. Never spoke of him being beaten its talks of him learning how to read from the slave masters children and how he paid them to teach him. Tell one place where you have ever read of Fredrick Douglass being beaten?”
How about his famous autobiography, “Life and Times of Frederick Douglass”? The climactic scene occurs when the 16 year-old Douglass finally fights the noted “slave-breaker” Edward Covey after many beatings and whippings. What do you think slavery involved?
concerned Gwinnett parent
January 18th, 2012
9:27 pm
really…this could have been such a great lesson in social studies and math from all the concern citizens of our country and nation..is that not what we are suppose to teach our children? To learn from mistakes? There was no maliciousness on the part of the teacher. I mean really guys think about those questions could have really been hurtful…”to all slaves of the years” not just some whom think they have ownership of the word…”slave” which by the way, means person owned by another…could be and has been for other races…not just Blacks, but Chinese, Indian, Japanese..etc.
A lesson that have come forward with an interest in our children school. The teacher could have shown them how to do the right thing when you do make a bad judgement call. How to apologize when you have hurt someones feelings…especially when you didn’t mean too. Instead…this teacher was through to the wolves, media and now lost their job. What about these questions do they make you all feel better ? ‘how many people does it take to ruin a teachers career” or ” how many people are really effected by the word slave..” ” are there not other races in our county’s history that were also slaves…?” Instead we all seem to have rush to complain and not try to fix anything..except, yet once again repeat mistakes yet again.
Our teachers have more contact with our children daily than most parents do total number of hours in a week. Yet instead of offering to help, we sit back and attack them. I agree the questions could have been ‘worded better’ but the questions were in line with a subject matter the students were being taught. The school mandatory that the teachers integrate the subject matter…math/social studies…science/language arts..yet does the school stand behind or hide behind what they wanted done.
Now with the teacher resigning..we see what happens…the school just wants a scape goat.
And please don’t even start the garbage that the children who answer the questions are going to be traumatized for life or something ridiculous like that…they get more ‘crap’ from a video game or the news each day. Or even going to ball game and listen to parents holler the stuff that do from the stands.
This has been a sad day in Gwinnett county, when instead of helping each other all we did was destory a career, have a few minutes in national media and another red Georgia stain that just won’t come out….
Former APS student
January 18th, 2012
9:45 pm
maybe if the questions was worded differently it could have made a world of different. example
Some people did not treat slaves well. They sometimes beat slaves, and they also punished them very badly. The main reason for this is because the owners had complete power over their slaves, and they thought their slaves would work harder if they were afraid of being punished by their owners. The slaves worked very hard, but the owners did not pay them. The owners considered them to be property (not people) that they could treat as badly as they wanted. If a slaves was beaten 2 times a day for 5days how many beatings did the slave recieved. ____ 10 days? ____
When dealing with such sensitive subject you have to be careful how the information is presented.
That is where the teacher went wrong. Should the teacher be fired? No should the teacher resigned? I dont think she should have. Sensitivity training is whats needed. what may seems like Common sense to some may not be common sense to others Everyone needs to be on one accord when educating children of all races and religions.
And this is coming from an African american
bu2
January 18th, 2012
10:22 pm
John is right. If everyone got fired for making one mistake noone would be employed. Although resigning was the right thing for this teacher to do. He would be forever tainted in that district.
Maureen seems to be changing her tone. She has put out blogs that almost call for racist comments to come out and said they should stay so that people could see what people really thought. At least the ones that have come out on this situation are not anywhere near as bad as the ones from a few months ago that she let go on and on and on…..
The questions were offensive and poorly thought out. The response to it has been unforgiving and intolerant-just the reaction the teacher has been accused of.
Maureen Downey
January 18th, 2012
10:28 pm
@bu, Actually, these comments are worse, but more of them are going into moderation immediately. And I am monitoring these postings more frequently so the repugnant comments are not up for long, if they make it through the filter.
I am personally fed up with the racism here, as are many readers who email me directly about it. I received this thoughtful email last week:
Maureen
Another Math Teacher
January 18th, 2012
10:53 pm
Maureen Downey : “I am personally fed up with the racism here, as are many readers who email me directly about it.”
Then why do you allow racial slurs to remain on your site? A post by ‘Black Mother’ was pointed out in the past by a few posters (myself included.) It still remains. I’ll ask you again Ms. Downey, do you approve of ethnic slurs being left on your site? You have the power to remove it but you have not for over nine days. It would seem your (in)action on the subject screams volumes.
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/01/09/should-gwinnett-educators-who-created-slavery-word-problems-lose-their-jobs/
Courtney
January 18th, 2012
11:18 pm
This is a sad day. The lynch mob of idiots have killed their prey. GCPS is poorer for it.
Dr. Proud Black Man
January 18th, 2012
11:18 pm
@ Another Math Teacher
And you choosing one post, by a supposedly black poster, screams hypocrisy. Just use this one thread and count the biased responses by race.
Sarcasm 101
January 18th, 2012
11:28 pm
Of course this poor, poor teacher would still have his job if the ultra sensitive (LIBERAL!!!!!) media did not FORCE him/her to quit. They practically put a gun to his head. I bet his superiors put a gun to his head and made him create those lesson plans in the first place. Even better, if these damn kids did not even exist to have to be taught in the first place, SOMEONE might still have a job. I’m pretty sure they’re all on welfare. The teacher did absolutely nothing to warrant this, and blacks love swimming in victim hood no matter what the back story. The teacher is the real victim here. Enter Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and a bunch of others who have nothing to do with this [here] for emphasis. Newt was right. Henceforth.
Seriously: some pure grade-A, 100% prime scapegoating here. I can’t say I’m surprised.
mahopinion
January 19th, 2012
12:18 am
“Yep, no racism here. Just a bunch of condescending white folks trying to tell us how to think and feel.”-Dr Proud Black Man
So Maureen, if you find racial slurs offensive, why is it that you have no problems leaving up the ones against “white folk”?
Another Math Teacher
January 19th, 2012
12:36 am
‘Dr.’ Proud Black Man:
“And you choosing one post, by a supposedly black poster, screams hypocrisy. Just use this one thread and count the biased responses by race.”
Please list which post I missed in this thread that uses ethnic slurs. I must have missed it. Maybe it was moderated, unlike the one I referenced.
It doesn’t matter what the name was of the poster. The content matters.
concerned Gwinnett parent
January 19th, 2012
6:08 am
yet again…the underline problem is ‘will the children learn from this’ NO…probably not..that is shame of all this we must bare yet again. The mistake we yet again are making. The teacher doesn’t get to apologize, looses their job, the children don’t get to understand how a single word can still cause such an up roar in a community and the cycle continues.
This is so wrong! Two many wrongs do not make a correct answer. 9 third grade classes could have learned so much from this and yet parents, media and the school went the wrong way on this issue. Have we lost site of the positive way we could have made this one bad judgement decision and truly turned it into a lesson of a life time for these students.
The more we as hateful backwards society think about race/slave remain in will always be…we could have started something here..with some new young people..and we lost our chance. They could have had it with someone they already cared for, a teacher that the children love and respected. But us close minded busy bodied soles stuck our noses in and screamed..instead of coming to the rescue and help to guide them all to the future.
drew (former teacher)
January 19th, 2012
6:30 am
I see the NAACP isn’t satisfied with one resignation…they want ALL four of the teachers involved fired. According to what I’ve read the teacher that resigned is the one who created the assignment, another teacher made copies, and all four teachers use it. I wonder if the other three even reviewed the worksheet before distributing them (sometimes teachers are simply too busy). But the NAACP doesn’t care to distinguish…fire ‘em all and let God sort it out.
Maybe, with enough time, and enough counselors, these children will be able to overcome the pain and suffering caused by this hurtful assignment and go on to lead productive lives. Yes, it will be hard, and it will take time, but through counseling and perserverence, maybe, just maybe, they will someday be able to overcome this horror or horrors.
WAR
January 19th, 2012
8:16 am
the naacp is a defunct organization with no direction under jealous. it hasnt had a good president since benjamin chavis. he got the shaft during his tenure because of his relationship with farrakhan. but thats a tangent. now the parents want to talk? now they want counselors involved? now they are concerned about the kids? parents have lost their way in education. zero tolerance makes zero sense.
WAR
January 19th, 2012
8:17 am
oh i forgot, good morning all.
Horrible
January 19th, 2012
8:25 am
Poor guy – thrown under the bus for one stupid mistake. Some other teacher bullied out of the profession for drinking wine on facebook. Scores more who were in fact riffed (laid off for budgetary reasons) but stigmatized as non-renewed for incompetence. And yet more coerced into cheating by unethical administrators to raise test scores. Nameless, countless more abused by administrators with petty political agendas.
And all of this while doing hard jobs in systems where student accountability is first in theory, but imperceptible in practice. That’s some profession you got there, folks.
Ron Burgundy
January 19th, 2012
8:52 am
@ mahopinion – did someone not already tell you that racism is only a one way street?
I disagree with maureen who so casually calls people racist. Saying that its a shame that society puts so much emphasis on punishing people for things like the math question and we allow other bad things (racism is a bad thing but so are a lot fo other things) like womanizing, perjury, using power to ones own benefit, poor parenting, substance abuse to happen with not near the same vitrol.
We had a president of the united states lie under oath, we have a current president that got his start being back by Bill Ayers, we have parents who put more emphasis on golf on the weekends instead of family time, we have a society that accepts womanizing and omsetimes even diefies womanizers (MLK, Clinton, Ali), we have people who use there power to help themselves (all of Washington, a lot of preachers and CEOs).
All I am saying is if we spent half as much (just half) as much of our anger and determination to stop the above things as we spend fighting stupid (and possibly racist) math questions we would be a great country.
Ron Burgundy
January 19th, 2012
9:01 am
I have neve rmet this teacher so I do not know if he/she is a racist or just someone with VERY bad judgement. If people can infer from reading these articles that its racism then why can I not infer that the NCAAP and parents obviously forced the firing threatening a lawsuit?
I wonder if this teacher would still have a job had the news and NCAAP not so “thoroughly” covered this klansman like act. I think the best judge of whether this was racism or not are the people in the school and the BOE who is investigating. I wonder if there investigation led ot the firing or the threat of a lawsuit?
bu2
January 19th, 2012
9:15 am
AJC article quoted the complaining parent said his class had a substitute since the investigation began, so it sounds like it was made clear to the teacher he had to leave. Parent also comments, “My son and a lot of school kids in his class did not want to see their teacher go this way. Some of them are puzzled.”
Fearful
January 19th, 2012
9:31 am
First, I work in an area with blacks, and I am not prejudice. I agree that the teachers involved were grossly off base and should be chastised.
Due to the constant focus on racism in our news, I was extremely uneasy condemning the action of those involved in front of the black coworkers for fear one of them may have been offended by my bringing up the issue at all. I do not have the answers to this but it is sad that im afraid to defend a race because of constant exposure to race issues.
Another thought, I apologize to those of you who may be offended by my use of the word chastise who’s definition also includes beating.
IvyLeagueBlackGirl
January 19th, 2012
9:55 am
Racism would have less legs to stand on, IF caucasians who know better would speak out against racism. Any civil right that’s been won worldwide has always done so with involvement by other groups that KNOW better, usually a more “influential group” that’s not the descriminated class. You wouldn’t want a math lesson taught based on how many Jews were gassed! What about 3rd graders adding up how many white slave owners raped little slave girls everyday? It’s poor judgment and insensitivity on the part of the teacher…two skills that are critical path to being a GOOD educator. Keep letting horrible teachers stay gainfully employed in our classrooms and old white men and women will find themselves relying on these same uneducated black and brown workers to fuel their social security. We all better have a vested interest in getting our kids the best education, or you’ll be blogging about where the closest bread line is.
Frankie
January 19th, 2012
10:15 am
@Ivy LeagueBlack Girl
You wrote: “Keep letting horrible teachers stay gainfully employed in our classrooms and old white men and women will find themselves relying on these same uneducated black and brown workers to fuel their social security. We all better have a vested interest in getting our kids the best education, or you’ll be blogging about where the closest bread line is.”
Putting Ivy League in your name does not give credability to the words you ramble with….Do you even have clue as to what you are saying…does not sound like it….”reading is fundamental”
Ron Burgundy
January 19th, 2012
10:19 am
Ivyleague….I beleive that whites take a MUCH greater responsibility in chastising other white for racism. A LOT more responsibility then blacks take when to curb their own racism.
Prof
January 19th, 2012
10:46 am
I have taught University students about British and American colonial slavery, the slave trade, and abolition; and I have found it a rewarding but difficult subject that can be one big minefield. However, I firmly believe that students of all races and ethnic groups need to understand their past that (as Faulkner said) has not really passed.
This present controversy has left me really wondering just how one can teach American slavery to K2-6 students in age-appropriate ways, whatever their race. It is essential to understand the present and, as Dr. Proud Black Man says, the [past] Jim Crow. But the violent reality would be so frightening to an 8 year-old, not to mention a black 8 year-old. Yet how can Frederick Douglass be taught without alluding to the beatings and whippings he received? (As one blogger here evidently has been taught.)
More than ever, I appreciate the importance of our 2nd to 6th grade teachers, and the classroom difficulties they face.
news2me
January 19th, 2012
10:53 am
“Racism would have less legs to stand on, IF caucasians who know better would speak out against racism.”
Really, will it ever be enough? Are we talking racism or political / social correctness? From the tone of your post, sounds like you would be at the head of the line to call any white / caucasion that doesn’t agree with you in full lock step — a Racist.
To be quite frank, this whole Beaver Ridge incident with it’s Racist label is doing more harm to real, true Racism than a million “caucasions who know better” could ever contend with. Will you still support and stand behind these “caucasians who know better” when the time comes that they disagree with you viewpoint?
I agree with poster Fearful above. As a “caucasian who knows better”, I now have battle fatigue. I am tired of fighting your war so that you the minute I turn my back someone like IvyLeagueBlackGirl can stab me and label me a Racist, true or not.
It will NEVER be enough. The race card is really the victim card. Play it like a game, because that’s what it has turned into. The media and the publicity are not helping, they are adding to the damage.
Frankie
January 19th, 2012
11:07 am
Teaching about slavery is not a difficult task. But the irresponsible of the actions of these teachers to so flippidly link math with history (slavery) was inexcusable.
Slavery was more than beatings and lynching, it was an industry, albeit, a inhuman industry.
Trying to equate how many beatings someone gets over a week or two weeks is not teaching about slavery and how it shaped our nation and the world.
teach what has evolved from slavery and how a people that were enslaved have been pulling themselves up by the boot straps and making a way out of no way.
I know the people on thisblog are not that ignorant as to how to teach a subject of this magnitude, but the more i read the comments the more I question the intelligence and moral awareness of the other bloggers…
Ron Burgundy
January 19th, 2012
11:16 am
When we teach about slavery do we talk about the slavery that exist in Africa today. Do we talk about how rival groups sold slaves to the white man? No….we just talk about white people owning slaves.
The point to slavery should not be white people being bad. it should be mankind being bad.
Prof
January 19th, 2012
12:13 pm
@ Ron Burgundy, 11:16 am. No, slavery in Africa today is irrelevant if you’re teaching about slavery in a specific time and place in the past.
Yes, coastal African countries sold Africans from other tribes, and those defeated in wars, to the white Europeans in the slave trade; but it was the white Europeans who created that trade in the first place and provided a market for this human cargo.
No, not only whites owned British and American slaves; but so did some people “of color” (as they were termed then), and Native Americans.
But still the historical facts about the African slave trade, the experience of slavery in the African Diaspora, and American colonial and ante-bellum slavery are part of our history—and should be taught. Just as the facts of the American Revolutionary War should be taught.
Beverly Fraud
January 19th, 2012
12:29 pm
Who did the GREATER damage to African-American children, this teacher and his/her ADMITTEDLY idiotic questions or Beverly Hall/Kathy Augustine at the helm during DOCUMENTED widespread, massive, SYSTEMIC cheating?
Come to think of it, who’s done the greatest damage to African-American children: this teacher, with said idiotic question, or Edward Dubose and his ENABLING silence during THE largest cheating scandal in United States educational history?
Or did his PUBLIC STAND against the actions of Hall and Augustine somehow, someway, escape the notice of Google?
Francene
January 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Hello everyone, I am also a teacher who has been challenged by the educational system and racism in schools. I am black and have had parents take their children out of my class because of that. I’ve had my teaching credentials questioned because I’m black. I am a certified teacher and because I’m black I’m treated like someone they dragged off the streets. Race plays apart of our everyday lives no matter how much we may not want to think so. Everyone should really read the book “I Am Not A Slave”, by a Eugene LaCorbiniere. I will really change the way you look at the world we live in. Great read for this year!!
Frankie
January 19th, 2012
2:48 pm
@Ron B-Red it seems that the whole point of the slavery debate is because the teachers were talking about the slaves here in america as it relates to Susan B. Anthony and Fredrick Douglas….not the slavery that exists in other countries…
Are we moving to fast for you in our typing…We can slow it down to yuor speed if you like.
Ron Burgundy
January 19th, 2012
3:35 pm
Thanks Frankie. I appreciate your concern. I guess my point is not whether this was racism or not but why as a society do we put so much vitrol and effort in making sure any sign of racism is stomped out, but we deify adulterers with kids (MLK, Ali, Clinton), people using power for personal gain (MLK, anyone in Washington), deadbeat dads (John Lennon, half the NBA).
My point is if we went after people who are poor parents, power abusers, dog killers are vehemently as we did supposed racist the world would be a much better place.
I mean Ali is currently being heralded for celebrating his 70th, this ia a adulterous dragft dodger and we deify him cause he could box. Which is worse? This teachers test question or skipping a draft and letting some other person go in your stead?
Dondee
January 19th, 2012
9:20 pm
Reading the article that names the teacher who wrote the poorly thought out questions reveals he is a minority. As you read on, it appears to me that this man is truly sorry for his mistake. I think everyone agrees that the questions were ill conceived, and yet I don’t think there was any malicious intent behind them. Now this man has lost his job and, as he states, embarrassed his family and school. Some type of apology was due (and has been given), but really, did this whole thing need to sink to this level? I pray that there is some type of understanding and forgiveness on the side of the community that is persecuting him. And you’d better believe, I won’t ever write a test question….I’ll just use county approved materials and leave it at that.
drew (former teacher)
January 19th, 2012
9:48 pm
When integrated learning (and political correctness) goes wrong….
After reading this teachers apology, which certainly rings sincere, it’s just sad that it’s come to this. I hope the NAACP, and all of the indignant parents who’s children were “traumatized”, are satisfied. I hope they feel good about themselves. I hope they’re proud of what they’ve accomplished.
And all this hand wringing about counseling for the children who were subjected to this homework assignment. Give me a freakin break! Right…we can only hope that somehow, someway, with lots of therapy and coddling, they can find their way to get past this horror. Puh-lease!
bill
January 19th, 2012
9:51 pm
I say fire them. They are all probably black lefitst democrats who go out of their way to instill hate just like democrats always do.
I would bet these teachers probably thought they were doing a good thing when they did this.
Democrats don’t care about kids education (just look what the democrats did to poor black kids in Atalnta when they changed their test results).
They are more concerned with pushing leftist agendas than teaching.
The more leftist removed from the public school system the better.
IvyLeagueWhiteGirl
January 19th, 2012
11:45 pm
@frankie There I’ve changed my name. Will you sleep better tonight? If IvyLeagueBlackGirl sets you off, you should see my passport. You’re a joke for even bringing up my name. Anyhow, Beverly Hall, the teacher, and anyone else who is not cutting the cake should GO. White black or Hispanic. As a mother, I don’t want someone teaching math to my child in this fashion. What don’t you understand? Again would you want me teaching your precious child math by describing how their ancestors raped poor little girls and boys (e.g slave holders)? It’s not appropriate.
But you know what? There’s no need to get up in arms because I’ve noticed that cowards use blogs to act out the “racist” elements they think they should…and in real life they act like “air breathing creatures of GoD, and treat their neighbors as they should right?” this nation is not getting browner by the day based on blogs. It’s getting browner because me and my Ivh degree meet up with Frankie and we “mix” on the street…what’s sad is that Frankie has a compulsion to then nestle under the covers at night and write stupidity on any blog they can find.
@frankie, see you at Church.
Truth in Moderation
January 20th, 2012
12:45 am
“Moreover, I know that regularly policing your own comments section could become a full-time, and highly unpleasant, job for you even to attempt to undertake. On the other hand, I believe that many who might provide thoughtful and serious input on issues your posts raise may be discouraged from attempting to do so by the tenor of the typical comments thread.”
Translation:
I wouldn’t dare post anonymously with the riff-raff on this blog. Many of the so-called educators cannot spell nor use proper grammar! Some even dare to question our totalitarian government, and keep mentioning some document called the Constitution. How plebeian! Don’t they know who pays your salary, Maureen? So…..if you want my continued $upport, I would highly recommend a new filter. (Tip: just use one the recognizes contractions)
Truth in Moderation
January 20th, 2012
12:58 am
Post post edit….
“government,” should read “government”
“use one the” should read “use one that”
CONFUSED!
January 20th, 2012
7:45 am
Why does this group of people not accept history unless they are wanting to promote it for their own agenda! I don’t hear any complaints from women about the Susan B. Anthony question! I think it is ridiculous for this to even be entertained. It is quite obvious this family is looking for a frivolous lawsuit
with their concern over what this did to their child! Give me a break! This is not about the child, it is about what the parents are wanting to push to meet their own agenda!
Young White Male
January 20th, 2012
8:43 am
I love how many accusations of racism there are in the comments.
@Frankie
Your response really shines because Carlos-whatever has a valid point and you’re response to him is to label him a racist. The problem with that accusation is that its exactly what happens. Double Standards; Blacks are incapable of racism.Black pride is encouraged. White Pride is deemed racist/offensive, and we’re all to consume ourselves with white-guilt. Its like a broken record.
@Dr. Proud Black Man
Once again the race card. Stereotypes don’t describe the entire group of people in question but they didn’t come from nowhere.
Frankie
January 20th, 2012
9:22 am
@ron B-red – I have more respect for Muhammad Ali who stood up for what he believed in, he went to jail did his time and moved forward with his life…Yes he was and adulterer, and half the Republican and democratic parties are adulterers at one time or another or currently.
I can name just as many adulterers and idiot whites as you can name idiot blacks…
If you ave read my post I believe in “ACCOUNTABILITY” the teachers in this incident white, black, hispanic, asia, or other should be held accountable for their actions…PERIOD.
@yWM
I call out black racist just like i call out white racist…the problem is you don’t see the problem…
the race card was played by tthe teachers who chose this ignorant line of questions to represent a lesson in history.
If i said how many KKK members would remain standing if I lined them all up and shot every other one, if there are a total 100 in the line…
I would be called a racist….
Frankie
January 20th, 2012
9:27 am
@ivyleague..whatever color girl -your original comment does not make sense. I do not want these types of teachers teaching my child which is why i agreed thet they all should be fired, suspended, removed form the class room, whatever the punishment.
But your comment doesn’t make sense..period.
Like yuo said anyone can hide behind the blog to write what they want….even YOU..
Frankie
January 20th, 2012
9:36 am
ACCOUNTABILITY….when the parent came forward to the school and questioned the test the administrators probably tried to over look the issue…which inflamed the parent.
Been there done that WITH GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. Had the teachers went to the parents and said hey we made a mistake lets just throw this out, I am sure that the parent would have backed offf or atleast not gone to the media…WHen you hide behind POLICY this is what the school system gets….
Oppressed Red Man
January 20th, 2012
9:55 am
Back on my reservation we hate white man for taking our land, black man much better off than us red men
Love always
January 20th, 2012
10:26 am
The Point is,it should not have been said period. There were a million different questions the teacher could have asked. It was wrong and any teacher who would think like that and teach our children should have resigned. Be careful of your thoughts because they become your words, your words become your actions and your actions define your character. Maybe I’ve mixed up a few words but it is true nonetheless.. Point blank. Period
Horrible
January 20th, 2012
10:46 am
Well folks, you got your man.
‘Rivera resigned from his $39,170-a-year job on Jan. 13, citing “personal reasons”‘.
Given his exorbitant salary, I’m sure he will spend the next month or so chillaxing in the Bahamas, or maybe Hawaii, while he contemplates his next career move.
Additionally, Mr. Rivera submitted a written apology for his mistake.
When and where is the victory celebration?
Frankie
January 20th, 2012
1:10 pm
You must not have gotten the memo, celebrations are on hold til all the teachers who were a part of this are removed from teaching whether fired, resigned, reassigned, whatever…but once that has happened then party in the Beaver Ridge Gym.
I am sure He will be hired by another county school within the next month, he won’t have time to travel….
drew (former teacher)
January 20th, 2012
3:50 pm
Horrible…the celebration will have to wait…the NAACP and some of these other blood thirsty blogidiots (see-Frankie, etc.) aren’t satisfied yet…still 3 more to go. But once they’ve forced these other three child abusing teachers into the unemployment line, the celebration will be ON!
Of course they need to let a little time pass before the celebration begins…they need to make sure all of the severely traumatized students have received enough counseling so that maybe, just maybe, they’ll be able to some day lead a normal life again. Like that’s even possible, after this hellacious experience they’ve had to endure.
exteacher
January 20th, 2012
5:10 pm
bu2 well said. all this intolerance solves and proves nothing. Just more bad feelings. Kids at school? All those students and parents can write this year off. The parent who did this- hope you are proud of yourself. Glad I never taught your child.
To Confused from Good Mom
January 20th, 2012
7:44 pm
“I don’t hear any complaints from women about the Susan B. Anthony question! ”
I was disappointed and little offended at the susan B. Anthony question . what I wanted to know is if the teacher taught the kids how much $75 was back then. Today $75 will buy you a pair of tennis shoes. back then it was likely a few months salary and Susan B. Anthony had to come up with that amount. She only had $25. Of course, how could she come up with a few month’s salary when she was not allowed to work?
When someone isolates facts like those, it skews the meaning. Kids today might think “eh, just the price of a video game. No big deal. A speeding ticket is $200 or more.”
That’s the danger and disgrace of “cross-curriculum teaching.” You can pluck a fact out of context and distort the real meaning.”
To Like I said before from Good Mom
January 20th, 2012
8:06 pm
Like you said “As I said before as well, “in a school that is mostly ebony, the black culture should be pumped up steadily.”
I can hardly believe you said that. It’s pure racism. What if someone said “As I said before, in a school that is mostly white, Ayrians should always prove they’re might.”
Well, you’d fall off your chair, wouldn’t you?
Diversity is not about majority rules. Diversity and teaching is about tolerance and acceptance and equality, regardless of how many members of a race are present.
I’m really disappointed in your post. Racism goes both ways, Like.
To Mahopinion from Good Mom
January 20th, 2012
8:11 pm
“The NRA is really the national association for the advancement of white people? Really? Goodness, I wonder how, as a Hispanic female, my membership was ever approved.”
Hilarious. You crack me up. Thanks for the post. GM
To I Love Teaching from Good Mom
January 20th, 2012
8:16 pm
“Frankly, I find the suggestion that we should exclude mentioning the issue of “slavery” when studying the life of a man who suffered under the regime of slavery and spent his life trying to get rid of the practice of slavery rather bizarre.”
Very well said. The danger in not teaching the beatings and murder that is slavery is that generations of children will believe that it was not so bad.
Teaching about Frederick Douglas without communicating the horrific pain of slavery is like saying about the Holocaust… “the Jews used the ovens to bake.”
I think murder and beatings are too great a deal for an 8 year old to handle and we should wait until the kids are at least ten years old to discuss this horrifying subject.
bootney farnsworth
January 21st, 2012
7:10 am
probably the single, saddest thing here is that so many “learned” people posting here have no clue what racism actually is
Teacher Under Siege For Slavery Math Question Resigns Get Farouk Chi Gf1001
January 22nd, 2012
10:18 am
[...] Teacher under siege for slavery math question resigns [...]
Muhammad
January 23rd, 2012
4:51 pm
@grandpa—Members of the State NAACP didn’t stirr this up and they do not get paid. State and local NAACP chapters are strictly volunteer. Only the National NAACP out of Washington, D.C. gets paid.
@Former History Teacher—How did you try to apply the diversity training in the classroom?
In the case of this teacher, there should have been better cross-curricular training in order to effectively combine two subjects. Or maybe the teacher should have stuck with their expertise math and consulted with the social studies teacher or for that matter a history teacher in order to form better questions.
Ole Guy
January 23rd, 2012
5:37 pm
Farns, maybe you have uncovered a major issue. So many of these problems do not require “learned” input. What the vast majority of these problems require is BRASH BOLDNESS, COMMON FREQUIN SENSE, AND GUTS. If the gd house is ablaze and the “learned” fire fighters are too far away to be of any help, the home owner/the tax payers have no choice but to form the bucket brigade/to DO SOMETHING.
In an age when the propensity is to sit by while others do the dirty work, nobody, leat of all the teachers and CONCERNED parents will do anything beyond complain, piss n’ moan while the “learned” have nothing better to do than scoff at the occassional departure from the “rules of Queensbury”.
You people, like those kids your supposed to be preparing for a “take no _ hit world”, are nothing but a bunch of scared rabbits, too afraid of “getting someone wet from the bucket brigade” to initiate anything worthwhile. The powers that be see this in the “conquor and divide” scenario which has developed when 1) the teacher corps refuses to form into a collective command voice out of fear of upsetting the apple cart, and 2) parents, who are probably too damn stupid to see the forrest for the trees, are too concerned with issues of convenience and self-aggrandizment to see the bigger picture of the effects of a failed educational system upon, not just THEIR kids, but the entire generation. It is almost as if they were too concerned with the color of the car while the tires are bald and ready to pop, causing major traffic woes (which seem to be almost de reguere on today’s highways and byways).
Do we need the input of “learned” people? of course we do. However, where the rubber meets the road, it would seem that far too many “learneds” are adept at simply talking the talk…teacher and CONCERNED parents…”learned or not”, you had best start formulating the “walk”. Ain’t no one else gonna do YOUR job.