Wilson / Jackson-Reed Teacher saying slurs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are outraged because they feel a White teacher should never say the n-word, even in the context of this situation. They point to the fact that the student said the n-word with a soft a whereas the teacher used a hard -er. But the meaning of the terms are identical. The student didn't use the term to mean "bro".

In what possible universe is the meaning of those terms identical? That’s an insane claim to anyone who doesn’t live in a 100% white bubble. The teacher misspoke, and used a word he shouldn’t have. Of course, that doesn’t imply anything about his beliefs, and anyone who claims otherwise is being deliberately obtuse.

Of course, none of this should distract from the fact that the kid should be removed from the classroom (not that that will happen) and need to experience consequences. Homophobic slurs are never OK, and the behavior described sounds very threatening.

+1

People who see them as semantically equal are deliberately making that choice.

Read the room, pal. That kid had it coming right back at him.

[Anonymous]

The teacher was clearly just trying to repeat the kid’s word back at him. Whether n-a and n-er have the same meaning academically is totally irrelevant to the question of whether this teacher was trying to use a different word. This kid, intentionally playing provacator while delivering a slur, should be the only person in this scenario not treated 100% as a victim. That poor teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students are outraged because they feel a White teacher should never say the n-word, even in the context of this situation. They point to the fact that the student said the n-word with a soft a whereas the teacher used a hard -er. But the meaning of the terms are identical. The student didn't use the term to mean "bro".

The meaning of those terms are NOT identical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher was clearly just trying to repeat the kid’s word back at him. Whether n-a and n-er have the same meaning academically is totally irrelevant to the question of whether this teacher was trying to use a different word. This kid, intentionally playing provacator while delivering a slur, should be the only person in this scenario not treated 100% as a victim. That poor teacher.

Exactly this. And the teacher sounds like he’s been abused all year by this kid. The teacher was in a moment of trauma doing his best to retain his composure and diffuse the situation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are outraged because they feel a White teacher should never say the n-word, even in the context of this situation. They point to the fact that the student said the n-word with a soft a whereas the teacher used a hard -er. But the meaning of the terms are identical. The student didn't use the term to mean "bro".

The meaning of those terms are NOT identical.

in this context they are. the boy called the teacher the n-word; teacher replied “I am not an n-word.”

are Wilson/JR students so stupid that they actually think this teacher did something wrong? that’s possibly the most disturbing part of this story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are outraged because they feel a White teacher should never say the n-word, even in the context of this situation. They point to the fact that the student said the n-word with a soft a whereas the teacher used a hard -er. But the meaning of the terms are identical. The student didn't use the term to mean "bro".

In what possible universe is the meaning of those terms identical? That’s an insane claim to anyone who doesn’t live in a 100% white bubble. The teacher misspoke, and used a word he shouldn’t have. Of course, that doesn’t imply anything about his beliefs, and anyone who claims otherwise is being deliberately obtuse.

Of course, none of this should distract from the fact that the kid should be removed from the classroom (not that that will happen) and need to experience consequences. Homophobic slurs are never OK, and the behavior described sounds very threatening.

+1

People who see them as semantically equal are deliberately making that choice.

Can you please explain the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw the video. Black student angrily calls a White teacher the N-word. Teacher replies, "I'm not a n---." Student then tells the teacher, who happens to be gay, "Your life don't matter. You're a f-- [homophobic slur]." Teacher lost composure but it's not like the teacher called anyone the term. The student called him the term and he just repeated it to reject it. Lots of smoke but hardly any fire.

I'm a parent of an 8th grade student who will be at JR next year, and if this is what happened then I'll be very concerned if the student doesn't face some sort of discipline, a suspension at a minimum. This student is clearly creating an unsafe environment for teachers and other students. The teacher is the victim here and it's mind boggling to me that anyone repeating the word back in this context would be accused of anything wrongdoing by students old enough to understand what happened. I wonder if the teacher could sue for a hate crime (on the basis of race and sexual orientation)?

This isn't the environment for teachers to teach or students to learn. I hope the school community supports this teacher and that he recovers and is able to feel safe at school in the future. If you know who the teacher is, then please consider sending an email to the teacher letting him know you value and support him. Please also send a note to the administration letting them know you support the teacher and demand a safe environment for your students.

[Anonymous]

I am African American and my DC has the privilege of being in this teacher’s class this semester..

He is so committed to his students, and to helping them do their best

I am appalled by the video and that this teacher was treated this way by his student.

FWIW, the rumors that DC recounted to us before sharing the video were completely out of line with the actual exchange.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This teacher is a good man. He was called a f-ing (F word - homophobic slur & to suck private parts). This particular student has told this teacher and his co-teacher to “F off” all semester. He is teaching and being videotaped. I hope you volunteer to be in the classroom. We have fifteen calendar days and we have been serving your children. Walk a mile in his shoes. [/quote]

💯 This is a FULL STOP situation. That student should not be allowed in that teacher’s classroom again without a behavior specialist right there and an actionable behavior plan that includes expulsion. This is abusive.[/quote]

This kid clearly has other things to attend to. A 1:1 school might work well for him, if he can find a teacher willing to take up his issues. Why is Jackson-Reed student behavior not being addressed with a full and thoughtful character education program? What is the ethos of this school? How is it imparted? What are students being inspired to be? Example--why does that girl walk around Tenleytown in her lingerie? Our family calls her 'lingerie girl' when we drive by. it's just so ridiculous. Freedom of expression, whatever. Why are the kids stealing soda on the daily from McDonalds and Wawa? It's the little things. This school needs to be re-made, from the ground up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw the video. Black student angrily calls a White teacher the N-word. Teacher replies, "I'm not a n---." Student then tells the teacher, who happens to be gay, "Your life don't matter. You're a f-- [homophobic slur]." Teacher lost composure but it's not like the teacher called anyone the term. The student called him the term and he just repeated it to reject it. Lots of smoke but hardly any fire.

I'm a parent of an 8th grade student who will be at JR next year, and if this is what happened then I'll be very concerned if the student doesn't face some sort of discipline, a suspension at a minimum. This student is clearly creating an unsafe environment for teachers and other students. The teacher is the victim here and it's mind boggling to me that anyone repeating the word back in this context would be accused of anything wrongdoing by students old enough to understand what happened. I wonder if the teacher could sue for a hate crime (on the basis of race and sexual orientation)?

This isn't the environment for teachers to teach or students to learn. I hope the school community supports this teacher and that he recovers and is able to feel safe at school in the future. If you know who the teacher is, then please consider sending an email to the teacher letting him know you value and support him. Please also send a note to the administration letting them know you support the teacher and demand a safe environment for your students.

Jackson-Reed is building up a pretty ugly history with the gay community. Remember Principal Cahall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are outraged because they feel a White teacher should never say the n-word, even in the context of this situation. They point to the fact that the student said the n-word with a soft a whereas the teacher used a hard -er. But the meaning of the terms are identical. The student didn't use the term to mean "bro".

The meaning of those terms are NOT identical.

in this context they are. the boy called the teacher the n-word; teacher replied “I am not an n-word.”

are Wilson/JR students so stupid that they actually think this teacher did something wrong? that’s possibly the most disturbing part of this story.

Some students with nothing better to do love to play the 'gotcha' game by button pressing teachers. The N-word, with it's loaded history, is a complex word of who can say it, when you can say it etc. I'm sure they kids were thrilled thinking 'gotcha'. They were ready to burn a person and their life down. Yes, super stupid. Any peripheral contributors to this little game should perform acts of restorative justice and reflection until they mature in their understanding of how people, lives and human decency work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students are outraged because they feel a White teacher should never say the n-word, even in the context of this situation. They point to the fact that the student said the n-word with a soft a whereas the teacher used a hard -er. But the meaning of the terms are identical. The student didn't use the term to mean "bro".

The meaning of those terms are NOT identical.

in this context they are. the boy called the teacher the n-word; teacher replied “I am not an n-word.”

are Wilson/JR students so stupid that they actually think this teacher did something wrong? that’s possibly the most disturbing part of this story.

Some students with nothing better to do love to play the 'gotcha' game by button pressing teachers. The N-word, with it's loaded history, is a complex word of who can say it, when you can say it etc. I'm sure they kids were thrilled thinking 'gotcha'. They were ready to burn a person and their life down. Yes, super stupid. Any peripheral contributors to this little game should perform acts of restorative justice and reflection until they mature in their understanding of how people, lives and human decency work.

+1000

[Anonymous]

My kid showed me the video. I’m disgusted by that students behavior. I’m sympathetic to the teacher but I do believe he was wrong for saying the word. if my kid ever acted that way his father would cave his chest in (not literally, just expressing the seriousness). - Black women wirh 2 sons, one who goes to this school. I’m embarrassed by that students behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am African American and my DC has the privilege of being in this teacher’s class this semester..

He is so committed to his students, and to helping them do their best

I am appalled by the video and that this teacher was treated this way by his student.

FWIW, the rumors that DC recounted to us before sharing the video were completely out of line with the actual exchange.

I have an older student who also had this teacher as a 9th grader (and loved him), and the version he retold based on rumors was quite different from what seems to have actually happened. I told him to be very careful about how he spoke about the incident, to avoid further spreading in accurate information and to be fair to the teacher and the student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid showed me the video. I’m disgusted by that students behavior. I’m sympathetic to the teacher but I do believe he was wrong for saying the word. if my kid ever acted that way his father would cave his chest in (not literally, just expressing the seriousness). - Black women wirh 2 sons, one who goes to this school. I’m embarrassed by that students behavior.

How was he wrong for saying it? The kid said “You’re an n-word.” He replied “I’m not an n-word.”