BCC teacher has a problem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. To clarify

The subject line of the email was"Community Message Hate Bias Event." I am not making that up. Their words not mine. It seems central office thought it was fairly serious as of their reporting this to parents.

The principal said in the email, "Students reported to school administration that a teacher said to several African American students that he was 'unable to distinguish them from other African American students' in the classroom."

Repeating, Teacher said this to SEVERAL black kids, not just two, so please don't think or make it sound like he simply confused two kids with each other.

To BCC alum PP, really very sad that this is a pattern at the school.

Agree that the radio silence from PTSA is odd.

Waiting for more official news. Have other BCC parents heard more from their DCs? Where is The Tattler on this?

Nice conclusion that this was a “hate bias event” based solely on the reports of the students. I feel like school
admins have zero sense about how to handle this stuff. Not the least of which, they aren’t going to be able to fire this guy based on the students word, or even if he actually said that. Admins need to resolve conflict not fan the flames because they are scared themselves.

Hate bias event at BCC. I'd expect this at a W but BCC?

B-CC has a larger minority population than any W and a longer history of students complaining about micro-aggressions. The “culture” seems to be one of class conflict, magnified by white people who keep putting their feet in their mouth and black students who’ve become increasingly adept at publicizing every such instance. It might make for an interesting Netflix series, but otherwise sounds rather exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. To clarify

The subject line of the email was"Community Message Hate Bias Event." I am not making that up. Their words not mine. It seems central office thought it was fairly serious as of their reporting this to parents.

The principal said in the email, "Students reported to school administration that a teacher said to several African American students that he was 'unable to distinguish them from other African American students' in the classroom."

Repeating, Teacher said this to SEVERAL black kids, not just two, so please don't think or make it sound like he simply confused two kids with each other.

To BCC alum PP, really very sad that this is a pattern at the school.

Agree that the radio silence from PTSA is odd.

Waiting for more official news. Have other BCC parents heard more from their DCs? Where is The Tattler on this?

DP. BCC Alum and parent. I want to affirm the other BCC alum who said there have been reported incidents of racism unaddressed at BCC.

Same teacher also used the N-word in class. There was videotape circulating widely. She was never fired or reprimanded publicly in any way. She continued to teach all year and then retired.

And, one of my kids has long noted that students of color are treated worse when subject to potential discipline - white kid late to class can come in immediately without note. Black kid late to class needs to go to main office for note and misses a lot of class.

I have heard about these differentials as early as 1st grade. It is a systemic issue.

Students (of all colors) are offended that they have to go to school in an atmosphere of racism and intolerance. This undermines respect for authority at school, is alienating, demotivating and negatively affects student mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. To clarify

The subject line of the email was"Community Message Hate Bias Event." I am not making that up. Their words not mine. It seems central office thought it was fairly serious as of their reporting this to parents.

The principal said in the email, "Students reported to school administration that a teacher said to several African American students that he was 'unable to distinguish them from other African American students' in the classroom."

Repeating, Teacher said this to SEVERAL black kids, not just two, so please don't think or make it sound like he simply confused two kids with each other.

To BCC alum PP, really very sad that this is a pattern at the school.

Agree that the radio silence from PTSA is odd.

Waiting for more official news. Have other BCC parents heard more from their DCs? Where is The Tattler on this?

DP. BCC Alum and parent. I want to affirm the other BCC alum who said there have been reported incidents of racism unaddressed at BCC.

Same teacher also used the N-word in class. There was videotape circulating widely. She was never fired or reprimanded publicly in any way. She continued to teach all year and then retired.

And, one of my kids has long noted that students of color are treated worse when subject to potential discipline - white kid late to class can come in immediately without note. Black kid late to class needs to go to main office for note and misses a lot of class.

I have heard about these differentials as early as 1st grade. It is a systemic issue.

Students (of all colors) are offended that they have to go to school in an atmosphere of racism and intolerance. This undermines respect for authority at school, is alienating, demotivating and negatively affects student mental health.

And yet you are both a BCC alum and a BCC parent? Seems you would have sought out something different for your kids if it was so terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. To clarify

The subject line of the email was"Community Message Hate Bias Event." I am not making that up. Their words not mine. It seems central office thought it was fairly serious as of their reporting this to parents.

The principal said in the email, "Students reported to school administration that a teacher said to several African American students that he was 'unable to distinguish them from other African American students' in the classroom."

Repeating, Teacher said this to SEVERAL black kids, not just two, so please don't think or make it sound like he simply confused two kids with each other.

To BCC alum PP, really very sad that this is a pattern at the school.

Agree that the radio silence from PTSA is odd.

Waiting for more official news. Have other BCC parents heard more from their DCs? Where is The Tattler on this?

Thank you for the clarification. It’s important that one be very precise with their wording when demanding termination of one’s job. Do not be vague in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. To clarify

The subject line of the email was"Community Message Hate Bias Event." I am not making that up. Their words not mine. It seems central office thought it was fairly serious as of their reporting this to parents.

The principal said in the email, "Students reported to school administration that a teacher said to several African American students that he was 'unable to distinguish them from other African American students' in the classroom."

Repeating, Teacher said this to SEVERAL black kids, not just two, so please don't think or make it sound like he simply confused two kids with each other.

To BCC alum PP, really very sad that this is a pattern at the school.

Agree that the radio silence from PTSA is odd.

Waiting for more official news. Have other BCC parents heard more from their DCs? Where is The Tattler on this?

DP. BCC Alum and parent. I want to affirm the other BCC alum who said there have been reported incidents of racism unaddressed at BCC.

Same teacher also used the N-word in class. There was videotape circulating widely. She was never fired or reprimanded publicly in any way. She continued to teach all year and then retired.

And, one of my kids has long noted that students of color are treated worse when subject to potential discipline - white kid late to class can come in immediately without note. Black kid late to class needs to go to main office for note and misses a lot of class.

I have heard about these differentials as early as 1st grade. It is a systemic issue.

Students (of all colors) are offended that they have to go to school in an atmosphere of racism and intolerance. This undermines respect for authority at school, is alienating, demotivating and negatively affects student mental health.

And yet you are both a BCC alum and a BCC parent? Seems you would have sought out something different for your kids if it was so terrible.

The most vociferous advocates of social justice are often the same ones that pay exorbitant fees to live in communities where their kids don’t have to experience true inequity and issues. You find these people have chosen not to live in communities that could use their knowledge because their “education” has afforded them the ability to live in an area where the fuss over a teacher making a comment is their largest concern. They won’t live in communities where such a fuss can’t even begin to form because people are hungry and kids are overdosing everyday. Look outside your walls and see the issues forming at schools no less than 10 miles from your area. They have turned their back on those areas, sticking up their noses as they won’t even consider purchasing in those communities.

You cry noisily at the idea of racial bias in your community, yet your community is built on such issues. Get out of this BCC bubble for a couple of years and get to know what real problems in schools look like. I am sure this teacher will be ousted from BCC, but not from the field of education. He’ll likely end up teaching somewhere with a less noisy crowd of screaming parents. Probably a north county school, perhaps Prince George’s County or a DC public school. Congratulations! You have won. You will have pushed this man into a community that needs the quality teachers you hope will take this man’s place. After all, you, BCC mother, are a first-class citizen. As such, you deserve first class educators and demand greater accountability from your servants. That cut rate nonsense can go east or north, but it’s not welcome in our community!

See the paradox? Open your eyes. The world is much larger than Bethesda. The net impact of “terminating” this man is that he’ll move to a school where people don’t have your social status and ability to strong arm the board into action. He will thrive in the communities where his “micro aggressions” present the greatest societal risk. So the cycle repeats. He’ll use these terms regularly in a lower income setting - passing on the knowledge that such actions are ok. In a dozen years, I am sure one of these kids will find themself in the same situation that he is in now.

Well done!

The ability to be socially aware is the greatest privilege one can obtain through attending private school. It has, in effect, become a guard on the social mobility of individuals from lower to middle income community. It’s the great irony that those advocating for better social mobility are the very people that unable to discern the learned behaviors of growing up in a lower/middle income community.

[Anonymous]

Such foolishness from some who inherited a well thumbed dictionary!

Now let's imagine this fellow having a history of speaking to our daughters like they were streetwalkers. Calling them Bs or Hs or tricks.

I wouldn't want them in a classroom with anyone's daughter - but if I can only get him away from mine then I WILL be doing that

[Anonymous]

What’s shocking is that this single comment justified sending an email to the entire school community about a “hate bias” event. A reasonable person would assume a hate bias event involved violence, property destruction, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Such foolishness from some who inherited a well thumbed dictionary!

Now let's imagine this fellow having a history of speaking to our daughters like they were streetwalkers. Calling them Bs or Hs or tricks.

I wouldn't want them in a classroom with anyone's daughter - but if I can only get him away from mine then I WILL be doing that

Precisely. One’s desire for social justice ends the day their own kids are involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Such foolishness from some who inherited a well thumbed dictionary!

Now let's imagine this fellow having a history of speaking to our daughters like they were streetwalkers. Calling them Bs or Hs or tricks.

I wouldn't want them in a classroom with anyone's daughter - but if I can only get him away from mine then I WILL be doing that

Ha. Inherited? Yeah right. I’m not sure my father can form complete thoughts, yet alone produce a well reasoned response. You find offense because you cannot stand the fact that you may be part of the problem. I again will emphasize my original point: if you want to change something, please stop complaining and step up to help. You exact demands upon people that cannot understand nor do you have any desire to fulfill yourself. The biggest difference between the teachers committing the offenses above and the those putting forth angry accusations and demanding their accusation these days? They’re actually there. They get up at an ungodly hour to do one of the few jobs where they aren’t actually allowed to work from home.

Please, take their spot. You clearly know how to do a better job than them, yet you refuse to do so? Why? Might I ask for an honest response? Are you even capable of giving one or does the thought of producing an honest reply create such cognitive dissonance between your internal desire for a better life and your “social awareness” that you cannot begin to process it? Is it perhaps that it’s not better for you or your family for you to do so? So long as teaching remains such a field, you’ll continue to have these issues with staff.

So many classes this year don’t have teachers - let alone competent one. The more experienced, capable teachers are taking on the burdens of covering for those simply passing by for a year or two. This isn’t sustainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s shocking is that this single comment justified sending an email to the entire school community about a “hate bias” event. A reasonable person would assume a hate bias event involved violence, property destruction, etc.

And there is no due process.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know this teacher or their history of past offenses.
Assuming this was his first slip up, I would hope he could be given a second chance after going through relevant training.
Assuming this teacher is actually a reasonable teacher, if he is immediately fired or even placed on leave and then fired, kids will be given a random sub probably for the rest of the year. Most teachers teach 5 classes a day. That is a lot of kids who will miss out on learning.

[Anonymous]

MCPS loves touting the restorative justice model that is now active in all schools.
Why not have him and the aggrieved students participate in one or multiple restorative justice circles until a consensus solution is reached.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Such foolishness from some who inherited a well thumbed dictionary!

Now let's imagine this fellow having a history of speaking to our daughters like they were streetwalkers. Calling them Bs or Hs or tricks.

I wouldn't want them in a classroom with anyone's daughter - but if I can only get him away from mine then I WILL be doing that

Ha. Inherited? Yeah right. I’m not sure my father can form complete thoughts, yet alone produce a well reasoned response. You find offense because you cannot stand the fact that you may be part of the problem. I again will emphasize my original point: if you want to change something, please stop complaining and step up to help. You exact demands upon people that cannot understand nor do you have any desire to fulfill yourself. The biggest difference between the teachers committing the offenses above and the those putting forth angry accusations and demanding their accusation these days? They’re actually there. They get up at an ungodly hour to do one of the few jobs where they aren’t actually allowed to work from home.

Please, take their spot. You clearly know how to do a better job than them, yet you refuse to do so? Why? Might I ask for an honest response? Are you even capable of giving one or does the thought of producing an honest reply create such cognitive dissonance between your internal desire for a better life and your “social awareness” that you cannot begin to process it? Is it perhaps that it’s not better for you or your family for you to do so? So long as teaching remains such a field, you’ll continue to have these issues with staff.

So many classes this year don’t have teachers - let alone competent one. The more experienced, capable teachers are taking on the burdens of covering for those simply passing by for a year or two. This isn’t sustainable.

Generations of teachers here, buddy. Going back to the 1930s. It's the family business.

Now I'm going to leave you alone. After denigrating your father on an anonymous public forum I have to assume your vein of ire runs much deeper than this issue with the BCC teacher. I wish you well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Such foolishness from some who inherited a well thumbed dictionary!

Now let's imagine this fellow having a history of speaking to our daughters like they were streetwalkers. Calling them Bs or Hs or tricks.

I wouldn't want them in a classroom with anyone's daughter - but if I can only get him away from mine then I WILL be doing that

Ha. Inherited? Yeah right. I’m not sure my father can form complete thoughts, yet alone produce a well reasoned response. You find offense because you cannot stand the fact that you may be part of the problem. I again will emphasize my original point: if you want to change something, please stop complaining and step up to help. You exact demands upon people that cannot understand nor do you have any desire to fulfill yourself. The biggest difference between the teachers committing the offenses above and the those putting forth angry accusations and demanding their accusation these days? They’re actually there. They get up at an ungodly hour to do one of the few jobs where they aren’t actually allowed to work from home.

Please, take their spot. You clearly know how to do a better job than them, yet you refuse to do so? Why? Might I ask for an honest response? Are you even capable of giving one or does the thought of producing an honest reply create such cognitive dissonance between your internal desire for a better life and your “social awareness” that you cannot begin to process it? Is it perhaps that it’s not better for you or your family for you to do so? So long as teaching remains such a field, you’ll continue to have these issues with staff.

So many classes this year don’t have teachers - let alone competent one. The more experienced, capable teachers are taking on the burdens of covering for those simply passing by for a year or two. This isn’t sustainable.

Generations of teachers here, buddy. Going back to the 1930s. It's the family business.

Now I'm going to leave you alone. After denigrating your father on an anonymous public forum I have to assume your vein of ire runs much deeper than this issue with the BCC teacher. I wish you well.

Generations of teachers means nothing. Your comparison is akin to holding a child accountable for their father’s crimes. Your point is mute. Acknowledging one’s father’s disabilities and lack of formal education is hardly disparaging. It’s a statement of fact.

[Anonymous]

OP here. To clarify

The subject line of the email was"Community Message Hate Bias Event."

How does a slip of the tongu get elevated to “hate”? That word is misused way too often nowadays.