It's almost beyond belief! A white social studies teacher bound the hands and feet of two black girls, while discussing slavery to a classroom of 7th-graders. They were discussing the conditions under which African captives were taken to America in slave ships. After binding their feet and hands with duct tape, the teacher had them crawl under a desk to simulate the experience.
It happened at Haverstraw Middle School in the North Rockland School District in New York City's northern suburbs. And believe-it-or-not, the teacher Eileen Bernstein, is still teaching in the school.
A BAD IDEA -- YOU THINK?
Outrage from the mother of one of the girls and the local chapter of the NAACP has not convinced the school superintendent to fire the teacher. Superintendent Brian Monahan explained that he was having "conversations with our staff on how to deliver effective lessons." He also stated that "If a student was upset, then it was a bad idea.
"We encourage our teachers to deliver the curriculum in a variety of ways, to go beyond just reading the textbook," said the superintendent, as reported by the Associated Press. "We don't want to discourage creativity."
Oh Brother! The lengths to which authorities will go to deny racism and/or stupidity. Either one of which, standing alone, should be enough to fire the teacher -- immediately.
As the mother said, which should be obvious to everyone, "There are other ways to demonstrate slavery. It doesn't matter the color of the kids, it's just not right to tie them up."
During a meeting last Thursday, which included Christine Shand, the mother of one of the 13-year-old girls and Wilbur Aldridge, rep of the local NAACP, the teacher Eileen Bernstein apologized to the mother. However, Aldridge said he was disappointed that Bernstein wasn't more remorseful. He said that he was afraid the teacher still "didn't get it" after the meeting. She apologized because the girl was upset, "not because she admitted she did something wrong," he said.
I agree with the blog Womanist-Musings, which commented: "Who the hell thinks that it is acceptable to tie up two little girls, to teach them about anything?"
TO TIE UP CHILDREN AS TEACHING TOOL
The blog's post continued to ask "At what point are we entitled to our dignity?... Blacks are told we are too sensitive when we complain...The minute we complain, we are uppity Negroes, tryng to use a crutch to get an unfair advantage."
I've been amazed at how many reporters, columnists and bloggers have gone out of their way to protect the teacher, commenting that she just couldn't have meant any racism, that she must have had good intentions, she was just naive and misled in this particular lesson on slavery. Oh puleeze!
"You see, I know the one thing that whiteness has perfected over generations -- the ability to find every excuse possible to excuse its privilege," shared Womanist-Musings.
I believe that even if there was no intended racism, this teacher should be fired for her stupidity.
TEACHER SHOULD BE FIRED
How could any responsible adult, let alone a teacher with whom we entrust our children, not realize that this was inappropriate, hurtful behavior. If I had a child in her classroom, I would yank her out of there until the teacher was fired. And if the teacher is merely moved to another school, it would not be acceptable. That's what the Catholic Church has done for eons -- move pedophile priests to new parishes, only to defile more children.
The teacher has certainly broken the code of ethics for educators. The Association of American Educators Code of Ethics contains the following basic principles relating to the rights of students and parents:
- The professional educator deals considerately and justly with each student, and seeks to resolve problems, including discipline, according to law and school policy;
- The professional educator does not intentionally expose the student to disparagement;
- The professional educator makes a constructive effort to protect the student from conditions detrimental to learning, health, or safety;
- The professional educator makes concerted efforts to communicate to parents all information that should be revealed in the interest of the student;
- The professional educator endeavors to understand and respect the values and traditions of the diverse cultures represented in the community and in his or her classroom.
RELATED POSTS:
CLICK AND READ: "Black 10-year-old Student Refuses to Play Slave for Teacher"
READ "HISTORY TEACHERS ETHICS LESSON: JUST SAY NO TO KKK HOODS & ROBES"
READ "ETHICS FOLLOWUP: STUDENTS WEAR KKK HOOODS & ROBES EVEN IN CROATIA"
TO READ "PARENTS SUE SCHOOL FOR ARREST OF AUTISTIC 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL," CLICK HERE.
TO READ "TEACHER REINSTATED AFTER AUTISTIC BOY VOTED OUT OF KINDERGARTEN," CLICK HERE.
YOU CAN READ THE COMPLETE CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN EDUCATORS, CLICK HERE.
May the parents at Haverstraw Middle School stand up for their children, refuse racism in the classroom, and insist on the teacher's termination.
By Sharon McEachern
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