How Teachers Were Insensitive to Children of Color
Teachers are people as some lost sight on their power over their students and the school population with their negative behavior
Four teachers from the Palmdale School District pose with a noose in a photo that circulated widely on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
This morning just when I thought this world couldn’t get anymore bizarre, I read a story depicting these four teachers and their insensitivity to the history of a once terrible oppressed African American people, posing with a noose and wide smiles, is disgusting. Slavery was the African American’s holocaust. Every adult, especially an educated adult knows that this country was built on the backs of slavery and many were hanged. Hence, the noose!!
According to the Times, four elementary school teachers who were placed on leave after a photo of them smiling and holding a noose circulated on social media. Their claim is that the photo was not motivated by racism and they were unaware of the pain and hurt it would cause the Palmdale School District. Teachers, ladies, are you not smarter than a fifth grader.
Teachers you are the gatekeepers of education for the future generations and you don’t know the history of this country. What are you teaching? Why are you teaching? Did you just take license and thought you could escape punishment due to the country’s insensitivity too others at this particular time and culture of our day? Since many feel the need to exit the closet with their racism and hate against others, is this really your truth? Sad, sad, sad!!
Summerwind Elementary School’s principal has resigned and these teachers should be right on her heals doing the same. Paid leave, really? A slap on the wrist will create a permissive atmosphere that would be detrimental to the students, parents and community. This type of action should not be condoned and is unacceptable and if not curb now will spark an ideology that will eventfully prove deadly to many, physiological, socially and educationally.
Ladies, teachers, principal while today’s environment has given too many a license to express their insensitivity to others, but you are the gate keepers of many young lives and owe each your best judgement for their betterment, you each should step aside and follow the footsteps of your principal. How could you do this?
The first grade teachers stated that the photo depicting them smiling and holding a noose was meant as a “hang in there until summer” joke! Really? Well, now the joke is on you each for being less smarter than a fifth grader. The message you sent too many on social media and your students is appalling and speaks volume about your character and lack of judgment.
The principal and the unnamed teachers communicated that they had no knowledge of the racial hatred a noose symbolized. What!!?? Didn’t you go to college? Don’t you read? Do you know the history of this country? Ladies, please!! Don’t play the public for fools!
One teacher related the noose to the wild west! Unbelievable! Once caught, any excuse will be justified but the reality is still the reality of your act. Ironically, the wild wild west is familiar but not the origin or the reality of the noose! Another equated the noose to suicide while another communicated she didn’t know what a noose symbolized until her husband informed her. Wow, and you are teachers!! Do you know about the Holocaust!?
No matter where the noose was found or came from doesn’t justify their exploiting of a savage time in the history of this country. If you found a gun, does that give you a license to pose with it for your own personal feelings or a swastika, indicating how tired you are. Ladies, please!!
Kudos, to the one who shared it on social media to uncover such an intensive act by educators. The parents have a right to be appalled, shocked and outraged and proceeded their disgust by keeping their kids home from school in response. The parents action indicated this is unacceptable and would not be accepted or tolerated regardless of the weak explanation for such an insensitive act. The parents and community are smarter than the teachers. Hello!!!
These insensitive teachers have caused much division and pain and should not be allowed to remain on staff. If they are that tired of their job to do such an insensitive act then the teaching profession perhaps is not for them or no longer a proper fit. Mothers protest this type of behavior in an educational institution.
Teachers made a mockery of a very sad period in this country’s history of over 400 years of innocent bloodshed, shows your lack of compassion and understanding. According to the LA Times article, you are remorseful. Are remorseful for being called out or parents pounded their disgust your way?
In conclusion, teachers often are role models of children and need to keep this fact in the forefront of their minds and actions. These teachers need to face the error of their judgement by giving up their position to others that get that education is paramount and teachers are the gate keepers of the future generations. When a teacher is biased against the very students they teach, then they need to be replaced or resign.
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