parent4real's Blog

I felt the need to write this blog after experiencing a racially toned situation at my daughters middle school that the school has swept under the rug.  Let me explain...

My daughters 7th grade math teacher, who has been filling in for the regular teacher that went on a leave of absense, has been conducting the class in spanish.  My daughter, along with many other students in the class, do not speak spanish and have expressed their frustrations to the teacher about this letting him know they do not understand what he's saying.  When he is speaking spanish they have to sit there and wait.  When he's done speaking in spanish, my daughter has to ask the spanish speaking students what he said and they are kind enough to translate for her. 

Last week during class, the teacher was teaching in spanish again so my daughter asked him to speak english so she could understand the lesson too.  He told her that it didn't matter if he was speaking spanish or teaching math that the students don't understand him anyway and then countinued to make a comment that "if it wasn't for his people...". 

I didn't finish what he said beause it doesn't really matter what he said after that comment. The simple fact that a teacher would behave and speak in such a matter in a classroom environment is absolutely unacceptable.  My daughter, along with several other students, were offended and complained to the school.  When the school officials met with the teacher and the offended students the teacher played the "ignorant" card and said he didn't know what he said offended anyone.  The school then explained that since there were only two weeks of school left to not worry about.  That was it. 

So here's my question... since when is it socially exceptable for racial comments to be made in a school environment?  This teacher is in a trusted position of authority and is supposed to be a role-model for the students.  By not taking action, especially since the school year is almost over, the message the school is sending the students is that it's ok to make racist comments as long as it's at the end of the school year.  I bet that if a student went to school this week and made a racist remark that student would have to pay the penalty.  As a parent I now have to explain to my daughter why the school thinks it's ok for some people to be racist and others it's not.  What are the schools really teaching our children?

Several things are wrong with this situation and I think the teahcer and the school are at fault and need to be held accoutable for their actions not matter what time of year it is.