Some Teachers Shouldn't

Down in Texas, where things are big, and sometimes stupid, a high school teacher has been put on administrative leave after an incident where he allegedly said, to a 9th grade Muslim girl, "I bet that you're grieving" following the death of Osama bin Laden. he also, allegedly, said, before that, "I heard about your uncle's death."

A teacher. Someone who should know better.

The girl's name is not being released--and neither is that of the teacher--but what sickens me most, other than the blatant sickness of the comments--are the fact that the teacher allegedly showed no remorse for his comments. 

After making his remarks, the girl began to cry, and when he asked why she was crying, another student said it was because of what he'd said to her. the teacher allegedly shrugged and smirked and went on with the class.

The Clear Creek Independent School District released this statement:

In the Clear Creek Independent School District, we believe diversity strengthens our community and seek opportunities to celebrate the different cultures within our schools and neighborhoods. The sentiments allegedly shared by this teacher are not reflective of the staff at Clear Brook High School or anyone within the Clear Creek Independent School District.

In accordance with CCISD policy, the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a personnel investigation. The student did the right thing and immediately notified an adult regarding the teachers' comments. The principal at Clear Brook High School notified the child's parents and has been in communication with the family.

I think the statement could have been a bit more succinct; something along the lines of: The teacher has been fired.

via TalkingPointsMemo

Those Who Can [Behave Like Human Beings] Do, Those Who Cannot [Behave Like Human Beings] Should Not Teach

It used to be that teachers were sort of your surrogate parents for the eight hours or so each day that you spent with them. They taught you things you would never use again--or at least not think you would every use again--like Alegbra and History. But they also gave you life lessons, sometimes just by example.

Not so these days, at least for one teacher. 

Ukailya Lofton, a seven-year-old girl, saw a picture in a magazine of a fun hairstyle that she really loved, and she begged her mother to let her have the same look. Luckily for Ukailya, her mother is a hairdresser, and was able to give her daughter the fun, and fruity, hairstyle she wanted.

Lucinda Williams attached a bunch  of colorful Jolly Rancher candies with elastic bands to the ends of her daughter's braids just in time for class picture day at school. Ukailya proudly showed her friends he new 'do,' and was thrilled that one of her teachers asked her if she could take a picture of her hair.

But that teacher, whose name is not being released, posted the pictures on her Facebook page, along with some comments mocking Ukailya. Another Overton Elementary School parent who is Facebook friends with the teacher saw the comments, and forwarded them to Lucinda Williams.

The teacher posted the photos, and then commented, "Right, this is for picture day."

One of the teacher's Facebook friends commented, "If you are going to make your child look ridiculous, the least you can do is have them matching." 

Another said, "I laughed so hard that my contact popped out."

Adults, laughing at a seven-year-old girl's hairstyle. Is this what teachers do? Tear down a student's self-esteem for a few minutes of fun on Facebook?  School spokesperson, Monique Bond, says, "This was a good teacher, but this was a case of poor judgment. It will warrant disciplinary action."

The teacher apologized to Lucinda Williams, and took down the page, but Williams is not satisfied. The teacher has yet to apologize to Ukailya, and has yet to receive any sort of disciplinary action. Lucinda Williams has hired a lawyer and said she will sue the Chicago Public School District.

This isn't the right message to send to her little girl, either. That every time someone makes fun of you, you run to a lawyer and sue. The lesson to be learned is that, no matter what age, people can be cruel, and say and do mean things, but they should own up to those mistakes and apologize for them. Especially if you're a teacher and you've hurt a little girl.

Ukailya says she was disappointed in her teacher's reaction to her hairstyle: "I feel sad that she put my picture on Facebook. I don't think she liked it." 

No, Ukailya, she may not have liked it, but she didn't have to make fun of it either.

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