Teacher in Massachusetts under suspension for simulating slave auction and using racial slur in class, asserts school authorities.
At Margaret Neary Elementary School, two offensive incidents occurred, as reported by WCVB, a CNN affiliate. This school is around 30 miles west of Boston.
In January, a teacher (whose name is not mentioned in the letter), during a lesson about the Atlantic triangle slave trade, held an impromptu mock slave auction. In this auction, students discussed slave auctions, and the teacher asked two students of color to stand and talked about their physical attributes such as their teeth and strength.
The second incident involved the same teacher using the N-word while reading a book unrelated to the fifth-grade curriculum to the students in April. The letter states that the 'N-word' doesn't actually appear in the book. Using degrading language like slurs is unacceptable and can hurt students, creating a negative atmosphere.
Martineau, the superintendent of the Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough, expressed his disapproval of the teacher's actions in holding a mock slave auction, calling it unacceptable and against the district's core values. He also mentioned how inappropriate it is to use harmful roleplaying in lessons about traumatic historical events, especially for students of color.
Meanwhile, parents of these students had a meeting with the teacher and the principal regarding the two incidents. However, the next day, the teacher inappropriately called out the student who reported the use of the racial slur, which is not an acceptable behavior.
The school district then started a formal investigation, putting the teacher on paid administrative leave. The principal was also placed on a 10-day paid administrative leave in May.
Martineau stated that the district is now in the process of investigating the matter further and promised to improve their "cultural competency."
Martineau also took responsibility for the previous errors and assured that he would ensure that students are in a safe and supportive learning environment.
We've reached out to the school and the school district for further comments.
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In light of the ongoing investigation, the school community must work together to ensure that incidents like these did not involve the entire 'us', promoting unity and understanding. It's crucial for everyone to stand against such discriminatory behavior and create a safe learning environment for all students.
