Community members and activist are demanding the firing of the teacher involved in the racist slavery class assignment at John W. Dodd Middle School in Freeport, NY.
Due to the teachers insensitive and racist assignment to "write something funny" underneath images of slaves during the reconstruction era, we are demanding:- She is removed from all classrooms
- She is terminated without pay
- Hire more teachers of color
- Statewide: Racism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Homophobia should be a cause for firing in all public jobs
- There should be a set curriculum and outline for lessons dealing with ethnic and cultural history lessons
- All teachers including new hires should receive cultural sensitivity training
- The state expands on the New York State law regarding racist nooses and swastikas that states “aggravated harassment in the first degree is a class e felony.” It should include all incidents around hate: Racism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Homophobia.
An apology is not enough. We will not tolerate traumatizing students by making fun of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
It is the moral responsibility and obligation of educators to create a safe environment for all students where everyone feels nurtured. Actions that the teacher apologized for go against the mission and purpose of public schooling where all students should be taught revere for those who endured tragedy in history, not make fun or light of it.
Please stand with us and sign this petition.
Updates
October 2, 2019
The momentum behind this petition is growing because people refuse to let this incident be swept under the rug. It is exhausting to keep fighting for basic accountability in our schools but seeing this level of public rejection of hate keeps me moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
October 2, 2019
56 Comments
Her behavior is beyond repulsive. Slavery was 400 years of human beings of color being killed, enslaved, demeaned, ripped from their families and treated like subhuman. Tell me where there is a punchline in that.
Education that reinforces negative disregard for the history and culture of people of culture, or distorts their humanity isn’t education, it’s propaganda. Teachers who teach this way must be identified, corrected or removed if they resist correction. Their potential negative impact on young minds is too important to ignore.
There are plenty of other qualified teachers to choose from .. especially teachers if color. Maintain your credibility, Freeport Public Schools, and remove this teacher.
My child had this teacher and knew who it was before the name was released. Ms. Johane Ligondé Principal and Dr. Danielle Ballard Assistant Principal needs to be held accountable as well. They have turned a blind eye to this sort of behavior from teachers before.
All schools should have students take a Black History course...don’t just teach the students about the slave trade in February for Black History month. Blacks have contributed more to American History than being slaves!
Very upset
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Community members and activist are demanding the firing of the teacher involved in the racist slavery class assignment at John W. Dodd Middle School in Freeport, NY.
Due to the teachers insensitive and racist assignment to "write something funny" underneath images of slaves during the reconstruction era, we are demanding:- She is removed from all classrooms
- She is terminated without pay
- Hire more teachers of color
- Statewide: Racism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Homophobia should be a cause for firing in all public jobs
- There should be a set curriculum and outline for lessons dealing with ethnic and cultural history lessons
- All teachers including new hires should receive cultural sensitivity training
- The state expands on the New York State law regarding racist nooses and swastikas that states “aggravated harassment in the first degree is a class e felony.” It should include all incidents around hate: Racism, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Homophobia.
An apology is not enough. We will not tolerate traumatizing students by making fun of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
It is the moral responsibility and obligation of educators to create a safe environment for all students where everyone feels nurtured. Actions that the teacher apologized for go against the mission and purpose of public schooling where all students should be taught revere for those who endured tragedy in history, not make fun or light of it.
Please stand with us and sign this petition.
Updates
October 2, 2019
The momentum behind this petition is growing because people refuse to let this incident be swept under the rug. It is exhausting to keep fighting for basic accountability in our schools but seeing this level of public rejection of hate keeps me moving forward.
Reached 100 supporters
October 2, 2019
56 Comments
I’AM A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF A ENSLAVED PEOPLE, and its bad enough that the OUR STORY, THE TRUTHS OF HISTORY, has never been told She needs to be FIRED and not REASSIGNED. A few TRUE HISTORY LESSONS
Her behavior is beyond repulsive. Slavery was 400 years of human beings of color being killed, enslaved, demeaned, ripped from their families and treated like subhuman. Tell me where there is a punchline in that.
Education that reinforces negative disregard for the history and culture of people of culture, or distorts their humanity isn’t education, it’s propaganda. Teachers who teach this way must be identified, corrected or removed if they resist correction. Their potential negative impact on young minds is too important to ignore.
There are plenty of other qualified teachers to choose from .. especially teachers if color. Maintain your credibility, Freeport Public Schools, and remove this teacher.
My child had this teacher and knew who it was before the name was released. Ms. Johane Ligondé Principal and Dr. Danielle Ballard Assistant Principal needs to be held accountable as well. They have turned a blind eye to this sort of behavior from teachers before.
All schools should have students take a Black History course...don’t just teach the students about the slave trade in February for Black History month. Blacks have contributed more to American History than being slaves!
Very upset
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I’AM A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF A ENSLAVED PEOPLE, and its bad enough that the OUR STORY, THE TRUTHS OF HISTORY, has never been told She needs to be FIRED and not REASSIGNED. A few TRUE HISTORY LESSONS