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Mother Complains Math Homework Is Racist
A Philadelphia area middle school teacher thought he was motivating students by putting funny clip art from Google Images onto his math worksheets.
But when he chose an image of a toothless black man in a straw hat and suspenders over top of the misspelled words, “NO WA!!!!”, one parent cried racism.
The Central Bucks mother was shocked to see the racist image on her son’s math assignment, but when she heard the boy — who is the only black student in his Lenape Middle School pre-algebra class — was teased about it, too, she got angry.
“We are highly insulted and offended,” she told the Bucks County Courier Times. “We sent him to school to learn pre-algebra. He should be protected from this stuff, not have it thrown in his face…He gets enough (racial slurs) and negativity from the kids. To have the teacher encourage it?”
When the worksheet was handed out, several students reacted negatively to the picture. But math teacher Matthew Curran told them to do it anyway. One student turned around and asked the boy in question, “Is that your father?” When his mother asked him why he didn’t just get up and leave the class, he told her, “Mommy, I’m in school.”
Math teacher Matthew Curran has since attempted to explain his use of the image and apologize. In an email to the Courier Times, he wrote:
“I chose it because it said ‘no way,’ which is a comment my students make when I require them to show each calculation. I had no idea that I might offend anyone. I am very sorry for any distress that this has caused my students and the community.”
An apology is great, but really, what was he thinking? Time to get a new sensitivity meter, sir, because I think yours is broken.
Photo: phillyburbs.com
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9 Comments
BlackOrchid commented on Nov 23 09 at 1:39 pmI have to say, that’s pretty horrible. Poor judgment on the part of that teacher!
Manjari commented on Nov 23 09 at 2:17 pmThat teacher needs to be fired immediately. There is no excuse for that. I live in Central Bucks, and I’m pissed off to hear about this.
TolaniLucia commented on Nov 23 09 at 6:24 pmThis teacher may need to update her own education a bit it seems.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Nov 23 09 at 7:35 pmTacky as hell.
Em commented on Nov 24 09 at 9:40 amMay worth noting that it actually says “No Wai,” which is “lolspeak” as popularized by lolcat images (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolcat). I’m not saying it makes it okay, but it does make it not so much of a race thing.
Anonymous commented on Dec 04 09 at 4:20 pmAs an above commenter said, it’s the new fad of lolspeak… however, that image was originally intended to be racist. It came from a imageboard that is literally the cesspool of the internet.
I’ve heard of accidental offenses, but this should freaking be common sense!
brian commented on Dec 22 09 at 2:08 pmThis isnt racist, only dumb. as was the mother reaction. did she contact the teacher or straight to thepress? I’m curious. And, if this kid is in pre-algebra, why is he still calling his mother “Mommy”.
Maria commented on May 17 10 at 11:35 pmTo the above comment. What does calling your mother “mommy” have to do with an educated adult who teaches in our schools that having any common sense. It’s not just dumb it’s a racist act that should offend everybody. If this teacher is dumb than he shouldn’t be teaching anybody never mind any of our children. People like you that questions a mother’s attempt at protecting their child from a racial remark or act should experience that emotion so they can understand how hurtful and damaging it is.
stephanie commented on Jun 04 11 at 8:05 pmThis is so stupid. It is just a silly picture. If it had been a white person in the picture, would anybody have accused this teacher of racism? I don’t think so. I’m not saying I support racism in the slightest, I’m just saying that people take things too far and cry racism when there is none
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