Mother says school work sheet is racist

The Intelligencer ^ | October 27, 2009 | CHRISTINA KRISTOFIC

[Lazamataz]

I agree with you two. If opposing Obama’s Marxism isn’t racist — and it isn’t — this picture, on an assignment in a school, is.

[NMEwithin]

They spelled “Way” wrong...

[alicewonders]

I have to agree with the mother on this one - that’s offensive.

[Right_Handed_Writer]

I live in the town of Farrakhan and Jackson so I am more than familiar with knee-jerk “RACIST!” outcries.

This was a bonehead move by the teacher. But I think it points out a difference in what is true racism versus what is perpetuating a nasty stereotype. Racism harbors intent/contempt. I don’t know the teacher or principal, but I doubt it was done with intent to harm.

[concerned about politics]

For every BS charge of racism and insensitivity that comes out, occasionally they get one right. This pic has no business in an Algebra sheet.

Agreed.

If it were a white man, I'd still find it offensive on a class room paper.
In a magazine or whatever, no one is forced to look at it. In a classroom, the kids have no choice.

[jtal]

The boy's mother said she spent much of the weekend angry and in tears.

oh the agony!!! well i guess it's better to teach the kid to be a wimp than a gangsta.

She plans to keep her son home from school until she feels as though it's safe to send him again.

Great plan, I like it. Maybe she should move to a district friendlier to People of Color (tm), like Washington DC. They probably don't evev teach pre-algebra there so there won't be a problem like this in the future.

[6ppc]

For every BS charge of racism and insensitivity that comes out, occasionally they get one right. This pic has no business in an Algebra sheet.

I agree. That is really offensive.

[all the best]

Absolutely right. I was expecting much ado about nothing. Putting this is in a school assignment was repulsive and thoroughly offensive. The product of an ugly mind.

[Lazamataz]

Yes.

It's about context.

If this was a mostly-white school and there was an offensive picture of a homeless white guy or a white crack whore, that would be racist.

[imskylark]

It’s a stupid picture, black or white, and has no place in a math assignment. Why can’t they just do math without the distractions?

[This_far]

"I couldn't understand what I was looking at," said the woman,

It's your lack of diversity.

[rhombus]

My question is, what was the intent of the picture to begin with?

I think the intent was to mock ignorance. I would have used Nancy Pelosi's picture.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Yeah, but does the “victim” deserve a million dollars for it?

Or should the teacher be punished?

You know where this is headed...to a trial lawyer.

[Ditter]

It is a terrible picture, I have seen it posted here at FR. Why was a picture of a person of any race on a math paper?

[DemforBush]

I’m gonna back the mother on this one. It was an inappropriate pic to use.

[rhombus]

It’s a stupid picture, black or white, and has no place in a math assignment.

Then you are saying it is NOT racist.

[Dewey Revoltnow]

mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm

[End Times Sentinel]

The article doesn’t say, was it his father?

[concerned about politics]

“Spending the weekend in tears” and pulling the child from school “until he is safe” is BS drama.

Agreed. She's milking it. No one threatened the boy. The kids would have forgotten about the whole thing by their next class.

[RexBeach]

No, they spelled “way” incorrectly. :)