White Teachers Sue Philadelphia School, Charge Race Bias

[cali]

May 17, 2011 2:53 PM

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Four white Philadelphia teachers charge in federal race-bias lawsuits that a black principal suggested they were unfit to teach black students.

The teachers work at a predominantly black school in the city’s East Falls neighborhood.

Their lawsuits say a former principal had them read an article that said “white teachers do not have the ability to teach African American students.”

The Thomas Mifflin Elementary teachers say the principal and others undermined their work by reprimanding them, randomly changing their room assignments and letting black teachers ignore rules that whites had to follow.

<snip>

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/05/17/white-teachers-sue-philadelphia-school-charge-race-bias/

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Bias is part of the human condition and is not limit to one race or ethnic group

So this would not surprise me if true

[demosincebirth]

2. Thats a known fact to many of us humans in the U.S.

[JDPriestly]

3. We all need to try to blind ourselves to the skin colors of others.

Everyone needs to be aware of the "my group is best" attitude that seems to be so natural to all of us.

[msanthrope]

4. They are suing the teacher's union, too, for colluding with the principal.

They filed union grievances, and the union colluded with the principal, according to the suit.



"Ray also made sure that black teachers controlled the union and weeded out white representatives in a scheme that ignored union voting procedure, the teachers claim.

As such, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers Union failed to provide proper representation when teachers filed grievances. When the teachers complained, they became the targets of an investigation, the goal of which was to "intimidate, harass and find basis for firing," according to their suits. They say their personal information, including home addresses, were disclosed to a hired investigator, causing them to fear for their families' safety.

Each teacher seeks more than $150,000, alleging violations of various civil rights statutes. They also request relief for invasion of privacy, due-process violations, defamation, infliction of emotional distress, tortuous interference with contractual relations and civil conspiracy.

Named as defendants are the Philadelphia School District, the union, Ray, fellow teacher Shirl Ishmael and two other as-yet unknown "high official" defendants."


http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/05/16/36598.htm

[MellowDem]

5. I remember going to a teacher diversity conference...

and the guy they had talking said that the teachers should teach students of different races differently and treat them differently, because different races learn differently and have different cultures. No doubt that race and culture overlap somewhat, but such a statement is absurd. He also passed out a paper that showed how whites, Asians, and blacks learned (no HIspanics though, haha). It was like literature from some bunk racial science. The guy was black too. I guess diversity training and bunk racial science go hand in hand nowadays?

As for this guy, no doubt it can be harder to teach students you cannot relate to as easily or share the same culture and background with, but to say that that should preclude you is pretty crazy, not to mention damaging to society. Otherwise segregation would be official policy.

[Tesha]

11. Deprecate it all you like, but the truth is that Asians study...

...on average, far more than do students of other
races. That's why they "over-achieve" in so many
ways.

It's a familial thing; their families push them
very hard and they respond in kind.

Tesha

[MellowDem]

13. No deprication needed...

I know the steryotypes and generalities, which are also true to an extent, but to treat students differently based on such generalities can lead to some real prolems, as there are quite a few who dio not fit the "mold" of steryotypes.

[WatsonT]

6. I imagine this would get a lot more attention if the colors were reversed

[Township75]

8. I agree. I think the news, and on DU.

Only a few people posted on this thread because they aren't too outraged. I've noticed to that posts related to Black on Hispanic violence or vice-versa doesn't draw many posts relative to White on X violence. I guess it doesn't make some people feel they are fighting racism if it isn't White???

[Solomon]

7. Ha. Whites playing the "race card."

Couldn't help it. :evilgrin:

[pintobean]

9. K&R

[mrmpa]

10. I once interviewed for a teaching job......

I am white and had taught in an urban 100% African-American school. The interview was for a position in a 98% white middle-upper middle class district,(my home district). The urban school was in another state, and I wanted to move back home. During the interview the white, 60+year old white female superintendent stated to me,"so you can teach black kids?" I was stunned and my response was "I can teach kids." I didn't get the job. I've always wondered why, the white male, with no teaching experience, only a bachelors versus my masters, got the job. Oh yeah, it was so he could coach basketball, he used to coach at a local catholic high school.

BTW, I also had 7 years coaching experience. But the job wasn't posted for coaching experience.

[WatsonT]

12. And, Ignored.

[Modern_Matthew]

14. I wish them all the luck in the world... nt