Parents call for teacher resignation
By: Jecoliah Ellis
Updated: January 25, 2008
A According to the complaints, the special education teacher at Wilson Magnet High School made the racist remarks in the classroom, using terms such as "monkeys", "animals", and "chocolate-faced" in reference to the students.
Allegedly, when an African American teacher tried to tell her it was inappropriate, she then referred to the students as animals.
On Thursday night, the city school board heard from angry parents and community members. One by one, parents called for her resignation.
"I don't expect my children to be subject to a teacher calling her names. Monkeys, animal, chocolate in reference to skin color. I'm asking for her resignation," said one father.
Parents in attendance at the meeting went on to say the problem in city schools goes far beyond this incident. They claim students have been enduring a culture that allows racism for quite some time.
"I'm holding the board accountable for the behavior our children were exposed to at
"This is not an isolated situation. This type of abusive behavior occurs more frequently then some care to admit," said Howard Eagle, a member of ARM, the Anti-Racism Movement. "We have an elephant in our kitchen. The elephant is institutional racism. The kitchen is the educational system of the
The school district says the teacher has been asked not to return to class while it investigates, but she will continue to receive pay. Angry parents want her removed altogether.
A community group calling itself
The head of the Rochester Teacher's
Urbanski says the investigation could take from one week to one month.
