Marianna teacher suspended for 'racially charged' comments about Obama

Marianna teacher suspended for 'racially charged' comments about Obama

By TaMaryn Waters • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER • October 3, 2008


A Marianna middle-school teacher has been suspended for 10 days without pay after he wrote a racially charged interpretation of a commonly used phrase in the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama.


While some parents and community activists were outraged by the actions of Greg Howard, Jackson County NAACP officials want to gather more facts before the group considers taking action. But some parents feel Howard should be fired.

Larry Moore, deputy superintendent for the Jackson County School District, said school officials determined Howard wrote an acronym with an explanation on a dry-erase board in his class Sept. 26 at Marianna Middle School.

It said, "C.H.A.N.G.E. — Come Help A (N-word) Get Elected."

Howard, who's been teaching in the district for 17 years, wrote the comment during his seventh-grade social-studies class that included 17 white students, six black students and one Asian.

Howard was suspended with pay Monday while the incident was investigated. The reprimand was elevated to a 10-day suspension without pay starting Thursday. Howard also must write a letter of apology to the students.

Howard will be reassigned to teach in the district's Adult Education Program.

"We feel like the punishment is sufficient," Moore said. "We did not feel he had to be fired."

Moore said Howard did not have any other disciplinary action prior to this incident.

But some parents are livid that the teacher would use the "N-word" in classroom.

"To me, it's hurtful," said Audrey Wad, a Marianna resident with nieces and nephews at the school. "The idea that he would impose his political opinion on the children is wrong to me. That's where he crossed the line."

Elmore Bryant, area director and former immediate past president of the Jackson County branch of the NAACP, said Howard spewed his racially charged "poison" onto students.

Bryant, who taught in Jackson County for more than 40 years, said Howard's comment was "totally inappropriate, out of place, out of character and bad timing."

Of the NAACP, he said, "It's always our position to get all the facts from all sides before we do any action."

Moore said the district will send its investigation findings to the Florida Department of Education's Office of Professional Practice Services, which will determine if further reprimands, such as revoking Howard's teacher certification, will be handed down.


http://www.tallahassee.co...30329/1010
[Edited 10/3/08 12:51pm]

SUPRMAN said:

Marianna teacher suspended for 'racially charged' comments about Obama

By TaMaryn Waters • DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER • October 3, 2008


A Marianna middle-school teacher has been suspended for 10 days without pay after he wrote a racially charged interpretation of a commonly used phrase in the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama.


While some parents and community activists were outraged by the actions of Greg Howard, Jackson County NAACP officials want to gather more facts before the group considers taking action. But some parents feel Howard should be fired.

Larry Moore, deputy superintendent for the Jackson County School District, said school officials determined Howard wrote an acronym with an explanation on a dry-erase board in his class Sept. 26 at Marianna Middle School.

It said, "C.H.A.N.G.E. — Come Help A (N-word) Get Elected."

Howard, who's been teaching in the district for 17 years, wrote the comment during his seventh-grade social-studies class that included 17 white students, six black students and one Asian.

Howard was suspended with pay Monday while the incident was investigated. The reprimand was elevated to a 10-day suspension without pay starting Thursday. Howard also must write a letter of apology to the students.

Howard will be reassigned to teach in the district's Adult Education Program.

"We feel like the punishment is sufficient," Moore said. "We did not feel he had to be fired."

Moore said Howard did not have any other disciplinary action prior to this incident.

But some parents are livid that the teacher would use the "N-word" in classroom.

"To me, it's hurtful," said Audrey Wad, a Marianna resident with nieces and nephews at the school. "The idea that he would impose his political opinion on the children is wrong to me. That's where he crossed the line."

Elmore Bryant, area director and former immediate past president of the Jackson County branch of the NAACP, said Howard spewed his racially charged "poison" onto students.

Bryant, who taught in Jackson County for more than 40 years, said Howard's comment was "totally inappropriate, out of place, out of character and bad timing."

Of the NAACP, he said, "It's always our position to get all the facts from all sides before we do any action."

Moore said the district will send its investigation findings to the Florida Department of Education's Office of Professional Practice Services, which will determine if further reprimands, such as revoking Howard's teacher certification, will be handed down.
[Edited 10/3/08 12:50pm]

I am still here.

In the state capital of Florida.

okay kemme get this straight, you oppose racism but condone sexism?

here are your words (among others), and the link to them:

SUPRMAN SAID

XxAxX said:

MuthaFunka said:

It said, "C.H.A.N.G.E. — Come Help A (N-word) Get Elected."

Wow. And this stupid muthafucka hasn't been fired and they said a suspension was sufficient? Stupid muthafuckas. But I'm certainly not shocked that this weak ass action has been taken. It's the way of America in these cases: Only the Blacks were offended, so no biggie.

sometimes i wonder if we will ever learn.

what an ignorant fuck...you know, it's one thing to be an ignorant, racist idiot...it's another thing altogether to be an ignorant, racist idiot in a position and use that position to spew dumb shit to kids...

you know, the economy doesn't need a bailout, alot of Americans mindsets need a bailout...it's fucking pathetic...
[Edited 10/3/08 13:46pm]

thepope2the9s said:

SUPRMAN said:

SUPRMAN said:

Teaching is a very important responsibility.

This incident reads like a form of verbal abuse. I certainly would have been upset as a middle school student if this teacher was not fired from MY school.

thepope2the9s said:

New World Order (NWO) - Bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher: Deal with it, muthafuckas!

Jealousy/Of what are we/Becomes tendency/For their thievery

MuthaFunka said:

thepope2the9s said:

Nobama and McCain were doing that too.
I dont think she won. Biden seemed much more knowledgeable , as expected. She didnt screw up too bad though.

Didn't you try and front in another thread and say you weren't for EITHER party, yet you ONLY dissed Obama just now?

Stymie said:

MuthaFunka said:

Didn't you try and front in another thread and say you weren't for EITHER party, yet you ONLY dissed Obama just now?

I think the alters can't keep their stories straight.

Stymie said:

MuthaFunka said:

Didn't you try and front in another thread and say you weren't for EITHER party, yet you ONLY dissed Obama just now?

I think the alters can't keep their stories straight.

New World Order (NWO) - Bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher: Deal with it, muthafuckas!

Jealousy/Of what are we/Becomes tendency/For their thievery

MuthaFunka said:

Stymie said:

I think the alters can't keep their stories straight.

Exactly! In fact, it was the thread where he tried to come down on Obama for having a hollywoood-studded fundraiser when he fronted and said he wasn't for either candidate.

XxAxX said:

MuthaFunka said:

It said, "C.H.A.N.G.E. — Come Help A (N-word) Get Elected."

Wow. And this stupid muthafucka hasn't been fired and they said a suspension was sufficient? Stupid muthafuckas. But I'm certainly not shocked that this weak ass action has been taken. It's the way of America in these cases: Only the Blacks were offended, so no biggie.

So help me out here.
How do I discuss her lack of ability and the lack of respect I have for her (not for trying though- [can I say she has balls? or is that sexist?] she's out of her league but she battles bravely onward) and not be offensive on the sexist front.

It is not my intention to offend women in general. Trust me, the locker room discussion of Palin makes me look like the Pope . . . . But since staying out of the locker room is not an option (for me) help me out.

How can I denigrate her, and accurately show my disdain for her, her lies and her use of her sex as a political tool?

I would be most grateful . . . . .

Seriously, all jokes aside, I would be.

SUPRMAN said:

MuthaFunka said:

thepope2the9s said:

Nobama and McCain were doing that too.
I dont think she won. Biden seemed much more knowledgeable , as expected. She didnt screw up too bad though.

Didn't you try and front in another thread and say you weren't for EITHER party, yet you ONLY dissed Obama just now?

IrresistibleB1tch said:

Stymie said:

IrresistibleB1tch said:

Stymie said:

Yep or call her an idiot. That's a pretty gender neutral term.

also.

Stymie said:

finger bangin' my heart

Stymie said:

MuthaFunka said:

Exactly! In fact, it was the thread where he tried to come down on Obama for having a hollywoood-studded fundraiser when he fronted and said he wasn't for either candidate.

I love when they start answering for each other, too.

New World Order (NWO) - Bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher: Deal with it, muthafuckas!

Jealousy/Of what are we/Becomes tendency/For their thievery

TonyVanDam said:

MuthaFunka said:

Wow. And this stupid muthafucka hasn't been fired and they said a suspension was sufficient? Stupid muthafuckas. But I'm certainly not shocked that this weak ass action has been taken. It's the way of America in these cases: Only the Blacks were offended, so no biggie.

Suspension isn't good enough. He needs to be ban from teaching in general.

If I had kids of my own, I would have definitely demand for THAT racist teacher to be fired & replace. Or otherwise, I would have my kids transfer to a different school.

New World Order (NWO) - Bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher: Deal with it, muthafuckas!

Jealousy/Of what are we/Becomes tendency/For their thievery

thepope2the9s said:

MuthaFunka said:

Didn't you try and front in another thread and say you weren't for EITHER party, yet you ONLY dissed Obama just now?

Ive used McSame in other threads and Ive criticized both as Iam not for either. Sorry if I didnt diss McSame in my response.
They are both bought ahd paid for by the nwo global elitists who run the world banks and dicate our foreign policy.
[Edited 10/3/08 15:17pm]

New World Order (NWO) - Bboy87 - Timmy84 - LittleBlueCorvette - MuthaFunka - phunkdaddy - Christopher: Deal with it, muthafuckas!

Jealousy/Of what are we/Becomes tendency/For their thievery