Boston elementary teacher holds a mock slave auction in class
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (38786)
June 2, 2024 4:17pm CST
I honestly couldn't believe this when I read it at first. As I usually do, I looked it up and it appears to be true.
An elementary school teacher held a mock slave auction. She placed two students in front of the class and critiqued their physical features. She used the N word in front of her students, saying it was in a (non-approved) book and reading it out loud to her students. Later, it was proven the actual word was not even in the book, but yet she used the word anyway.
I find this so, so offensive. As a parent, I would jerk my child out of that situation and teach him or her at home if I needed to. That is no environment anyone needs to be in, let alone a child.
She also called out the child who ratted her out, in her classroom.
Now the teacher is on ''paid'' leave (wish it wasn't paid!) and the principal was given a week off, sort of like a slap on the wrist. Supposedly, the entire thing is being investigated..
Is this where we really are right now? Still fighting the Civil War, still harboring these type of feelings toward others? Does color really matter this much? Why? These are children! They will carry the scars of what that teacher did forever.
Personally, I think she should never be allowed to teach anywhere, ever again. Unfortunately, no one asked my opinion, but that's what it is.
Do you think this is as wrong as I think it is?
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/southborough-elementary-school-teacher-accused-of-holding-mock-slave-auction-using-n-word/3386153/
17 people like this
17 responses
@Deepizzaguy (104261)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
2 Jun
What that teacher did in a school in Boston is beyond disgusting.
4 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (104261)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3 Jun
@MarieCoyle I know what you mean since a song sung by Barry Manilow says something about "Fools only want to bring up burning memories."
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
3 Jun
@Deepizzaguy
This was just wrong on every level. How could a teacher be this stupid?
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108301)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Jun
It is extremely wrong and she should be fired and the parents should sue her.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
2 Jun
They no doubt wouldn't get much...but suing the school district, yes. Someone needs to be held accountable for this.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (51467)
• Canada
2 Jun
I can understand the importance of learning the country's history, but not by reenactment such as that.
We have come such a long way, yet here is an adult spreading what years of work have changed.
We know the former curator of the Nort Buxton museum, which is where many of those slaves escaped to by passage of the underground railroad. She has spoken, effectively to many young students, without making any feel superior or inferior.
The school board should be held accountable for that 'lesson' and for the disciplinary measures, which are pathetic.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
2 Jun
Yes, the school board, the teacher...they should be accountable, no doubt about that. I am going to be following that story to hear what happens. The kids are now scarred for life, because of the ignorance and cruelty of the teacher.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80847)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Jun
That is one sick lady and she should never teach again She can really mess up students' minds and wind up with pint-sized KKK clans and whatnot, The parents should have talks with their children and do as much damage control as they can,
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
2 Jun
The entire class of children will never, ever forget what she did. How they handle it will make a big difference, of course, and if they have to have some help, I truly do hope they get it. The two in particular had to have been so, so traumatized.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
3 Jun
Well, what she did was so terrible, I feel like she needs prison time. But she won't get anything except maybe (I say maybe because nothing was done about this right away) lose her job. At least if that happens she won't be trying that anymore at that school.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
4 Jun
If our world is to have any type of future, we have to teach our children that we are a blended society. I understand that our history is not all the same, we are very diverse. We need to concentrate on pulling together, not pointing out differences and not in such a way, ever.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
3 Jun
It really, really makes me hurt that this was even a thing, that it was true. Those poor kids....and yes, stupid people do exist.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (182344)
• United States
3 Jun
I think I have heard of stuff like this happening before.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
3 Jun
How sad is that...I do hope it does not become commonplace, or worse yet, just acceptable. It's not good for anyone at all to hear or see this.
2 people like this
@dodo19 (47336)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
4 Jun
@MarieCoyle I agree with you. I wouldn't want this teacher at my kids schools. This is all kinds of wrong.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
4 Jun
The teacher should not ever teach again. Totally unacceptable.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
4 Jun
@dodo19
If she taught any child of mine, I would have removed my child rather than let them be under her influence.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168420)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Jun
I can understand what the teacher was trying to do. I think she went about it in a very bad way. Not good for anyone involved.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
4 Jun
This was not the way to do it. Whatever her goal actually was, she failed miserably.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
5 Jun
@celticeagle
Teachers have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children. If they can't do that in a positive way, they do not need to be around children at all.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (23153)
• United Kingdom
5 Jun
@MarieCoyle Yeah there is nothing good she could have achieved from that action. It's a pity people like that are put in charge of moulding malleable minds.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
5 Jun
@flapiz
Some people should have solitary jobs, and never be around others, I guess. This was simply cruel.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
5 Jun
I respect good teachers a lot. This is not one of them, for sure. She belongs on a chain gang somewhere in my opinion, but that's not socially acceptable. Hopefully she doesn't get to teach, ever again!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
4 Jun
My mouth was probably hanging open in shock when I read it. So wrong in every way!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
4 Jun
@MarieCoyle Only a sick mind and a horrible person can do something so horrible.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
3 Jun
My opinion exactly. She doesn’t deserve to be paid at all.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92696)
• United States
3 Jun
@MarieCoyle It's the manner of the presentation of course that does it for me. Yes, slavery existed. Yes, racism was real. Yes, there were auctions. Yes, there were certain words used. But we can tell the story without an exposition and role playing, which to me, serves no purpose other than to create a divide rather than educate on the history of slavery.
I think it is also important to teach where the slaves came from. They were sold BY Africans initially. I think it is ALSO important for a strong emphasis on who ENDED slavery. White people. Because not ALL white people supported slavery and not all white people were racist.
But of course, that part of history seems less important to teach.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
3 Jun
@porwest
Like you said, the role playing was way out of line and made a huge divide...and to critique the kids on their physical characteristics was wrong in every way.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
3 Jun
It certainly is not the way. For a teacher to pass on this type of hate to children is beyond unacceptable.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
3 Jun
It is important to KNOW history, but not to relive as she is making them do. It is totally inappropriate for kids of this age and I probably would say it is inappropriate for older kids as well.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
4 Jun
I agree--it's inappropriate for everyone. Plus, she shamed them, and then went off on the child that told what happened. Shame on her.
@just4him (317277)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Jun
Wow!!! Yes, it's wrong. I agree, she should never teach school again.
No Golden Apple award for her. We have Golden Apple awards for outstanding teachers in Wisconsin. I don't know if they do it anywhere else.
@MarieCoyle (38786)
•
3 Jun
Yes, we have Golden Apple awards, the only Apple she would ever get from me would be to aim one at her so-called brain.
1 person likes this
