White Teacher To African American Student: ‘We Don’t Need Another Black President’

[sheshe2]

snip-

Voigt taught at Fairfield for the last 13 years, and this isn’t the first time he’s been disciplined for a racial remark. In April of 2008 he was issued a verbal warning for an “inappropriate racial comment”; another warning in November 2008 for “improper use of school technology”; a written warning last month for “failure to use adopted curriculum”; and another verbal warning earlier this month for “inappropriate comments to students.” The recent warning came after he allegedly called a student “stupid” and other belittling remarks. The report also notes “All evaluations have been satisfactory.” “Obviously we’re very disheartened to have this situation with any of our staff members,” the Superintendent of Schools Paul Otten said. “It’s not something we’re proud of, and it’s something we must not tolerate.”

“We intend to uphold board policies and to hold teachers accountable for the essential functions of the teacher job description,” Martin said. Otten, explained to The Journal-News that Voigt was speaking directly in response to a black male student who had expressed presidential aspirations. That’s when Voigt respnded, “We don’t need another black President.”

snip-

According to an opinion on AllVoices.com : “The problem with teacher Voigt’s advice to our young and ambitious student is that his sentiments about this country not “needing” a black president are shared by nearly half of this nation-state’s population. These are people who see the office of the presidency as a white preserve or entitlement (male, if at all possible), the one position that is – or should be – reserved exclusively for people who look like Voigt. This story also speaks to and raises the over-arching issue that black boys often do not succeed in academic pursuits because their teachers – usually white teachers, but not always – have preconceived notions about what they are capable of doing. Not very much, they assume. Their low expectations of their charges are reflected in their teaching “style,” their attitudes toward their students, and, of course, their judgments (grading) of those kids’ abilities and efforts on all manner of problems and/or exams. And so, these children — from the start — are steered, directed, or “tracked” into “vocational” or “special education” curricula which also assume that they do not have the necessary cognitive skills to do much more than service other peoples’ cars.”

I agree 100% with All Voices and if I can go a step further it also speaks to the way in which our first black President has been treated during his first term, and now into his second. There are some people who it seems will never accept that role being filled by an African American. They have to somehow void his presidency by claiming he isn’t a citizen or talk about impeachment. It’s further proof that racism is still rampant in America and while we have come a long way, we still have quite a way to go.

http://politicalminute.org/white-teacher-to-african-american-student-we-dont-need-another-black-president/

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. At some point in civilized school boards a history of racist remarks becomes UN-satisfactory.

Is the Fairfield, Ohio, school board civilized?

[Scuba]

2. I agree. One at a time is just right.

[Cha]

3. First of all..

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/12/17/rise-and-shine-701/

Secondly.. From your link, she..

"Gil Voigt was suspended, without pay, from Fairfield Freshman School on Monday which is the first step necessary if they decide to terminate him. Because of teachers’ union rules, Voigt’s suspension is preliminary to and required before his actual firing. Voigt now has 10 days to seek a hearing before the whole school board itself or a “referee.” The alleged incident occurred on Dec. 3 and is reported to have happened in front of several other students. He is accused of violating board policies related to harassment, staff ethics, and staff-student relations."

Mr Voigt is his own worst enemy.. he can't control his "stupid" racist brain. It just jerks out of his mouth. It sounds like he's been teaching too long. Kids needs role models and those who able to communicate ethics; not those who try to defeat them before they get started.

Thanks for bringing this to light, she~

Kids

[sheshe2]

5. Thanks so much for responding to this thread, Cha.

So much bigotry and intolerance, even in 2013, it's so very sad.

Thank you for posting the beautiful graphics. We are not one color Cha, we are many colors. Each is beautiful and special in a variety of ways.

I posted something about this concept earlier. Here is the link,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024232553

...it sunk like a stone, yet it is worth the read. Take some time later to listen to Deval Patrick's speech again. It was wonderful.

Cha

Peace.
she

[Cha]

14. Thanks for the link, she!

And, you're welcome~

[Stellar]

17. Now in my senior years...

It had never really occurred to me that I have been voting on whites for president my entire life. That's just the way it was. We need every nationality to run for president, then that wouldn't occur to any of us either that we've been voting on different ethnicity, once we got used to it. We're all just people. IDK...

[marble falls]

4. What we really don't need is racist teachers.

[Cha]

13. Precisely, marble falls..

[marble falls]

19. Hey, Cha! I wish I had half your spirit and energy!

[Cha]

21. I bet you

do have as much or MORE!

[marble falls]

23. Don't bet anything valuable or dear! I am persistent but I hardly ever lead the charge any more.

[Quantess]

6. That is terrible.

Do I really need to add my input that that this woman (teacher) is a rare racist bitch who has no business in the teaching profession?

Rare.

[tblue37]

7. This teacher is a man. nt

[sheshe2]

8. Thanks tblue,

I just got back and was about to respond.

[tblue37]

9. I was about to KnR, so I fugured I would RnR--respond and rec,

since her post gave me a reason to respond rather than just kick.

[sheshe2]

11. Thanks, tblue!

[Quantess]

12. This is what happens when I post under the influence

No more PUI from now on!
-

[alp227]

10. He said it to a black kid's face? He should try saying it to a black ADULT instead.

Kids are too obedient to make a good comeback. If this teacher said this to a black adult's face, the teacher would walk away in tears.

[tblue37]

15. I wouldn't mind a little blood and sweat to go along with those tears.

He sure would deserve both.

[firsttimer]

16. It's going to be tough firing him with the teachers union backing him

He said , he said , he said

Even with a couple of other students saying he also said it.
I watched first hand how hard it is to get a bad teacher fired...it's not easy with their union involved.

[alp227]

18. But aren't unions supposed to be communist and liberal and anti-American and argleblargleblegh...

and thus will conspire to fire any teacher who dares deviate from the LIBERAL CULTURAL MARXIST AGENDA?

But I think you are right.

[firsttimer]

20. This is the way I look at unions

I'm not in one but I wish I was.

For the 95% of good things they do for workers it's that 5% of the time they
really should wash their hands of some one .

But they don't , Police unions are the absolute worst when it comes to protecting bad cops
WHO they know are bad.


It's a trade off but the good they provide out weight the bad.

[alp227]

22. They exist so that teachers get due process in administrative proceedings.

Which is a good thing. But yeah abuse of power does happen.

[Jamaal510]

24. After witnessing

what Obama has gone through since '08 from the Right (and sometimes the Left, as well), I wouldn't want to be president, anyway. No amount of money would be worth it to have people trying to assassinate me on a daily basis in addition to dragging my name through the mud and having politically-uninformed people thinking that I'm not doing enough when I'm essentially at the mercy of Congress. Screw that. I might join the military before I'd ever run for President.

[marew]

25. While racism continues to be a serious problem...

I become distressed when an entirely myopic view claims teachers must take virtually ALL the blame. I am a retired school social worker and made hundreds and hundreds of home visits to both black and white families. Kids are in classes maybe 6 hours a day but are the responsibility of parents the rest of the time. Kids of all races who have supportive parents do much better then those who don't. Some kids show up for kindergarten and have never been exposed to any pre-academic types of skills, have never held a book or been read a story, etc. Some students start so far behind and tragically their parents are never are supportive of their kids. My fellow social workers and I joked about writing a book about our adventures, about what we've seen. But we sure people would never believe it was nonfiction.
I have seen so many teachers who are heros, who are wonderful! It is time to stop bashing teachers and let's take a more thorough look at why kids- white, black, and any others- do not succeed. Blaming teachers exclusively is grossly unfair to the vast majority of teachers who do a terrific job and who are incredibly caring and empathetic.

[noiretextatique]

26. in this case, the teacher should take all the blame

because he deserves it. and this is not the first racially-charged comment he's made. he needs to be fired.

[marew]

27. Completely agree!

But later in the post it becomes much more generally negative towards teachers. " This story also speaks to and raises the over-arching issue that black boys often do not succeed in academic pursuits because their teachers – usually white teachers, but not always – have preconceived notions about what they are capable of doing. Not very much, they assume. Their low expectations of their charges are reflected in their teaching “style,” their attitudes toward their students, and, of course, their judgments (grading) of those kids’ abilities and efforts on all manner of problems and/or exams. And so, these children — from the start — are steered, directed, or “tracked” into “vocational” or “special education” curricula which also assume that they do not have the necessary cognitive skills to do much more than service other peoples’ cars.”
You do know that all races of children do better in school when they have a safe, quiet place to sleep at night, when they are raised by someone loving and caring, etc. I am talking about families of ALL races here. I have met with parents of all races who were poor and having a difficult time but made their kids a priority and their kids did extremely well. I have met with wealthy parents who were not that concerned and their kids dropped out and lived on the streets. I believe all of us at some time or another have had a teacher who did not like us or we believe they were grossly unfair. If a child has healthy self-esteem inappropriate comments from the few bad teachers- who should be fired- won't do much to hurt a student. But if a child has heard from day one they are stupid or ugly, they unfairly have already been programed to have a higher probability not to succeed before they ever step into a classroom.
I worked with so many caring teachers. I saw teachers buy clothes and school supplies for poor kids and made sure these were given to the kid secretly so no one would know. I have seen many, many teachers buy kids lunches when a family goes into crisis.
Blanket statements about teachers are unwarranted and unfair and that is what is said above.

[noiretextatique]

29. i agree...but this is not about a caring teacher

it is about a BAD teacher who should have been fired a long time ago. that has nothing to do with all the great teachers out there.

[Nika]

28. I remember having teachers this bad.

This one should be let go. He has no place teaching young people anything with such a bad baseline worldview about race and other topics.