Officials: Teacher fired after cutting Native student's hair

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Published 10:47 pm CST, Monday, December 3, 2018

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Officials say an English teacher at an Albuquerque high school will no longer work for the school district after she was accused of calling one Native American student a "bloody Indian" and cutting the braid of another.

An Albuquerque Public Schools spokeswoman confirmed the Cibola High School teacher's firing Monday following calls from the Navajo Nation president for officials to conduct staff cultural sensitive training.

He also wanted officials to do more to address the Oct. 31 incident.

Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye says the teacher's acts were part of a "Halloween stunt." He says the parents of one of the teens told him the family was traumatized.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Officials-Teacher-fired-after-cutting-Native-13440889.php

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Leader of Navajo Nation demands action for 'cultural assault' at high school

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

President Russell Begaye of the Navajo Nation is calling on the state of New Mexico to take action following an incident of "cultural assault" at a public high school.

The incident occurred on October 31 at Cibola High School in Albuquerque, which is the state's most populous city and is home to a large urban Indian population. According to a letter sent to parents, a teacher was accused of calling one student a "bloody Indian" and cutting some hair off of another student.

The teacher was placed on leave for the "unacceptable behavior," according to the November 2 letter, which did not admit any wrongdoing. But administrators say they are investigating the incident.

More than 5,600 American Indians and Alaska Natives are enrolled at public schools in Albuquerque, according to the Indian Education Department. They represent about 5.1 percent of the entire student body.

More:
https://www.indianz.com/News/2018/11/27/leader-of-navajo-nation-demands-action-f.asp

[SunSeeker]

1. She should also be charged with assault, child abuse and hate crime.

[csziggy]

9. Yes, I don't get why teachers get a pass on this sort of thing

From an earlier article:

“It is alleged that these incidents occurred while the teacher was acting out what has been referred to as a Halloween stunt,” the email said.

Albuquerque Public Schools spokeswoman Monica Armenta said the sophomore English teacher – who the district would not name – was conducting her lesson plan while wearing a New Orleans voodoo-like costume.

“She was in full character and during her impersonation of this person this incident occurred,” Armenta told the Journal.

The APS Police Department is investigating.
https://www.abqjournal.com/1241315/cibola-high-school-teacher-on-leave-after-halloween-stunt.html?utm_source=abqjournal.com&utm_medium=related+posts+-+default&utm_campaign=related+posts

So she verbally assaulted on student and physically battered (laid hands on) another student and still no criminal charges?

[Laffy Kat]

2. What the hell is wrong with people?

She should lose her teaching license.

[snort]

3. A Rec.

and a bumpety bumpety bump.

[Croney]

4. What is it with idiots and hair-cutting?

This triggers me back forty years when I got home from work to find that the babysitter (an adult) had given my two-year-old daughter her first haircut. I was so mad I was nauseous, but couldn't fire her that day and pretended it was OK. (That was then! Today I would be making her sorry she was ever born.)

At least my child was unaware of the situation. I can't imagine someone cutting the hair of a teenager. The woman should never be a teacher again.

[El Mimbreno]

8. In high school, class of 1968...

The dean of discipline routinely gave haircuts to guys whose hair he considered too long. I think Ted Nugent was one of them; maybe that's why he ended up so warped?

[2naSalit]

5. WTF??

[BumRushDaShow]

6. There are some serious issues going on in Albuquerque.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1253318/cibola-teacher-at-the-center-of-halloween-incident-no-longer-with-aps.html

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/new-mexico-aclu-releases-statement-regarding-cibola-hs-teacher/5164207/

[WhoWoodaKnew]

7. We have an entire, massively profitable industry that teaches and promotes hate.

I'm just surprised we don't have MORE hate crimes.

[area51]

10. What century is this again?

[Charlotte Little]

11. This teacher should be in jail and never allowed near a school again

Utterly despicable.