Marianna teacher ‘told students what ‘CHANGE’ stood for’
Greg Howard
Published: October 2, 2008
Updated: October 13, 2008
The Jackson County School Board has taken action against a teacher who apparently made racial commentary on presidential candidate Barack Obama.
According to parents and students in Greg Howard’s seventh-grade social studies class, Howard on Friday, Sept. 26 asked the class a question regarding Obama’s call for change, and proceeded to write out what the letters C-H-A-N-G-E stood for.
“She told me that he wrote on the board ‘Can You Help A (expletive) Get Elected, and then laughed about it,” said Shelia Christian, a mother of one of Howard’s students.
Jackson County Superintendent Danny Sims said that description of this incident was “pretty accurate.”
Sims said Howard apparently repeated the action in more than one class, having made the comment in “a couple of periods.”
According to a news release from the school board, Howard was suspended with pay on Monday, Sept. 29.
On Wednesday Howard was given a written reprimand regarding his actions, and those actions will be reported to the Florida Department of Education Office of Professional Practices, according to the school board.
As of Thursday, he was suspended without pay for 10 days, was relieved of his football coaching duties, and will be transferred to the Jackson County Adult Education program, according to JCSB.
Howard is also required to submit a letter of apology to the students involved, and is required to attend diversity and sensitivity training, the school board reported.
Sims said Howard’s racial commentary was not directed at any students, but were directed at a political party.
“We’ve handled this swiftly and we’ve handled it with a concern that we’re not going to tolerate it and this is a pretty stiff (action). The situation is behind us and we’re ready to move forward,” said Sims.
“My daughter came home very upset after that happened. When you’re in school teaching our kids, you’re supposed to be teaching them what’s right by the law, not what’s right in your opinion. This is not the stone ages. We don’t come through the back door anymore. I raise my kids to be respectful and they should be led by example,” said Christian.
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Reader Reactions
I am a studant of Mr.Howards.
I know im not as entellegnet as all the adults are on this situation and the political views!But as the consitution says i still have the right to voice my opinion! Mr.Howard was one of my favorite teachers!One day we were talking about political views, and he wanted to make a joke about what 0bama would say at the polls,so he wrote on the board what “CHANGE’ stood for, Come Help A ..... Get Elected. It was very astonishing for me! But Most of the people in the classroom cracked up! He was just joking,and most of the people in our town took it to seriouusally! But i agree,he shouldnt of used the “N” word or said it at all.I think {In my prespective} that the punishment was to harsh, but then agian….I am, just a child!
It looks as if we all agree on the use of the n word. So let’s take it a bit further and discipline all who use this word in the school place. This would include students white, black or any other color. While we are at it let’s include the commonly used “F” word, I find it offensive also.
Here are your words earlier, Bonnie: (Obama) “...registered as a Muslim and practiced Islam for 31 years.“
You believe you saw on CNN… Please!!!
Obama does not refuse to say the pledge. He does wear a flag pin from time to time.
Why not give him an honest look? Check out his website and see what he proposes to do.
He has been the victim of lies and smears. He’s a decent, intelligent man. Too bad he’s an Arab, eh?
I don’t know what McCain was wearing and don’t really care, I just stated what I SAW, and only read that Obama refused to EVER wear the American Flag pin. That I should not have mentioned, I agree, but, I know WHAT I SAW, you can’t change that. I’m not answering your stupid emails anymore, I thought I was talking with someone intelligent.
Bonnie,
Just when I thought there was hope,you go and dash it, proving my point about intellect. FACT: K-O-R-A-N . FACT: McCain was NOT wearing an American Flag Pin in the Presidential Debate. Does that make him UNPATRIOTIC/UNAMERICAN??????
eric, go purchase Obama’s autobiography, “Dreams from my Father”. He acknowledge in his book: studying the Quran and describes the public school as a “muslin school”. He also quoted “in the Muslin school, the teacher wrote to tell my mother I had made faces during Quranic studies”. I believe I saw the CNN news showing where he refused to pledge the flag. He refuses to wear the American Flag pin…what do that tell you?
Bonnie, are you modeling your debate techniques after the unfortunate Sarah Palin? You haven’t gotten back to me about your source for asserting that Obama is an Arab.
Bonnie,
Glad to hear it. Here’s a novel idea, Why don’t we just treat each race, regardless,of color, with RESPECT, EQUALITY, DIGNITY. What a wonderful lesson that would be for our,CHILDREN,COMMUNITY. It doesn’t take a lot of intellect to be Hateful…
Matter of fact all the employees that use the n word should be investigated, one has admitted it was okay for him to use it.
joneses, I didn’t say I thought it was right that Howard used the n word, I simply ask why the Asst. Principal, that is black can use it and it is okay!!!!!!
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