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
Bonnie,
The very idea that you associated the N word with Obama is exactly why it should NOT be used by a teacher, whose in a profession that has an impact on impressionable young minds.
However, according to the dictionary, it may be used for people who feel left out of the political process, like yourself, Mr. Howard.
Bonnie,
I would like to know why you think all Muslims are Arabs. I say this because you assert that Obama is Arab, when his father was Kenyan (Africa) and his (white) mother was from Kansas (good old bread basket USA). What’s this business about him being Muslim? He’s been a practicing Christian his entire adult life. Society is very impressionable (even as adults) by propaganda…especially when it is being gushed from the pulpits to promote political points of view. It’s time we do our fact finding before we swallow the proverbial baited hook.
As for this teacher doing what he did, I think he’ll get his in the end. The school board acted and that should be commended. Hopefully, the kids he had the opportunity to influence with his ignorance aren’t as easily impressionable as everyone feels they are. The kids and their protection should be the focus here.
So Bonnie, if this is not the place for politics, why are you posting something about Obama? And if you are going to assert something, how about backing it up. “I heard it on talk radio” is not back up.
eric, you still don’t get it, Obama is not black, he is Arab, registered as a Muslim and practiced Islam for 31 years. This is not the place to discuss politics. This is place about Howard. All I ask was “why could the Assistant Principal feel it was okay to say the n word, but, not a teacher?
I too am white and an American, Bonnie. I’m also proud that I don’t get my information from talk radio.
Sarah may not be pretending about her race but she is pretending about a lot more.
I’m also very proud that an intelligent black man has been nominated for president and has a real good chance of being elected.
Thank you for the Best Wishes, same to you! I am white and an American, and proud to be!!!! At least Sarah isn’t pretending or lying about her race to get votes.
Yes, Bonnie, and yesterday Sarah said you are going to that place below, if you don’t support her. I presume you are going to heaven. Best wishes.
Just curious why the Assistant Principal, which is black, can use the n. all the time and it is okay. Matter of fact, I believe someone ask him and his statement was, “well it is okay for me to do it”. All this discussion about Obama being black, read this statement:
My Name is African Swahili - NOT EXACTLY, your name is Arabic and ‘Baraka’ (from which Barack came) means ‘blessed’ in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama.
Barack Hussein Obama is not half black. If elected, he would be the first Arab-American President, not the first black President. Barack Hussein Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother’s side and 43.75% Arabic and 6.25% African Negro from his father’s side. While Barack Hussein Obama’s father was from Kenya, his father’s family was mainly Arabs.. Barack Hussein Obama’s father was only 12.5% African Negro and 87.5% Arab (his father’s birth certificate even states he’s Arab, not African Negro).
Well I guess even in 2008 we still have a long way to go.
Replying to My-Helle,
This is neither Communist Russia nor Germany. If he has to attend sensitivity and diversity training perhaps you could volunteer to go with him and while you’re there have him teach you a little Geology too. United State citizens deserve better. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER..EQUALITY NO DOUBLE STANDARDS!!!!!!
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