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
In this day and age, we still have to deal with bigots like this. I am a white mother with children who are biracial at this school and I was offended by this man. Howard tried to teach my child in his class that being a Democrat was a bad thing and if Obama won, she would be in school everyday. This is truely one for the record books. GIVE HIM THE AWARD FOR BEING THE DUMBEST MAN TO OPEN HIS MOUTH!!!!!
The article about the teacher, who made the racial slurs is incomplete, through no fault of the reporter, I am sure. The change comment was not the only racial comment made by Mr. Howard, as I had a child in his class last year. He has made several racist comments to students, including telling black students that they are “nasty” because they do not wash their hair as often as white people. This year, he has made several other racial comments. Mr. Howard has also stated that ALL Democrats are “idiots” and that they support abortion and gay marriage. Mr. Howard also administerrs corporal punishment to black children, without parent permission. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, bring these questions to Mr. Sims. I also understand, I am not sure how true, that both Mr. Sims and Mr. Howard belong to the church. If these young, black students try to challenge teachers, or voice their opinion, then they are disciplined and end up in trouble. So, what do we do? This school district is counting on the fact that students do not go home and tell their parents about injustices in school. My own son did not tell me about his incident with Mr. Howard, until the most recent news was made public knowledge. He has no place teaching children, OR ADULTS.
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