Teacher Accused of Mailing Afro Wig, White Face Paint to Mixed-Race 2nd-Grader

[BeckyDem]

Brooke Leigh Howard

Tue, 11 July 2023 at 4:24 pm GMT-4·2-min read


A New Jersey family has filed a racial harassment complaint against a school district after the parents said their son’s teacher sent him an unsolicited package that included an afro wig and white face paint in an “act of intimidation.”

According to the July 6 complaint, Denise and Kevin Anderson say the package was sent to their seven-year-old son—only referred to as “J.A.”—by Amazon on July 9, 2021, but there was no sender information. During the 2021-22 school year, administrators of Woodland School in Warren had access to students’ addresses for remote learning, the complaint says. Denise determined that the package was ordered by her son’s second-grade teacher, Christine Rzasa, after speaking with Amazon’s customer service, the suit says.

The complaint says J.A.’s “appearance easily identifies him as a member of the mixed-race community.” His mother is Afro-Latina, and his father is white.

Following the delivery, the Andersons contacted Woodland School Principal Jeff Heaney, the Warren Township School District, and the district board. But the family claimed in their lawsuit that nothing was done regarding the alleged violation of the state’s harassment, intimidation, and bullying laws. Instead, according to the complaint, J.A. was retaliated against in a “hostile education environment.”

“As a result, [J.A.] was so fearful, humiliated and intimidated that he suffered emotional and mental damages for which he had to receive therapy, change of schools and suffer other damages,” the complaint says. “Rzasa’s conduct can be described as nothing short of outrageous.”
https://uk.style.yahoo.com/teacher-accused-mailing-afro-wig-202405154.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr

( Nope, not Texas or Florida, but New Jersey. )

[MagickMuffin]

1. Racism knows no boundaries, it is everywhere, in every state

That’s why it’s so important not to get caught up by imaginary borders. What is contained within those imaginary borders are cruel people.

[riversedge]

5. Yet, this example seems very extreme--esp. for the school board to do NOTHING. And the

teacher!! Hard to believe this is happening sometimes--maybe I do not want to believe it--but here it is. damn.

[BeckyDem]

6. Republican's have normalized hatred against the other and people act on it..imo.

How anyone can do this to a little kid takes a lot of hate.

[marble falls]

2. Going after a second grader. Nice look on a teacher.

[Joinfortmill]

3. The depth of my disgust at the cowardly creature who did this is bottomless. Sue the lot of them.

[yardwork]

24. Who would do this to a seven year old?!

Editing to add that the more I read about this, the more I'm inclined to wait and see if it is true.

[jimfields33]

4. That teacher is weird. Hopefully never to teach again.

As parents, I’d never would have shown him the contents in the box for the exact reason that it would upset him. And no I would never allow kids to open a box regardless if it had the name until maybe 16 with me in presence. Too dangerous of a world today.

[BeckyDem]

9. Yes, seems parents have to act from such a guarded position.

[jimfields33]

13. Unfortunately true today.

Too many weirdos out there. Can you imagine a person sending a gun or porn or anything to an 8 year old? I never would have until 8 years ago when the country went to a whole other place.

[BeckyDem]

15. Yea, the story is shocking to me because a teacher is involved and she is young too.

It is a very aggressive action and meant to shame and frighten a very young kid, imo. Not sure how else you can call it.

[yardwork]

32. Maybe she didn't do it.

From the article:

Rzasa did not respond to The Daily Beast’s requests for comment, but the elementary teacher has been instructing at Woodland School since 2001, according to her LinkedIn page. In 2006, she won the Governor’s Teacher of the Year award.

The Warren Township School District said it “rejects hate and racism in all forms.”

“The Board of Education and the individual employees deny the allegations in the Complaint and intend to vigorously defend the case,” communications coordinator Shannon Regan told The Daily Beast in a statement. “At all relevant times, the Board of Education’s primary concern is the education and well-being of its students.”

[Demsrule86]

41. I read other articles. She did it.

[Demsrule86]

48. I read other articles. She did it.

"According to the July 6 complaint, Denise and Kevin Anderson say the package was sent to their seven-year-old son — only referred to as 'J.A.' — by Amazon on July 9, 2021, but there was no sender information," reported Brooke Leigh Howard.

"During the 2021-22 school year, administrators of Woodland School in Warren had access to students’ addresses for remote learning, the complaint says. Denise determined that the package was ordered by her son’s second-grade teacher, Christine Rzasa, after speaking with Amazon’s customer service, the suit says. The complaint says J.A.’s 'appearance easily identifies him as a member of the mixed-race community.' His mother is Afro-Latina, and his father is white."

https://www.rawstory.com/kevin-anderson-woodland/

[yardwork]

58. Where does that say that Amazon confirmed it?

It's the parents saying that, not Amazon.

[Demsrule86]

65. I sent you a link.

"According to the July 6 complaint, Denise and Kevin Anderson say the package was sent to their seven-year-old son — only referred to as 'J.A.' — by Amazon on July 9, 2021, but there was no sender information," reported Brooke Leigh Howard.

"During the 2021-22 school year, administrators of Woodland School in Warren had access to students’ addresses for remote learning, the complaint says. Denise determined that the package was ordered by her son’s second-grade teacher, Christine Rzasa, after speaking with Amazon’s customer service, the suit says. The complaint says J.A.’s 'appearance easily identifies him as a member of the mixed-race community.' His mother is Afro-Latina, and his father is white."

https://www.rawstory.com/kevin-anderson-woodland/

This teacher needs to be kicked out of the profession.

[yardwork]

69. Reread the bolded type in your post.

The parents say that Amazon confirmed it.

Nowhere is there a quote from Amazon confirming anything.

[Demsrule86]

73. I don't get why you want to believe this is minority parent out for what they can get, but the

Amazon Rep whether he or she should have or not told the Mother. It is very clear. How else would she know? The teacher has an Amazon account.

[yardwork]

75. You're putting words in my mouth I didn't say.

You're going on full ignore. Bye.

[ShazzieB]

113. The teacher has an Amazon account, but how do we know someone else didn't get access to it?

Answer: We don't. We have the parent's word for it being on her account, but no direct confirmation from Amazon. And people's online accounts get hacked all the time. Or maybe she left her phone unguarded for a few minutes and some got her info off of it and used it to place the order. There are lots of ways thiscould have happened.

IF this teacher actually placed this order and had it sent to a mixed race student (which, BTW, would be incredibly stupid on multiple levels), she's vile and evil and should be fired, as soon as it can be determined that that is the case. But I don't think that actually has been determined yet.

And NO, I do NOT believe this is a "minority parent out for what they can get." I just think all aspects of this, including the possibility that this was a mean, nasty prank perpetrated by someone other than the teacher, need to be thorouhly investigated before getting out the tar and feathers.

[questionseverything]

135. No where in the article does it say the teacher has an amazon account

The couple accusing her present no proof

[yardwork]

150. There's no proof of any of their accusations.

As you mentioned in another post, there's no proof that any package was actually sent, much less proof of who sent it.

This whole story, first published in the tabloid The Daily Beast and picked up verbatim by other outlets, represents the point of view of two people who filed a lawsuit. That's literally all we know.

[questionseverything]

165. We also know the teacher, school and school board are denying it

Reading this thread makes me worry that critical thinking is a thing of the past for some

[yardwork]

167. Right, we know that too.

Even so, at least one poster here thinks that the teacher's "no comment" to the tabloid reporter is the same as a confession - even though the school district is defending her against the lawsuit, along with their board.

I think what's happening here is very interesting. Some posters would prefer to attack this teacher - posting her photo and fantasizing violent attacks on her - even in the absence of objective evidence that any of this happened, much less is her fault - rather than focus on the very real, publicly verifiable examples of school boards and state legislatures currently enacting highly bigoted policies that harm millions of children.

This is a textbook example of a scapegoat being manufactured and sacrificed. This white teacher is a stand in for every white bigot who ever lived and by god she will be punished, whether guilty or not.

Reminds me of The Crucible.

[questionseverything]

168. Good summary

[Coventina]

97. I am skeptical for one reason only: Contacting Amazon customer service is next to impossible.

Truncated post title: Contacting Amazon customer service is next to impossible.

Getting information from Amazon is next to impossible.

If they managed to do so, I'd really like to know how.

[BlackSkimmer]

89. What makes you think the teacher is young? The link says she's been teaching since 2001.

Certainly not old perhaps, but hardly young.

[BeckyDem]

103. A photo of her was posted in this thread, she seemed young to me.

But you could be right.

[NowISeetheLight]

115. Looked Younger

I googled her name. She's on LinkedIn and Pinterest and there were quite a few pictures. Is she started teaching in 2001, figuring she was 23 out of college she'd be 45 today. The lady in the pictures, if it is her, has aged kindly. (Not that 45 is old).

[Sky Jewels]

7. Pure evil

Photo at link https://images.app.goo.gl/LMhK2WH5zgAqRemp6

[BeckyDem]

10. Thank you, let her be known to all.

[Celerity]

28. Christine Rzasa. Rzasa is Polish for duckweed (literally pond scum)

rząsa:

[yardwork]

30. Maybe she didn't do it.

I don't know one way or the other. The story seems off to me.

[Sky Jewels]

144. In this article it says she "declined to comment."

https://www.rawstory.com/kevin-anderson-woodland/

Does that sound like someone who didn't do it?

[RobinA]

161. It Sounds

like a person with a lawyer in a world in which you can be ruined for any BS in about two minutes.

[questionseverything]

163. It sounds like someone following their lawyers advice

[Jilly_in_VA]

8. Are. You. Serious?

A Teacher. Did this. To an innocent kid, who is at most, 8 years old????? Someone ought to take that woman out in the middle of town and let every Black, Latin, and right thinking white person throw rocks at her until they are tired.

I am not feeling charitable today, thanks to my murderer neighbor and the heat. One of those needs to go away. I am sorry to you, my DU brothers and sisters, for the rant.

[BeckyDem]

11. It's ok, the hatred unleashed since Trump's 2016 run for president is still going strong.

It's hard to process!

[Jilly_in_VA]

12. Yeah, but

I really shouldn't participate from this side. I've just been angry since Sunday.

[BeckyDem]

14. Good that you recognize it, Jilly.

It is very difficult sometimes and if possible, talk to someone you trust. I take breaks from reading the news, for me, I can become tearful and can feel down.

[Celerity]

37. Trumpism just brought the same old 400 + years old racial powerhate constructs back to the fore

They always were there since the first permanent (so the Norse of L'Anse aux Meadows fame do not count) white settlers came, even before the first black African slaves were introduced to the North American mainland in 1619. Before that there existed white hatred hatred of the non-white indigenous populations.

[BeckyDem]

55. I agree with this. I just feel the power of Trump is his ability to make people feel comfortable

with their racism.

[Celerity]

82. absolutely!

the power of Trump is his ability to make people feel comfortable with their racism

[Ocelot II]

16. What the actual fuck?

Who does that? WTF is wrong with that teacher?

[BeckyDem]

18. It is shocking. The lawsuit, under depositions, should reveal a lot of the teachers motives.

[ForgedCrank]

17. Well first

off, I never believe this stuff until I've seen the proof. It would be easy enough for a real jerk to fake this entire thing.
However, if it turns out the teacher really did do this, it is nothing short of vile and there should be severe and long lasting consequences. We don't need this sort of thing in our world.
Even if the teacher did not do it, there is someone out there who did. Absolutely disgusting.

[BeckyDem]

19. It is true, no hoax. I wish it were then no child would have truly been harmed. n/t

[ForgedCrank]

33. I agree,

it most certainly isn't a "hoax". SOMEONE did this. Be it a vile third party jerk, the teacher, or heck, maybe even the parents or a co-worker of the teacher, other students?
But I need to see the proof or the outcome of a real court before I'll hang my hat on anything.
My beef is that this actually happened, and some child has been a target. This is unacceptable.

[BeckyDem]

36. If the parents were involved, I would be shocked. Lawsuits like this involve a lot of turmoil

and the child will be put under deposition. The claim is the parents changed schools because the event was traumatizing and the odds parents put their kid through all of this seems unlikely. But you are right, more awful events have been perpetuated by parents, I just doubt it's this one.

[yardwork]

39. Do we know for sure that any package was sent?

It is not unheard of for people from minority groups to claim that they have been attacked, when they themselves either make up the story or stage the attack.

I am gay, and this happens some in the gay community. I've learned to be skeptical when somebody comes forward with an odd-sounding story about a bizarre attack. This story seems odd to me.

Racists and other bigots aren't usually this complicated in their attacks. Most bullying is more immediate, in the moment. WHY would a teacher send these objects to second grader? The child doesn't know or understand the historical context of blackface. It just seems off.

[ForgedCrank]

46. Those are

also very valid points. Do we know for sure this was actually delivered to them?
All I see at this point are the claims. But for the sake of discussing it, I'll have to assume that at least that part is true, but who knows.
Some of us will never be able to understand minds that don't function properly. Regardless of what the actual truth is here, someone is being very hateful, and trying to cause damage to someone else.
It's repulsive to me.

[Demsrule86]

53. You should delete this post...it is racist...I know you didn't intend it this way but it is.

Here is the link which I also posted below...Amazon confirmed it. From what I read the teacher ordered the paint and the wig from Amazon and had it shipped to the kid. She had his address because of the pandemic...virtual learning reasons.

https://www.rawstory.com/kevin-anderson-woodland/

[yardwork]

56. Where does the article say that Amazon confirmed this?

And where is my post racist? That is a very serious personal attack. I'll wait for your explanation.

[Mariana]

108. That story doesn't say that Amazon confirmed it.

[BlackSkimmer]

87. True.

These type things have been drummed up (unfortunately) by members of just about every group, minority or not.

Seem a rather elaborate hoax to perpetrate on anyone, much less a second-grader?

[BeckyDem]

107. Part of the complaint stipulates the child has received therapy as a result

of his experience with this event. Obviously their attorney will have to back that claim up with documentation and I find it hard to believe they don't already have it. Is it so easy to get a therapist to lie for you? I would hope not.

[questionseverything]

164. The therapist only knows what the kid says

The kid only knows what the parents have told him

[BeckyDem]

166. You: The kid only knows what the parents have told him

That's an interesting response.

[Demsrule86]

74. I do too.

[yardwork]

26. I am a little skeptical, myself.

I read the linked articles and it sounds as if it is the parents who claim to have proof that the teacher did this. Also, they claim the teacher had access to the child's home address based on data from the 2021-22 school year. That was last year. Would the child's second grade teacher have access to this info?

There is no proof offered.

Sadly, it is not unheard of for people to do things in an effort to get attention. Maybe the parents were angry at this teacher and wanted to get back at her.

I'm going to withhold judgment for now.

[ForgedCrank]

40. There are

multiple possibilities here, we've seen this garbage too many times now.
It could even be other hateful students, although they would be a bit young for this sort of thing. A disgruntled co-worker, and yes, possibly even the parents. I'm just not going to automatically assume a teacher would do this without seeing the proof with my own eyes.
I try to look at it like this: What if I wanted to do something sick like this. Would I use my real name and credit card and Amazon account to do it? I suppose there are some really REALLY stupid people out there, but it doesn't add up. Something as simple as a new account using a throw-away email and a cash Walgreens gift card could make this anonymous and very difficult and expensive to trace.
Regardless, I hope they find the person who actually did this, and I hope the ramifications are severe. There is no place in our society for hateful people, most especially those who would do this to a child.

[yardwork]

66. Right... and I keep coming back to the oddness of the package.

It just seems off.

There are mean, racist teachers in the world. They bully kids in class. Why go to all the trouble to send a package like this to a child?

[Demsrule86]

76. The teacher is likely a viciously racist...there some who hate mixed race kids. This is not a kid's

prank...it is old school black-face.

[BlackSkimmer]

88. Do we know the race of the teacher?

I haven't seen that mentioned.

[Sky Jewels]

145. White

Her photo: https://images.app.goo.gl/LMhK2WH5zgAqRemp6

[Demsrule86]

50. Amazon confirmed it was sent by the teacher.

I posted it below but here is the link...

https://www.rawstory.com/kevin-anderson-woodland/

[yardwork]

54. Where does the article say that Amazon confirmed this?

[Progressive Lawyer]

77. That news story doesn't say "Amazon confirmed it was sent by the teacher."

The news story you cited states the mother/plaintiff said Amazon confirmed the story. Those are two very different statements.

[Zeitghost]

95. You can keep saying that...

But Amazon has made no comment and has neither confirmed or denied anything.

[Initech]

20. This country is going to hell.

[NowISeetheLight]

21. Amazon

If this really was the teacher, I'm surprised someone educated would be so stupid. Even sending something as a gift via Amazon triggers a paper trail. Did she use her credit card to pay for the items? Paper trail. I'm going to wait to see evidence before passing judgment. If it is true, she should never teach again.

My guess is they'll terminate her. If she fights it for any reason other than she was a victim of identity theft it would imply she's guilty. If she claims she didn't do it and her account was hacked or something that is discoverable too. Amazon keeps IP address records when you sign in.

[BeckyDem]

27. I am curious about the Amazon info too. Right now the school system is defending her. n/t

[NowISeetheLight]

31. Experiment

I guess I wonder how they got the senders information. I've called Amazon for things in the past and while efficient they're not exactly flexible. A quick Google search of "how to find out who sent you an anonymous gift with Amazon" brings up a lot of articles. Most seem to imply they won't release the senders information without the sender preapproving it.

[yardwork]

34. The article says that Amazon "refused a subpoena" but it's not clear who said that.

I've read the article three times and it seems like there is no evidence, just the parents saying these things.

Maybe there's evidence. I don't know. The story seems off.

[NowISeetheLight]

38. Defamation / Libel

They better be able to prove this then. They've publicly accused someone of something horrible. If not this parent might end up being the one being sued.

Defamation is any false information that harms the reputation of a person, business, or organization. Defamation includes both libel and slander. Libel generally refers to defamatory statements that are published or broadcast (more permanent) while slander refers to verbal defamatory statements (more fleeting).

[BeckyDem]

42. To be fair to the school's claim of innocence, we don't know details on how that info was revealed.

Amazon fought the government on a case where they were going after a tax fraud scheme. Amazon was not subject to the investigation but they tried hard not to reveal info on their customer base. In the end, they won their position...to an extent.

"And we work with law enforcement, and we'll respond to binding subpoenas, but if we have any doubt about whether the request by a law enforcement agency has the potential to violate customers' First Amendment rights, we will scrutinize it closely. And if we can't work around that problem, we'll usually ask a judge to decide whether the government's need is sufficient."
https://www.computerworld.com/article/2540262/amazon-wins-battle-to-protect-customer-records.html

[yardwork]

47. So if Amazon resists government subpoenas, why would they reveal customer info to an ordinary person

Would Amazon have told these parents the identity of the customer who sent a package to them?

I don't know. I've never contacted Amazon to ask them to reveal the identity of a customer who sent me a package. I'm inclined to think Amazon would not tell me, though.

[BeckyDem]

51. I know, I am curious about it as well. But I will ask this....is it possible an

inexperienced customer service employee innocently gave the info? Perhaps if they were told they wanted to thank the sender.

[yardwork]

59. I don't know. Maybe?

[Demsrule86]

62. Yes they told the mother that is how she found out, and in the end Amazon will have to comply

with the subpeoenas.

[Demsrule86]

63. Honsestly! They told the Mother. And will eventually comply with the subpoena.

[NowISeetheLight]

92. Possibly?

But the article linked says possibly it was the teacher. If they were sure and had proof, I would think they would've said that.

[ForgedCrank]

71. My first

reaction was "baloney". I can't see Amazon publicly divulging information on what any of their customers have purchased.
Again, this makes me angry, but I'm harnessing the focus of my ire until the culprit is absolutely identified by something more than what someone said. Anything that is not coming directly from a court of law is suspect these days.

[ecstatic]

128. I can see it if it was delivered to another customer's house

There's regular Amazon customer service but then there are other layers for when problems like this occurs. For example when one of their delivery contractors mowed down my mailbox while delivering to someone else. They told me everything I needed to know to take control and get the issue resolved.

[BlackSkimmer]

98. It seems very off.

It simply makes no sense.

Frightening how quickly people jump to believe stories that make absolutely zero sense, and as others have pointed out, have no definitive proof of their veracity.

[yardwork]

99. It really is frightening.

I feel as if I'm watching a virtual mob with torches and pitchforks, on their way to burn the witch.

People who ask questions are shouted down. Our posts are alerted on. How dare we question the rush to judgement.

People will say "it's only the internet, nobody is being harmed" but a person's photo, with her name, is posted in this thread. She's being labeled a monster. An entire school district is being labeled racist for not immediately firing her, when the district says they dispute the accusation and intend to go to court to defend against the lawsuit.

How is this different from MAGAT behavior? Since when do DUers read one article and rush to judgement?

SMH

[BlackSkimmer]

100. Since when?

Come on, you've been here long enough lol!

And everything you wrote is spot on.

[yardwork]

101. Ok, I did feel that last sentence was hyperbole.

[BeckyDem]

105. Yes, I am curious how they confirmed it.

That is not clear as far as I am aware. Would a lawyer file a lawsuit case without confirmation? I tend to doubt that.

[questionseverything]

127. Lawyers will file suit at their client's direction as long as they are paid

Bogus law suits are filed all the time

[BeckyDem]

129. Not all of them. This attorney doesn't seem to fit that profile.

Education
Justice Morris Pashman American Inns of Court
Thurgood Marshall School of Law, J.D.
St. Joseph's University

As an immigrant to the United States, I went through the legal process of immigration along with my parents at the age of eight – we attended court and I was immediately attracted to the poise and style of the attorneys amidst the chaos of immigration court.

Later, at age 12, I was detained by immigration and separated from my mother in Puerto Rico on a return trip to the United States from Martinique. I was interrogated by immigration officers who threatened to return me to France, my birthplace, without my parents if I did not cooperate.

At such a young age, having experienced the feeling of helplessness without legal guidance, and having recalled my earlier positive impression of attorneys helping others, I devoted myself to pursuing a legal career, so as to represent people who needed a compassionate voice and sound legal guidance through unfamiliar and sometimes life-changing circumstances.

Soon after becoming a lawyer, I sought to join an intimate sized law firm that would provide the opportunity to concentrate on partnering closely with clients. I found this in The Law Offices of Katherine G. Houghton.

https://www.khoughtonlaw.com/attorneys/kelly-castor-esq/

[questionseverything]

130. She's a "slip and fall " lawyer, that's exactly the profile

Everyone has the right to legal representation but just because they have a lawyer doesn’t mean they aren’t wrong

Bs lawsuits are filed every day

[BeckyDem]

132. Her life experience couldn't possibly shape her approach to the law, according to you.

Ok

[questionseverything]

133. I'm just going by how she advises her services

Slip and fall is on her extensive list of why she will file suit

[Demsrule86]

57. Apparently from the link below...she ordered it from Amazon and had it sent...that is how the

Mom found out who sent it. And for those on this thread that say or hint that 'minorities' engage in this sort of thing-fake attacks...well, SHAME ON YOU. This message is not for you Beck.

[ForgedCrank]

85. Just because

someone is a minority does not by default absolve them of any wrongdoing. We've seen examples of it before. Some were mistaken, some were actually deliberate. Not many, but it has happened. Some people are just nefarious jerks with ill motives. There are 330 million people in this country, and some are bound to be bad people with ill intent.
In this case, we are openly exploring possibilities. I never said the teacher was innocent, and I never said the parents were guilty. I said all these things are possibilities until we see real evidence from a court or with our own eyes. And I haven't' seen anyone else say anything any different.

[jeffreyi]

86. Agree.

The whole thing seems off.

[Jilly_in_VA]

110. You would be surprised

at what "educated people" can do. I just watched a documentary last night about a former Teacher of the Year in a Georgia town who was revealed to be a sexual predator, and several of his victims were his students.

[wnylib]

22. According to this article,

the school is standing by the teacher and is defending her.

https://www.binnews.com/content/2023-07-12-teacher-accused-of-mailing-afro-wig-white-face-paint-to-mixed-race-boy/

[BeckyDem]

25. Who knows, they may have been advised to put up a good fight only hoping to settle later on.

[yardwork]

29. Or maybe they're not sure it's true.

Unless I've missed it, there isn't any evidence offered that proves she sent the package.

It's an odd thing to send to a child. If the teacher was racist - and there are mean, racist teachers, unfortunately - wouldn't it be easier to simply bully the child in class? (I'm trying to think like a bully, here.) Why send a wig and white makeup to the child's home? Would a seven year old understand the historical implications?

[NowISeetheLight]

35. Correct

The article says "After contacting Amazon's customer service, the mother determined her son's second-grade teacher Christine Rzasa possibly sent the package, the complaint reads.

POSSIBLY is a big word here. So they're slinging around this accusation when it isn't a provable fact? If she didn't send it she sure has cause for a defamation lawsuit IMO.

I'll act like a DU member reacting to a Jordan/Comey claim of Biden wrongdoing and just say "Show the evidence".

[BeckyDem]

44. I don't know but the effort seems to be passive aggressive to the exteme.

We don't know the class dynamic she held as a teacher, if she did do this. It may have served gratifying to her racist views.

[yardwork]

49. It just seems overly complicated, to me.

The story sounds fishy to me.

[BeckyDem]

52. Why I don't doubt it is because as a black woman I can't imagine putting my kid through

anything like what he'll be experiencing. Changing schools and the lawsuit will not be a walk through the park.

[yardwork]

61. Whoever is responsible for this is a messed up person, no doubt.

If it was the teacher, she's vile. If it was a parent, there are probably serious mental health issues.

[wnylib]

67. Racism could be called a mental illness, I guess.

But it is also a moral, legal, and plain human decency issue, too.

[BeckyDem]

68. Oh yes....very disturbing!

[yardwork]

79. Here's the sad part...

I have a bad feeling that this might turn out to be a hoax perpetrated by the parents (although I don't know, just a hunch). And if so, it will be because of systemic, institutionalized racism in this country.

Hit post too quickly, picking up here...

As a gay person, I've seen this happen where gay folk claim to be the victims of a homophobic attack. But why do they do it? Because they've been victims of homophobic attacks - some micro-aggressions, some more overt - and society did nothing. Most of us deal with that. But some folks are fragile. They've been abused too many times. So they lash out, they stage an attack that is so weird, so horrific, it can't be ignored. And it isn't. People respond in horror, as we're seeing on this thread. But then... it turns out to be a hoax. And now everything is even worse.

I hope that isn't the case here. Especially for the sake of the little boy. But if it is, it's because a parent felt so powerless, they felt they had to do this.

[BeckyDem]

102. Wow. I truly appreciate your sharing, the reality regarding human behavior is complicated by how

we are treated. If this is a hoax I will be sick at heart because that will mean regardless of parent intent, he has been exploited in the worst way. Children are resilient but this would amount to abuse, that kind of manipulation is horrific.

No matter how this plays out, it is a trauma for the kid and that hurts.

[Sky Jewels]

146. Why did the teacher refuse to comment, then, if it is a hoax?

She had the chance to refute the claims, but refused to do so to the press. If I were accused of this and I didn't do it, I'd be screaming that from the rooftops.

[yardwork]

151. Would you? We have no idea what's really going on.

All we have is a brief article published by The Daily Beast, an online tabloid not known to be a bastion of journalistic integrity. The article represents the point of view of two people who have filed a bunch of lawsuits.

The school district stated that they are defending themselves, the school board, and the teacher.

That's as much as any lawyer would tell them to do. Talking to the press is usually a bad idea when lawsuits have been filed against you.

And, if the accusations are false, I would guess that counter-lawsuits are being readied.

I have no idea what really happened.

[Showbizkid]

149. Or....some people are dickheads

We don't know.

[wnylib]

64. True. Why would parents put their child through something like this

as a hoax? They could be mistaken, perhaps, on who did it, but I do not doubt that it happened.

[BeckyDem]

104. Yes, that is how I see it for now. I'm not sure an attorney would file a case on their

behalf without some tangible proof. The law firm is taking on the school, not just the teacher so I imagine they did their homework.

[Demsrule86]

70. It is despicable to do that to a child.

My kid was attacked on the bus by older kids...he had to go to the hospital. The video was lost conveniently and the other kids were scared of these kids. The school did nothing. I went down to the DA's office and had the kids prosecuted. They were found guilty and got probation, were kicked off the bus, couldn't play sports, and had a curfew among other punishments. If they got in trouble again...it was juvie for them.

The principal came to court and said she couldn't take sides. After it was over, The AJC (this happened in Georgia) contacted me, and I told my story. The principal was fired only then when there was publicity. The principal and boys' parents took my kid into a room and tried to get him to say it was his fault when he went back to school. I had a lawyer send them a cease and desist letter. I went in and informed them they were forbidden to speak to my son unless I was there. They banned me for five days from school but the board put a stop to it after I called. I was pissed.

[BeckyDem]

116. I am so sorry your child went through that and for you too. I have witnessed schools take cover,

so to speak, when they are accused of wrong doing. Whoever owns the bus tapes has been a big issue and getting access is not always easy.


Your child has a great advocate in you.

[wnylib]

45. I think that there are smug, cruel people

who would believe that they could score a point against POC without being caught by sending an anonymous package. It looks like the parents might have been the primary targets and the child a secondary one. In other words, she could have used the kid to get to the parents as punishment for interracial marriage.

But the parents will need to have some concrete evidence to make their case in court. Is it possible that someone else in the school or community did it? We don't have enough information to know, but maybe the parents do.

[Demsrule86]

78. The Mother called Amazon and they told her.

[wnylib]

80. I read that, too. But it doesn't say what Amazon told her.

It says that, from talking to Amazon, she determined that it was the teacher, Christine Rzasa. Can the parents get the Amazon employee to testify? Do they have a recording of the call? Amazon should have according of all of their customer service calls. Most companies do. That might help to prove the parents' case.

[Demsrule86]

60. They are stupid then. Apparently, Amazon confirmed it was order by and sent by the teacher.

That is how the Mom found out.

[Progressive Lawyer]

72. Where did you get the information that Amazon confirmed the teacher sent the package?

From the accuser?

[Demsrule86]

81. Amazon told the Mom...how else would she know?

When the package did not have a return address, the student’s mother contacted Amazon which confirmed the teacher had sent it, the lawsuit alleges.

Three days later, on July 12, 2021, the parents notified the school principal of what they call in the lawsuit "the racist act of intimidation."

The principal responded the next day but, the lawsuit alleges, did not say how the school
"intended to address" the issue.

It is beyond my comprehension how some think that this is a minority trying to 'get over' on the teacher. Not meaning you...it is a legitimate question.

I also sent a link from the raw story...above.

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/courts/2023/07/10/racism-in-nj-schools/70392896007/

[Progressive Lawyer]

83. So someone makes an accusation, and therefore we must not critically examine the accusation?

Noted.

[Demsrule86]

91. It is not an accusation.Amazon told the Mother...

The Lawyer took the case...the teacher did it...seriously I don't get why anyone would defend this person.

[NowISeetheLight]

94. But This Article

This article doesn't say anything about Amazon confirming anything. It says determined and possibly sent the package. I would think if Amazon had said "Teacher X sent it" they'd have said that. So we have different versions from different websites. We will have to see how it plays out.

https://www.binnews.com/content/2023-07-12-teacher-accused-of-mailing-afro-wig-white-face-paint-to-mixed-race-boy/

After contacting Amazon's customer service, the mother determined her son's second-grade teacher Christine Rzasa possibly sent the package, the complaint reads.

[zuul]

23. WTF? What kind of person would do this to a child?

[Jersey Devil]

43. NJ ain't as blue as you think

South of Asbury Park, except for Trenton and Camden, NJ might as well be part of the Pennsyltucky coalition.

[ZonkerHarris]

84. Christine Rzasa needs to go through some things.

[Sympthsical]

90. Maybe the internet should tap the brakes before putting people "through some things"

After hospital Karen, I think the internet could do with a time out.

It's a weird little sociopathic system where one story comes out, social media decide that person needs to be destroyed, then Oh! The story is different from that one article!

Doesn't matter. People have already moved on to trying to destroy the next person's life based on flimsy pretext. What do they care? You don't even have to change out of pajamas to wreck someone.

Isn't it fun!

Then we'll hear about, "Oh, this country has become so much worse . . . ."

Yeah, what a mystery. Who could be making it that way? Must be some other people . . . over there . . . who aren't me.

[yardwork]

93. Well said. It's interesting how people's emotions take over.

I've tried to read more about this case, but there seems to be just one single article that is being picked up all over the internet.

I reacted emotionally at first and then paused, probably because some aspects of this story remind me of some things I've witnessed in the past. But I don't know anything.

So far, all we have is a single news story that states what the lawsuit says - although the lawsuit itself isn't public - and what the school district says, which is that they vigorously dispute the accusations.

No evidence is offered. No proof. Despite that, at least one poster in this thread is insisting that the article includes proof that isn't there. Many other posters assume the headline is true without question.

And we wonder how Trump got elected. Here's a clear example of well-meaning Democrats taking an accusation and running with it.

Maybe the story is true. Maybe it isn't. When did it become socially unacceptable to wait and see?

[Sympthsical]

114. Maybe it's true, but it's also crazy strange

I say that as someone who worked for Amazon corporate for a time. Generally speaking, you don't just ring up customer service and get a name out of them. There is a process for that, usually when law enforcement is requesting it. Even then, it's rough. The sentence where the mother says it could possibly be the teacher. Where does that "possibly" come from?

It's a weird little qualifying phrase that got stuck in there and is doing allllllll of the heavy lifting in the story.

The whole story is awfully short on details. The child was traumatized? First question . . . uh . . . how? What were the parents telling a seven year-old? We get accusations of a "retaliatory environment" but zero details.

Hey, people do crazy stupid shit out of hatred. Maybe that happened here. But given how weird this story is, I want to see some receipts before getting the mob together for a twilight outing of tikis and hay-flingers.

[scipan]

117. Of course the child was traumatized. How would you feel as

A kid being told your second grade teacher sent you that?

It's not complicated.

And just because the story didn't give every single miniscule fact, means that it's a regular news story.

[Sympthsical]

118. If I were seven, I wouldn't understand it

Unless an adult made very, very, very sure I saw it and understood it. Actually, I doubt my parents would have just given me an anonymous package from the mail.

So I have some questions.

It's setting off my "not quite right" spidey sense, which is typically very good.

There is a difference between "every single minuscule fact" and "any facts at all".

So far there's a package, the parent claims it's possibly the teacher, and the school district is digging in.

That's hardly a concrete case for social media deciding to go ruin someone's life.

Not that it ever stops them. It's basically our national sport at this point.

[scipan]

119. Agree it's not enough to "ruin someone's life".

I don't know anything about your Spidey sense. It doesn't activate mine though.

Don't know that they gave the child the unopened package.

I just tend to accept the story at face value until I learn more. Since it doesn't sound weird to me.

[Sympthsical]

120. That's fair

And to be clear, I'm having a strong reaction to it because the teacher's name and picture getting spread around, and people are saying things need to happen to her.

It happens a lot online with stories that aren't fully fleshed out. Too often, IMO.

Let's get some receipts before putting the harassmobile into gear.

[scipan]

122. Agree!

You're right and I appreciate that. Because I might have let my anger get the best of me.

Seems like there is a very good lawsuit here if true, and that may be the tell.

[Lurker Deluxe]

121. I kind of feel the same way

There is no picture of ... anything.

How does a 7 year old even see this, they open random packages with no supervision?

Even if that, somehow, happened how does a 7 year old understand the meaning of a wig and some face paint?

Then, harassed at school. Not one single example of this? How can a teacher of a 7 year old harass a student with no one else seeing or hearing anything?

And ... it is a 2 year old incident.

None of this makes any sense. But yes, someone's life is about to be destroyed ... maybe the teacher, maybe the parent, maybe both. Damn sure did not help the kid.

[questionseverything]

125. Actually I didn't see any proof in the article that there was a package

[Hekate]

96. What kind of monster does this to a 7 year old child? Ms Rzasa is in desperate need of firing...

She also desperately needs to never work with children again.

[Igel]

106. First, establish guilt, then determine punishments.

Let's not punish and then say, "Oopsie, sorry for the trauma and destroying your life."

The complaint's filed, information will be requested and either be presented or it won't be.

But for now we have a parent's word that Amazon customer service gave her enough information for her think it was maybe Rzasa. That's not really even a strong claim. (Okay, the complaint doesn't say "maybe", it says "possibly".)

[Hekate]

109. Are you saying this is *yet another* DU post I should have passed by...

…scoffing at the stupidity of the discussion?

Now that I’ve scanned the thread, maybe I should have.

The only comment I now have is that (1) I would not have let a child open an un-asked for package with no identified sender, and (2) if I had to locate the sender I would have placed as many calls to Amazon as necessary, pointing out it was sent to a 7 year old child anonymously and as the parent I really needed to know who the sender was.

[Showbizkid]

126. Here's a question

If the child opened this package unsupervised….could a seven year old even understand the implications of the items inside?

White face paint and an Afro wig…..this sounds like a Halloween costume for “Rolling Thunder Bob Dylan”

[Demsrule86]

139. Maybe they thought it was from a grandparent or relative. I send such gifts to my grand-daughter

and other relatives. However, the blaming of the parents...I find that very disturbing.

[bucolic_frolic]

112. That is positively weird. The teacher thought this was a good idea???

They need to get inside her head and see if there's anything there.

[Showbizkid]

123. So.....I don't believe a word of this

None of this makes any sense.

My dad was a principal for forty years, and I was a second-hand witness to a lot of parents who were absolutely fucking crazy.

I need someone to mail me the suit and all the evidence.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

124. And I'm a parent of a child

Who was bullied and terrorized by teachers and admin at the last school he attended. And I do mean the last.

That's why I can believe a teacher would do this. Because I've witnessed first hand how evil some of them can be.

[Demsrule86]

137. I am a teacher or was ...and I have seen bad teachers and pulled two of my own kids out of a

Teacher's class because of terrible mistreatment. I quit teaching in GA as my principal wanted me to cheat on standardized tests, pass kids I failed because they did no work, and try to get low test-scoring kids out by excessive discipline...write him or her up for everything...not the jocks though. They got a tutor. My principal paid the price as he was prosecuted some years later; we had already moved. I was contacted by the FBI, but I saved everything and could prove I took no part in this illegal scheme.

[Scrivener7]

142. Gosh. We'll all get right on that.

[Sky Jewels]

147. The teacher has refused to comment.

Does that sound like someone who is wrongly accused?

My answer: No.

[Showbizkid]

148. That's the standard?

Jeez louise.

[yardwork]

152. It sounds to me like someone who has a lawyer.

It would be rational for a person facing a lawsuit to obtain legal counsel and follow their advice. "Don't talk to the media" is usually standard legal advice. (I realize that Trump has skewed that standard, but still.)

I'll wait and see. I don't assume that a person is guilty just because they won't talk to a tabloid.

[tavernier]

131. I don't doubt that there are people in this country that would do that

But I also don’t understand why, having received such an ugly package, the parents would even show it to their child let alone make him part of the whole ugly mess. They say he is traumatized and requires psychiatric help. I don’t think just seeing a wig and white face paint would traumatize a seven year old unless he was dragged into the whole ugly mess. As a parent and grandparent, I can’t imagine even involving a child in this. This should strictly be a matter between the parents, the teacher, and the school system. The child should not even have been aware.

[BeckyDem]

134. The history of the case and its time line are not revealed.

The family as required by the constraints of a lawsuit will have to support their claim. I find it unlikely for the claims to be false but if they are, either way, it is the child who has suffered. What he endured from a teacher/school system or exploited by his parents.

It is not a happy story no matter how one looks at it.

[Demsrule86]

136. So it is the parents fault? Honestly, it was probably addressed to the kid...parents thought it

was a gift. I send packages with no info as a surprised for my Grand-daughter all the time.

[tavernier]

138. Parent's fault?

You got that from my post? I guess missed the line where I said that.

[Demsrule86]

140. No just in general read the posts...

[Demsrule86]

141. I went back and read your post to see if I posted to the wrong person...Below is what you wrote.

'But I also don’t understand why, having received such an ugly package, the parents would even show it to their child let alone make him part of the whole ugly mess. They say he is traumatized and requires psychiatric help. I don’t think just seeing a wig and white face paint would traumatize a seven year old unless he was dragged into the whole ugly mess.'

It does seem like blame is involved. And for the record, my son was put in the hospital because of three mean older kids. I prosecuted them...and it was messy. But my son has told me he was proud I stood up to the bullies, and it helped him become the person he is today. It is even more so here IMHO since this is a bi-racial kid who clearly was attacked because of it. Despite some posts (not yours), I do not believe this a 'Tawana Brawley'situaion.

[Scrivener7]

143. The article doesn't say they showed it to the kid, or that the parents involved

the kid.

It says:

Following the delivery, the Andersons contacted Woodland School Principal Jeff Heaney, the Warren Township School District, and the district board. But the family claimed in their lawsuit that nothing was done regarding the alleged violation of the state’s harassment, intimidation, and bullying laws. Instead, according to the complaint, J.A. was retaliated against in a “hostile education environment.”

“As a result, [J.A.] was so fearful, humiliated and intimidated that he suffered emotional and mental damages for which he had to receive therapy, change of schools and suffer other damages,” the complaint says. “Rzasa’s conduct can be described as nothing short of outrageous.”

To me, it sounds like the child was singled out by the teacher after the parents went to the administration. And it was the teacher's subsequent treatment of the child that intimidated the child.

[yardwork]

154. The parents say this package was delivered in July 2022.

It's confusing. If the child had been in the teacher's second grade class in the 2021-2022 school year, did he return to her classroom the following year?

[yardwork]

153. That's one of the aspects of this that raises questions.

There are mean, racist bullies in the world and some of them are even teachers. But this is an odd way to bully a seven year old.

According to the parents, this child's second grade teacher sent him a package last July with objects that a child wouldn't understand to be hurtful. The choice of objects seems unusually subtle for a person who would be cruel enough to bully her seven year old student.

We only have the parents' point of view, represented in a brief article published by an online tabloid. The school district says they're vigorously denying these accusations and will defend themselves in court.

[BeckyDem]

155. That is not the full complaint as stated thus far. The response to the parents concerns

as I read it implies the schools reaction not just the contents of the package resulted in harm.

But the family claimed in their lawsuit that nothing was done regarding the alleged violation of the state’s harassment, intimidation, and bullying laws. Instead, according to the complaint, J.A. was retaliated against in a “hostile education environment.”

“As a result, [J.A.] was so fearful, humiliated and intimidated that he suffered emotional and mental damages for which he had to receive therapy, change of schools and suffer other damages,” the complaint says. “Rzasa’s conduct can be described as nothing short of outrageous.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/teacher-sent-afro-wig-white-face-paint-to-2nd-grader-in-warren-new-jersey-suit

[yardwork]

156. Is this a year round school?

Was the little boy in this teacher's class during the 2021-22 school year, the 2022-23 school year or both? Why would a teacher send a student a package in July, during the summer? When was he her student?

What hostile experiences did he suffer? Why is the lawsuit (as represented in The Daily Beast article) so specific about a package allegedly sent more than a year ago, yet vague about the more recent, supposedly more egregious harms?

None of these questions are really any of my business, as I'm not a party to the lawsuits. However, I'm troubled by this rush to judgement on a supposedly progressive board.

I don't think it is right that the teacher's photo is in this thread. I don't think this rush to judgement is right or good.

There are much more clear, obvious examples of racial bias and bullying in schools. Look at all the school boards that are being taken over by right wingers. Books are being banned, it's banned in many states to even talk about this country's history of racial oppression. These are public votes, a matter of public record. I'm outraged by them. This situation, too much is unknown. I'm not going to hang my hat on this.

[BeckyDem]

157. You are free to believe the claim or not. I am not bothered by those who do or not.

I already said why I believe the parents would not make up such a story. If they did, they are exploiting him, but they should know by going after a school system, they must be prepared for scrutiny and I doubt they don't know the consequences for themselves and their son if they're lying.

I posted the full complaint for you, as you seemed to believe the harm claimed is focused solely at the content of the package, and that is not the case.

[yardwork]

158. You posted the full complaint? I missed that.

All I've been able to find is the tabloid article in your OP, which has been picked up by the Daily Post and other online tabloids.

That article's representation is definitely not the full complaint, so I look forward to reading that. Could you post it again? Thanks.

[BeckyDem]

159. As we know it from the article I linked to.

It encompasses more than what you had alluded to...the package, when in fact the parents claim school retaliated against their kid resulting in harm.

I was not speaking to any formal complaint papers..just to be clear.

[Showbizkid]

160. I want the full complaint to read.

I enjoy the Daily Beast but its writing style is very taboid-y.

I also agree that this is very subtle bullying. I barely understand what this is even supposed to mean.

[BeckyDem]

162. I think we all want to read it, not available yet as far as I know.

I don't find it subtle at all. The parents also claim the retaliation to their child when they brought the matter up to the school is part of the harm to their son.