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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTeacher Accused of Mailing Afro Wig, White Face Paint to Mixed-Race 2nd-Grader
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 sons 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 sononly 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 sons second-grade teacher, Christine Rzasa, after speaking with Amazons 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 states 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. Rzasas 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
(16,956 posts)Thats why its so important not to get caught up by imaginary borders. What is contained within those imaginary borders are cruel people.
riversedge
(72,504 posts)teacher!! Hard to believe this is happening sometimes--maybe I do not want to believe it--but here it is. damn.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)How anyone can do this to a little kid takes a lot of hate.
marble falls
(61,292 posts)Joinfortmill
(16,120 posts)yardwork
(63,674 posts)Editing to add that the more I read about this, the more I'm inclined to wait and see if it is true.
jimfields33
(18,349 posts)As parents, Id 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
(8,361 posts)jimfields33
(18,349 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(63,674 posts)From the article:
Rzasa did not respond to The Daily Beasts 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 Governors 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 Educations primary concern is the education and well-being of its students.
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)"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 sons second-grade teacher, Christine Rzasa, after speaking with Amazons 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
(63,674 posts)It's the parents saying that, not Amazon.
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)"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 sons second-grade teacher, Christine Rzasa, after speaking with Amazons 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
(63,674 posts)The parents say that Amazon confirmed it.
Nowhere is there a quote from Amazon confirming anything.
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)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
(63,674 posts)You're going on full ignore. Bye.
ShazzieB
(18,358 posts)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
(10,002 posts)The couple accusing her present no proof
yardwork
(63,674 posts)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
(10,002 posts)Reading this thread makes me worry that critical thinking is a thing of the past for some
yardwork
(63,674 posts)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
(10,002 posts)Coventina
(27,733 posts)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
(51,308 posts)Certainly not old perhaps, but hardly young.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)But you could be right.
NowISeetheLight
(3,991 posts)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
(8,644 posts)Photo at link https://images.app.goo.gl/LMhK2WH5zgAqRemp6
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)Celerity
(46,154 posts)rząsa:
yardwork
(63,674 posts)I don't know one way or the other. The story seems off to me.
Sky Jewels
(8,644 posts)RobinA
(10,103 posts)like a person with a lawyer in a world in which you can be ruined for any BS in about two minutes.
questionseverything
(10,002 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(10,752 posts)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
(8,361 posts)It's hard to process!
Jilly_in_VA
(10,752 posts)I really shouldn't participate from this side. I've just been angry since Sunday.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)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
(46,154 posts)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
(8,361 posts)with their racism.
Celerity
(46,154 posts)Ocelot II
(119,787 posts)Who does that? WTF is wrong with that teacher?
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)ForgedCrank
(2,084 posts)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
(8,361 posts)ForgedCrank
(2,084 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(2,084 posts)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
(70,795 posts)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
(63,674 posts)And where is my post racist? That is a very serious personal attack. I'll wait for your explanation.
Mariana
(14,936 posts)BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(10,002 posts)The kid only knows what the parents have told him
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)That's an interesting response.
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)yardwork
(63,674 posts)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
(2,084 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(70,795 posts)prank...it is old school black-face.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)I haven't seen that mentioned.
Sky Jewels
(8,644 posts)Her photo: https://images.app.goo.gl/LMhK2WH5zgAqRemp6
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)I posted it below but here is the link...
https://www.rawstory.com/kevin-anderson-woodland/
yardwork
(63,674 posts)Progressive Lawyer
(617 posts)The news story you cited states the mother/plaintiff said Amazon confirmed the story. Those are two very different statements.
Zeitghost
(4,259 posts)But Amazon has made no comment and has neither confirmed or denied anything.
Initech
(101,455 posts)NowISeetheLight
(3,991 posts)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
(8,361 posts)NowISeetheLight
(3,991 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(3,991 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(8,361 posts)inexperienced customer service employee innocently gave the info? Perhaps if they were told they wanted to thank the sender.
yardwork
(63,674 posts)Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)with the subpeoenas.
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)NowISeetheLight
(3,991 posts)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
(2,084 posts)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
(34,171 posts)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
(51,308 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(51,308 posts)Come on, you've been here long enough lol!
And everything you wrote is spot on.
yardwork
(63,674 posts)BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)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
(10,002 posts)Bogus law suits are filed all the time
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)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
(10,002 posts)Everyone has the right to legal representation but just because they have a lawyer doesnt mean they arent wrong
Bs lawsuits are filed every day
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)Ok
questionseverything
(10,002 posts)Slip and fall is on her extensive list of why she will file suit
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)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
(2,084 posts)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
(2,014 posts)The whole thing seems off.
Jilly_in_VA
(10,752 posts)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
(23,984 posts)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
(8,361 posts)yardwork
(63,674 posts)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
(3,991 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(63,674 posts)The story sounds fishy to me.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)anything like what he'll be experiencing. Changing schools and the lawsuit will not be a walk through the park.
yardwork
(63,674 posts)If it was the teacher, she's vile. If it was a parent, there are probably serious mental health issues.
wnylib
(23,984 posts)But it is also a moral, legal, and plain human decency issue, too.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)yardwork
(63,674 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(8,644 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(118 posts)We don't know.
wnylib
(23,984 posts)as a hoax? They could be mistaken, perhaps, on who did it, but I do not doubt that it happened.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)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
(70,795 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(23,984 posts)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
(70,795 posts)wnylib
(23,984 posts)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
(70,795 posts)That is how the Mom found out.
Progressive Lawyer
(617 posts)From the accuser?
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)When the package did not have a return address, the students 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
(617 posts)Noted.
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)The Lawyer took the case...the teacher did it...seriously I don't get why anyone would defend this person.
NowISeetheLight
(3,991 posts)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
(14,654 posts)Jersey Devil
(10,125 posts)South of Asbury Park, except for Trenton and Camden, NJ might as well be part of the Pennsyltucky coalition.
ZonkerHarris
(25,132 posts)Sympthsical
(9,957 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(9,957 posts)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
(2,602 posts)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
(9,957 posts)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
(2,602 posts)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
(9,957 posts)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
(2,602 posts)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
(1,047 posts)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
(10,002 posts)Hekate
(94,081 posts)She also desperately needs to never work with children again.
Igel
(35,973 posts)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
(94,081 posts)
scoffing at the stupidity of the discussion?
Now that Ive 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
(118 posts)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
(70,795 posts)and other relatives. However, the blaming of the parents...I find that very disturbing.
Response to BeckyDem (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
bucolic_frolic
(46,366 posts)They need to get inside her head and see if there's anything there.
Showbizkid
(118 posts)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
(4,741 posts)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
(70,795 posts)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
(52,260 posts)Sky Jewels
(8,644 posts)Does that sound like someone who is wrongly accused?
My answer: No.
Showbizkid
(118 posts)Jeez louise.
yardwork
(63,674 posts)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
(13,154 posts)But I also dont 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 dont 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 cant 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
(8,361 posts)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
(70,795 posts)was a gift. I send packages with no info as a surprised for my Grand-daughter all the time.
tavernier
(13,154 posts)You got that from my post? I guess missed the line where I said that.
Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)Demsrule86
(70,795 posts)'But I also dont 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 dont 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
(52,260 posts)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 states 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. Rzasas 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
(63,674 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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 states 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. Rzasas 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
(63,674 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(63,674 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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
(118 posts)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
(8,361 posts)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.