White Teacher To African American Student: ‘We Don’t Need Another Black President’ [View all]

[sheshe2]

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Voigt taught at Fairfield for the last 13 years, and this isn’t the first time he’s been disciplined for a racial remark. In April of 2008 he was issued a verbal warning for an “inappropriate racial comment”; another warning in November 2008 for “improper use of school technology”; a written warning last month for “failure to use adopted curriculum”; and another verbal warning earlier this month for “inappropriate comments to students.” The recent warning came after he allegedly called a student “stupid” and other belittling remarks. The report also notes “All evaluations have been satisfactory.” “Obviously we’re very disheartened to have this situation with any of our staff members,” the Superintendent of Schools Paul Otten said. “It’s not something we’re proud of, and it’s something we must not tolerate.”

“We intend to uphold board policies and to hold teachers accountable for the essential functions of the teacher job description,” Martin said. Otten, explained to The Journal-News that Voigt was speaking directly in response to a black male student who had expressed presidential aspirations. That’s when Voigt respnded, “We don’t need another black President.”

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According to an opinion on AllVoices.com : “The problem with teacher Voigt’s advice to our young and ambitious student is that his sentiments about this country not “needing” a black president are shared by nearly half of this nation-state’s population. These are people who see the office of the presidency as a white preserve or entitlement (male, if at all possible), the one position that is – or should be – reserved exclusively for people who look like Voigt. This story also speaks to and raises the over-arching issue that black boys often do not succeed in academic pursuits because their teachers – usually white teachers, but not always – have preconceived notions about what they are capable of doing. Not very much, they assume. Their low expectations of their charges are reflected in their teaching “style,” their attitudes toward their students, and, of course, their judgments (grading) of those kids’ abilities and efforts on all manner of problems and/or exams. And so, these children — from the start — are steered, directed, or “tracked” into “vocational” or “special education” curricula which also assume that they do not have the necessary cognitive skills to do much more than service other peoples’ cars.”

I agree 100% with All Voices and if I can go a step further it also speaks to the way in which our first black President has been treated during his first term, and now into his second. There are some people who it seems will never accept that role being filled by an African American. They have to somehow void his presidency by claiming he isn’t a citizen or talk about impeachment. It’s further proof that racism is still rampant in America and while we have come a long way, we still have quite a way to go.

http://politicalminute.org/white-teacher-to-african-american-student-we-dont-need-another-black-president/