Teacher Sorry For Calling Janitor 'The N'

[The Straight Story]

Teacher Sorry For Calling Janitor 'The N'
Woman Says Her Actions Were 'Stupid, Inexcusable'

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A middle school teacher in the Pensacola area has been disciplined for using a racial slur in a letter complaining about a custodian's work.

Jennifer Dickens, 46, referred to the janitor as "the N" and "Miss Maid" in the e-mail to an assistant principal. Dickens is white; the custodian is black.

A spokesman for the Escambia County School District said Dickens was disciplined for the March 12 letter. However, he would not specify what action the school took.

Dickens made a public apology in an e-mail to the local newspaper. The teacher called her actions "stupid" and "inexcusable."

http://www.clickorlando.com/education/19175857/detail.html#-

[noamnety]

1. It's appalling that she's allowed to stay.

No student should have to deal with a racist teacher - even if they apologize for the "stupid mistake" of putting their racism in writing in an email.

[mix]

2. fire the woman, i mean really n/t

[monmouth]

3. Apology my a$$. Fire her. If not parents need to storm the B of E

and insist on it. This is why this particular area is so racist and bigoted. Wonder how many times she's used that word in the classroom...

[downeyr]

8. I just want to know...

If this teacher had called the janitor a "lazy motherfucking mop-jockey" would we be calling for her immediate dismissal? Where do we draw the line and enforce morality? After all, in a way, isn't the above insult worse than calling the janitor the "N" word. I understand that the "N" word is disparaging to the janitor as a person and has a long historical ugliness and I appreciate that. However, the above insult is disparaging to the janitor as a person, his profession, and insinuating that he is not even doing the work he is paid to do. If a hospital found that a doctor was a racist, would they revoke his license to practice medicine because they're afraid he wouldn't operate as well on someone of the race he disliked? Doubtful. Also, is there any indication that the teacher purported racist propaganda in her class or was it found in a closed letter that she wrote to complain about the janitor? Because I say there's a difference. Perhaps instead of revoking her teaching certificate, she should be asked to apologize to the janitor and to take racial sensitivity classes or something like that. This woman is probably very close-minded or maybe she was just upset at the janitor who possibly wasn't doing his job. All I know is that she should be given a chance.

[misanthrope]

9. Well if she used the insult you described...

...she would be canned when all the local Bible Thumpers, who are legion in that neck of the woods, stormed the B of E and raised Hell about her using "motherfucker" in front of the kids.

Racial epithets are one thing, but cursing is quite another.

[downeyr]

10. Did she

actually use "motherfucker" in front of the kids?

[NeedleCast]

4. Everyone is sorry after they get caught

She should have been terminated.

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. In writing? In a message to the assistant principal?

Lady has a problem. I don't want my kids learnin' what she's teachin'

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. Completely agree

although something doesn't sit right with me that a private email to the Asst Principal is being made public.

I'm guessing there's more to this story and this wasn't the first time she reared her ugliness.

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. what she wrote: "I have had it with the n who is supposed to be cleaning my room! "

wow

[Tangerine LaBamba]

6. Fuck her and her email "apology."

She should be made to stand in the center of that town and apologize long and loud and clear to the custodian. Then she should get down on her knees and beg for his forgiveness.

Then she should be fired and her teaching license lifted.

What the FUCK do these people think they're doing?

[Bigmack]

7. Wrong is sooo many ways....

Race question aside.. any teacher who doesn't respect the people who keep their school from looking and smelling like a pig barn is beyond stupid.

When I taught HS, the janitor(s) were also our first line of defense in keeping a handle on what was going on. We were so busy that we didn't exactly have time to wander around the school looking. The custodians were all over the place. I had a walkie-talkie, and the custodians gave me a shout-out about once a week about how something was brewing.

Our head custodian was also an autodidact. For fun, I'd send kids to him with a question. He never let me down and he never failed to knock the kids out.

[omega minimo]

13. It's amazing the SHIT you drag in here. Sorry SS I gots ta quit ya