Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter
Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter
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CAT Tracks for February 6, 2007
A COUPLE OF NO-NO'S |
Just a friendly reminder to my fellow CATs...don't let me read about you in tomorrow's news!
First, from the Belleville News-Democrat...
Racial slur used to make point draws criticism for middle school science teacher
News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE - A seventh grade teacher at Belle Valley South School used a racial slur in classes Wednesday, reportedly to show students how powerful words are.
Peggy Gasparich, who has taught at the school for eight years, admitted saying the "n-word," according to Belle Valley School District No. 119 Superintendent Pam Floit.
"She expressed that she was trying to make a point about how hurtful and powerful words are and she regrets deeply her choice of words," Floit said. "And there is just no question that it was unacceptable."
Gasparich was not at school Friday, but Floit declined to say whether she was on administrative leave.
Leroy Crisp, whose step-son, Ramond Moody, was in the classroom when Gasparich said the slur, talked to Gasparich on Wednesday. Crisp believes Gasparich should lose her job.
"She was apologetic, she was sorry, but she told me that she was just trying to get the kids to understand the power of words," Crisp said. "I accepted her apology, but I told her it was still unacceptable to use that in a classroom."
Teacher In Trouble For Taping Child's Mouth
COLUMBUS, Ga. -- An elementary school teacher in Fort Gaines, Ga., has been suspended after putting tape over the mouth of a fourth-grade student who would not quit talking.
Clay County School Superintendent Grady Miles said teacher Dorothy Griffin acknowledged she put tape over the 10-year-old's mouth on Wednesday afternoon and said she is remorseful.
Miles is investigating the incident.
The girl's mother, Julia Roberson, said her daughter suffers from attention deficit hypertension disorder. Roberson said her daughter seemed upset when she picked her up Wednesday afternoon and told her the teacher had put tape over her mouth.
Roberson said her daughter also told her the teacher told other students to be quiet if they didn't want that to happen to them.
Miles said Griffin was trying to get students' attention. He said that while she was taping up a book at a desk beside the girl's desk, she took a strip of tape and put it over the girl's mouth.
Miles declined to say whether Griffin, who has been teaching at the school for about five years, was suspended with or without pay. He said he hopes to handle the incident without taking it to the Clay County School Board.
