Portfolio #2 Teacher’s Rights and 1

Responsibilities

Claudia Vourvoulidis

Edu 210

Dr. Ce Isbell

February 16, 2019

Portfolio #2 Teacher’s Rights and 2
Responsibilities

At a school with mostly African American students, Freddie Watts and Jimmy

Brothers were both administrators. A white teacher protected by tenure named Ann

Griffin, stated that during an argument that she, “hated all black folks”. This had a

negative response from her white and black associates. Her dismissal was suggested

by the principal due to worries that she would lack good judgement, teaching skills, and

act towards students justly.

This case was certainly an interesting one to read, but racism is obviously wrong.

One teacher in New York taught a controversial lesson on slavery. She ordered black

students to lie down while stepping on their backs. Students came forward and talked

about the event. The teacher resigned, but then The Department of Education told the

woman she would be fired about thirty days, so she lost her job. (Gstalter, M. 2018)

Another teacher in New Mexico lost their job after making racist comments against a

Native American student. She called the girl a “bloody Indian”. The teacher also

apparently cut another native American girl’s braid. The district frowned upon this and is

now teaching cultural sensitivity to its employees. She also lost her job. (Ewing, M.

2018)

There is of course another side of this argument. One teacher in Florida had a

podcast that was called racist, but she argued it was free speech. It was a white

nationalist podcast. The teacher would share her white nationalist beliefs with her

students but told the principal she did not. Though her job does come with free- speech

protections. She was able to keep her job. (Kirby, J. 2018)

Portfolio #2 Teacher’s Rights and 3
Responsibilities

I found a separate case about an educator using the “n-word” and telling

students being with black people was, “not worth it”. He was faced with only a ten-day

suspension and then went back to his job. He had poor judgement was the conclusion.

The district has allowed him to keep his job. Due to lack of evidence and freedom of

speech. (Murdock, S. 2018)

Due to the evidence in Mrs. Giffin’s case, I believe she will be found guilty and

suspended for the insensitive things she said. Racist educators have been punished

and I do not think this one will be an exception. Especially because she said that right in

front of the administrators. The teacher in New Mexico who made the racist remark lost

her job, which reminded me very much of this case. (Ewing, M. 2018) The other

educator who was racist against African Americans lost her job as well. (Gstalter, M.

2018) So I believe and highly hope Mrs. Griffin is punished and fired for her

inappropriate and unprofessional comment.

Portfolio #2 Teacher’s Rights and 2
Responsibilities

References
Kirby, J. (2018, March 5) A Florida Teacher’s Racist Podcast was Uncovered. Can she
argue it was free speech? Retrieved from
https://www.vox.com/2018/3/5/17081500/dayanna-volitich-florida-teacher-podcast-
white-nationalism-free-speech
Murdock, S. (2019, March 7) Florida Teacher Keeps Job After Telling Students Not To
Date Anyone ‘Acting Like A N-. Retrieved from
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/florida-middle-school-teacher-told-students-
dating-black-boys-not-worth-it_us_5aa051cde4b002df2c6064fb
Gstalter, M. (2018, September 28) NY teacher fired for controversial slavery lesson files
lawsuit claiming reverse racism. Retrieved from
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/408996-ny-teacher-fired-for-
controversial-slavery-lesson-files-lawsuit
Ewing, M. (2018, December 04) Teacher accused of cutting Native American student's
hair, making racist comment. Retrieved from
https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/national/teacher-accused-cutting-native-
american-student-hair-making-racist-comment/hrlbVNO4asbD5rrH2vSqRI/