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Video Shows Baltimore Teacher Using Racial Slur in Class Video Shows Baltimore Teacher Using Racial Slur in Class
(35 minutes later)
A Baltimore public-school teacher is no longer employed after a cellphone video showed her berating minority students with “abusive” language that included a racial slur, the school district said on Thursday.A Baltimore public-school teacher is no longer employed after a cellphone video showed her berating minority students with “abusive” language that included a racial slur, the school district said on Thursday.
The teacher, who was not named in the statement from the Baltimore City Public Schools, was recorded on Tuesday disciplining a student in her middle-school science class at Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School. After she ejected the student from the room, she turned to the other students who remained, raised her voice and said she was going to give them all zeros for not doing their work.The teacher, who was not named in the statement from the Baltimore City Public Schools, was recorded on Tuesday disciplining a student in her middle-school science class at Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School. After she ejected the student from the room, she turned to the other students who remained, raised her voice and said she was going to give them all zeros for not doing their work.
The teacher, who is white, then called the students “idiots” and asked them if they wanted to get an education or to be a “punk ass … who is gonna get shot,” using a common racial slur.The teacher, who is white, then called the students “idiots” and asked them if they wanted to get an education or to be a “punk ass … who is gonna get shot,” using a common racial slur.
On Thursday, the school authorities said in the statement that the teacher had “engaged in verbally abusive behavior and made racially charged comments directed at students. The teacher involved in the incident is no longer employed by city schools.”On Thursday, the school authorities said in the statement that the teacher had “engaged in verbally abusive behavior and made racially charged comments directed at students. The teacher involved in the incident is no longer employed by city schools.”
An email seeking information, including the name of the teacher and what she had told the authorities about the episode, was not answered immediately on Thursday by the city schools. The Baltimore Teachers Union said in a statement that it “condemns the language used by the teacher.” A spokesman for the union, Ray Baker, declined by telephone to answer further questions, including whether the teacher had a lawyer or whether she had been fired. An email seeking information, including the name of the teacher and what she had told the authorities about the episode, was not answered immediately on Thursday by the city schools.
The Baltimore Teachers Union said in a statement that it “condemns the language used by the teacher.” A spokesman for the union, Ray Baker, declined by telephone to answer further questions, including whether the teacher had a lawyer or whether she had been fired.
But Sonja Brookins Santelises, the chief executive officer of the school district, said in a telephone interview on Thursday afternoon that the woman was an eighth-grade science teacher in her second year. She said she could not provide further details because it was a personnel matter.But Sonja Brookins Santelises, the chief executive officer of the school district, said in a telephone interview on Thursday afternoon that the woman was an eighth-grade science teacher in her second year. She said she could not provide further details because it was a personnel matter.
Ms. Santelises said that although many teachers struggled with classroom management, the teacher “crossed the line” by using the racial epithet.Ms. Santelises said that although many teachers struggled with classroom management, the teacher “crossed the line” by using the racial epithet.
The recording was posted on Twitter by Shaun King, a reporter for The Daily News, who said it had been sent to him by a reader. The newspaper reported on Thursday that the cellphone video was posted on Facebook on Wednesday by a Baltimore woman named Erica Deminds. By Thursday afternoon, it had been viewed more than 1.5 million times.The recording was posted on Twitter by Shaun King, a reporter for The Daily News, who said it had been sent to him by a reader. The newspaper reported on Thursday that the cellphone video was posted on Facebook on Wednesday by a Baltimore woman named Erica Deminds. By Thursday afternoon, it had been viewed more than 1.5 million times.
Ms. Deminds told The Daily News that one of her son’s classmates had recorded the video. She said the teacher had taught her son for two or three years and that she had met with her one-on-one.Ms. Deminds told The Daily News that one of her son’s classmates had recorded the video. She said the teacher had taught her son for two or three years and that she had met with her one-on-one.
“She’s a very nice teacher,” Ms. Deminds was quoted as saying. “I can’t say what happened that day. I think she was at a breaking point.”“She’s a very nice teacher,” Ms. Deminds was quoted as saying. “I can’t say what happened that day. I think she was at a breaking point.”
Ms. Deminds could not immediately be reached by telephone on Thursday.Ms. Deminds could not immediately be reached by telephone on Thursday.