Author Topic: Parents: White Teacher Should Not Teach Black History (Read 2123 times)

Hortlund · « **on:** July 30, 2003, 04:41:33 PM »

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/2360897/detail.html

Quote

Parents: White Teacher Should Not Teach Black History

Group Of Parents Protest District's Decision

OBERLIN, Ohio, Updated 1:33 p.m. EDT July 28, 2003 -- A group of parents said they will fight a possible decision to allow a white teacher to lead classes in black history at Oberlin High School.

NewsChannel5 reported that a scheduling conflict could cause the district to reassign the black teacher who has taught the course for seven years.

Using a white teacher at Oberlin High School would send the wrong message to black students, said A.G. Miller, an associate professor of American and African religious history at Oberlin College.

"The message is that we are not concerned about the importance of your historical background ... that that is less important than a schedule conflict," said Miller, whose three children graduated from Oberlin High School.

Jaqui Willis, a black Oberlin parent, said the teacher is a role model and that removing him from the class would be detrimental to students.

The parents have protested the move to the school board, but the district's superintendent, Beverly Reep, has not commented on the case. Reep told parents at a school board meeting that scheduling issues would be addressed this week.

Schools and community leaders in the Cleveland area are split over the issue of whether blacks should be the only ones to teach black history.

In Cleveland, white and black teachers teach black history. A black teacher teaches black history at Shaker Heights High School, but a white teacher handles classes on oppression and human relations, both which deal extensively with race relations and slavery.

Little research has been done to determine whether same-race teachers lead to higher achievement by minority students. Ronald Ehrenberg, director of Cornell University's Higher Education Research Institute, said many researchers steer clear of the topic out of fear of being attacked.

Michael Williams, interim director of Cleveland State University's black studies program, said schools should choose a black teacher if that person is most qualified, not just because the teacher happens to be black.

If two teachers are equally qualified, Williams gives the edge to the black teacher.

"That person still has the advantage of the culture," said Williams, who is black. "They understand the nuances of the culture."

Phyllis Yarber Hogan, a member of the Oberlin Black Alliance for Progress, said a white teacher wouldn't be well-suited to teaching students about subjects like slavery.

"When you talk about slavery, students need to understand it is not our fault," she said. "Our ancestors did nothing wrong to be enslaved.

"How do you work through that when the person teaching it is the same type of person who did the enslaving?"

Imagine this with the roles reversed...

Udie · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2003, 04:42:25 PM »

racists...... not you, but the parents.....

midnight Target · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2003, 04:50:50 PM »

Should be up to the qualifications of the teacher. And those parents should know that!

ijits.

rc51 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2003, 04:51:54 PM »

Just wondering ? Do they have a White history class there?

DiabloTX · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2003, 04:57:55 PM »

Spike Lee said it himself, "Racism is when you have laws set up, systematically put in the way to keep people from advancing, to stop the advancement of a people. Black people have never had the power to enforce racism, and so this is something that white America is going to have to work out themselves. If they decide they want to stop it, curtail it, or to do the right thing … then it will be done, but not until then."

Well, it looks like they have the power now.

Sandman · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:00:48 PM »

So... the star belly sneetches can't teach history to the plain belly sneetches and vice versa?

jamusta · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:03:07 PM »

RC51 the more you post the more you concern me. History currently taught in schools is the "White" history you are refering to. Its just not called that. In schools where the majority of the population is black they offer black history classes. It shouldnt matter what race the teacher is as long as they are qualified.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:03:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman_SBM
So... the star belly sneetches can't teach history to the plain belly sneetches and vice versa?

That you Snoop Dogg?? Fizzle of the televizzle with the shnizzle mizzle bro...word. Out!!

john9001 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:03:43 PM »

does that mean a black teacher can't teach "white "history?

DiabloTX · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:04:44 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by jamusta
It shouldnt matter what race the teacher is as long as they are qualified.

Methinks that is the point here. Not sure what rc's is other than if white parents protested a black teacher teaching "White" history the networks would be all over it.

rc51 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:16:21 PM »

My point is there should be NO black history!!
And there should be NO White history!!
Just good old American history !!
With all the Uglyness that there is in it.
Look people we as a country will never grow together if we keep putting up barrieres.
The whites can't have an all white college fund can they.
But the Black's have the united negro college fund.
Do you see my point?
African american! sorry but thats crap!!!
I mean how would it sound for me to say I'm German jew dutch American?
Again SILLY.
I am an American as simple as that .
As is all of those who call America there home.
We must all stop the finger pointing and maybe hold out our hands in friendship to those who might look different than us but are really just the same.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:21:48 PM »

I'll start holding their hands but those Indian/Pakistani/Afghani types need to start taking baths.

rc51 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:25:03 PM »

jamusta · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:35:39 PM »

I agree RC51 but it will never happen. Our cultures are to different. I believe that everyones history should be taught. If we learned each others history it would help us in the future. But they dont other history besides american history in most schools. Everyone takes american history its a requirement. But what if I want to learn about the history of my own people or someone elses people. There is a reason why black folks call history "His Story" cus american history just barely touches on the contributions made by black people.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2003, 05:38:02 PM »

I had to take a year of world history in high school. One year on American history. And one year of Texas history in the 8th grade. The Texas history was by far the most interesting.