It is encouraging to see faculty fight back when a principal engages in what is clearly unacceptable behavior.
Below is a press release for a scheduled protest at Tweed on Monday.
Here is a link to an ABC 7 news story on this situation.
The folks at Pan American International HS can certainly add this blog to its list of supporters.
Click here to RSVP on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/kt3x2yp
WHAT? Protest demanding an immediate, rapid and unbiased investigation by the Chancellor's office into allegations that a Queens Principal called African American teachers she was firing "big lipped," "nappy haired," and "gorillas."
WHEN? 12 noon, Monday July 8th.
WHERE? In front of Chancellor Walcott's offices at DOE Headquarters in Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers St., Manhattan (4/5/6/N to City Hall)
ENDORSEMENTS: Teachers and staff from PAIHS Elmhurst and around the city, Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, Assemblyman Francisco Moya, Kevin Powell and BK Nation, United Federation of Teachers, Movement of Rank and File Educators, New Action/UFT, Badass Teachers Association, Man UP, Hiphop SUV, Island Voice, Campaign to End the New Jim Crow. [List of endorsements in formation].
CONTACT:
WHY? Pan American International High School will be without any African American teachers next year, because two teachers have been fired after a Queens Principal, Minerva Zanca, made racist comments about them in closed-door meetings with her assistant principal. The third African American teacher is leaving the school because of severe budget cuts to her hugely successful Theater program which were racially motivated.
We demand that there is a full investigation into these allegations and, if they are substantiated, that the DOE hold the principal accountable to its zero-tolerance policy against discrimination. We also demand that the discontinuances of the personnel involved (Teachers John Flanagan and Heather Hightower and AP Anthony Riccardo) be reversed.
Local Councilmember Julissa Ferreras says "The allegations brought against Ms. Zanca are very serious and concern me deeply. As a representative of an extremely diverse district, I cannot and will not stand for this type of behavior."
Kevin Powell, president of BK Nation, adds "It is not only important to have high standards for our public school teachers but we must also support the good ones, like these teachers, who are completely dedicated to their young people. I find it unacceptable that a principal can engage in this kind of conduct without any repercussions. We are not going to stop until due justice and process is served here."
See media coverage on WABC7, WNYC , PIX11 for more details. Click here to RSVP on facebook:http://tinyurl.com/kt3x2yp
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¿QUÉ? Una demostración para exigir una investigación inmediata, rápida e imparcial por la oficina del rector de educación sobre las acusaciones de que la directora de un colegio en Queens refirió a dos maestros afro-americanos como “gorilas", "de pelo churrusco" y con "labios grandotes.”
¿DÓNDE? En frente de la oficina del Rector de Educación, Dennis Walcott. 52 Chambers St., Manhattan, la sede del Departamento de Educación (Trenes 4/5/6/N a City Hall).
PATROCINIOS: Los maestros de varios lugares alrededor de la ciudad y facultad del colegio Pan American International High School, Concejal Julissa Ferreras, Asambleista Francisco Moya, Kevin Powell y BK Nation, la Federación Unida de Maestros (conocida como UFT por sus siglas en ingles)Movement of Rank and File Educators, New Action/UFT Badass Teachers Association, Man UP, Hiphop SUV, Island Voice, Campaign to End the New Jim Crow. [Lista de patrocinios en formación]
CONTACTA:
¿POR QUÉ? El año escolar entrante, Pan American International High School quedará sin maestros afro-americanos porque dos maestros fueron despedidos después de que la directora, Minerva Zanca, hizo algunos comentarios racistas tras las puertas privadas de su oficina con Anthony Riccardo, su vicedirector. Una tercera afro-americana también se aparta de su posición como directora de teatro porque ha sufrido demasiadas cortas a su presupuesto a mano de Zanca, que fueron motivadas por razones raciales.
Estamos exigiendo que haya una investigación a fondo en cuanto a estas alegaciones y, en caso de que salgan verdaderas, que el Departamento de Educación ejerza su política de no tolerancia contra discriminación. También exigimos que las descontinuaciones de los dos maestros, John Flanagan y Heather Hightower, y el vicedirector, Anthony Riccardo se inviertan.
La Consejal local Julissa Ferreras dice "Las acusaciones presentadas contra la Sra. Zanca son muy graves y me preocupan profundamente. Como representante de un distrito muy diverso, no puedo y no voy a permitir este tipo de comportamiento."
Kevin Powell, el presidente de BK Nation, asegura que, "No solo es importante tener estándares altos para nuestros maestros de escuelas públicas, sino también hay que apoyar a los buenos maestros, como estos, que son completamente dedicados a sus estudiantes. Lo considero inaceptable que una directora pueda participar en este tipo de conducta sin consecuencias. No vamos a dejar de luchar hasta que la justicia apropiada y el proceso adecuado se hayan realizado.
MORE should immediately install Peter Lamphere as President/Executive Officer. My rational is solid. If anyone else is given this position, there is a strong likelihood that Peter will perceive them as being almost akin to being a Principal. Predictably, they would be labelled as being a bully, racist, etc. and this would ultimately be detrimental to MORE's survival. MORE cannot afford to be wrapped up in a scandal! We have seen this happen twice already, most recently with a strong media backlash and virtually no proof.
ReplyDeleteI urge you to consider this, MORE's very existence is at stake!