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Teacher Allegedly Mocks Muslim Student After Death of bin Laden
Filed under: In The News
Following Osama bin Laden's death, a Texas teacher mocked a Muslim student. Credit: AP
She's not a terrorist. She's just another freshman trying to adjust to high school and navigate the dark waters of adolescence.
Yet, her algebra teacher thought he could have some fun at her expense following the death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin-Laden.
"I bet you're grieving," he reportedly said in front of the entire class May 2. When she asked what he meant, he replied, "I heard about your uncle's death."
The Houston Chronicle reports the girl burst into tears. The teacher allegedly just smirked and walked away.
School district officials in Friendswood (some 35 miles south of Houston) aren't releasing the name of the student or the teacher, but they do tell reporters the teacher has been put on administrative leave as a result of the incident.
Meanwhile, school officials want everyone to know they're not bigots.
"We believe diversity strengthens our community and seek opportunities to celebrate the different cultures within our schools and neighborhoods," the district's public information director Elaina Polsen said in an official statement. "The sentiments allegedly shared by this teacher are not reflective of the staff at Clear Brook High School or anyone within the Clear Creek Independent School District.
"In accordance with CCISD policy, the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a personnel investigation," the statement continued. "The student did the right thing and immediately notified an adult regarding the teachers' comments. The principal at Clear Brook High School notified the child's parents and has been in communication with the family."
Aziz Siddiqi, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, tells the Chronicle he believes the remark was an isolated incident. However, he adds, he's encouraged by reports that other students helped comfort the girl and reported the incident.
"Her supporters were her classmates," he tells the newspaper. "To them, she's a friend. I would not pay too much attention. It's just one individual. A lot of people suffer because of the actions of one individual. This little girl suffered."
She's not the only one, Siddiqi tells the Chronicle. The teacher is obviously paying for his actions, he says.
"The teacher is going to suffer," Siddiqi tells the newspaper. "I think every society has some people who are a little off. He may be one of those."
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-07-2011 @ 1:23PM
AKJ said...The teacher should be fired, and just not suspended. Such ignorance is inexcusable. As a teacher, he should know better.
Reply
5-08-2011 @ 9:21AM
Jamila Ali said...I am amazed by the statement of the president of the Islamic Society (Aziz Siddiqi, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, tells the Chronicle "he believes the remark was an isolated incident.and not the teacher").
As an African American the history of racism is well known in this country, It was and is practiced against people of color and the Native Americans. If Muslims and people of Middle Eastern ancestory don't know and are not aware of the history of America they need to open a book and get a quick lesson.
Reply
5-17-2011 @ 9:18AM
Jill said...I agree with your comments for the most part, but I have to add that it's not just the 'minorities' who suffer from bigotry and hatred. I am a white, blonde, blue eyed woman who lives in a town (santa barbara) that is mostly latinos. I can tell you from my own experience that they are, in general, full of hatred toward 'my kind'. I never would have believed it 10 years ago or even 1 year ago, but I can no longer keep my head in the sand. the anger and hatred is palatable and I have feared for my life on occassion. The latina's especially have a certain anger that is like a brick wall. And, in return, I am having a hard time dealing with my own anger now toward the Latino's...never did I think I'd have this problem...never. I try to remember MLK's words...hate can not drive out hate, only love can do that...I need more practice. Sigh...
5-08-2011 @ 12:46PM
David` said...An employee is hired for his qualifications and ability to do a job. Making snide comments is not a reasonable cause for termination.
Reply
5-08-2011 @ 2:27PM
Jaime said...Yes it is when one is charged with educating the minds of young, impressionable students. A teacher does not need to share the same religious or political beliefs as the students' or the students' parents/guardians but to openly taunt the girl in an academic (supposedly safe) setting is absolutely grounds for termination. He did not just make snide comments - he attacked the girl in public. Associating the girl with a mass murderer, assuming that she mourns for this evil man simply based on her religion - if that is not an attack, what is?
5-24-2011 @ 10:56AM
Steven Vaughn Stafford said...Singling out the girl was what he did wrong. If he wanted to see what she thought of bin laden's death, then he would have been better served by addressing the entire classroom in a formal fashion making an assignment for everyone to write a page about their views pertaining to the death of bin laden. The whole approach seemed rather red necked from face value.
He is guilty of lack of tact. Due to his lack of tact he exposed his bias towards people who believe in the koran. Sure the koran is filled with lies and murderous bigotry towards Christians, Jews, and "infidels", but when you provoke someone who believes in the koran, they tend to garner sympathy amongst melting pot Americans because muslims tend to be disenfranchised people of color from the middle east or of middle eastern descent. We all should know that racism is a big no no here in America. It just gives the islamists more amunition to continue their bigoted drivel.
Personally I am not offended by his lack of compassion for bin laden or the muslim faith, but he is on his own with the personal attack on a youth who could be under strict rules at home and in jeopardy of shariah law if she does anything to dishonor her family. An even greater trajedy would be if that same girl tried to "Americanize" later after his comment and her dad stepped in to rid his family of her "dishonorable life". Truly he must be a red neck with no sensitivity towards a tender hearted teenage girl and the tan skinned ultra bigoted religious institution called islam.
I care about the teenage girl. I don't care about islam or the red neck teacher who both need to stop.
Reply
6-03-2011 @ 8:59PM
notrombones said...I teach 11th and 12th grade English.
On Monday, May 2nd, the day after Bin Laden's death, I pre-empted my planned activity
and quickly came up with a series of 12 questions regarding the matter that I put in interview form, typed onto
a Wordfile and printed up.
The students interviewed *each other* in self-selected pairs, and many had an interesting and productive period.
Opinions & analysis, paranoias, rumors, sarcastic comments, conspiracy theories, whatever,
were exchanged in this informal format.
I have 2 Arabic students (both girls and A+ students, I might add)
and they seemed comfortable and free to discuss honest opinions
with the other kids.
It worked out well that day.
I am so sorry to hear it didn't for the teacher who made
the truly bizarre comment
For what its worth, I consider myself a basically average teacher.
Reply
9-15-2011 @ 1:04AM
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