Officials in Iowa’s Des Moines school district aren’t saying how they’ve disciplined the high school teacher who last month told an African-American student to address him as “master.”
From EAGnews:
The incident in question occurred in mid-May when student Jabre White and his classmates were preparing to take their final exam in economics.
According to the Des Moines Register, teacher Shawn McCurtain told students to head downstairs for the exam.
White responded by saying, “Yes, sir.”
McCurtain corrected him: “You meant to say, ‘Yes, sir, master.’”
White was stunned and hurt by the teacher’s remark and fired back: “Who the f— are you talking to? You’re nobody’s master, and this is not the slave days.”
Nicholle White, Jabre’s mom, asked school officials to investigate the incident when she learned about it last month, the Des Moines Register reports.
Vice Principal Joseph Blazevich confirmed that the exchange did take place and that the teacher was “remorseful” about his actions. However, the vice principal would not tell Nicholle White how McCurtain was being punished by the district, citing state law that requires district personnel matters be kept confidential.
All that is known for sure is that McCurtain is still employed by the district.
Read more here.
