The Black and White of 'Ho' Culture
By Kathleen Parker
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- In a new twist in American race relations, a federal court has ruled that a white teacher in a predominantly African-American school was subjected to a racially hostile workplace.
The case concerned Elizabeth Kandrac, who was routinely verbally abused by black students at Brentwood Middle School in North Charleston. Their slurs make shock jock Don Imus look like a church deacon.
Nevertheless, despite frequent complaints, school officials did nothing to intervene on Kandrac's behalf, arguing that the racially charged profanity was simply part of the students' culture. If Kandrac couldn't handle cursing, school officials told her, she was in the wrong school.
Kandrac finally filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and subsequently brought a lawsuit against the Charleston County School District, the school's principal and an associate superintendent. Last fall, jurors found that the school was a racially hostile environment to teach in and that the school district retaliated against Kandrac for complaining about it.
Article truncated> Please read the enrire artcile at:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/KathleenParker/2007/05/16/the_black_and_white_of_ho_culture
Kathleen Parker is a syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group.
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Comments: 17
Thank oyu for sharing this
As far as schools go, no matter what environment a person comes from it does not allow them to behave as they want when they leave the confines of their comfort zone. Most students try to stay within some boundaries, even if they personally despise their teacher(s), and although their must be some classroom boundaries, I also know of some teachers, who are good friends of mine, who really don't deserve alot of respect from their students as they give none back. They do, however, need to be listened to, that's what kind of environment school is. They have the authority, and students just need to abide by that rule.
Interesting article Donald. I'm sure this kind of behavior isn't isolated to predominantly African-American schools. Hopefully we'll take it as a lesson that race relations from all perspectives needs to continue to be addressed in a nation that prides itself as a "melting pot."
Good article.