The Cibola High School teacher, who allegedly made a culturally insensitive remark to a student and snipped another student's hair, is no longer an employee of the Albuquerque Public School District.
According to the district, they severed ties with the teacher on Nov. 30. APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy reached out to the students to let them know the teacher wouldn't be returning.
The ACLU of New Mexico released a statement to APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy regarding the teacher violating multiple rights of the two Cibola High School students.
The statement thoroughly reviewed the incident and emphasized the harms inflicted on the students.
In a different statement, APS said it values diversity and has a rich history of inclusion.
The ACLU of New Mexico released a statement on Wednesday to APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy regarding a teacher violating multiple rights of two Cibola High School students.
The teacher, identified as Mary Jane Eastin, has been placed on leave for allegedly making a culturally insensitive remark to a student and snipping another student's hair.
The ACLU statement thoroughly reviews the incident and emphasizes the harms inflicted on the students.
Part of the statement reads:
“With respect to Student 2, anyone with even an iota of cultural awareness knows that in Native American cultures hair is sacred—particularly for women. Some Native American tribes hold hair cutting ceremonies and some only cut hair to honor the loss of loved ones.2 Beyond that, the cruel implications of Ms. Eastin’s actions harken back to the era of Native American boarding schools, when the cutting of Native students’ hair was a form of punishment inflicted by school masters in a racist attempt to strip children of their heritage and culture.”
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According to the district, they severed ties with the teacher on Nov. 30. APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy reached out to the students to let them know the teacher wouldn't be returning.
The ACLU of New Mexico released a statement to APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy regarding the teacher violating multiple rights of the two Cibola High School students.
The statement thoroughly reviewed the incident and emphasized the harms inflicted on the students.
In a different statement, APS said it values diversity and has a rich history of inclusion.
The ACLU of New Mexico released a statement on Wednesday to APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy regarding a teacher violating multiple rights of two Cibola High School students.
The teacher, identified as Mary Jane Eastin, has been placed on leave for allegedly making a culturally insensitive remark to a student and snipping another student's hair.
The ACLU statement thoroughly reviews the incident and emphasizes the harms inflicted on the students.
Part of the statement reads:
“With respect to Student 2, anyone with even an iota of cultural awareness knows that in Native American cultures hair is sacred—particularly for women. Some Native American tribes hold hair cutting ceremonies and some only cut hair to honor the loss of loved ones.2 Beyond that, the cruel implications of Ms. Eastin’s actions harken back to the era of Native American boarding schools, when the cutting of Native students’ hair was a form of punishment inflicted by school masters in a racist attempt to strip children of their heritage and culture.”
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I find it offensive that the word "controversy" is used in this situation. How can it be controversial? People actually support the monster of a teacher?
What a shame! The proverbial 'Pandora's Box' of classic xenophobia and racism had been opened in the 2016 election. Since then, people with th ou ae tendencies have been coming out of the woodwork! So good that the district took the appropriate action. This teacher should never teach again...anywhere in this diverse country were minorities reside!
The school should be shut down as well.
I cannot help but feel that whites in the US should only be allowed to teach and police (and I wish judges/juries as well) in predominantly white areas! The only exception is when they marry and live in the communities they normally oppress. For once, they need to be the ones banished to certain areas.
Sounds like they need to start giving all teavhers sensitivity classes for other cultures before it happens again to another student, perhaps black next time, or Spanish, Asian muslin , jewish ect...
This is outrageous. Should be. Considered assault and as well.agree, she or anyone else should be prosecuted, not just fired.
The racism and the fact that it took so long for action on part of the school says much about the community. If the Native people did not speak up, you think the school would have done the right thing? The Teacher committed an assault.
There is NO excuse for what she did and said to those students, and ANY teacher that teaches to students of different backgrounds, needs to get some education themselves before being allowed to teach them! And as for the ones bashing whites, talking about racism - YOU’RE BEING RACIST BY SAYING SUCH ABSURD THINGS. Grow the hell up.
Why should the school be shut down? lol that's comical Joseph... Punish the group for the crime of one person makes no sense. Unless you are cool with getting the death penalty because someone murdered someone who happens to shop at the same store as you...
The only thing that seems to work in changing the behavior of the oppressor is to be fired. The financial and professional consequences are the only factors demonstrated to effect behavioral change. Sure, it would be nice for there to be a change in attitude and beliefs but those changes tend to be linked to the situation whereas, if a person realizes that there will be consequences behavior changes.
Some white folks need a history lesson, they're there to teach not to do what any parent do at home, is irrelevant if a student is well dress, long hair, etc, teachers TEACH,, at home parents EDUCATE,
Trump will probably name the fired teacher to head the Bureau of Indian Affairs...
Regardless boy or girl, they shouldn't be treated that way, A person has the right to have long hair or short. I grew up having long hair as a pre-teenage boy, after growing it out when I was 10 years old and never wanted to cut it again because I liked it long and refused to cut it when I was a kid. Today I still feel the same way.
Because "Colonials" i.e. white europeans came to the "new world" with the attitude that we were superior to these "savages" and the Popes of that time issued a couple of Papal Bulls saying that the Indigenous peoples of the "americans " should be "converted" to christianity or killed and that attitude has been throughout "our histories / mythologies" ever since and it's only been in the last 30 odd years that we're finally giving credence to the racist / cultural genocide that we've perpetrated on them and started to respect them as people and who can make some real contributions to the societies of the americas. Remember ALL Colonialist from 1495 to the present day are really illegal aliens because the colonial countries stole the america's from the indigenous peoples through various forms of genocide
In what universe does a "teacher"(and in this case I use the term loosely)have the right to touch a student, let alone CUT a student's hair? She should not just be fired; she should face a lawsuit, and never be allowed near children again! That is a gross act of personal assault!
This teacher should be charged with abuse of a minor! This is just plain wrong no matter what color your skin is let alone a Native American who believes his or her hair is sacred! A·buse!!!!!!!! a·buse
verb
/əˈbyo͞oz/Submit
1.
use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.
"the judge abused his power by imposing the fines"
synonyms: misuse, misapply, misemploy; More
2.
treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.
"riders who abuse their horses should be prosecuted"
synonyms: mistreat, maltreat, ill-treat, treat badly; More
noun
/əˈbyo͞os/Submit
1.
the improper use of something.
"alcohol abuse"
synonyms: misuse, misapplication, misemployment; More
2.
cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal.
"a black eye and other signs of physical abuse"
synonyms: mistreatment, maltreatment, ill-treatment; More
verb
/əˈbyo͞oz/Submit
1.
use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.
"the judge abused his power by imposing the fines"
synonyms: misuse, misapply, misemploy; More
2.
treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.
"riders who abuse their horses should be prosecuted"
synonyms: mistreat, maltreat, ill-treat, treat badly; More
noun
/əˈbyo͞os/Submit
1.
the improper use of something.
"alcohol abuse"
synonyms: misuse, misapplication, misemployment; More
2.
cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal.
"a black eye and other signs of physical abuse"
synonyms: mistreatment, maltreatment, ill-treatment
But was she charged for assault causing bodily harm?