[Carley]

Time to visit the teacher, the principal, and the superintendent with the information that you will be going to the media if there is not an immediate apology to your child.

If this comment was said within the hearing of others, then the apology ought to be made in the classroom.

[MathDoc]

I would suggest following through with the assignment, and don't worry about the grade.

You can start with how horrible December 26, 1860 was because the Civil War started on that day, but how the horrors of the war eventually led to more growth for our country (whether or not you believe that).

Next, talk about how December 7, 1941, was the worst disaster in our country's history until recently, but it led to a good outcome with our military stopping Hitler.

Third, you can talk about the horror of September 11, 2001, but how under a president who was a great leader in foreign affairs that led to freedom for two coutries.

Finally move on to the fourth date, January 20, 2009, and talk about the sadness at seeing the office of the President of the United States handed out as an entitlement based not on the content of a person's character but on the color of his skin. I would explain how one might hope that despite the shock of such decision, there is hope that it can lead to a post-racial society where we see a diversity of individuals all of whom are simply American rather than a diversity of interest groups all hyphenated-Americans who have been stripped of their individuality and pigeon holed by overt and implied quota systems. You could talk about how the racism of the past that prevented voters from considering a black candidate led to the racism of the present where voters chose a man only because he was black, and how you hope that in the future voters will look beyond race ... and that hope, that chance to change, is why yesterday was a great day.

[Northern Yankee]

Absolutely.

I am a teacher and this is beyond the pale. This teacher needs to be reprimanded.

[RnMomof7]

I agree, that teacher needs to be held accountable for slandering that little girl

[day10]

Agree - I would not let it rest until at least a public apology was made. Heck, I think I’d go after this person’s job.