Posted on 04/20/2006 7:33:59 AM PDT by LouAvul
A community college math instructor has apologized for a test question invoking Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that students complained was racially insensitive. Peter Ratener, 60, who has taught at Bellevue Community College for more than 25 years, said Wednesday night at a trustees meeting that the question on an exam last month was an "egregious mistake."
It began, "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second." The question then asked students to determine when the watermelon would hit the ground.
The Board of Trustees condemned the wording as insulting to Rice, who is black, because of caricatures of blacks eating watermelon during the days of plantation slavery.
.........
A number of Seattle-area black community leaders demanded Ratener be fired or disciplined.
(Excerpt) Read more at modbee.com ...
Wow. For the first time in recent memory, I agree with the demands of black community leaders.
Another piece of human excrement pops out of academia. It is an infinite resource of liberal sewage.
Nope, it was purposeful mocking which he thought he could get away with because she is a Republican.
What they're missing is that this was just as political as it was racial. But it does expose the true colors of the "compassionate" Left.
It was in poor taste. Firing would be a bit stiff but I think an apology is in order.
condoleeza, watermelon, federal building.
Is it coincidental or intentional?
Yeah, if you're a liberal or jewish liberal, you can make racist comments about blacks, jews and hispanics but if you're some poor stiff that fails to pronounce a word correctly or lapses into some grade school name calling, you're a "racist, bigot, etc." and deserve to be fired, sued or plain run into exile for breathing.
This guy is either incredibly clueless or guilty as charged.
I'm not inclined to believe his excuse. I suspect some political motivations.
Exactly, 'purposeful mocking.' He's sorry he was exposed, he is not sorry in the least for doing it. What a jerk!
Substitute the name Cynthia McKinney, and if it's any more (or less) offensive to you then you might be a hypocrite.
If a math teacher had used McKinney's name, though, it would be front-page news in the NYT and the teacher would have been fired.
Complete snowjob:
Bellevue Community College Announcements Board
The message to students from the faculty of Bellevue is also a real hoot. All links available at source. Parade of the drama queens.
About 4.5 seconds after she throws it?
Shame on you!
Peter Ratener apology regarding insensitive test question Posted April 19, 2006 Members of the Board of Trustees, President Floten, Faculty and staff of Bellevue Community College, students – Chelsey Richardson in particular -- and members of the community: I come before you now because you are owed an apology. I made a mistake. An egregious mistake. An exam I wrote contained a question that was deeply offensive and invoked an insulting racial stereotype. To Chelsey Richardson, and other students, I’m very sorry I have offended you. That was not my intention. If you knew me, you’d believe me. You are valued and I want you in our campus community. I also value the wonderful diversity of students here. That is one of the things I like best about teaching at a community college. To my colleagues at BCC—faculty, staff, and administration—I am sorry that my action has embarrassed you and caused you to become targets for harsh criticism. For more than ten years you have toiled to make BCC an institution that welcomes and values people of all colors. We have some work to do, but still you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished. You have pulled together despite the strains of all the unfavorable attention, and you’ve never abandoned me. I am indeed honored to be your colleague. I also extend my sincere apologies to the African-American community and also to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. I sincerely regret insulting you. I feel I must explain why it has taken this long to step forward and accept the responsibility for something that goes as much against my principles as yours. When I first heard of the complaint nine days ago at a hastily-called meeting of the full-time instructors of mathematics I immediately took ownership of the problem and offered to reveal myself. At the urging of all the members of the department I allowed them to treat the offensive question as the failing of the department, since the test was a department product. However, I offered several times to meet with Chelsey, the young woman who first made the complaint, and offer her my personal apology. An intermediary told me she felt that wasn’t necessary, wanting the apology to be public. Chelsey, this is that apology to you and all students. Two days later, the landscape had changed. Though the math department and President Floten had each issued their own apology, the outcry had grown enormously and had taken an angry turn. Threats began to arrive. I wanted to reveal myself, but my wife was adamant. We must not expose our children, innocent victims in this drama, to danger. I had to accede to her wishes. She was a potential victim, too. It was distasteful to stay in the shadows, and went against my desire to face the rage and deal with it. Each passing day became more difficult as my anxiety and sleeplessness added weight to my humiliation. By Friday a math colleague received a death-threat. My resolve to keep my family safe was firm. Today, however, I feel I cannot wait any longer. All of you deserve my public apology, and I can no longer remain anonymous. Though I never intended insult, I am judged for what I should have known. Educators are held to this higher standard. Racial insensitivity is inconsistent with my upbringing. My grandparents were refugees from persecution in the former USSR; they arrived penniless after a daring nighttime escape. My parents were members of the Long Island Council for Integrated Housing, an organization dedicated to opening up whites-only communities to people of color. I remember the shock and horror during a road trip in Georgia where I first saw segregated bathrooms and drinking fountains. My first teaching job when I arrived in Seattle in 1973, was working for Square Partee, a gifted instructor at the University of Washington’s Economic Opportunities Program. I also want to explain how the stereotype came to be on the test. I do not offer this description as an excuse. One thing I have learned is that if it could happen to me, it could happen to just about any of us. This was born of good intentions. I try to use humor to relieve tension of test takers. Celebrities like Britney Spears, Madonna, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Gallagher are among the celebrities who have appeared in test items building kennels, dropping watermelons, and designing gardens. This device works only if the reader is familiar with the celebrity. Students today no longer recognize the name Gallagher. Condoleezza had name recognition going for her; and it’s a fascinating name to me. So I substituted that name in the question. Race had nothing to do with it, nor did politics. I should have caught it. And, the responsibility is ultimately mine alone. I reach out to the African-American community. I have stumbled, and fallen, painfully. You are welcome at my table. Persons of all colors, you, too, are welcome. And conservatives, and liberals, and independents. There’s room for all of us. We are richer for you being there. Now we must all heal, and I hope my heartfelt apology will be the pivotal piece that will allow the college to move forward and heal. Again, to Chelsey Richardson, and other students, I’m very sorry I have offended you. To everyone at BCC, I am sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I have caused. I hope you will forgive me. Thank you. Peter Ratener
Maybe, but imagine the howls for blood if the instructor had been Republican and the black Secretary of State had been a democrat. Wait a minute, democrats don't typically appoint Blacks to positions of authority, my bad! < /sarcasm off>
Is it a seedless watermellon, or with seeds? :^)
Part of his statement. Playing the victim card.
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