Teacher who called boy 'monkey' appeals dismissal

Associated Press ^ | Oct. 16, 2003, | Associated Press

[TexasCajun]

LONGVIEW - A Longview High School teacher who allegedly called a student a "monkey" says she plans to appeal the school board's move to fire her.

Geography teacher Kelley Snowden has 15 days to request a hearing before an independent examiner to fight the termination notice the board approved Monday.

Her attorney, Paul Nelson of Henderson, said Snowden's comment had nothing to do with race. He said the teacher had used the term "monkey" playfully in the past to describe her friends' children.

"This is not a racial statement. It's being taken out of context, and we don't really know why," Nelson said.

Longview Superintendent Dana Marable has said the comment "was a disparaging remark made to a student."

District officials have not provided details about how and when the remark was used and have not responded to media requests made under the Texas Public Information Act.

Nelson provided details of the incident to the Tyler Morning Telegraph for Thursday's editions.

He said Snowden made the comment while on hall duty. When a student acted like he was leaving, the teacher said 'You wicked little monkey, you come back here,'" said Nelson, quoting from a statement he said Snowden gave to district officials.

Snowden said in the statement that the student quickly returned and finished the conversation, but later told her he was upset by her comment, Nelson said. The teacher then explained to the student that "monkey" was a "term of endearment," according to the statement read by Nelson, but when the student continued to be upset, the teacher apologized and the student stomped away.

Marable, the superintendent, said the district is considering bringing back the sensitivity training that it used to offer.

"We are always striving to keep things like this from happening on a continuous basis," Marable said.

Snowden is the second Longview High School employee in two months accused of using a racial slur. Debby Deck, a white administrator, was put on paid leave for about a week before returning to Longview High School, after allegedly using the word "Sambo" during a teacher workshop. Deck later apologized.

[TexasCajun]

Ms Snowden must have missed Howard Cossell's "Little Monkey" episode years ago.

[TexasCajun]

...link is to the Houston Chronicle, not AP. sorry.

[dennisw]

It's cruel and unusual punishment to fire someone for a first infraction. I'll bet she has a clean record otherwise and that this is political correctness run amuck

[jimt]

Hypersensitivity.

[Just another Joe]

Any bets on the race of the student?

In related news, my wife refers to herself as, "The Monkey Princess", at times due to her love of bananas.

[TexasCajun]

Monkeys are racist and should be exterminated world-wide!

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. Only White folk can be racist.

[Political Junkie Too]

AHe said the teacher had used the term "monkey" playfully in the past to describe her friends' children.

I hope she never referred to anyone as "catty." Did she ever call anyone a "pig?" How about "foxy?" An "ass," "snake," or "weasel?"

The list goes on.

-PJ

[Mears]

This was a commonly used expression years ago,any kid that was frisky and spunky was called "a little monkey".
Race had nothing to do with it.

I've come to the conclusion that we should all just keep our mouths shut and never talk at all so we won't offend someone.

[The Rant]

Could this possibly be why there is a lack of teachers who care to give their all in this country?

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[As i mentioned, the B/C & JD! lists are going to float into and out of whack over the forseeable future, while I try to cobble a rig back together for myself. My apologies for any incovenience or misunderstandings in this time frame. New signups/removals may be flaky in this time-frame as well; please bear with me, and keep in mind you may have to FReepmail me more than once for me to get it done. Thanks again!]

[SpaceBar]

According to modern genetic theory, the teacher was about 95% correct.

[Porterville]

Ha, ha, ha.... when will the revolution began???

[r9etb]

Snowden is the second Longview High School employee in two months accused of using a racial slur.

Something tells me there's a deeper problem at this school.

[Porterville]

I call all of the idiots in the house and senates "stupid monkeys throwing crap at each other" I assure you it has less to do with race and more to do with their collective IQ

[Blue Screen of Death]

It makes no difference what the teacher implied. The only thing that matters is what the student inferred. This is exactly the same with sexual harassment laws.

No matter what a person means, what counts is what the listener decides to hear. I say, "Good morning. Nice day isn't it." She hears, "I would like to rip off your clothes and have sex with you right here on the floor." And off we are to lawsuit city. It is a case where you have to prove a negative.

[joesnuffy]

Real life "monkey boy"

[LieFreeGov]

I sure wish the PC Police would have a few monkeys fly up there butts

[Stallone]

Welcome to the Socialist vision of the U.S.A.

Also known as Planet Bananas.

[SaveTheChief]

I've come to the conclusion that we should all just keep our mouths shut and never talk at all so we won't offend someone.

It is certainly coming to just that. It seems that the PC monkeys have everyone so uptight that almost anything said is open to be labeled offensive, insensitive, a hate crime...

I guess we don't need to talk to one another anymore, except on the internet, where common decency and standards of behavior don't exist. All of that seems to be fine, but calling someone a monkey, well... that's insensitive /sarcasm.

[hunyb]

you said it, i think this is the students problem, i call people 'monkey' all the time and mean it playfully.