Macon teacher faces firing for 'mimicking African-American'

The Macon Telegraph ^ | April 6, 2005 | Jake Jacobs

[SittinYonder]

A Central High School social studies teacher could lose his job "for mimicking an African-American" at a student-faculty basketball game March 25.

Bibb County Schools Superintendent Sharon Patterson said Tuesday that she has recommended Greg Dougherty for termination.

Patterson said she first heard of the incident in the middle of last week but did not begin her investigation until Monday, when classes resumed after spring break. She sent a letter to Dougherty on Tuesday, she said.

Erin Weaver, principal at Central High, confirmed Tuesday that Dougherty was on administrative leave and had been recommended for termination "for mimicking an African-American."

[SittinYonder]

Yes, sorry - this was during a student-teacher basketball game. It was a basketball court.

[M. Espinola]

It seems some things have not changed in Macon.

[Randy Papadoo]

Oh, man! I went with the stupid description until I read that this was a student-teacher basketball game.

Come on! That's supposed to be an evening of fun, frivolity, funny costumes, and hi-jinks. That's why he asked the kids.....the whole deal was supposed to be light-hearted. Even the black kids went along with it, noting the laughing girl in the photo. And I expect there were blacks in his "voting" classroom who okayed the costume.

That's probably the one of the few times where something like that should be taken as funny. At a "real" basketball game it would definitely be non-PC and very stupid.

[samtheman]

To paraphrase Rebecca Howe of Cheers: It's true, he really is too stupid to live.

[SittinYonder]

That's supposed to be an evening of fun, frivolity, funny costumes, and hi-jinks

Even so, I agree with JennysCool that any moron should have known that dressing in black face was only going to end badly, regardless of what event it was. I'll also say again that I think asking the students whether or not he should do it, or being encouraged to do it by the students, shows a severe lack of good judgement on the teacher's part.

[Exton1]

Why? What is wrong with satire?

[expatguy]

I found that movie offensive.

Can I sue somebody?

[Flyer]

At least he wasn't smoking or eating fast food.

Sigh. . . fun crime.

[Pravious]

"Right. The new racism. Thou Shalt Not Offend Minorities."

Right. Every now and then I vaguely think of going back to school to get a teaching degree (I'm a writer), but then I realize the first time I point out that "where it at" isn't proper English, I'll probably be fired for insensitive racism.

[cgbg]

what is wrong with satire

Satire is forbidden within one hundred yards or a school, church, government building, or minority individual.

Any questions?

Oh, and by the way, your papers please, citizen. :-)

[SittinYonder]

At least he wasn't smoking or eating fast food.

LOL. It's also true that he probably deserves some kind of recognition for not impregnating one of his students since that seems to be the rage among teachers these days.

[ran15]

Just like Europe, they banned all fascist flags and symbols from public display... Before the bill passed the new eastern european members begged to also ban the communist symbols and flags..

The EU firmly rejected their plea, allowing all communist symbols to be proudly displayed.


This politically correct idea, is getting increasingly stupid.. but at least if it was applied equally to all it would be 'fair'.

For example think of all the left wing commentators that come on and make fun of christians non-stop. Can you imagine instead if they came out and made the same jokes at Jews?

[SALChamps03]

Eminem has talent???????????????????

[Noachian]

A Central High School social studies teacher could lose his job "for mimicking an African-American" at a student-faculty basketball game March 25.

It's hard to have sympathy for anyone in academia.

To be a teacher today you have to buy into the PC garbage or you don't get a job. This guy is a "social studies" teacher which means he knows the way today's educational PC world works, and he's probably been walking around on egg shells trying to appease the academic feminists.

If the guy has any common sense he'll get a job as a tradesman and make more money than he could as a teacher, not to mention having less headaches.

[SittinYonder]

If the guy has any common sense

I think that's the question still unanswered, though the consensus seems to be he doesn't.

[Samwise]

It's true, he really is too stupid to live.

"You talking about me?" Ted Danson

[SittinYonder]

Thought you might be interested in a Macon ping.

[7thson]

What the hell did he do wrong? He dressed up like a black man? For the likes of me I see nothing wrong with this. Where is his first amendment rights?

[Captain Rhino]

He quizzed his students to see if it would be insensitive

An adult teacher using high school students to validate an already questionable act beforehand is prima facia evidence of really poor judgement. The issue is not whether the kids (who know him well) will understand they're "jus foolin"; it's whether each and everyone of the members of the audience (which, in Macon, GA, will probably include more than just a few African-Americans)will understand. Since most of them don't know the coach from Adam, we already know the answer; they won't understand.>

Firing is probably too extreme a solution. Unfortunately, when you are dealing with zero-tolerance school administrations and administrators, firing (like expelling and/or suspending students for even very minor innocent infractions) is the easy way out. If the person is gone, no one can sue you for failing to take decisive acion.

Anyone know the Latin or Greek word for "rule by lawyers?"

[7thson]

I remember when "social studies" was just a fancy name for History class.