So on Friday, my second period class came in a little rowdier than usual. A lot of students were bantering back and forth about the NCAA games that characterize the typical March Madness here in North Carolina… This class is pretty talkative to begin with, and some can be really goofy, but they’re usually pretty pleasant and funny about it. I enjoy teaching this group of kids. I told the class to quit talking basketball and get to work, and after awhile, most settled down and began working. Except for one boy–let’s call him “Joshua”. He continued to talk across the aisle to some other boy. So I said to the two of them, “Guys, Josh, stop talking basketball and get to work.” Josh looked at me and said, “That’s racist! Accusing me of talking about basketball!” I couldn’t believe that he responded that way–nor could other students in the class, either, because I caught a glimpse of some of the other students, and I could see that some of them were shaking their heads, one girl covered her mouth in surprise. Obviously, I was offended. There was certainly no need for this student to respond to me that way–and I don’t take accusations like that lightly. This student has had some other “moments” in class, and I didn’t feel that this was a comment which should be ignored… I looked at him and told him, “I cannot believe you just said that. I take offense to that, and that is not something to joke about.” I called him up and wrote him a pass to ISS, along with a list of workbook pages to do.
It was one of those moments in 15 years of teaching I don’t think I will ever forget. I did contact his mother, and her response was very supportive, which I do appreciate.
But the bigger issue is, why would a student–anyone, really–just throw that term around? I don’t have any great insight. All I can say is that it’s been the exception, certainly not the rule. I take comfort in the fact that I could see from other students’ reactions that they did not approve, nor did they think that he was being funny.
TeachingInspiresMe 