Matthew Curran, Teacher at Lenape Middle School in Bucks County, Pa., Under Fire for Racist Cartoon on Math Worksheet
The mother learned that her son, the only black student in his eighth-grade pre-algebra class at Lenape Middle School, was teased by another student when the assignment was distributed. "One of the kids in the classroom turned around and said, 'Is that your father?' " she said.
"We are highly insulted and offended. We sent him to school to learn pre-algebra. He should be protected from this stuff, not have it thrown in his face...He gets enough (racial slurs) and negativity from the kids. To have the teacher encourage it?" Both the mother and her son are black. On Monday, the student stayed home from school and his mother called the principal first thing in the morning. Source: Philly Burbs
What is equally unconscionable is the fact that the math teacher, Matthew Curran deliberately chose to use this picture. A school district spokeswoman said that Curran frequently uses photos and other illustrations on his work sheets to engage the students and said he found the image by doing a Google Images search for the phrase "multiply and divide."
"I chose it because it said 'no way,' which is a comment my students make when I require them to show each calculation," he wrote in an e-mail. "I had no idea that I might offend anyone. I am very sorry for any distress that this has caused my students and the community."
A Google Images search for "multiply and divide" provides other images that might be considered more math-related - a cartoon drawing of a child holding math symbols, a cartoon calculator with legs and various photos of calculators. Source: Philly Burbs
This is a disgrace and it is continued proof that racism is alive and well in the U.S.A., no matter how subtle. This teacher should make a public apology to the entire school. This picture was deeply offensive and racist.
Published by Janet Shan
A freelancer writer who is currently working on her first novel, a mystery set in the hills of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Visit: blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentI find it very offensive and outbursting for a teacher to hand out worksheets like that with a toothless black man on there. like the mother said,the students are there to learn what they missed on life not encourage racist views. I am a mexican living in san fransico and I doubtfully know in my heart that he knew what he was doing when he put that stoupit picture there. how heartless can people be somtimes,in a day,or maybe at work? god bless you and your son and race happens to control everybody,dear.
Considering that you had to scroll seven pages to get to that image when googling "multiply and divide", his judgment is totally flawed. And Dave, obviously this has touched a nerve so I suggest some therapy.
KM--that's because, if it were a white man depicted in the image, IT WOULDN'T BE RACIST.
OH Please.. If it were a white cartoon no one would have said a thing..
I also would like to say that Mr.Curran had been my teacher a few years ago%252C he is the nicest guy you will ever meet. Might I add that the kid %2528he was on my bus%2529 was not the best student%252C very rude%252C and did not like any of the teachers and tried to start things %2528such as this%2529%253F Please take into consideration ALL of the details. I defend Mr.Curran 100%2525
Again, it was a racist cartoon.
It comes down to 2 things: Judgment and Intent. I will not argue that this teacher's judgment may have been flawed. He made a mistake and did not realize that the image would be viewed in such a negative light. He has apologized.
This is not a teacher with a bad record. He seems to be loved by his students.
Lets talk about his intent - Does it seem reasonable that he would commit career suicide to make a racial slur? This was not a private racial comment - it was an image put on a sheet to continue an inside joke in his class ("No Way"). As I understand it, Mr. Curran does not have a racist bone in his body. So if his intent was not to negatively portray a racial epithet, then you can't very well call it a racist slur (while he may be guilty of not realizing that some might see it that way).
I don't know what the photographer's original intent for the picture was. It could have been racist - you could ask him or her.
Now that I've discussed the teacher's intent, let's turn
Funny you have declined to use your name. Unless the school district spokesperson fabricated speaking with Matt Curran, then you argument is baseless and ridiculous. Any fool would know that the picture is downright racist and insulting. Why were some of the students visibly uncomfortable with the picture? Your anger is misplaced. Tell Mr. Curran that what he did was wrong and RACIST. So, unless the newspaper and the school district got it wrong, you are a complete fool for thinking people would sit by idly and accept this cartoon as an appropriate prop on a Math worksheet.
Let me clear up some of this biased reporting, because it really angers me to see this article. Instead of hearing it through someone who wants to make a good story, how about you hear it through someone who ACTUALLY KNEW HIM. Through the news, everyone is being convinced that this teacher is another one of those crazy racist people who are going after children. WRONG!! Mr. Curran is, without a doubt, one of the nicest and most thoughtful in the school. You cannot get any further from racist than Mr. Curran. The year I had him was problably the best year I ever had, and he was one of my favorite teachers. He was always there to help you out and make sure you understood the problem. Never before did he even THINK of being cruel or mean or racist to ANYONE. In fact, when I heard about this, I dismissed it as a joke. A stupid rumour. Because he was the ABSOLUTE LAST person who would ever deliberately do something like this. Oh, and the picture was not being used to "EDUCATE" children. Act