Freeport teacher apologizes after controversial slavery lesson

A Freeport teacher is now apologizing after a controversial lesson in slavery.

News 12 Staff

Sep 25, 2019, 4:12 PM

Updated 1,673 days ago

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A Freeport teacher is now apologizing after a controversial lesson in slavery.

The teacher at J.W. Dodd Middle School handed out worksheets to three different classes last week.

The district says the worksheets had pictures of post-Civil War sharecroppers and that the teacher instructed the kids when writing captions to "make it funny," saying "don't bore me."

MORE: Freeport teacher reassigned in wake of lesson being called racially insensitive

During a school board meeting Tuesday night, the superintendent read an apology from the unidentified teacher. 

It read, "It is with the deepest sense of respect that I apologize to the students, families and larger Freeport community for my insensitive words and actions last week. As a teacher and fellow member of this school community, it is my responsibility to exercise the highest degree of care and thought in all of my student and staff interactions. I failed to do so last week, and I fully accept that I must work hard to rebuild trust from my students, colleagues and the community."
Some parents say the apology isn't enough and that what the teacher did was unthinkable.
Hamilton Fernandez, who has a child in the class, says she was told by her son that the teacher didn't say those things.
Another student says she thinks the whole thing was a misunderstanding.
The district says it's "currently finalizing an agreement with the teacher and her union representatives." 


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