White Teachers Sue Philadelphia School, Charge Race Bias

[The Northerner]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Four white Philadelphia teachers charge in federal race-bias lawsuits that a black principal suggested they were unfit to teach black students.

The teachers work at a predominantly black school in the city’s East Falls neighborhood.

Their lawsuits say a former principal had them read an article that said “white teachers do not have the ability to teach African American students.”

The Thomas Mifflin Elementary teachers say the principal and others undermined their work by reprimanding them, randomly changing their room assignments and letting black teachers ignore rules that whites had to follow.

The lawsuits were filed last week and first reported on Tuesday by Courthouse News.

A spokeswoman says the school district had no immediate comment.

Source: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/05/17/white-teachers-sue-philadelphia-school-charge-race-bias/

[shoutinfreud]

1. Good for them, I've been a victim of these kinds of policies

And no, I'm not some neocon nutjob. I had a government job once where I saw myself and other white people passed over for promotion despite being more qualified and competent. Then, we were expected to do the heavy lifting of the operation and were the ones depended on while other people got all the bonuses and raises.

Say what you want, but until it's happened to you.....

[EFerrari]

2. If you can just hang in there until Saturday, things will get better.

[shoutinfreud]

3. Newp, I left that job

So did three other people, actually. We saw the writing on the wall. There was no way, despite our efforts we would ever be rewarded. My one co-worker had a neighbour who work for the local civil liberties organization. When asked about our chances for any kind of legal vindication he told us if we were all white we could just forget about it.

That makes me sad. I totally understand there are many issues with racism toward minorities in the workplace and why we have certain laws and all this... but that doesn't mean we should go over board to the point where being white means you don't even have a shot at justice.

[napoleon_in_rags]

4. Racism is racism.

Its an old play oft performed, which race gets to play the oppressor at the moment changes, but the immoral nature stays the same.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Duplicate from yesterday

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1121647&mesg_id=1121647