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Queens school disgrace: Outrage as Haitian kids have to eat 'like animals'

...According to parents and students, Miller, who is white, chose to punish all 13 Haitian pupils in the school's only fourth-grade bilingual class - even though just two were involved in the March 16 incident.

She ordered all 13 to sit on the cafeteria floor, then made them use their fingers to eat their lunch of chicken and rice, while all the other students watched.

"In Haiti, they treat you like animals, and I will treat you the same way here," several students recalled Miller saying.

Some of the punished fourth-graders were so humiliated they began to cry. A few begged Miller for spoons to eat.

Her behavior has triggered a probe by the schools' office of special investigations, as parents accused Miller of racial bias and demanded that she and the principal be fired.

[...]

Isac and other parents complained to the principal, Pauline Shakespeare. They claim that Shakespeare, who is black, tried to cover for Miller.

They also claim school officials tried to bribe the kids with ice cream to deny the incident happened!

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What disgusting behaviour on the part of the teacher and the principal who tried to cover it up.

[ 14 April 2005: Message edited by: dokidoki ]

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"In Haiti, they treat you like animals, and I will treat you the same way here," several students recalled Miller saying.

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Although it seems that this woman was very direct and open about her views however this view and attitude is neither isolated nor extreme.

This kind of treatment towards people of colour is common but manifest itself differently depending on who is implementing it: whether it is a self claimed "progressive" "lefty" or an openly bigot.

If one cares to look at the comments and attitude towards individuals who speak out about racism one may see the same attitude coming out from those who claim to be "progressive" and "lefty" but has a different outlook.

I received comments on this board that I just informed few people, who themselves do not face racism but strive to educate themselves about racism and work towards combating racism, to read it. It is easier to show the evidence and let individuals to see it for themselves instead of trying to explain some of the struggles that people of colour face amongst those so called "progressives" and "lefties". The comments as they are written are ever self explanatory and very clearly reveal the attitude and real agenda.

The attitude towards those who speak out about racism is: you are better off than you would have been other places or better off than those who do not have job therefore right to dignity, respect, equity and justice is not part of the deal. Take what the master (the superior race) gives you and go home and be happy about it.

I recommend to all of those who find the conduct of this teacher disturbing, to look closer amongst the circle that they frequent and you may find it there as well.