A demonstration calling for the termination of the Jersey City school teacher who went on a profane tirade toward his students will be held outside the school district’s Claremont Avenue office on May 10.
Pamela Johnson, the executive director of Jersey City’s Anti-Violence Coalition Movement, said the aim of the rally Monday, which is expected to include parents and students, is to send a message to the district that the community will not stand for this type of behavior from a teacher.
“We’re rallying to send a message that we support our students and families and will not stand by and remain silent after a teacher berates Black students with language that is racist and destructive in nature,” Johnson said.
Howard Zlotkin, a 20-year science teacher at Dickinson High School, was suspended with pay after going into a profanity-filled rant about George Floyd, Black Lives Matter, white privilege and his student during a class discussion on climate change. In the rant, Zlotkin called Floyd, who died last year at the hands of Minneapolis police while in custody, a “f---ing criminal.”
“This action does not impede the investigation in any way. We want those investigating to know that we are not only watching, but we are taking action and using our voices.”
Timmia Williams, a 17-year-old senior who was cursed at by the teacher, has said the tirade was aimed at four Black students.
“I hear people whining and crying about Black Lives Matter, but George Floyd was a f------ criminal and he got arrested and he got killed because he wouldn’t comply and the bottom line is we make him a f------ hero,” Zlotkin said in the video.
In a letter to students, staff and parents Wednesday, Superintendent Franklin Walker addressed calls for Zlotkin’s termination.
“The teacher in question is entitled to due process rights, as well as so-called “tenure rights” under New Jersey law,” Walker said. “In short, no tenured teaching staff member may be disciplined without due process and without the procedures of New Jersey’s tenure laws being followed.”
Phillip Feintuch, Zlotkin’s lawyer, declined to comment on the matter.
Ron Greco, the president of the Jersey City teacher’s union, said the school district directs its lawyers to develop “tenure charges” to be presented to the teacher. The school board would then vote to serve the teacher on those charges and the teacher would be afforded a hearing, Greco said.
“You can’t be called and (told) you’re fired,” Greco said.
Greco added the BOE would then vote whether to terminate the teacher. If the BOE can’t decide on the termination, the vote would then be in the hands of the state State Board of Examiners, the state’s educator licensing agency.
The rally starts at 1 p.m..
"vulgar" - Google News
May 07, 2021 at 03:03AM
https://ift.tt/3erKYAM
Demonstration to call for firing of Jersey City teacher over vulgar tirade during class - NJ.com
"vulgar" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d6zY8d
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Demonstration to call for firing of Jersey City teacher over vulgar tirade during class - NJ.com"
Post a Comment