Massachusetts teacher is accused of holding mock slave auction and using N-word in classroom with fifth graders
- The teacher allegedly held a mock slave auction with two students of color
- Months later, the same teacher is accused of using the N-word during a lesson
- This teacher remains on leave and remains unnamed as they go through due process
A fifth-grade teacher from Massachusetts has been placed on administrative leave after allegedly holding a mock slave auction with students and using the N-word in a lesson months later.
Parents of students at Margaret A. Neary Elementary School in Southborough told Superintendent Gregory Martineau about both alleged incidents on April 24.
On May 29 rackMartineau explained that the “impromptu” slave auction took place in January during a history lesson on the economy of the southern American colonies and the triangular slave trade.
“The teacher asked two children sitting in front of the class, who were of color, to stand, and the teacher and the class discussed physical characteristics (i.e., teeth and strength),” Martineau wrote.
The second alleged incident occurred in April, when the same unnamed teacher read a book that was not part of the fifth-grade curriculum. The teacher apparently used the N-word during the discussion of this book, even though it did not appear in the text at all.
A class of fifth-graders at Margaret A. Neary Elementary School, pictured, reportedly had two problematic lessons, one involving a mock slave trade and another where the teacher allegedly said the N-word.
Martineau claimed he didn’t know any of this had happened until his parents informed him in April, and he condemned both incidents. While he did not call them racist, he described what happened as “unacceptable” and “dehumanizing.”
“Holding a sham slave auction is unacceptable and violates the core values of the district,” Martineau wrote. “Simulations or role-playing when teaching about historical atrocities or trauma are not appropriate, and these teaching methods should not be used.”
Nagma Casey, a parent of a student at the school, said CBS News she knew nothing about the sham slave auction until recently.
“It’s shocking to hear this last night. We knew nothing about the incident.”
After all this came out, the parents of the students in that class met with the teacher and principal, Kathleen Valenti.
Just a day after that meeting, the teacher “inappropriately called out the student who reported that the teacher had made racist comments,” according to Martineau’s statement.
Pictured: Kathleen Valenti, the school’s principal, was placed on temporary paid leave in May and parents expressed anger at her for taking ‘no action’ when the teacher allegedly taught a second racist lesson in April
Following an investigation by the school district, both the teacher and Valenti were placed on leave. Valenti was paid during her 10-day absence from May 6 to 16 and remains the school’s principal.
“It was devastating to see the principal stand by and take no action when the same teacher did that a second time,” an anonymous parent told CBS News.
“I’m concerned about my child going to that school, and how the school system would protect them from bullying and racism.”
The unidentified teacher allegedly involved in these racist lessons remains on leave and is undergoing due process with the school district.