Black teen says teacher told him to say ‘Yes sir, master’
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From the Associated Press
Jabre White said he was stunned and angry when he claims his teacher implied White was his slave and the teacher was his master.
White tells the Des Moines Register’s Lee Rood his teacher Shawn McCurtain asked the class to move downstairs to take an economics final exam.
White replied “Yes sir,” but he claims McCurtain replied, “You meant to say ‘Yes sir, master.’”
The incident, which occurred in May, left the college-bound senior considerably hurt and his mother calling for action.
According to the Register’s report, the school district is not denying the incident happened. White’s mother, Nicholle, claims McCurtain called her to apologize and referred to the comment as an attempt to be “humorous.”
It’s unclear what disciplinary action was pursued by the school district, because the information is “confidential under state law.”
A school district spokesman, Phil Roeder, confirmed to the Register McCurtain was still employed at the school.
White is headed to Iowa State next fall. His mother said she plans to “contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and the NAACP.”
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