Texas teacher on leave over bin Laden comment

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Texas teacher on leave over bin Laden comment
Associated Press, 05.04.11, 07:58 PM EDT

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas -- A Southeast Texas school has put a teacher on leave pending an investigation into an allegation that he asked an American-born Muslim student if he she was grieving because her "uncle" had died, referring to Osama bin Laden.

The teacher is accused of offending the American-born female student Monday during a ninth-grade algebra class at Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, located 23 miles southeast of Houston.

District spokeswoman Elaina Polsen told KTRK-TV of Houston the unidentified teacher was placed on leave after another student reported the taunt to her mother. Polsen said the comment doesn't reflect school or district staff attitudes.

Islamic Society of Greater Houston President Aziz Siddiqui (ah-ZEEZ' sih-DEE'-kee) says the group is satisfied with the district's response.



Read more: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/04/general-us-bin-laden-student-mocked_8450581.html

[uppityperson]

1. Good.

[No Elephants]

2. I happened to be in Houston on 911. I could not believe what was on the radio

there then.

[SoCalDem]

3. It's so sad to think that once upon a time people used to think before they spoke

at least most people did..especially teachers and others in the public.

I really think the crassness of our airwaves has somehow convinced some people that anything that pops into their head is worthy of rushing out of their mouth....and if it hurts the feeling of others , it's all the better..:(


There seems to be no boundary that's uncrossable.. You can embarrass a student deliberately for a "laugh", you can taunt people who do not "look like you", or live like you.

It's such a crude, rude & obnoxious place we find ourselves in..

That teacher should probably be fired..not just put on "leave"..

[hobbit709]

4. I'm surprised they didn't promote him.

[WatsonT]

5. Just fire him

plenty of people looking for work right now. Shouldn't be hard to replace.

[jpak]

6. Fire the moran

yup

[jberryhill]

7. That teacher should be nowhere near children

That is simply abusive.