New York teachers harass student regarding her views on education, mother alleges

What a total disgrace! (you can watch the video of this brave young woman reading her speech at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-lG1Wb2AfM):

 

March 7, 2012   New York teachers harass student regarding her views on education, mother alleges   By Ben Velderman EAG Communications        ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Jada Williams is a very perceptive 13-year-old.        After reading the autobiography of former slave Frederick Douglass as part of a district-wide reading initiative, Williams saw parallels between the slaves in the 1800s and students of today who are trapped inside failing, ineffective schools.

Williams, an eighth-grader, noted how slave masters used illiteracy and ignorance to keep slaves oppressed. She argued that illiteracy is a major problem in the Rochester City School District, and blamed chaotic classrooms and indifferent teachers for undermining student learning.        Williams put her thoughts in an essay and submitted it for the school-wide essay contest about Douglass' autobiography.        "Most white teachers that I have come into contact with, over the last several years of my life, (have) failed to instruct us even today," Williams wrote in her essay. "The teachers are not as vocal about us not learning … but their actions speak volumes."        Williams' observations harken back to former President George W. Bush's famous admonition against "the soft bigotry of low expectations."        Williams' English teacher made copies of the essay, and distributed them among the staff of School #3, according to media reports.         Carla Williams, Jada's mother, alleges the essay so angered the teachers, that they began harassing her daughter.