---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Scott Mario
Date: Fri, Jun 26, 2020 at 5:00 AM
Subject: The Underlying Racism at LICHS is Overtly Disgusting
To: Selenikas Vivian
As a Black gay man who lives in America and works for the most segregated eduction system in America, The New York City Department of Education, I knew that I would experience some sorts of discrimination and/or racism but never did I think it would come directly from so many Long Island City High School staff members. The June 4, 2020 UFT meeting that I as well as many other Black staff members experienced was a huge wake up call of the underlying racism that has permeated at LICHS.
That being said, the way the topic of racism has been handled following the death of George Floyd and so many other Black Americans by the hands of police brutality have been mishandled and very offensive. Although, this mishandling shouldn't come as a surprise to me, you would think that a school such as Long Island City High School where you a have highly diverse student population that racist rhetoric would not be an issue but from the behaviors that my colleagues displayed at that UFT meeting and the principals period of silence on even addressing it states otherwise.
Long Island City High Schools demographic of students as follows(all are rough estimates):
68% Hispanic students
14% Asian students
10% African American students
6% White
0.5% American Indian
0.2% Pacific Islander
There shouldn’t be any reason why teachers are unwilling to touch the topic of racism because you work amongst a racially diverse student population every single day. What you should say is that you don’t want to step outside of your own experience to learn what Black people experience in America in order to have a proper dialect with your students about racism. You don’t want to unlearn the image of what you thought America was. So let’s break that down based off some of the racist and unacceptable comments that were shared in the UFT meeting on Wednesday April 4, 2020(all comments are attached):
Lets start with the most disrespectful comment from ERICA DOWNER
“We don’t even know if the death was racially motivated.”
You mean to tell me that you watched a Black man lie on the ground with his hands behind his back while an officer placed his knee on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds while he begged for his life that your first thought was to question whether it was racially motivated or not? He died from asphyxiation from sustained pressure. Before his body even lay flat on the concrete all four cops beat him inside of the cop car as if him being arrested and inside of the cop car wasn’t enough already. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECW-zuBrFK4) This was absolutely about race and police overexerting their force when it comes to dealing with the Black population that they are paid to protect. Cops are supposed to protect but they continuously kill Black people over $20, over playing music too loud and yes, even for sleeping in our own beds. Even if you take George being a Black man out of the equation do the police deserve to kill someone over $20 that they didn’t even take time to verify whether it's real or counterfeit? Which come to find out it was a real $20 bill. Before you even think about an answer to that question I will have you know that in Minnesota, the highest penalty for knowingly using counterfeit money less than $1,000 is up to 1 year in prison and a fine up to $3,000, NOT DEATH. From your racist rhetoric displayed above I already know you condone cops killing unarmed Black people for absolutely nothing.
“Yes not touching this topic with a ten foot pole.”
Now this comment Erica I agree with you 100%. You should never speak on race because you are ignorant to the topic and don’t have the proper verbiage to do so. You shouldn’t even have the privilege to teach Black and Brown students because it’s clear you don’t value who they are and where they come from. Speaking of that 10 foot pole, racism is not something you can social distance from. You either participate in racism or you speak out against it, there is no gray area. So you not touching the topic with a ten foot pole and being silent on the issue is indeed an example of racism. Do better and above all else educate yourself before you attempt to call yourself a ‘teacher” especially when you are granted the privilege to have Black students in your classroom.
DARREN SINGER
“I think Carranza took the stance that we are no longer educators.”
Did he? By asking you to do your job and step outside of yourself and your experience in order to support your students? Is talking about race with students not about education? Is student’s having an engaging conversation about their peers and/or their own experience in America not a moment to educate? I can recall teaching tons of history lessons at LICHS that focus on race. World War II being one of them.
Speaking of World War II, you had a lot to say about how the Jews have been recently attacked and that NYCDOE Chancellor Richard Carranza hasn’t spoken up about it. You even took it upon yourself to ask:
"are certain hate crimes more valid than others"
This is an issue because why are you bringing up Jews when Black lives are being discussed? Not to say that what Jews go through is not of importance but right now we are talking about Black lives so for you to try and dilute that messaging is beyond unprofessional and shows that you lack sympathy to what Black people continue to experience and already have experienced for over 400 years in this country. Since you want to compare, Jewish people have been paid over $89 billion in reparations for their treatment during World War II where as Black people have been paid zero dollars for 400 years of enslavement, disrespect, neglect and continuous murders. Police brutality is not killing Jews in the streets at this very moment. The fact that you can’t draw parallels between how Germany treated the Jews to how America has and continues to treat Black people without having some sort of compassion shows that you are definitely not as smart as you think you are. Furthermore, there is also a such thing as a Black Jewish person who also has a life that matters so think about their experience in this country and within their own religious communities before trying to be divisive and distract others from the pressing issue at hand which is Black people being murdered over and over again by the very people that we pay to protect us.
I myself have taught numerous lessons on the Holocaust in not only my Social Studies classes but even in my English classes where I teach ‘The Color of Water’ by James McBride every year because I’m a teacher who knows that it is essential that my students should be well rounded in as many backgrounds as possible that differ from their own because that is what the real world looks like. Maybe you should do the same so you can tie in those alleged attacks that are happening to Jews as a current event within your lesson. That should cover Domain 3(Instruction) on your next teacher evaluation. You’re welcome.
“We are indoctrinators.”
Let’s break this down shall we? As I like to be very clear. The definition of indoctrinate according to Merriam Webster is “to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle” in other words to teach (a person or group) to accept a set of beliefs uncritically. Speaking on anti-racist practices should in no way go against your beliefs as it is evident in the 400 years of American history that Black people STILL are dealing with racism. Treating people with respect has nothing to with what you believe but it has everything to do with you having the wherewithal to be a decent human being. There are some other ignorant statements you made but I will leave them exactly where I found them, within your realm of ignorance.
HEIDI SEGELKE
“I feel uncomfortable approaching this altogether-I am genuinely concerned for the kids but I feel that this is out of my league of experience”
Heidi, anytime racism is in a conversation it is going to be uncomfortable and you being a music teacher I thought you would know that. There are hundreds of documented historical references where white people have stolen music from Black people while also not compensating Black people for the work they stole. Being that we have classical composers such as Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins who was a blind American slave that was exploited by his owners for his contributions to music. There are several clear cut ways you could have analyzed the topic of racism with students within the realm of music. So if you feel it is “out your league” to teach your students about race should you being teaching music given all that Black people have offered to the art form in all of it’s genres? You can’t genuinely be for the kids when you feel learning about who they are and their experiences are “out of your league”. I at one point thought teaching the Pythagorean Theorem was “out my league” but I researched techniques on the best way to learn it and taught the concept. I did my job and made sure my students knew how to execute the formula. Doing the research on how to incorporate the topic of racism into your lessons is what your students deserve from you.
JOSE SOTO
“I’m sorry but I don’t feel comfortable talking about this forum at all with students. So I don’t know how to approach this delicate topic.”
I understand you not being comfortable being that LICHS lacks leadership that should have provided you with materials on how to properly execute these kinds of conversations(more on that later) but as a teacher you don’t get to pick and choose whether you want to talk about race when you will continue to teach Black students or any student that doesn’t identify with your demographic. We have worked along side each other and I know you have it in you to educate yourself and how to best support your students during times such as these. Instead of complaining about potentially being uncomfortable start asking yourself why talking about racism that Black people experience is uncomfortable for you and do the work to educate yourself on how to be a supportive ally to your Black students. Just consider this, if racism is uncomfortable for you to discuss imagine how uncomfortable it is for Black people specifically your Black students that experience racist microaggresions every single day. Sometimes from their own teachers so if you are silent about racism you are complicit with racism which makes you a part of the problem.
PAOLA SCALDAFERRI
“I’m not addressing it with my students.”
If you are not willing to educate yourself on topics that are not common to you to better understand your students, why are you a teacher? Then again, I know from this statement that you fear addressing racism with your students because it’s not of importance to you. You signed up to be a teacher but Black and Brown students did not necessarily sign up to be placed in your class. Never forget your responsibilities to your students. They didn’t go to school and get trained on how to deal with you but you did and then you actively sought out a job at a school that is 95% students of color. Do your job or find another one.
HECTOR ORTIZ
“Too controversial and touchy”
Most things that are taught to high school students are touchy and controversial but they still must be discussed because that doesn’t take away from them being real. Jews being killed during the Holocaust is controversial. Muslims being banned from entering America is controversial. ICE placing immigrants in concentration camps funded by the United States at the border is controversial but it doesn’t stop us from teaching and discussing it with our students because these things impact not all of our students but some of them. Talking about race is no different. If a topic that directly impacts the students that you teach is “too controversial and touchy” you don’t have the option to be silent about it. Silence on racism has killed Black people for far too long and it would be great if you, a person of color, would actively support Black Americans in breaking this cycle.
MEGAN HOWARD
How dare you say Black lives mattering is about politics? You really believe that me being able to live and exist in this world is political? It is my human right as well as all Black people to be able to live here in America where we were brought against our own will and sold into slavery. To think that you are a liaison to fight for teachers when you believe that Black teachers are just another talking point for presidential candidates to argue about. Black people existing is a human right, never forget that. You equating Black lives to politics spits in the face of every Black staff member that you claim to be a representative for. How can you represent someone who you think the government has the right to determine whether they live or not? No judicial, executive, and/or legislative branch of government have the right to tell Black people whether we live or die unless they get to do the same for you, a white person.
JACQUELINE MILANDER
“In today’s day you cannot say anything against the mob!”
Jacqueline, who is the mob? Actually, you can speak out against ‘the mob” but your fear keeps you from doing so. You should address that so that you are able to speak freely and stand up in your convictions but since it’s not clear who “the mob” is I will leave it there.
AND FOR ALL OF YOU WHO SAW OR EVEN HEARD ABOUT THESE DISGUSTING COMMENTS FROM THE UFT MEETING AND STOOD BY AND SAID NOTHING, KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALSO A PART OF THE PROBLEM. YOU ARE THE THREE COPS WHO STOOD BY AND WATCHED GEORGE FLOYD SLOWLY DIE AS THEIR COLLEAGUE MURDERED HIM IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. IF YOU ARE GOING TO WORK AMONGST BLACK STUDENTS AND TEACHERS YOU OWE IT TO THEM TO HAVE THEIR BACKS WHEN THEY ARE BEING MISTREATED AND/OR DISRESPECTED. I WOULDN’T DARE LET ANYONE DISRESPECT YOU IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE BLACK TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS WERE DISRESPECTED IN THAT UFT MEETING. YOU OWE US ALL AN APOLOGY FOR YOUR SILENCE. SILENCE = RACISM.
MARIA ARGYRIS
I personally take issue with you and your performative allyship. You sat in those “Positive Protest Day/ Breathe Day” meetings acting like you care about the Black Lives Matter movement when your past actions shows differently. I don’t know if everyone recalls the Step Up step team Black Panther themed performance that was given at the Black History Month program on February 25, 2020. It dealt with issues of racism against Black women and it was dedicated to you Maria for how you treated them. You made it so hard for those girls to be successful. When the girls came to me and wanted to start a club for themselves because you and other guidance counselors had failed to create a space for the 10% of Black students that attend LICHS you didn’t even want to pay the two teachers that were staying after school two days per week for a total of 4 hours to work with the students. So we decided to donate our time just to find out that you didn’t even want to provide practice spaces for these students. We asked for places like the gym or the dance room so that we could view ourselves during rehearsal but you killed that idea too placing us in a classroom where we would have to move more than 30 desks each day before we could start rehearsal. Students were super dedicated and even wanted to practice during Winter Break to which you said teams were not allowed to practice during that time when in fact several teams were practicing during that week. For you to treat the Step Up team like some throw away project when it took a lot of time and dedication to make that successfully happen was wrong. You did everything to try and silence those girls but like most things when Black people are presented with challenges throughout history, we prevail. You owe every one of those girls an apology for how you discriminated against them. If you are going to continue to be the assistant principal of the guidance department know that it is your job to make it mandatory that ALL the guidance counselors that you advise are assisting and advising ALL students about academic and personal decisions, assessing the ability and potential in ALL students and last but not least coordinating with fellow professionals on ALL student matters. The best and most professional way to achieve this is to lead by example and provide support to those who work under you while also making sure all demographics within the school are accounted for.
Below are the names of Black students that you failed and owe an apology:
Heaven Peoples
Sekiyah Burrell
Victoria Dorch
Kaiya Marie
Canashia Jones
Stacie Sanders
They deserve the same respect and support that any other extracurricular activity would receive from administration.
VIVIAN SELENIKAS
I think a lot of what transpired above is because of the lack of leadership that you have shown teachers. George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020 and it took you more than a week to come up with a statement to show your solidarity with Black students and teachers. That is unacceptable and it hurts to know that you didn’t see it as a pressing issue to address. Your Black employees and students come in the building/login every day just like everyone else and we shouldn’t have to question whether our principal supports our lives mattering and existing. You failed us being that additional Black lives were lost to police brutality before you even uttered a statement.
Tony McDade
Modesto Reyes
David McAtee
...Just to name a few
As you stated on our call “If you know me, you know that I like to sit back and think about what I’m going to say” well I have worked at LICHS for a total of four years and I don’t know you which is why it is essential for you to speak up and let it be known where you stand on current events such as Black lives being lost to police brutality. When you were silent you were complicit and as a leader you can’t afford to be silent on issues that directly impact your student body and employees. There should be any reason why we heard from the Chancellor before we heard from our own principal.
On Monday June 1, 2020 I posted a letter to my students to let them know exactly how I felt about George Floyd’s murder and all of the uprising that came with it. (Attached to email) In this letter I was very transparent with my students and let them know that I broke social distancing to go protest for my life as well as for some of theirs. I then left the floor open for them to share how they felt about it. I had one student who felt strongly about cops and called them pigs(student comments attached to email) for killing innocent Black and Brown people while beautifully expressing why the Black Lives Matter movement is important for their survival in this country . Being that I too believe that cops who kill innocent Black people are pigs I told my student that I absolutely agree with him. On June 3, 2020 the principal had a meeting with me about it while the Special Education AP Shewbarren was also on the call. Now I don't know who brought my students comments to your attention nor do I care because I stand by my students honest comments 100%. The purpose of the call was to reprimand me for not condemning my students honest statement. You stated that “it crossed the line” and that “police are not pigs but that they are here to protect”. Well I have several problems with this sentiment because like I told you on the phone police are here to protect but turn on your television or log into social media and you will see the exact opposite. I also told you that I’m not going to condemn my students experience with cops. That is their truth. Instead of calling me you should have been calling them to grasp a better understanding of why they felt that way about cops but instead you were quick to take issue with a Black students perspective because it differed from yours. You didn’t even ask me what my experience was with cops and why I agreed with him because you don’t care. Furthermore, why are you calling me about my students statement when you yourself at this particular point had not even taken the time to utter one word? Not one word up until this point was shared by you to show your solidarity to said student to let them know their life matters.
You also stated on this call that you want me to see ‘both sides” when in all actuality I see both sides but you do not. I see that for a white woman like yourself cops will absolutely protect your life but for a Black person like me I’m more liable to be killed than protected by those same cops that value your life over mine. I see both sides clearly but you don’t because you got upset at a cop being called a pig as if that statement was a lie. You need to make it your responsibility to see outside of yourself because you owe it to your students and colleagues to see their life through their eyes so that you can be compassionate and show sympathy to their walks of life. Make it your duty to get to know your student body and the staff that you employee, and not just certain students and colleagues but ALL OF THEM.
Lead by example and stop expecting teachers to just all of sudden discuss racism with their students when you yourself have not given them the mandatory tools to make these types of conversations a success. You owe it to teachers to show better leadership so that they won’t feel comfortable spewing out racist rhetoric in the open amongst their Black colleagues. I blame you just as much as I blame them because your silence allowed them to think that questioning the motive of George’s murder and/or complaining about actually having to do their jobs and create a safe space to discuss racism with their own students was professional behavior. Just like WITSI, racism will take many workshops before teachers are completely ready and comfortable to have a dialogue about it with their students. When you’re putting together the budget for next year keep that in mind.
Thank goodness this particular student is a senior so they won’t have deal with these type of antics from administration but you still need to make it your mission to build a relationship with your Black students because they need know you care. Show up for them and show them they are not just a head with a dollar amount attached to it. You owe them that at the very least.
Also your job is to protect all your students from harms way. There is no reason that Peter was able to use his power to sleep with students and take them on dates under your leadership. There should be no reason that teachers find out about it when when the media releases it (https://nypost.com/2019/11/21/queens-teacher-bedded-student-fixed-grades-for-other-female-pupils-probe/). This secretive and silent behavior that you like to participate in has to stop because it doesn’t benefit anyone and almost always falls back on teachers and students. Another example of how your silence shows how complicit you are with pressing issues. Once this information was released we as teachers had to pick up the pieces and explain it to students and/or hear other gruesome details about it from other students. Still to this day you have not publicly condemned inappropriate relationships between teacher and students so that it is less likely to happen again under your leadership. This is your school so step up and and create a safe space that will allow all students to be themselves unapologetically without fear of being manipulated by teachers and/or administrators who are supposed to educate and have unconditional support for them.
In closing I’m going to ask every eye that has read this email 3 questions:
Who wants to work at the school where learning about and/or having conversations surrounding racism is optional for teachers?
Who wants to be a part of a staff where the majority of teachers don’t actually want to do their jobs of being open about what their students and/or colleagues backgrounds are and the experiences that come along with them?
Who wants to be taught by teachers who are afraid to delve into conversation with students about how the world reacts to the color of their skin?
Not me. This letter will also count as my letter of resignation as I will not be returning next year. I really hope that there is a change amongst Long Island City High School as a whole because the racism that has been uprooted due to George Floyd’s death is unacceptable and unfair to Black students and especially unfair to Black staff members who not only have to deal with these racist microaggresions from colleagues but also have to observe staff members elicit those same microagressions toward Black students.
To everyone who will continue to work at LICHS or any school where Black teachers and/or students are present, show up for us when we need you the most and know that valuing Black lives will never mean that you are devaluing your own.
Mario Scott