Classroom politics protested

Parents say teacher’s comments not appropriate for students

“This is a personnel matter that has been dealt with.” DALE HENDERSON, Iberia Parish schools superintendent

NEW IBERIA — Delcambre Elementary parents protested outside of the Iberia Parish School Board on Wednesday holding signs demanding the firing of a teacher they said made derogatory remarks about President Barack Obama in the presence of students following Obama’s reelection.

“She needs to lose her job,” said Chassatey Jackson, whose son has since been removed from the fourth-grade teacher’s classroom.

The protesting parents also called for a more diverse teaching staff at the community’s elementary and high school.

Jackson and parent Lindsay Shello lodged a complaint against the teacher after their sons told them their teacher said she was dressed for a funeral on Nov. 7 — the day after the presidential election — because Obama’s re-election meant “the death of the United States.”

Shello said her son also told her that the teacher said the country would become the “new China” because Obama was re-elected.

Shello identified the teacher, who she said is white, as Mandy Briley LeBlanc. She said she decided not to remove her son from the teacher’s class so he would not be separated from his friends.

LeBlanc declined comment on the incident and protest when contacted by email on Wednesday.

Shello, Jackson and about 10 other people held protest signs in front of the Iberia Parish School Board offices on Jane Street. One sign named the teacher and called for her dismissal; another read: “America Is Not Dead. President Obama Has 4 More Years.”

Iberia Parish Schools Superintendent Dale Henderson said district and school staff met with parents and addressed their concerns about the alleged comments.

“This is a personnel matter that has been dealt with,” Henderson said. He declined to say specifically how he had dealt with the issue.

Jackson and Shello said Wednesday that they both lost their job as janitors at Center Street Elementary School for complaining about the comments allegedly made by the teacher.

Until a few weeks ago, the two were employed by a school system contractor, Wilson Janitorial.

“We got fired because (the owner) said they were forcing his hand because we were bringing too much attention to this,” said Jackson, holding a sign that read, “Delcambre Mothers Lose Their Job for Speaking Out.”

Henderson said the owner was neither asked nor pressured into firing the women.

The owner, Raymond Wilson, could not be reached by phone Wednesday.

Wednesday’s demonstration was also a call for the district to diversify its teaching staff at the elementary and high school in Delcambre, said Khadijah Rashad, one of the protest organizers.

Henderson said the district is an equal opportunity employer.

“The School Board does not discriminate in its hiring practices,” Henderson said.

Comments

1) Comment by RebeccaLOC - 20/02/2013

Regardless, she is a wonderful teacher. I'm not going to get into politics- I am stating facts. Maybe we should care more about what the kids are learning than calling foul cause of politics. Has any one stop and checked how her test scores are ? I mean, LEAP is around the corner!

2) Comment by teacherguy - 21/12/2012

From what I have read in these comments and article...the teacher made a VERY ill-advised comment in class. Her remarks were not racist against the President...her remarks attacked the socialistic policies that he represents and her opinion that capitalistic America is on life support, at best. She probably thought she was being funny, but lost the "boundary line" she shouldn't have crossed. A prudent and mature parent would have confronted her in a parent/teacher conference first, then...if the problem persisted, would have contacted the principal second...then, if the problem still persisted, contacted the central office staff in charge of elementary schools. It seems these parents jumped the chain of command and are not happy with the way it was handled. It is a shame some adults are still teaching children that racism exists where it doesn't. "Delcambre Schools Population 1017 African American - Teachers 1" Might as well have put "White" on that sign. Her attack was on the socialistic government style Obama promotes...my fifth grader asked me the difference between democrats and republicans DURING the months leading up to the election...even my Alzheimer's dad kept asking every night who we were voting for because of the media attention given to this election...and I, as a daddy and care giver, repeated the conservative (generally republican) and liberal (generally democrat) views on topics such as healthcare, energy, war on terror, death penalty, international trade, etc...until my child (and junior high students) were able "teach" the ignorant adults in their lives that both sides have some strong arguments for the why they believe. And I guided my daddy, based on his answers, to vote the way he was leaning....my kid scores in the 90th percentile in ALL facets of testing...and is just as satisfied to talk politics as he is the latest video game/cartoon that comes out. I live in one of the top ten school systems in the state and I teach in another one of the top ten school systems in the state...maybe it is teaching and parents who teach their kids like we do that separates the top school districts in the state...and those that are not?

3) Comment by Bouncer - 21/12/2012

@SpeakYourMind.....I have been teaching for nearly three decades, and believe me, I have FORGOTTEN more about teaching and what goes on in a classroom than you will ever know in your lifetime. And no, filling in for a teacher on leave for a day or two here and there as you have done does NOT make you an expert on teaching and managing a classroom. Like I said earlier, you have a right to your opinion. However, it's obvious to me that you have a personal agenda at work here and that you harbor a grudge and plenty of ill will toward this teacher for doing nothing more than making what some would consider to be an inappropriate remark. Oh, and incidentally, by taking your little protest to the street, by standing around in front of the school board office shouting and holding signs calling for a teacher's firing, YOU are the one who has "involved children in adult situations." They watch TV and see and hear things, too. You're a typical trouble-making hypocrite. This is my final word to you. You are a despicable person, and I hope all of this blows up in your face.

4) Comment by Whatnow - 21/12/2012

"All we knew about the world was how to PLAY." Maybe that's the problem with a lot of today's students. Do you even know that social studies is taught now days in elementary and junior high school? I agree that personal beliefs about politics should be left out of the lesson. But to fire someone where they lose their livelihood should be the last resort.

5) Comment by Speak Your Mind - 20/12/2012

@ Bouncer & Attila, You have it all wrong. Children should be allowed to be just children. The problem we have in today's society is that we involve children in adult situations. We need to get back to letting children be children. For those of us who are older as referring to 40+ we were not allowed to be involved in adult issues. All we knew about the world was how to PLAY. Adults should discuss there personal business and beliefs with other adults not with children. The reason for all the killings in today's society is that we are raising our children in an adult world and not letting them be kids. 12 years of educating what??? Experience is good but how do you know what she is educating on??? Political views need to be kept out of elementary school and taught in HIGH SCHOOL!!!!

6) Comment by speakthetruth - 20/12/2012

The mother of this child is just protecting the hand that feeds her.........now hurry on home, I think the mailman will be there soon.

7) Comment by Bouncer - 20/12/2012

Teacherguy has the correct take on the issue. According to her website, Ms. Leblanc has taught for 12 years, so she is a teacher with some measure of experience under her belt. Insofar as political commentary in the classroom goes, it happens all the time. Is it necessarily a good or bad thing? Who's to say? As mentioned earlier, firing this teacher for what she said would be extreme, most especially if this is the first instance of her doing this kind of thing. Let's hope that her employment (or unemployment) is not dependent on the antics of half a dozen chattering nitwits standing around holding placards when they should have been taking care of business at their own jobs, or out looking for one if they are unemployed. They're operating according to the squeaky wheel theory, but in this case, I hope that instead of getting grease, they get ignored.

8) Comment by DMJ - 20/12/2012

Teachers should keep their politics and religion OUT of the classroom. It's the parents' job to indoctrinate kids, not their teachers. Besides, regardless of your political affiliation, does anyone really think it's appropriate for a teacher to be telling young kids that "America is dead"?

9) Comment by Bouncer - 20/12/2012

Since she is so outraged over exposing children to political commentary in the classroom, I would invite SpeakYourMind to view the following: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAYlQhhocMw You can't have it both ways.

10) Comment by teacherguy - 20/12/2012

I take pride that at the end of my political lessons (which candidate to vote for, conservative v. liberal, etc.) that my students are so confused by how much positive and negative I have taught them about EACH one...they feel the need to ask me which one I would vote for because they could not detect bias in my lesson. Take the current reform I complain about in my Advocate comments...when such discussion has taken place in my classroom...my students were inundated with both sides of the education reform debate...they inferred I must not like it BASED ON WHAT THEY HEARD OTHER TEACHERS SAYING ABOUT IT because I "sold" the positives with the same enthusiasm as I "sold" the negatives. The reality in teaching is...we are locked on an island (room) for 7+ hours per day with a group of kids. Being as such, our "boundary" lines can get a little blurred sometimes in regards to what is appropriate and what is not appropriate to talk about or do (i.e. controversial topics, inappropriate discipline, politics, some even lose the "line" when it comes to sex with students!, etc.). There isn't a class covering such stuff in college...and there isn't enough time to cover such stuff in faculty meetings when we are being taught how to recognize and stop bullying, identify weak students and set growth targets based on student test scores, crisis plans (shooter, drugs, tornado, etc.) and techniques that get students more active in the learning process, and...get the point? As upset as these parents may be, they need to remember that teachers make mistakes and are constantly in a state of learning what is acceptable on the job. Whether an apology is offered or not is secondary to making the teacher more "appropriate" in the future. Just remember, this teacher...and most other teachers I know for that matter...would step between a shooter and your child if circumstances called for it (I have yet to read ANY account where the teacher hid behind students in school shootings). It appears this was an isolated incident...without a history of abuse...I see the value in working with this teacher instead of axing her.............finally, be careful when asking for a more "diverse" faculty...EBR sued to get that and look where they rank...at the bottom of the bottom state in the nation. It would be more prudent to ask for a more qualified faculty: master degree, national board certified, years of experience, proven value-added to students documented (for the reform-minded), etc.

11) Comment by Being_Stupid - 20/12/2012

@Pakistani, you are the last commentator to preach to us about hatred and racism. We read read your racist hate-filled comments about Bobby Jindal everyday.

12) Comment by Whatnow - 20/12/2012

Consider the source. When teachers were having children singing "Obama hmm, hmm, hmm, where was her outrage? Typical racist hypocrite. Teachers should, of course, be unbiased in the classroom. ALL teachers!

13) Comment by Bouncer - 20/12/2012

@SpeakYourMind....you really need to get a life, and a mind. Personnel matters are handled by the School Board of the parish, and the teacher's supervisor can implement policy and make a fair determination of "punishment" without your obviously biased input. They will discipline the teacher as they see fit. You are not her supervisor or boss, and although you are entitled to an opinion, that teacher's job status is not in your hands, nor is the job status of any other teacher, thank goodness. You accuse the teacher of having mental problems, but that vulgar diatribe you posted makes YOU appear to be the one with mental issues. Frankly, I hope that someone associated with her sees your comments and then goes after you for libel. Loudmouth blowhards like you are one reason that teachers' lives are made so difficult.

14) Comment by Attila - 20/12/2012

@Speak Your Mind: After reading your rant I have come to the conclusion that YOU are part of the problem. There are documented cases of teachers all over this country having their children sing songs in praises of BHO among other things. Where is your outrage at that? That's what i thought....you have none as you think that is perfectly OK.

15) Comment by Pakistani - 20/12/2012

The teacher was wrong to have made the negative statements attributed to her in a classroom setting. I personally think it is in bad taste to speak poorly of the President or the United States of America, and to fly the confederate flag. With that said, the parents of these kids need to invest just as much time into the education of their kids. I went to public school and made it out of the "ghetto" by educating myself. Most inner city kids fail not because of poor teachers ( as Jindal wants you to believe), but because of what goes on after the kids get off the school bus. Education is the way forward in life. Make yourself valuable by educating yourself and your kids. This goes for white, black, yellow, purple, whatever color. I wouldn't be surprised if this is not some of these parents first extracurricular involvement with the school....

16) Comment by Speak Your Mind - 20/12/2012

By all means necessary, I am willing to ASSIST the teacher with her problems, counseling, etc. Just let me know, I can open a BRAND NEW WORLD for her. As for the ones that commented on jobs, and volunteering in school, I HAVE A JOB and a very good one might I say. I have already put myself in the shoes of a teacher so don't make such a comment especially when you don't have any idea of what your talking about. To be honest I DID VOLUNTEER AT DELCAMBRE ELEMENTARY to allow a teacher to attend a conference. I know what its like be in a classroom with kids and what they are capable of . I commend the EDUCATORS who are EDUCATING OUR KINDS FOR THE FUTURE, BECAUSE AGAIN, ITS OUR KIDS, OUR FUTURE, & OUR staND!!!!!

17) Comment by Speak Your Mind - 20/12/2012

For the few closed minded individuals that have commented on this article. If one of you would research Iberia Parish School's Board Policy there is a ZERO tolerance policy dealing with political issues that have been in place for years now. So what has changed??? The teachers make there own policies and we as parents have to live with that??? I will tell you this much the comments that Dale Henderson made were nothing but LIES!!!! Mr. Henderson never attended the one meeting that was held at Delcambre Elementary. Instead of handling this matter he sent his Assistant Suprerintendent Micheal Judice, Roger Hamilton from Student Services and Raymond Noel of the Transportation Department. I personally was present with those named above along the the Principal Danielle Delcambre, Asst. Principal Jodi Romero and teacher Mandy Leblanc. The parents of the student were also present. The ENTIRE meeting was RECORDED, and the teacher never once denied that she made the comment, and in fact she stated that she was talking to students about the election. Every member present had the opportunity to RECORD the same meeting via there cell phones. When I asked the question to the principal who was and educator before would she ever make such a comment and her response was NO. There was no apology by the teacher, but the principal did say she would take the blame for whatever had to be dealt with dealing the media. How ironic when the principal was asked did she have any idea what was going on, Mind you this was after 7 days of no communication about a meeting with anyone from the school or school board, Principal Danielle Renard did admit that the night after the Presidential Election she did receive a text message stating that " TROUBLE WAS BREWING". Another thing Principal Renard did respond to was the question if their was a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY about political views in Iberia Parish. Response was YES, but again she was going to take the blame for not meeting with her teachers to remind them of this policy. What was there to remind them of, if they are suppose to be educators, they know the policies, they are not kids that need to be reminded about this. How ironic that all these teachers employed got together amoung themselves and talked about it and alerted the PRINCIAL about TROUBLE BREWING!!!! Seems to me that they all got together via text and phone to get there stories straight about what to say. Mrs. Leblanc did also say that without giving any names that she was alerted by a friend of a friend. A grown adult who can't identify the people who contacted her means that is just like one of her students, Wake the HELL UP and OPEN your mouth and say who told you that there was conversation going on via face book. Not once did it mention anyone's name, but then again a guilty consciene always brings an individual to respond to what they have done or said before its brought to the light. Before the meeting with all the individuals involved Mrs Leblanc's husband was allowed to enter the school and console his wife for hours due to her being so EMOTIONAL, but over WHAT??? If you didn't say anything what are you emotional about. Now you can't even meet with the parent because you are too EMOTIONAL. WARING, WARING, WARING, this is a sign of an unstable person and lord knows what may or may not happen. I personally feel the teacher Mandy Briley Leblanc is and always will be listed in my book as the TEACHER WHO HATES THE PRESIDENT and therefore what makes us think that she is not taking that HATE out on our kids. Just being in the same room with her and seeing the smug smile on her face like she knew she got over makes me SICK to think that OUR KIDS minds are being MUNILIPATED in some way or another. Now back to Dale Henderson and anyone of you out there, If you would like to hear the LIVE RECORDING OF THE MEETING and EXACTLY what was said, you let me know. I will be more than happy to direct you in the right direction to get the ACTUALLY FACTS, instead of all the BULL SH*T that Dale Henderson fed to the media. Policies and Prodecures that the Iberia Parish School Board put into place is just like a sheet of toilet tissue, you can take it and whip your behind with it the flush it away never to resurface. Again I repeat, WARNING, WARNING, there are signs there that this teacher is on the point of unraveling and nothing is being done about it. So do we have to sit back and wait until a tragedy happens to try and understand???? DO SOMETHING NOW!!!!!!

18) Comment by BRmoderate - 20/12/2012

an elementary school teacher should not be voicing her political thoughts no matter what. My son's 4th grade teacher did the same thing. I didn't protest about it but I did teach him that everyone is entitled to their opinions and just because they voice those opinions does not make them right. Calling a radio stationa nd complaining is one thing but telling an impressionable child that america is going to die is another. Regardless of who won the election.

19) Comment by Being_Stupid - 20/12/2012

What about all the derogatory comments that Teacher Union Members have make about Governor Bobby Jindal? Shouldn't they all be fired too? What about all the derogatory comments made by teachers about President Bush when he was President?

20) Comment by tradewinns - 20/12/2012

these are the kind of parents that keep our public school system in the bottom of the world standings. if they have so much time, perhaps they could volunteer to tutor students who are behind in their studies.

21) Comment by Bouncer - 20/12/2012

This is a molehill being turned into a mountain. An employer has a great deal of discretion in limiting political speech in the workplace, so if the teacher was in clear violation of those regulations, then she should be reprimanded. When you are at work, your focus should be on doing your job, but firing (if she is otherwise a good teacher) is too extreme a punishment. On the flip side, those "demonstrators" carrying placards with the banal slogans have become walking caricatures. Instead of wasting their time calling for a teacher's blood, they should be out doing something productive, like maybe looking for a job. It's sad that they're too stupid to realize that.

22) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 20/12/2012

"now this teacher tells the truth" Really??? that America is dead? Give it rest...this bashing got old a long time ago

23) Comment by slye753 - 20/12/2012

this same bunch never protested when one school had their pupils sing a song about obama. or the schools that sent home ballots asking their parents to vote for obama. now this teacher tells the truth and want to fire her.

24) Comment by slye753 - 20/12/2012

this same bunch never protested when one school had their pupils sing a song about obama. or the schools that sent home ballots asking their parents to vote for obama. now this teacher tells the truth and want to fire her.

25) Comment by spqr - 20/12/2012

These are the same parents who volunteer to do NOTHING in schools.

26) Comment by arin - 20/12/2012

Can you believe that someone in the public school system has a different opinion of the current pres. Burn her!!! She's a witch!!! Just kidding about the witch thing. Go Mandy!! If other teachers can say how "great" Obama is then why can't others voice their opposition without fear of reprisal?