Teacher calls student "nigga"Show Video Details ↓ Reporter 1: Well it is a word that evokes many emotions in people. It's a derogatory racial remark that has divided people for many years. Reporter 2: And a Jefferson county high school teacher has now received the longest suspension on record for calling a student the N word. WHAS11 defender Renee Murphy investigates what happened and why in this story you'll only see on 11. Renee Murphy: Valley Traditional high school is in the middle of a racial controversy right now. A teacher used the N word towards a student. The word is only 6 letters long but the impact is far reaching. Now we do want to warn you that some of the language in this story is strong and it may offend you, it may offend some other people. But since this story is not just about the N word, it's also about the teacher's intent and definition of the word, we have decided to leave it in the story for you to decide. Interviewer: And what did he say specifically to you? Keysean Chavers: Sit down, nigger. Renee Murphy: Keysean Chavers is a freshman at Valley high-school, a boy scout, a football player, a member of the ROCC, an honor roll student. He was hanging around his teacher's classroom door in December. The teacher told him to sit down and the teacher says that Keysean used the N word first. Paul Dawson: And I just kind of was stunned for a second. Well then get away from the door, niggah. And I was just... I repeated the same insult because that's sort of what I've been trained to do. Renee Murphy: The school district says that is not what they trained English teacher Paul Dawson to do. Keysean Chavers: He tried to say I said it and [inaudible]. I didn't say it and no-one else in the class knows that I said it because I didn't. Renee Murphy: Documents from the school investigation show that several of the students interviewed from Valley did not hear Keysean say the N word first. Dawson says that students use the slang version of the N word at Valley high school all the time. He says N I G G E R is a racial slur but says that that students use N I G G A as often as they say dude or hey man. And Dawson says as much as he does not like the word, he still used the slang version to feel more comfortable with black students. Paul Dawson: Why is this word used so frequently, so... I just don't understand it. And I'm trying to understand it. I need help. Yes, I used nigga. I've used it. I admit it. I put the h on it to emphasize it's niggah. But, you know, it's nigga, nigga this, nigga please. Nigga. Hey, you know, can you lend a nigga a pencil? Renee Murphy: What kind of example are you setting for your students if you use a word that you don't want them to use? Paul Dawson: Upon reflection, it's not good. Renee Murphy: Dawson was suspended for 10 days without pay from January 9th to January 23rd and he has to go to diversity training. He says that he's learned from this experience and hopes that others think twice before using the N word. Paul Dawson: I'm cured. I will never say any form of nigga. You know, I'm cured of that. Renee Murphy: Paul Dawson says that he is sorry for the way things were handled, but Keysean says he is not looking for any apologies. Keysean Chavers: I don't think apologizing is going to change the fact that it happened and he has not been punished. Renee Murphy: And punishment in your mind is? Keysean Chavers: You know, not having his job anymore. Renee Murphy: Paul Dawson says that he wants there to be a steadfast policy in Jefferson county public schools against people using the N word. Right now, when it is brought up it's dealt with on a case by case basis with the district and we should mention that Keysean is still in Paul Dawson's classroom. Dawson has been with the district for 20 years and Keysean is still in that classroom because Dawson is an honors English teacher. There are very few honors English classes so he is still with him. Reporter 2: Well now he was suspended for a while but is he back teaching? Renee Murphy: He is back teaching now and he still does have his job, but this is not the first time that Paul Dawson has been suspended from Jefferson county public schools. Coming up at 5:30, we'll tell you what happened before, we'll tell you about his plan to appeal the suspension and why the district says that he should keep his job. Reporter 1: Thank you very much. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this. Renee Murphy: Oh no. Lots more to come. |