Biology teacher suspended for primate worksheet

@NJChicaa (116163)
United States
May 21, 2022 10:38am CST
A Michigan biology teacher distributed a worksheet about primates (lemurs, monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, humans, etc). The problem is that the depiction of the human primate was Barack Obama. Racists have long depicted Africans and African-Americans as monkeys/chimpanzees. They LOVED depicting Michelle Obama as a chimp when she was First Lady. Technically the image is correct: Obama is a primate. I am a primate. You are a primate. But literally there are billions of other people on Earth that could have been shown instead of a black person. I don't see how the teacher didn't see the issue with the picture. The only redeeming thing in the story is the fact that the teacher himself did not generate the assignment. It was actually created by undergraduate students at Duke University and posted on their web site. That's where he found it. I mean of course he should have known better than to use it but at least he didn't create it. He is suspended (with pay I'm sure) until further notice.
A biology teacher at a Michigan private school for gifted students is on administrative leave after distributing an assignment worksheet last week in which a picture of former US President Barack Obama was included among pictures of several animals, includ
7 people like this
6 responses
@luisga814 (6913)
• Quezon City, Philippines
21 May 22
Wow. Comparing to a well known personality as a primate is not a good example.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (116163)
• United States
21 May 22
He *is* a primate. Humans are primates. It was just a racist example.
2 people like this
@luisga814 (6913)
• Quezon City, Philippines
21 May 22
@NJChicaa Yes. I do understand that. But think for a different personality not the well known personality.
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
21 May 22
This teacher doesn't suffer from too much intelligence!
2 people like this
22 May 22
haha! did make me chuckle
• United States
21 May 22
I get ticked when things like this happen. It was no accident. It was no mistake. The instructor may not have created the worksheet but he CHOSE to use it. I get so sick of stories like this.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118606)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 May 22
Wow, I hope this teacher didn't have ulterior motives or racist tendencies when distributing this material. The teacher should have known better. In this day and age, people need to be very careful what they do and understand the potential consequences of their actions.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157402)
• United States
22 May 22
People are not using their brains these days.
1 person likes this
22 May 22
Suspended with pay. Is this a punishment or reward?!
1 person likes this