Math Teacher Comes Under Fire for Allegedly Calling Student 'Jew Boy'

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Photo by doviende via Flickr

A La Cañada teacher is facing the wrath of the school board and angry parents after she allegedly called a ninth-grade student "Jew boy" in math class, reports the LA Times.

According to Cindy Wilcox, the board member who brought the statement to light, it's not the first time that teacher Gabrielle Leko has pissed off parents. But because she runs high level classes, no one wants to come forward about her behavior.

“When I talked to the families and said ‘Would you please file a complaint?’ their response is, ‘She teaches all the high-level classes,'" Wilcox told the Times. "'We are going to see her again, and furthermore the siblings are likely to see her again. This is a teacher you just don’t want to make upset.'"

Leko allegedly has a history of giving female students a particularly hard time (not doing anything for those girls who are already struggling against a legacy of math-challenged Barbie dolls and t-shirts that encourage them to be dumb). She hasn't responded to the allegations.

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By Jessica Pauline Ogilvie in News on October 17, 2011 2:20 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

LaCanadaParent

Really, you think students would have their iPhones set to RECORD while in their pockets, in every single class, just in case a teacher says something they'd want to capture as proof? Aside from the fact that our students in LCUSD are not allowed to use their phones during class, it's a ridiculous statement. And "this sounds like a kid is making some accusations to try to get a teacher in trouble" -- this was allegedely said in front of the entire class, so there's no debating if it were said or not. The troubling fact is that parents here in La Canada, like elsewhere, are reluctant to be "trouble makers" for fear of retribution on their students and their younger siblings. As one of the few Jewish people in this town, I can tell you that if it were my child who witnessed this, there is no way we'd be silent, and I wish even non-Jews would feel the same way. For shame on anyone who cynically finds fault with the student, while automatically assuming the teacher did nothing wrong.

Marc Levin

Wow, this sounds like a kid is making some accusations to try to get a teacher in trouble. I say prove it, we all know those kids all have iPhones in their pockets - how come we have not see this on Youtube yet?

westlafadeaway

It "sounds" like it? No investigation needed? Assume it were true or worse - if they don't get it on their iphone they should just deal with it?