Dealing with charges of racism is never easy, as Wawasee superintendent Mark Stock has cause to know.

Just five months into his term as Wawasee's superintendent he dealt with the uproar created by a Ku Klux Klan worksheet at Syracuse Elementary.

Now, six months later, a teacher has retired from her post of 31 years as a result of a stereotypical remark made in her North Webster School classroom.

Teachers are supporting Phyllis Roberts in a situation many say was mishandled. A representative from the Indiana State Teachers Association addressed concerns of more than 70 teachers Monday. Later in the week, teachers upset by the incident were reportedly showing their support for Roberts by wearing black armbands.

But Stock stands by his decision.

"Our job is to prepare students for the future," he said. "They're going to have to work in many locales with many kinds of people - an accurate curriculum has to be taught."

The Times-Union obtained information concerning Roberts' remark in class from an unofficial source.

The source read from a document submitted to school officials by Roberts. In the document, Roberts reports that she told the class that "some black people treasure fancy clothes and nice cars over houses."

Her statement in class came as part of a lesson on black history. The lesson included much more, including the admonition to students at the end of the lesson that the only difference between black people and white people is the pigment in their skin and that all races should love each other.

The lesson also showed how slavery was wrong and how blacks had to strive much harder to get ahead in life even after slavery was abolished.

Had Roberts not elected an early retirement, she would have faced a hearing before the school board.

Last spring's incident with the Klan worksheet did not have any bearing on the way Roberts' situation was handled. Stock said he evaluated each incident as an individual situation.

He is disturbed by the community's reaction to the situation. "I think the fact that a sizeable portion of our community does not see these issues as a problem is what makes this a problem," he said.

"... People have long-held beliefs - it's really a matter of changing those. It's a long, hard process."

The Rev. Sarah Tuttle supports the administration's decision in this case.

"I thank God for Mark Stock. He is a person of integrity. He has kept his word to the community to bring about a better school system," she said.

Tuttle, who was instrumental in bringing the Klan worksheet to the administration's attention last spring, has remained in contact with Wawasee's Minority Issues Task Force. The incident with Roberts proves to her that racism at Wawasee hasn't gone away.

"For a professional to teach untrue stereotypes to an innocent class of third-graders is beyond being defended," she said. "Ignorance is no excuse when someone has 31 years of experience."

She is saddened by reports of other teachers wearing black armbands in support of Roberts.

"I don't think they understand what is at stake when racism is involved," she said. "It's natural to have sympathy with people, but I don't think the arguments beng made are valid."

She sees the incident as an opportunity for the community to work together and promote understanding. "Racism hurts everyone," she said. "When we as a community take a stand and say no to racism, we can get past this." [[In-content Ad]]