We accept letters to the editor. Letters to the editor are opinions of the authors of the letter, not Decaturish.com. Everyone has an equal opportunity to submit a letter to the editor. So if you read something here and don’t like it, don’t jump on our case. Write a letter of your own. All letters must be signed and are typically between 500 to 800 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for length and content. We also reserve the right to publish longer letters if we need to. To send your letter to the editor, email it to [email protected].

Dear Decaturish,

I don’t like that things escalated to a point where this physics teacher has to take a symbolic fall for all the sins ever committed by City Schools of Decatur.

I don’t like the idea that these kids have been so mishandled they now need a victim to feel validated.

I don’t like how Principal Rochelle Lofstrand was treated during the dialog I observed with students.

I don’t like the idea that if this man was Black and called these kids out in his class, this would be a non-event.

I don’t like that certain individuals and organizations have already begun sending branded messaging and bending the students’ issues to fit their agenda.

I don’t like how deeply this situation has been exploited for the wrong reasons.

I don’t like that no one made much noise to prevent the dismissal of my daughter’s one Black teacher during 8th grade (i.e., she was a math teacher…a subject some might say is equally difficult as physics).

I don’t like how so many true villains are hiding in plain sight because no one recorded them.

I don’t like how these villains are often assigned to equity or diversity committees instead of walking in full accountability for their actions.

I don’t like how it’s sexier to sensationalize the downfall of this teacher’s career instead of sensationalizing how maybe these kids just didn’t like that it was a non-Black man instead of a Black man criticizing their use of a racial slur.

I don’t like how a very important issue is obscured in this chaos… that is, the issue of hiring/retaining enough Black teacher talent to fully share in the hard work of speaking candidly to Black learners who need to see themselves represented.

There’s so much here I just don’t like.

— – Dr. Tiffany Tesfamichael, a City Schools of Decatur parent

If you appreciate our work, please become a paying supporter. For as little as $6 a month, you can help us keep you in the loop about your community. To become a supporter, click here. 

Want Decaturish delivered to your inbox every day? Sign up for our free newsletter by clicking here.

Decaturish is now on Mastadon. To follow us, visit: https://newsie.social/@Decaturish/.

Decaturish is now on Post. To follow us, visit: https://post.news/decaturish.