In the Boston area, a fifth-grade teacher has been suspended after conducting a “mock slave auction” involving two children of color and using a racial slur in class. Gregory L. Martineau, superintendent of Northborough and Southborough Public Schools, revealed the incidents in a letter to parents and issued an apology.
The unnamed teacher, from Margaret A. Neary Elementary School in Southborough, Massachusetts, allegedly held the mock auction in January during a history lesson on the Southern colonies’ economy, highlighting the children’s physical attributes such as their teeth and strength.
The teacher was placed on leave
Martineau condemned the conduct as potentially traumatizing for Black students. He also reported that in April, the same teacher used the N-word while reading from a non-curricular book, despite the word not appearing in the text.
After learning about the incidents on April 24, Martineau met with the teacher and the school’s principal. However, the next day, the teacher identified and singled out one of the students who had complained, an action Martineau deemed unacceptable. Consequently, the teacher was placed on leave and is undergoing due process procedures to determine their future with the district. The principal was also placed on ten days of paid leave in May.
Community leaders and parents have expressed concern over the incidents. Martineau apologized for the events, acknowledging missteps in handling the situation and emphasizing his responsibility to ensure safe and supportive learning environments for students.
Rahsaan Hall, president of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, suggested the district use these incidents as a learning opportunity to develop better practices and engage the community on sensitive topics. The district plans to implement “cultural competency” training for teachers by the fall to prevent future occurrences.