Park Slope Teacher Called Students N-Word, DOE Confirms

After an investigation, the Department of Education has concluded that a Park Slope art teacher did in fact drop the n-word during her tirade against a class of 7th and 8th graders. You'll recall that last December, students at the Secondary School for Journalism accused the teacher, Elvira Sacco-Ponsot (pictured), of inappropriately upbraiding them when they became disruptive during an in-class movie screening. According to multiple accounts, she yelled, "You don't know how to act. You're acting lower class. You're acting like a whole bunch of n-----!" And after the meltdown, she reportedly tried to bribe one student with candy to keep his lips sealed. It's unclear what punishment awaits her; last year a private school teacher was fired for calling his students "filthy animals who belonged in a f---ing zoo," but Sacco-Ponsot teaches public school kids. Reached for comment, she told the Daily News, "I did not get any notification." At least that's a higher-class reaction than her response last December, when she told a reporter: "You're taking an allegation and you're making something out of it, and that's what it is, a goddamn allegation."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on May 1, 2009 1:27 PM

Comments [rss]

thescoop

BLACK AMERICA AND THE N-WORD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP2U0jmZjec

MamfeMan

I taught middle school in East New York, Brownsville, and Williamsburg for seven years. Don't tell me the N-word has not been completely co-opted by every middle schooler in the inner-city, black or white. They ALL say it. I, of course, am not from any of those places and wouldn't think of uttering the term out loud. Teaching in NYC was a brutal test of nerves. You are beaten down and humbled on a daily basis, often over and over in the span of six hours and thirty-seven and a half minutes. Be that as it may, what teaching in public schools did show me is that 99% of the kids you see out on the streets, hamming it up on the subways, dropping the N-word with their friends, baggy pants, cap, XXXL t-shirt, et al, are GOOD kids. They're just kids. And they can act foolish in the classroom. But the majority of them are good people with hopes and dreams just like the rest of us. They just dress like thugs.

Whatever. Stupid teacher. When I lost it with my students I would say something along the lines of this: "WHY ARE YOU ALL ACTING LIKE IDIOTS?!", at which invariably a student would say, "Did you call me an idiot?".

"No," I would reply, dodging a paper ball. "I said your ACTING like an idiot."

There is a difference.

theLtrain

Given that this is gothamist, I'm sure this has been posted; BUT, her punishment should be being transferred to a high school that might suit her better..one in Harlem perhaps?

Snoopy

I guess you never heard of Washington Irving or Chelsea Vocational. Both located in predominately white neighborhoods, sorry to say. It's called "busing."

tsol

Obama, please!

NannyState

Let me guess, her "art" primarily consists of a whole lot of white linen...

babyhitler

I still don't understand how black people can re-approprate the nigger word. Replace Nigger for asshole. "hey, what's up my asshole!" It doesn't make it better, it just makes you look more foolish. White people are laughing at you. You may fool 5% of the white teenager population but that's it. Read the urban dictionary's defiinition's of nigger. They are hilarious.

JenChungsBaby

At least she didn't say schvartza.

Wza

Dam snowflake.

fauxsella

Just as these kids are unlikely to ever debate the differences between the philosophies of Schopenhauer and Kant, so too are their teachers just as unlikely to inspire them to do so... as this n-word-wielding disgrace of a teacher has demonstrated.

ANGRYGOD11

The N-Word should be handled like sex organs: Even if it's a bit rough, it's OK if both sides are having fun.

valeriob

kill whitey!

Amanda Harletsch

not appropriate use of word still valid point.

Who is supposed to correct these kids!?

gossipgirl

Sounds like someone has an anger problem!

MrCow

the fact that she even said the N word means that she thinks with it. the N word isn't even in my vocabulary so it would never come to me, even if i was melting down.

chopp3r

If the N-word isn't in your vocabulary, then how do you even know what we're talking about?

MrCow

by vocabulary i meant the words i use daily to communicate. not all the words i've ever heard. i should have made that clear... this IS gothamist.

edgeland

i bet she's got a whole sac o bon mots.

shh.

r1b2

From her blog:

I can honestly say I LOVE my job. I should not get paid for having so much fun.

Well, yes, I think we agree that you shouldn't get paid. It's the love bit that has us confused...

http://elvirasacco-ponsot.vox.com/profile/