"N" word in art lesson at school

ADAMSTOWN -- Dinner for the Tillman family last week revealed their 10-year-old daughter had experienced a disturbing lesson at school.
On Jan. 5, Carroll Manor Elementary art teacher Teresa Ismach showed a series of paintings by a prolific black artist, Faith Ringgold. One of the paintings, at first glance, looks like a straightforward depiction of the American flag, a symbol often linked to the nation's promise of equality and freedom for all.

Ms. Ismach pointed out to her fifth-grade pupils the flag's stripes and stars actually hold a hidden message -- "Die Nigger." The best friend of Johnnie and Tasha Tillman's daughter was asked to spell out the slur, according to some of the pupils, Ms. Tillman said. The friend is white.

"Everybody gasped. They knew that was a bad word," she said.

Ms. Tillman's daughter, who is black, and her 25 classmates, 23 of whom are white, were confused. They didn't understand why their teacher was talking about a word they knew they should avoid, Ms. Tillman said.

Three attempts were made to contact Ms. Ismach, who is white, for an interview. She was not interviewed.

In a letter to the Tillmans written after they met with Ms. Ismach and principal MaryAnn Frank, Ms. Ismach wrote that she wanted to help her class understand the experiences and political climate that shaped Ms. Ringgold's art. Ms. Ringgold was born Oct. 8, 1930, in New York City.

"She tells stories through her artwork about her childhood, slavery, segregation and the Viet Nam War," Ms. Ismach wrote.

In her letter, Ms. Ismach, who has been teaching since 2001, wrote the pupils were trying to discern what was spelled in the flag's stripes, so she told them and then explained why the word was offensive.

"I thought this was a teachable moment to integrate our Character Count's core values of respect and sensitivity," she wrote. "I now realize the display and discussion of this artwork was in poor judgment. I am truly sorry for any discomfort I caused the students and their families by my actions. I would never intentionally hurt anyone."

Ms. Tillman, who is a former elementary school teacher, is not convinced the discussion was not deliberate.

The title of the artwork alone -- "The Black Light Series: Flag for the Moon: Die Nigger" -- should have prompted an experienced teacher to think twice about showing it to children, Ms. Tillman said. She does not object to the painting, but believes it was inappropriate to be presented to children without parental consent.

"I don't want my kids exposed to that type of material," she said.

Parents deserve the right to decide how and when they want to teach their children about social ills and painful history, Ms. Tillman said. If students use racial slurs, teachers have a responsibility to discuss the issue with children, but
teachers should not introduce harmful vocabulary, she said.
Families of pupils in the school received a notification letter Wednesday, after inquiries about the incident from The Frederick News-Post, Ms. Tillman said.

The fact that families were not promptly notified denied parents a chance to discuss their beliefs and opinions about use of the slur with their children, Ms. Tillman said.

"This is a complete and utter violation," she said.

In Ms. Ismach's letter to the Tillmans, she conceded she should not have shown the painting.

"I humbly ask that I be forgiven my mistake and promise to practice greater care and discernment in the future," Ms. Ismach wrote.

Ms. Tillman considers the apology to be insufficient, considering the harm that has been caused.

Her daughter, who likes Ms. Ismach, was troubled when a classmate told her it would be her fault if their teacher gets fired, Ms. Tillman said. The Tillmans' daughter asked her parents why they had such a vehement response.

Ms. Tillman was forced to explain the ugliness the slur represents and spent several days comforting her child, she said. She worries her daughter will be ostracized by fellow pupils and blamed for the teacher's poor judgment.

"(Ms. Ismach) should resign her position or lose her job," Ms. Tillman said. "How can you send your child to school and trust that she is safe when this type of thing is happening and an apology can get her (teacher) by?"

Ms. Frank declined to say whether any disciplinary action has been taken against Ms. Ismach, citing personnel confidentiality. The school follows the Frederick County Public Schools policy on bullying, discrimination and harassment, she said.

"Staff members who engage in or fail to appropriately address bullying, discrimination, or harassment may be subject to disciplinary consequences up to and including termination," the policy states.

Among the actions that may constitute discrimination is the use of specific slurs, as well as the use of written or graphic material aimed at degrading members of affected classes.

As far as Ms. Frank knows, this is the first time the school has received any complaints about Ms. Ismach.

The FCPS art curriculum for fifth-graders requires teachers to highlight Ms. Ringgold and four other artists -- Andy Warhol, Claude Monet, Salvador Dali and Georgia O'Keeffe, said Marita Loose, FCPS spokeswoman.

Teachers have flexibility in what pieces they choose to highlight for each artist, she said.

Ms. Frank said Ms. Ismach has tried to show different pieces by each artist every year; this is the first time she has shown the flag painting. She was shocked to learn a painting that contains a racial slur had been discussed in the art class.

"It will absolutely not occur again," Ms. Frank said. "It is not something that the school or the community condones. It doesn't reflect our beliefs.