Must NOT mention racial difference

Even though she pointed out that some individuals depart from the average

A state appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a former science teacher in the Franklin Township school district for allegedly making racially insensitive remarks during a classroom lesson.

In a hearing before the Administrative Law judge, Chaki testified that she referred to ethnic demographics to illustrate “whether a sample of isotopes collected from a location would remain constant all of the time,” the appellate decision states.

Chaki said she told students that her community had been entirely made up of Caucasians, but they had grown old and moved out for many reasons, the decision states. Chaki claimed to have said that Asians were buying homes in her neighborhood because high-tech jobs were in the area, the decision states.

Referring to African-Americans, the decision quotes Chaki’s testimony: “I told the students not to laugh about the African-Americans because I have seen always the smartest students in my class were African-Americans, and I also see a lot of African-Americans in lab chemistry classes, they’re very smart, they should be in honors had they worked hard.”

But students said Chaki described African-American students “as manifesting poor work ethics,” the acting commissioner’s decision states. Students said Chaki characterized Asian students “as being superior in work ethics and ‘brain power,’” the decision states.

Students also said Chaki’s comments included that “Caucasian people could no longer afford to live in New Jersey” and “Spanish people were working class,” the appellate decision states.

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