HS hooky monster
Teacher says: Skip school
A teacher at Manhattan’s Beacon HS told cheering students to boycott the elite campus Monday after an incident involving a white Jewish girl sparked complaints about a racist environment.
“What we’re asking of all students: Do not come to school that day to show solidarity for the support of not just students of color but all students at Beacon in providing a safe space,” said a teacher, who identified himself as Mr. Green, at Friday’s boisterous cafeteria gathering, which was caught on video.
“Until the demands are met, students are not to return to school,” the educator — who a student said was science teacher Demetrius Green — urged the crowd of hundreds of teens.
Some Beacon students called for a sit-in instead, suggesting participating kids wear black and tape their faces.
But Green asked, “What is that going to do? Students before you, before I, have done the same thing, and nothing has happened.”
Friday’s protest was set off by remarks that a black student claimed he overheard the girl make in a confidential meeting Tuesday with two white Jewish guidance counselors.
The girl told The Post that she was only seeking support for her own college plan at the time.
“The context of my private conversation included my disapproval about the unfairness of students who were accepted to college without meeting the rigorous criteria that I and others worked so hard to achieve, because they might be athletes, afforded financial scholarships, and/or get seats based on affirmative action programs, as opposed to academic achievement as the first and only criteria,” she said in a statement.
The other student then barged into the meeting and berated the girl and her counselors, causing a commotion, she said.
As word spread, the girl became the target of cyberbullying and threats, she claimed.
One Instagram post accused her of saying “minorities stole her spot,” and “Im not gonna go to schools for black and brown people or ppl who are retarded.” It concludes, “. . . she’s definitely Messing with wrong group of ppl. She CLEARLY don’t know how we grew up cuz that b-tch looking to be destroyed LITERALLY.”
The girl says other students twisted her words out of context and falsely accused her of racism.
The city Department of Education, United Federation of Teachers and the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools received written and verbal complaints about Green’s call for a boycott.
Beacon Principal Ruth Lacey e-mailed students Sunday evening, saying she was “moved by the passion’’ of the cafeteria speakers, according to a copy of the message obtained by The Post.
Asked about the teacher’s conduct, Lacey referred questions to the DOE’s press office.
The DOE said it will investigate allegations of misconduct against Green and others. Green could not be reached for comment.