CPS teacher withdraws ongoing investigation over allegations of misconduct at theater club – NBC Chicago

[ad_1]

An investigation is underway at William Jones College Preparatory High School following allegations of misconduct.

Students at the drama club say their teacher made racist and homophobic comments and chose an inappropriate fall play, then declined to make any changes when the students expressed concerns.

“The play in question contained jokes mocking rape victims and also very stereotypical beatings against people of color, especially black people,” said Mila Mussatt, senior at Jones Prep.

“People would come up to me very upset, very uncomfortable, like, ‘Hey, I don’t think I can do that if this is the show we’re doing. “”

“We brought it to him, and he got mad at us and canceled the show,” said Mullatt, president of the theater club.

In a letter to the school community, provided to NBC 5, Jones Prep confirms that the fall play, “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised)”, a satire previously produced at Jones, has been canceled due to “what could best be described as creative differences around script edits and consent.”

However, several students at the drama club confirmed to NBC 5 that the letter did not address deeper concerns of misconduct.

“He was racist and homophobic towards students,” said Mike Devlin, a junior.

“They should have fired him a long time ago,” said first-year drama student Leah Williams.

“He’s always been like that. The kids have always complained about him.”

NBC 5 does not name the teacher in question.

Drama students have expressed their concerns in a letter to the administration. This letter was read in part on October 12 at a meeting of the local school council, which is broadcast on YouTube and open to the public.

“The end of the show was not due to creative differences,” the letter reads in part.

“The play was canceled because the teacher couldn’t handle the constructive criticism from an emotional cast and crew who felt it was morally unfair to continue as he was directing.”

Cassie Creswell is a parent representative on this council. She says this incident is of great concern and that the role of the board is to deal with and find solutions to reports of misconduct.

“Looking at the overall hurt that the students in the program have felt, this is something we need to make sure the school addresses as far as our oversight as a local school board can be exercised,” Creswell said.

“We have a responsibility, as whistleblowers, to report violations.”

On October 16, Chance the Rapper retweeted a parent’s concern over the drama club’s allegations. This tweet reads in part: “BIPOC students at Jones College Prep experience racist, demeaning and abusive behavior from their drama teacher.”

Then, on Monday, Chicago Public Schools confirmed to NBC 5: “The Office of Student Protections and Title IX has opened an investigation into allegations of misconduct at William Jones College Preparatory High School and an employee was terminated during of the investigation.

Mussat says the dismissal and investigation is a step in the right direction, but she wants students’ concerns taken seriously, sooner, in the future. She hopes a fair investigation will be conducted, but says she and others would not feel safe returning to a classroom under the guidance of this teacher.

“It is unacceptable to keep this person in a position of power over us and to continue to cultivate an environment where we are afraid to do something we love,” Mussat said.

The theater club is now hosting a student-led performance of another show, “Halloween 101: Failure Could Be Fatal.” The performance will take place at Jones Prep October 28-30.

Chicago Public Schools say this situation is still under investigation.

NBC 5 has contacted the teacher in question but has not received a response.

[ad_2]