The Whitesboro School District’s superintendent says a homework assignment recently given out by a teacher contained a derisive reference to Cornhill, a neighborhood in Utica, that was “extremely offensive” and “racially insensitive.” The teacher has since apologized for his words.
Utica Common Councilman Delvin Moody, whose district includes Cornhill, says it’s a community not immune to violence and other issues. He says there’s nothing unique about that.
“No place is perfect, and I can’t think of one place without a police force,” Moody said.
However, there is a sense of community in Cornhill with concentrated, selfless efforts to help the people living there. Moody says that’s one of the things that makes it special.
“There’s been a lot of information, a lot of initiatives and positive programming, and different announcements of community centers and things that are happening in the district,” he said. “A strong portion of that is because people are caring again about that particular area of Utica.”
Moody was made aware last week of an assignment in a high school financial class given to students in Whitesboro referencing Cornhill.
The controversial reference stated, “You want to get your own apartment, but your mother worries about you and doesn’t want you to get shot in Cornhill.”
“It added absolutely no substance, which forged the question that I had which is, ‘Why put it in there?,'” said Moody.
Moody says there needs to be greater accountability for what is taught in the school district.
“If that is his teaching style, to bring about humor off the plight of other communities and people, that is problematic,” he said.
Moody says these types of statements feed a perception that many people, including himself, are working hard to change in the area.
“There are so many people in Cornhill doing tremendous work,” said Moody. “When you say those things it kind of takes their passion away.”
Moody says, however, does not want the teacher to be fired over the assignment.
“I would never approach him with the insensitivity that he approached my community,” he said.
But Moody does think there should be cultural sensitivity training, and extended an invite for the teacher and district superintendent to visit Cornhill.
“It’s a beautiful community, not like any other community,” he said.
Moody said he will be sending a letter to the NAACP about the incident. He said he has sent a letter to the Whitesboro School District’s superintendent and the teacher who wrote the assignment.
The district superintendent issued a statement on the incident and published an apology letter from the teacher who gave out the assignment.
In it, the teacher says he “fell short as an educator and role model.”
He apologized for giving the assignment and said it was not his intention to insult people who live in the Cornhill area.
The superintendent said the teacher is a long-time employee and that he trusts the sincerity of the apology.
