[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.53,0:00:03.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well it is a word that evokes many emotions in people.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:03.67,0:00:07.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is a derogatory racial remark that has divided people for many years.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.57,0:00:11.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a Jefferson County High School teacher has now received the longest suspension on record
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.08,0:00:16.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for calling a student the "n" word. WHAS 11's Defender, Renee Murphy, investigates
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.25,0:00:20.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what happened and why in this story you'll only see on 11.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.98,0:00:27.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Valley Traditional High School is in the middle of a racial controversy right now. A teacher used the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.09,0:00:33.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"n" word towards a student. The word is only 6 letters long but the impact is far-reaching.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.06,0:00:36.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we do want to warn you that some of the language in this story is strong
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.60,0:00:40.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it may offend you, it may offend some other people.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.17,0:00:43.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But since this story is not just about the "n" word, it's also about the teacher's intent
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.31,0:00:49.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and definition of the word, we have decided to leave it in the story for you to decide.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.38,0:00:52.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> And what did he say specifically to you?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.94,0:00:54.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> Sit down, nigger.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.69,0:00:59.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Keysean Chavers is a freshman at Valley High School, a Boy Scout, a football player,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.33,0:01:02.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a member of the ROTC, an honor roll student.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.60,0:01:07.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was hanging around his teacher’s classroom door in December. The teacher, told him to sit down.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.66,0:01:11.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the teacher says that Keysean used the "n" word first.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.96,0:01:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> And I, just kind of was stunned a second, well, well, well then get away from the door - nigga!
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.02,0:01:27.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was just, I repeated the same insult because that's sort of what I've been trained to do!
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.45,0:01:32.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The school district says that is not what they trained English teacher, Paul Dawson, to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.26,0:01:37.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> He tried to say I said it and for some, and I didn't say it and no one else
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.20,0:01:40.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the class knows that I said it, 'cuz I didn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.43,0:01:44.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Documents from the school investigation show that several of the students interviewed
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.58,0:01:49.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from Valley, did not hear Keysean say the "n" word first. Dawson says that students use
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.91,0:01:53.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the slang version of the "n" word at Valley High School all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.68,0:02:03.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He says "n-i-g-g-e-r" is a racial slur but says that students use "n-i-g-g-a" as often as they'd say "dude"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.50,0:02:09.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or "hey man". And Dawson says as much as he does not like the word, he still used the slang version
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.10,0:02:12.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to feel more comfortable with black students.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.33,0:02:22.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> Why is this word used so frequently, so - I just, I just don't understand it and I'm trying
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.24,0:02:33.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand it. I need help. Yes, I use nigga, I, I've used it. I admit it. I put the "h" on it
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.11,0:02:39.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to emphasize "nigg-ahhh". You know, nigga, nigga this, nigga, nigga please! Nigga!
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.86,0:02:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ya'know, can you lend a nigga a pencil?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.89,0:02:47.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> What kind of example are you setting for your students if you use a word
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.50,0:02:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you don't want them to use?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.24,0:02:53.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> Upon reflection, that's not good.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.08,0:02:58.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> Dawson was suspended for 10 days without pay from January 9 to January 23,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.84,0:03:03.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he has to go to Diversity Training. He says that he's learned from this experience
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.02,0:03:06.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hopes that others think twice before using the "n" word.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.39,0:03:13.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> I am cured! I will never say any form of nigga. Ya'know, I am cured of that.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.28,0:03:18.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> Paul Dawson says that he is sorry for the way things were handled but Keysean says
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.43,0:03:21.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that he is not looking for any apologies.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.69,0:03:25.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> Apologizing isn't going to change the fact that it happened and he's not been punished.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.50,0:03:29.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> And punishment in your mind is?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.07,0:03:33.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,>> Him not having his job anymore.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.07,0:03:37.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Paul Dawson says that he wants there to be a steadfast policy
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.54,0:03:42.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Jefferson County Public Schools against people using the "n" word.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.00,0:03:46.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right now when it is brought up, it is dealt with on a case by case basis with the district.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.19,0:03:50.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we should mention that Keysean is still in Paul Dawson's classroom. Dawson has been
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.90,0:03:55.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the district for 20 years and Keysean is still in that classroom because Dawson
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.96,0:04:00.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is an Honors English teacher, there are very few Honors English classes, so he is still with him.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.47,0:04:03.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, now he was suspended for awhile but is he back teaching?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.31,0:04:08.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He is back teaching now, and he still does have his job but this is not the first time that Paul Dawson
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.59,0:04:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been suspended from Jefferson County Public Schools. Coming up at 5:30 we'll tell you
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.52,0:04:18.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what happened before, we'll tell you about his plan to appeal the suspension, and why the district
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.53,0:04:20.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,says that he should keep his job.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.53,0:04:22.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.83,0:04:23.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Oh no, lots more to come.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.100,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.