Ohio teacher suspended indefinitely for racist comment: A suburban Cincinnati teacher, suspended indefinitely without pay a week ago after making racially insensitive remarks, has not yet requested a hearing to contest the matter, and the head of the Cincinnati NAACP said Monday that he's very interested in the outcome.
In early December an African-American student told his science teacher, Gil Voigt of Fairfield Freshman School, that he would like to become president. Voigt, who is white, is accused of telling him, "We do not need another black president."
The incident occurred Dec. 3, and other students present corroborated the student's version of events, according to a report from Assistant Superintendent Roger Martin of the Fairfield City School District north of Cincinnati, who conducted a disciplinary inquiry on the matter.
"We have not received any (response) as of today," said Gina Gentry-Fletcher, spokeswoman for the 9,500-student district where almost 1 of every 6 students is black. Voigt, who has taught in the district for 14 years, was notified by mail Dec. 26 of his right to a hearing to appeal his suspension if he responds to Fairfield district officials within 10 days of notification.
