Teachers were fired at Celerity Nascent Charter School for teaching about the injustice of racism during Black History Month, according to a petition signed by almost 300 people calling for the re-instatement of the 7th grade teachers.

"Marisol Alba had helped her students plan the Black History Month program and was dismissed for her activity. Fellow teacher Sean Strauss signed a letter of protest drafted by the students after the program was cancelled. He was dismissed for doing so." (quote from petition below)

Reaching national news, NPR reports on the scandal here: 

source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9184608   date accessed:  April 8, 2008

Photo: MSSU.edu

World renowned poet and Connecticut Poet Laureate Marilyn Nelson wrote the following letter to Celerity Nascent Principal Canada and Founder Ms. McFarlane, according to Andy Thibault's article "Firing Teachers who Encourage Students to Think":  

March 20, 2007

Dear Ms. McFarlane and Ms. Canada:

It has come to my attention that controversy apparently related to my book, A Wreath for Emmett Till, has led to the firing of two of your teachers. I feel compelled to defend Marisol Alba and Sean Strauss, who were fired because they had signed one of several letters written by students to protest the summary cancellation of the seventh grade’s contribution to the Black History Month program at Celerity Nascent Charter School.

source:  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/391420083#body   date accessed:  April 8, 2008