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 A white teacher in Iowa is under investigation after demanding a black student refer to him as “master.”

Jabre White, a senior at Roosevelt High School, said teacher Shawn McCurtain made the demand while telling a group of students to head downstairs to take a final in economics.

“Yes, sir,” Jabre recalls telling him.

“You meant to say, ‘Yes, sir, master,'” McCurtain allegedly shot back.

The comment stunned Jabre.

“Who the f*** are you talking to? You’re nobody’s master, and this is not the slave days,” Jabre said.

But it was White’s mother, who after hearing about the incident, decided to take some real action against McCurtain’s bigotry.

Nicholle White of West Des Moines contacted The Des Moines Register, wanting to know why school officials would not disclose how they responded after the educator was said to have used a slur reminiscent of the slave era.

“I have tried to be humble,” she said of her dealings with school officials. “But I also feel I need to express as a mother, and as a black woman, how I feel.”

After she found out about the exchange in mid-May, White said, she asked school officials to look into it. According to emails she forwarded to the newspaper, Vice Principal Joseph Blazevich investigated and confirmed the comment was made.

Blazevich wrote to White that he thought the incident was “terrible” and “shameful,” and added that “the instructor was very remorseful.” However, he noted that he could not say what disciplinary action was pursued because district personnel matters are confidential under state law.

As of June, McCurtain is still employed by the district. He could not be reached for comment. Jabre’s mother, however, isn’t giving up. She plans to contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and the NAACP for help with the matter and has already contacted the school board to suggest McCurtain undergo diversity training.

But her complaint may not yield much change, unfortunately.

From USA Today:

While Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code prohibits the disclosure of personnel matters, Chapter 272 makes public the final written decisions of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.

If White wants to pursue the matter further, District Spokesman Phil Roeder said she could file a complaint with that state board — but should be prepared to wait months for a resolution.

A review of the board’s decisions in recent years suggests a suspension or license revocation would be unlikely.

As for Jabre, he’s bound for Iowa State University next fall. We wish him the best of luck.

SOURCE: USA Today | VIDEO SOURCE: USA Today