Teacher accused of racism: “Delaying this truth is adding more pain”

By Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Oct. 15, 2014

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The battle continues for Bernadette Yuson.

The teacher accused of using a racial slur in her classroom faced local media, giving her side of the story.

“Why did the superintendent delay the truth of the investigation?” asked Yuson. “Delaying this truth is adding more pain to my injury, my emotional stress.”

Last month, a student accused her of using the “N-word” in a classroom when moving around desks.

However, she claims that she only repeated the “N-word,” asking a disruptive student if it was a good word to say.

Yuson and her supporters have revealed that after the incident, the principal had told her that if she admitted to using inappropriate language, the issue would end.

“I just don’t like this problem to reach the district,” said Yuson. “If it will be settled at that very moment, so I signed the paper.”

But still the student complained to the school district.

Local media picked up on the issue and a letter was then sent out to parents saying that a teacher has used a racial slur.

“Bernadette is a victim of the district’s manipulation of the information regarding the facts of the case,” said Tony Dorano of the Filipino Migrant Center.

The Filipino community has made demands to clear Yuson’s name. As of now, Yuson remains on paid administrative leave.

“At this point and time, she’s very afraid,” said Dorano, “So she cannot make up her decision at this moment whether she’s going back to school or not, but she definitely wants her name cleared.

The school district has declined to comment on the recent activities but are expected to release their investigation findings by the end of this month.

As of now, there are no further meetings between the Filipino community and other groups. For now, they are on wait and see mode, seeing if the district is willing to meet their demands.