PHILADELPHIA – The father of a 16-year-old Philadelphia girl who says her geometry teacher likened a Mitt Romney T-shirt to a KKK robe says his children will not be going back to the school.
Samantha Pawlucy briefly returned to Charles Carroll High School in the city's Port Richmond section Tuesday where she was greeted by some 40 flag-waving veterans who said the supported her. That's after she says she was mocked last week by her teacher for wearing the shirt supporting the Republican presidential candidate. The teacher, Lynette Gaymon, was asked by the district and her union to apologize, but she did not show up for work on Tuesday.
Gaymon has apologized in a letter read to students by the school principal on Tuesday, saying she meant her remarks to be "light and humorous" and they "never meant to belittle" the student or cause any harm. Pawlucy's family said Gaymon's letter was inadequate.
Richard Pawlucy, Samantha's father, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that his daughter never actually made it to class on Tuesday because she became uncomfortable after going to the school's administrative offices following the rally held by her supporters. Pawlucy said Samantha and two other high-school age children in his home will be transferring to another school, possibly a charter school.
Superintendent William Hite Jr. has called the ordeal a "teachable moment" and said he will work with the mayor and the teachers union to move "towards a conversation that brings together diverse beliefs, inspires understanding, and heals."
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