News — student

A Zambian college student lost his life after Chinese nationals beat him because he was dating a Chinese woman. While beating him, the Chinese men exclaimed that they would not allow black beings to be raised in their country. No legal action was taken against these men for murder. As this happens in China, over a million Chinese live in the African continent. The Chinese in African seem to get away with a lot, even racist acts. This is a "China problem" that needs to be addressed. It's time to stands up against such racist actions against lack people.

The mother of an 11-year-old sixth-grader at a Long Island Catholic school is accusing the institution’s headmaster of forcing her Black son to kneel and apologize after claiming that’s the “African way” of saying sorry.

In an interview with New York Daily News, Trisha Paul said St. Martin de Porres Marianist School headmaster John Holian forced her Haitian-American son to get on his knees and render an apology after his English teacher reported him for doing the wrong assignment. When Paul got in touch with Holian to discuss the incident after her son told him what had occurred, the headmaster allegedly justified his action by claiming he learned that disciplinary practice from a Nigerian parent who told him it’s an “African way” of rendering an apology. Paul said the explanation left her shocked.

“Once he started mentioning this African family, that’s when it just clicked,” Paul told the news outlet. “Like, this is not normal procedure. I felt there was no relevance at all. Is he generalizing that everyone who is Black is African? That’s when I realized something is not right with this situation.”

Paul, who said the February incident left her son embarrassed, believes race played a factor. “My son was humiliated, hurt, embarrassed, sad and confused,” she said. “He reads about things happening because of your skin color. To experience it… he’s just trying to process it in his 11-year-old brain.”

In a phone call on March 1 to discuss the incident, Paul said Holian admitted the punishment in question wasn’t a standard disciplinary procedure. He also couldn’t properly clarify how the kneeling story about the Nigerian family was relevant after making reference to it. And when the two met face to face to further discuss the incident, Holian alleged her son was made to apologize to the teacher for being disrespectful. Paul, however, said the school had never contacted her about her son’s conduct, adding that he is a “well-mannered, honor roll student.”

During their discussion, Holian also told Paul he made her son kneel because simply saying sorry wouldn’t have changed anything. “If I had said to him ‘apologize and get back to class’… it would’ve meant nothing,” Holian told Paul in the video recording of their meeting, according to New York Daily News. “So it was changing the way you say ‘I apologize.’”

Holian also doubled down on forcing Paul’s son to kneel, saying he learned that form of punishment from a Nigerian parent whose child was enrolled at the school.

“This father came in and said, ‘you’re going to apologize to this teacher the African way, and you’re going to get down on your knees and apologize.’ I’ve never seen that before,” Holian said, adding that that form of punishment is justifiable irrespective of a child’s race.

“I have six kids, and four boys. And if one of them is really acting rude and arrogant… I will say at times, ‘get on your knees and apologize,’” he told Paul. “I was speaking to your son as I would my own son.”

Meanwhile, school authorities released a statement on Friday announcing Holian has been placed on temporary leave pending an investigation into the incident.

“I want to assure you that St. Martin’s neither condones nor accepts the actions of our headmaster,” acting headmaster James Conway wrote in the statement. “The incident does not reflect our long, established values or the established protocols regarding student related issues.”

Though Holian apologized to Paul over the incident, the mother said the harm has already been caused. “He showed no remorse until he realized how it’s impacted my son,” she told New York Daily News. “He’s going to therapy. He’s been very reserved and humiliated.” Paul also said her son now tries to “stay away from the headmaster and not speak to the teacher if need be.”

Nigerian teenager Faith Odunsi is putting the West African nation on the map after winning the Global Open Mathematics competition. She beat other contestants from Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States to emerge the winner with 40 points, with the second runner tailing her with 10 points.

Odunsi, as the winner, walked away with $1000 which will be presented in an official ceremony soon. The 15-year-old is a final year high school student at the Ambassadors School, Ota Ogun State whose father is a medical doctor and mother, a businesswoman. Her parents are extremely proud of her win and she claims to have gotten her mathematics genes from her father.

According to her, the first stage of the tournament was the most difficult because she was not accustomed to the computer-based test. She scored 66 points in both the first and second rounds which were all CBT then progressed to the quarter and semi-finals held on Microsoft teams, acing that round as well.

Throughout the tournament, Odunsi said she did not think herself a winner till she answered more questions correctly in the final round. “My heart raced but I felt relieved,” she told The Punch.

Odunsi did not want her preparations for the tournament to interfere with that of her regular classes. “It takes a village to train a child” is not just an African proverb but a concept that works. The high schooler prepared for the competition with the help of her teacher. He coached her after regular classes ended.

When the competition date got closer, she had to dedicate more time to get ready sometimes studying at night from 11 pm to midnight.

The Global Open Mathematics competition is just one of many competitions the young genius has participated in. She has been participating in the national Olympiad since she was in junior high school, among others.

“I have also taken part in Kangourou Sans Frontieres, South African mathematics Olympiad, American Mathematics Competition, and Pan-African mathematics Olympiad. For the national Olympiad, I was made the Queen of Mathematics from JSS3 to SS2.

“For the South African Mathematics Olympiad, I got medals. I got a silver medal in the Pan-African mathematics Olympiad in 2019. I was also made an ambassador of my school.”

Again in 2019, she set a record in the Cowbellpedia competition answering 19 questions in seconds.

The Ambassadors School invests in its students who take part in competitions. For instance, the school holds extra classes for all participants preparing for competitions. Students are generally trained to solve mathematical questions mentally with little to no errors.

The young achiever wants to pursue a degree in Computer Engineering abroad because she believes there will be enough structures in place there to enhance the learning experience.

Many young girls tend to shy away from mathematics but not Odunsi. She said mathematics is her favorite subject although she has an interest in information and communications technology. She explained that math is all about getting the concept and applying the formula when solving other questions. In her words, “it is about using your brains and basic logical reasoning.”

Odunsi is still a teenager who loves to do other things aside from studying and winning competitions. She said academic work by no means affects her social skills and she is into sports as well.

Clark Atlanta University’s first-year student, Emory Pruitt, continues soaring up high the academic ladder despite the obstacles that have come her way, and she is a testament to the fact that age is just a number when it comes to setting your sights on achieving success.

Though this year has been very challenging particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic and the numerous setbacks that it has come with, that hasn’t deterred Pruitt from reaching yet another incredible milestone in her life.

After enrolling at the Clark Atlanta University at the age of fifteen in Fall 2020, Pruitt wrote her name in the history books as she became one of the youngest students in the HBCU’s history, as well as the youngest student in recent memory, the university said in a statement.

A commendable feat, Pruitt, however, did not have it easy. Back in high school, the Tennessee native, who graduated with a commendable 3.7 GPA, became an object of ridicule and was also racially targeted just for having big ambitions. Nevertheless, she was still able to sail through with some encouragement and backing from her family.

“It actually was the dedication and my family that pushed me each day,” Pruitt, now 16, said. “I should thank the people that doubted me; that just made me work even harder.” 

In an effort to ensure she had a hassle-free high school education devoid of any bullying whatsoever, Pruitt’s mother, Karen, ultimately decided to enroll her in online classes at Penn Foster High School. Karen told the university that decision eventually paid off as her daughter stuck to her books.

“I know that this was the best choice to protect her and her feelings; no one should have to defend the color of their skin,” Karen said.

Talking about her daughter’s enrolment at the university, Karen said: “Words would not be able to describe how thrilled and excited she was to have come across a dream come true.”

Though classes for the 2020-21 academic year are currently being held online due to safety and health reasons as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the university says the teen is adjusting to college life just fine.

“We are honored that this exceptional young woman chose Clark Atlanta University to continue her studies and we look forward to supporting her through all of her endeavors,” Associate Vice President/Dean of Admissions, Lorri Saddler, said. “Ms. Pruitt has already accomplished so much in just 16 years and we know she’ll continue to build on her successes.”

Pruitt also has some company as her brother, Elijah, also gained admission to the university for the 2020 academic year.