Kid's cheeky school diary entry has spilt opinions
Christopher Columbus has become a controversial figure in North American history.
In recent years, historians and educators have been rethinking how to teach Columbus' "discovery" of the North Americas.
But this teacher did not expect this response to a journal entry about the explorer.
Shared on Facebook, student King Johnson wrote a sassy and scarily well-informed piece slating his teacher's views on Columbus day.
Writing in his school journal, Johnson laid down some truths:
“Today was not a good learning day. Blah blah blah I only wanted to hear you not talking.
"You said something wrong and I cannot listen when I hear lies. My mom said that the only Christopher we acknowledge is Wallace.
"Because Columbus didn't find our country the Indians did. I like to have Columbus Day off but I want you not to teach me lies. That is all.
"My question for the day is how can white people teach black history?”
So many burns in such a short paragraph!
Instead of opening up a dialogue or trying to encourage creative responses, the teacher simply wrote:
"King, I am very disappointed in your Journal today.”
Oh don't worry, King was having none of it and he wasn't changing his mind either. He retorted with an "ok".
We are so impressed with this boy's knowledge of the world around him. And praising Christopher Wallace (also known as The Notorious B.I.G) definitely shows a great taste in music!
We think this kid deserves an A+, not to be a disappointment!
And Twitter has the exact same reaction:
My opinion, as a retired teacher, is that this child’s teacher totally messed up. Messed up in the teaching and then messed up in the response. Very sad.
— Sandy Fager Nelson (@charliegus2) 24 January 2018
No teacher should feel like they have the right to judge the entries in a journal. If they read it at all, they should be looking for the expression of clear, coherent thought. The student certainly displayed that!
— LGB Productions (@LGBPmedia) 23 January 2018
Did that baby write "the only Christoper we acknowledge is Wallace?" Yesssssssss #BlackBoyJoy pic.twitter.com/8OeiALXswg
— Marlene (@MsMarleneOdom) 23 January 2018
It is outrageous that the teacher is “disappointed” in King’s journal rather than using his entry as a spark for larger discussion. Teacher needs a lesson.
— Karyn Schiele (@thelovingewe) 23 January 2018
Speaking to Romper, King's mum said that "he has always been outspoken and full of personality," but that this amount of attention is "all new to us."
As for some of the internet haters calling him rude, King has this to say:
"I love all of the positive support and good things. I really wish people that have negative things to say would not judge me. It's wrong to call me rude.
"It's a bad thing to say to a child that you do not know. My journal is my thoughts and opinions. I'm a nice person. I was not expecting all this."
Due to the positive response King has been getting, he's since set up an Instagram (managed by his mum) to share how far his journal entry has gone:
He's got our vote for president!