Homework image irks Philly-area NAACP

DOYLESTOWN, Pa., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The NAACP cried foul after a Philadelphia-area math teacher gave his students a homework assignment with an unflattering picture of an African-American.

The Bucks County chapter of the civil rights group says the eighth-grade teacher's actions showed the need for increased sensitivity to race issues among the faculty at Lenape Middle School in Doylestown.

"We have a problem with sensitivity," said NAACP President John Jordan. "Some things are totally uncalled for and unnecessary, and this was one of them."

The image of an unshaven black man with a straw hat and a gaping mouth with most of his teeth missing was attached to the math homework assignment. It had the slang expression "No Wai!!!" beneath it, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said the NAACP got involved after being contacted by the parents of an African-American student in the class.

Jordan said after meeting with school officials and the student's parents he was satisfied there would be "consequences" for the teacher and training for the staff.

Principal Nick Chubb would not say whether the teacher, identified as Matthew Curran, would be disciplined, the newspaper said.

In a statement released by the district, Curran apologized, saying he "had no idea that I might offend anyone" with the picture, which he said he got off the Internet. He said he picked the picture because the term no way "is a comment my students make when I require them to show each calculation."