Student Endures Racial Punishment
Trayson Paul, a Black student at St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in Uniondale, NY, completed the incorrect assignment in his English class. His English teacher immediately sent him to Headmaster John Holian‘s office.
According to TMZ, Holian claimed he’d been informed by the father of a Nigerian student at the $15,000-per-year school. He asserted that it’s the “African way of apologizing,” ordered Paul to get on his knees and confess his misdeed.
“When he mentioned the African family, it all clicked. I knew this wasn’t standard procedure. It felt irrelevant. Is he assuming all Black people are African? That’s when I realized something was off,” she explained.
“He’s learning about how skin color affects people, and now he’s trying to process it at 11 years old,” she added.
Trayson’s Mother Details Outrage
In fact, Trisha Paul researched the school prior to enrolling her son.
“I placed him where I thought he was in a safe, a warm and loving environment where I thought he would learn.”
Trisha called Holian on March 1 and asked him how the story about African tradition was relevant. He reportedly tiptoed around the issue. After a meeting on March 4, Trisha realized that she needed to involve her lawyers.
The Headmaster Doubles Down
Holian, who considers the punishment appropriate, reiterated his stance on the matter.
“It was a situation where your son was really disrespectful and rude to a teacher in front of the other students.” He continued, “The whole idea is for your son to see he can’t speak to women that way.”
Trisha describes her son as well-behaved. Actually the furthest thing from a troublemaker.
Paul discusses the headmaster’s demeanor.
“He showed no remorse until he realized how it’s impacted my son.”
“He’s going to therapy. He’s been very reserved and humiliated,” she said. She also said he has been steering clear of the headmaster and avoiding direct communication with his teachers.
The Acting Headmaster Issues Statement
In an email received by The Daily News, acting headmaster James Conway wrote, “I want to assure you that St. Martin’s does not support or accept the headmaster’s actions. The incident goes against our values and protocols for student-related issues.”
