Teacher’s Theories on Ethnicity Spur Outcry

Some outraged students and parents are demanding that a substitute teacher be barred from the classroom after he compared blacks, Latinos and Italians to dogs during a math class last month at San Dimas High School.

According to students and school officials, teacher James Willard told the class he had developed a theory that some groups--blacks, Latinos and Italians, for example--are like dogs because they are “slovenly, good-natured and tend to run in packs,” and that Anglo-Saxon and Asian ethnic groups resemble cats in being more “independent, fastidious and intelligent.”

Willard’s lecture prompted four students, three of whom are black, to storm out of the class and complain to administrators.

“It was ridiculous,” said Brian Johns, 16, one of the students who walked out off the lecture. “He said that in South Africa, the Dutch rule, they’re like cats there, and all the millions of blacks are like dogs. . . . If I was white, I would have been embarrassed to listen to that.”

‘Shocked and Appalled’

Toni Johns said she was “shocked and appalled” when her son told her of the teacher’s statements. “It took me back 30 years,” she said.

Johns is leading a group of parents who are pressuring officials of the Bonita Unified School District to ban Willard from teaching in the school system. The group is also asking the officials to apologize for Willard’s comments.

“I can equate Mr. Willard’s dog and cat theory with Hitler’s super race,” said Ken Greco, whose 17-year-old son, Ralph, also walked out of the lecture. “My opinion is that he should not be allowed to teach in a public school ever again. If he wants to go to a private school or stand on a street corner and preach his prejudices, that’s up to him.”

Willard could not be reached for comment.

Mitchell Gilbert, the district’s acting superintendent, acknowledged that Willard made “a mistake in judgment” in mentioning ethnic groups in his lecture. Gilbert said the teacher’s comments were misconstrued, however, adding that Willard is not a racist and will not be barred from teaching in the district.

“I know the teacher’s intent was not one of malice or prejudice,” Gilbert said. “I hope he would be able to convince the parents that if what he said was misinterpreted, he’s genuinely sorry.”

Resolution Attempted

District officials held a meeting with Willard and the parents earlier this week in an attempt to resolve the matter.

“I think we had a good exchange,” Gilbert said. “There seemed to be a meeting of the minds. . . . There was no question that the teacher involved expressed sorrow that he had inadvertently offended anybody, and there seemed to be acceptance of that.”

However, the parents came away from the meeting with a different impression.

“It made it worse, if anything,” Johns said.

Gilbert refused to discuss what happened at the meeting, but parents and students said Willard denied comparing any ethnic groups with dogs or cats and defended himself against charges of bigotry.

“He said he loves black people,” Brian Johns said. “He said, ‘I love Tom Bradley. He’s a wonderful person.’ He was trying to think of all these wonderful black people.”

Personality Types

After asking the parents to leave, district officials decided on the “appropriate administrative action” to be taken with Willard, Gilbert said. Because it is a personnel matter, that decision must remain confidential, he said.

This also bothers the parents.

Gilbert said Willard, a retired college professor who has written several textbooks, did not literally compare people to dogs, but was instead discussing a theory that divides human personalities into two groups.

According to the theory, “Type A” personalities, whom Willard referred to as “cats,” tend to be more independent, obsessive and achievement-oriented, whereas those exhibiting “Type B” behavior--labeled “dogs” by Willard--are more easy-going and sociable, Gilbert said.

Germans Are ‘Cats’

To illustrate his point, Willard cited English and German people as examples of the “cat” personality type and said Italians, Latinos and blacks typify the “dog” category of behavior, Gilbert said.

“That’s where he got into trouble,” Gilbert said. “We don’t condone statements of a racial nature.”

Former San Dimas High School Principal Lou Rosen, who fielded the early complaints about the lecture before his retirement last week, suggested that the students and parents may be making too much of an innocent faux pas.

“It would be blowing it out of proportion to say he was saying anything bigoted,” Rosen said. “There were other black kids who heard it and who were not offended.”

At Monday night’s meeting, Rosen reportedly accused the group of angry students and parents of trying to lynch Willard. The parents took exception to the principal’s statement.

‘More Trouble’

“Poor choice of words, huh?” Johns said. “Every time they open their mouths, they get into more trouble.”

Rosen could not be reached for comment on this statement.

Parents said that when they first complained to administrators, they were told Willard would not teach at the school again. However, Willard subsequently taught at the school three days because of a “breakdown in communications,” the administrators said, between the school and the district office.

Despite the parents’ call for Willard’s dismissal, Gilbert said, Willard may teach again at the high school “after this situation is resolved.” Gilbert described Willard as “an erudite scholar and a fine gentleman.”

“We’re very fortunate to have him as a substitute teacher, which he does because of his love for teaching and his love for kids,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert said he is willing to apologize to the parents on behalf of the school district.

‘We Are Sorry’

“We certainly are sorry that this misunderstanding occurred, and we regret that what the teacher had to say was misinterpreted the way it was,” he said. “To that extent, we are sorry.”

But the students and parents charge that the district administration’s handling of the matter has been inadequate. They have written to San Dimas city officials and the media, seeking to bring pressure on the school board, which will consider the matter in closed session at its July 6 meeting.

“They’re trying to ignore this problem and sweep it under the carpet,” said Brian Johns. “They think we’re going to go away. They’re only making it worse.”