Local News in Brief : Controversial Teacher

A substitute teacher whose statements that blacks, Latinos and Italians resemble dogs outraged some students and parents will apparently not teach again in the Bonita Unified School District.

Toni Johns, whose son, Brian, was among three San Dimas High School students who complained that teacher James Willard’s lecture was racist, said she was assured by the district’s new superintendent, Duane Dishno, that Willard will not teach at any of the district’s schools.

She said Dishno also promised to send a letter about the district’s handling of the matter to all the parents who had complained about Willard’s statements.

Dishno said he could not confirm Johns’ account of their discussion because it would violate Willard’s right to confidentiality. But, he said, “There is no chance this is going to happen again.”

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