Ja'Nasia Brown and Jahmiere O'Neal are 7th grade students at The School of the Arts in Rochester, N.Y.

On Tuesday, April 26th, 2022 Ja'Nasia told her mom, Precious Tross-Morris that her Social Studies teacher, Patrick Rausch, forced students into "picking seeds from cotton" while jousting, "I'm Massah [sic]."

In October of 2021, students say that Patrick Rausch "brought a pair of handcuffs" to class, with no clear connection to the curriculum or lesson he was teaching. Mr. Rausch proceeded to coerce Ja'Nasia into allowing him to handcuff her, threatening "ISS (In School Suspension)" and even "expulsion" if she did not comply. Under duress, Ja'Nasia complied citing that she "was crying and visibly and emotionally disturbed" throughout the entire ordeal. 

Despite being in a totally different class, Jahmiere O'Neal told his mom, Vialma Ramos-O'Neal, that the same man, Patrick Rausch, "handcuffed him" and "set a timer" and told Jahmiere that his assignment was to escape the handcuffs.

Once the timer went off and Jahmiere was unable to escape the handcuffs, Patrick Rausch then told him, "it's o.k. kid your ancestors couldn't do it either." 

In a separate incident, Jahmiere says that Patrick Rausch also called him "retarded," despite knowledge of Jahmiere's disability.

When Jahmiere responded, "I am not retarded, I am autistic." Patrick Rausch replied, "well, I can tell." 

Jahmiere also confirmed Ja'Nasia's accounts of the cotton picking incident. Jahmiere's mom, Vialma Ramos-O'Neal, had trouble believing her son until she began hearing from other parents and eventually coming across a post by Precious Tross-Morris.

Undoubtedly, these allegations are egregious enough; but, according to multiple witnesses, this incident was not the only instance of impropriety demonstrated by Mr. Rausch. Since Ms. Tross-Morris and her daughter have come forward, there have been several parents and past students who have come forward about Patrick Rausch's long history of inappropriate lessons on slavery. 

These parents and children deserve better. Not only are they requesting that Mr. Rausch be removed from his current assignment; they are requesting that his credentials be revoked and that he be banned from teaching children indefinitely.

 We believe that the actions of 7th grade teacher Patrick Rausch are insidious and harmful. Students having experienced the aforementioned events should be provided with ongoing counseling for managing their trauma as soon as possible. 

Please sign and share this petition so that we can present it to the Rochester City School District Board of Education for the immediate termination of Patrick Rausch. WE WANT PATRICK RAUSCH GONE TODAY!