White teacher who used EBONY in class, keeps her job - Port Arthur, Texas high school teacher who used magazine article for her class

Jet, June 14, 1993

The White Port Arthur, Texas high school teacher whose job was threatened because she used an EBONY article in the class, (Jet, May 24), will be able to keep her job.

The school board renewed Lillie Henley's contract for another year as an English and journalism teacher at Stephen F. Austin High School.

Four White parents had complained about the use of the Ebony article, "The 10 Biggest Myths About The Black Family," featured in the magazine's November, 1992 50th Anniversary issue and asked the school board not to renew Ms. Henley's teaching contract.

After learning of the board's decision to keep her, Ms. Henley told Jet: "I'm glad that it's my choice if I want to stay or not." She explained, however, that she is considering asking for a transfer to another high school.

"I'll probably ask for a transfer to another high school because you can't teach looking over your shoulders. And if you're afraid that everything you do is going to be judged by some narrow-minded, ignorant parents then it's difficult to teach."

She said the national media attention helped her. "I think the media attention brought the racial issue to the forefront, which all of us need to learn more about and that was wonderful. As far as my contract, it probably helped the school board to realize what kind of people these parents were who were trying to influence them."

She continued, "But the real winners are the students. They're all supportive. They all went out and bought a Jet. We were sold Out Of Jets within 24 hours in Port Arthur and Beaumont!"