Black Student in Arlington Told to Pick Cotton in Class with Face

ARLINGTON, VA — A Black Arlington Public Schools 8th grade student and his mother say a substitute teacher forced the student to pick cotton with his nose in a “game” during class.

Sidney Rousey, a Gunston Middle School 8th grade student, said the incident happened on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. The story was first reported by Christian Flores of ABC7 News on Feb. 13, 2023. The student’s mother, Keisha Kirkland, explained to reporters that the teacher appeared to be oblivious regarding what the classroom “game” was problematic.

"We're supposed to put the Vaseline on our nose and pick cotton. I remember she asked for volunteers, and then everybody looked at me in the class," Rousey said. "[The teacher] was looking at me and forcing me to go up there to play the game. I didn't really want to, but I didn't want to get in trouble with the teacher. So, I went up there to play the game and I didn't really want to,” the 8th grader told reporters in an interview last week.

The Arlington School Board is reviewing classroom practices after the incident. Members of the Arlington NAACP read a statement at an Arlington School Board meeting on Feb. 16 with Rousey and his mother present. Rousey’s mother has hired two attorneys: Justin Fairfax, who served as Virginia’s 41st Lt. Governor, and Phil Thompson, who is a former President of the Loudoun NAACP.

“I came right back to the school the same day, spoke with the counselor, the teacher, separately. I spoke with the teacher first, and the teacher was not willing to accept the wrongness. She wasn't willing to accept the insensitive — of the situation. She just wasn't accepting his feelings and how he was hurt. She just wanted me to know they were having a whole lot of fun,” Rousey’s mother told ABC7.

The details of the classroom “game” in question and its purpose are unknown.

Arlington County School Superintendent, Dr. Francisco Duran, stated at the Feb. 18 meeting of the Arlington School Board that the incident, “did not meet the district’s standards.” The student also relayed that he was retaliated against by the teacher involved in the days after complaining about the incident.

“How did this ‘game’ ever gone to exist? Why would anyone ask a student to smear Vaseline on their face and pick up cotton balls? How was this supposed to be educational? I am flummoxed. I’ve never heard of such a thing,” wrote Gail Gordon on social media.

If accurate, the incident sounds like a possible Title VI violation. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 reads that, “no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

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