Teachable Moment: ‘N-Word’ Ends McAuley Teacher’s 41-Year Career

CHICAGO — A veteran teacher at Mother McAuley High School has been fired for using the N-word in its entirety while teaching a unit on Native American culture. Her three daughters, also McAuley alumni, are fighting to win back their mother’s job and save her legacy, or at the very least, have a chance to apologize to her students.

Last Friday, Mary DeVoto — previously known as Mary Rahman to the thousands of girls she has taught over four decades at the South Side Catholic girls high school — was introducing a unit on Native American culture to her sophomore world history class. According to the explanation given by DeVoto’s daughters on a Change.org petition, the discussion turned to sports teams with Native American mascots, including the Washington Redskins, which recently changed its name to the Commanders after decades of public outcry.

A student asked DeVoto why the word “redskin” was considered derogatory. DeVoto said that calling a Native American a “redskin” was akin to calling a Black person the N-word. Instead of using the N-word, DeVoto admits to saying the entire word — twice — while attempting to illustrate why the “redskin” was racist and derogatory.

Students told their parents, who called McAuley to complain. Another student recording the classroom lecture posted a 15-second clip of DeVoto using the word on Facebook.

“Guys, that’s no better than calling someone a [N-word],” DeVoto can be heard saying in the recording. “Calling someone a ‘redskin,’ that’s the same thing as calling someone a [N-word]. So, thank God, they finally changed the name of the team.”

Unaware that a recording of her class was circulating on social media, DeVoto was called into a conference with McAuley Principal Eileen O’Reilly, a 2003 graduate of the high school.

DeVoto was asked to explain her use of the word during her class. According to DeVoto’s daughters, their mother admitted to using the N-word in its entirety, which she should not have done. The veteran teacher apologized and explained she should have found a better way to explain the derogatory nature of the word “redskin.” DeVoto was suspended and was escorted off campus.

On Monday, DeVoto was summoned to another meeting with O’Reilly and both vice principals. She again asked for a chance to stand before her class and make a public apology. DeVoto’s daughters claim their mother was denied that opportunity. An hour later, school officials called and fired her.

News of DeVoto’s termination has been heating up the McAuley alumni groups on Facebook ever since. An overwhelming majority are supportive of the teacher and think the school overreacted.

A Change-org petition, started by DeVoto’s daughters — Melanie Rahman Thomas, Stephanie Rahman and Emily Rahman, all of them McAuley alumni — has garnered over 4,000 signatures.

Her daughters, as do DeVoto’s many supporters, insist that their mother is not a racist. As a single mom, DeVoto raised three biracial daughters in Beverly, devoting 41 years to Catholic education for little pay and few perks. Her daughter Stephanie, whose father is from Bangladesh, said she and her sisters “were the darkest things at Christ the King School.” DeVoto would chastise security guards at Evergreen Plaza for following her dark-skinned daughters around stores.

“My mother is heart-broken, she loved teaching,” Stephanie Rahman told Patch. “She’s getting fired for being a racist when she’s teaching about racism. We were never ever allowed to say that word in our house. She used the n-word in the context of teaching, not as a derogatory slur.”

Meanwhile, among the hundreds of comments left on the “Save beloved teacher Ms. Mary DeVoto (formerly Mrs. Rahman)” petition, current students, parents and alumni praise DeVoto as “kind, compassionate, intelligent, brilliant, amazing, a blessing” and “not a racist.” Many also accuse the high school of losing its Christian and Catholic focus, and failing to espouse the "Mercy charism":

“Shame on you, Mrs. O’Reilly. Intelligence is lacking, and Forgiveness and Mercy ring hollow, at my alma mater.”

“Mother McAuley will not receive another contribution from this family!”

“As a fellow teacher, there are words that need to be said to show impact. How will children learn derogatory words if they’re not taught them in non-biased situations? Both words demean people for their skin color, one being far more taboo than the other because of how often it’s used in our everyday lives. How can one fire a teacher for using a word that students hear hundreds of times a day in popular music. Shame on administration for not defending their teacher.”

“Mrs. DeVoto is an amazing teacher. I was lucky enough to have her not only as my History teacher, but also as a home room teacher. Her class was one of few that I actually enjoyed at McAuley … I’m thankful that I was blessed to have her as an educator, but saddened at the fact that McAuley Administration decided that future students will not have the opportunity to learn from her. Do better McAuley.”

“As much as I hate Mother McAuley and as racist as the school is, they shouldn’t get to fire one teacher to pretend they don’t have a problem. It’s absolutely unacceptable that they’re trying to blame a teacher who makes a single mistake instead of getting rid of the leadership, who have continuously been actively racist. She should go through some sensitivity training or something, but not be fired.”

Only a few of the comments were negative:

“41 years??? She certainly knew what was coming out of her mouth. One time using this derogatory word wasn't enough for her. Mrs. D you were so comfortable with the word, you repeated it again … Proud of you Mother McAuley for taking a stand!! STAY WOKE!! Just think we wouldn't even need this phrase if our hearts were TRULY right!! One day we will all stand before God!! He is the only one who knows our hearts intend!”

McAuley issued a written statement Thursday afternoon defending its decision to terminate DeVoto, saying she "wrongfully compared" and "egregiously miscommunicated two racial slurs, including using the N-word in its entirety."

"As an educational institution, we recognize mistakes happen to each one of us. … To embrace mistakes means we must learn not to repeat such behaviors, to demonstrate clear remorse and be able to rebuild trust that has been lost," the school said.

McAuley further stated that "following a subsequent conversation with the teacher in which the same racial slur was communicated in its entirety several times despite clear and formal directives to stop," the decision was made to fire DeVoto.

"The N-Word is never acceptable in any gathering of or setting with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas," the statement concluded.

An angry Melanie Rahman Thomas told Patch she was on the verge of tears after reading the high school’s explanation of the meeting with her mother, which to her understanding was supposed to be confidential. She said the statement issued to the news media differed from what was sent to parents last Friday.

"My mom was crying and used the word," Thomas said. "She was told not to use the word again. [McAuley] is defaming my mother, who was hysterically crying and apologizing. I think that shows integrity on her part."

DeVoto told WGN Thursday evening that she doesn’t know why she said the N-word, but knew it was wrong as soon as she said it.

Thomas said her family wants to use the moment to bring people together and not shut anyone down.

"Don’t let this be her legacy," her daughter said. "I think that it takes the utmost character and integrity to stand in front of a group of people and say, 'I'm sorry, how can we make this community stronger. I'm admitting my faults and asking forgiveness.' That's what Catholicism and being a Christian is about. That’s what Jesus preached."