A headmaster at a Catholic school in New York has come under fire for a deeply troubling incident involving a Black student. According to the mother of the child, the headmaster required her son to kneel as he offered an apology—a situation that raises significant concerns about respect and dignity in educational environments.
Trisha Paul reported that when she picked up her 11-year-old son, Trayson, from St. Martin de Porres Marianist School in Long Island, he revealed that the white headmaster, John Holian, had ordered him to kneel while apologizing to a teacher. The incident unfolded after Trayson began working on an assignment ahead of schedule, which led to a teacher shredding his worksheet in front of classmates and taking him to Holian’s office.
During their conversation, Holian allegedly justified his actions by referencing a Nigerian father’s similar approach, which he described as “the African and the Nigerian way.” This remark left Paul incredulous, as she felt it wrongly generalized her child’s background. “My child is not Nigerian. We don’t share the same cultures or beliefs,” she stated, emphasizing the inappropriate nature of the headmaster’s assumptions.
Holian reportedly maintained that kneeling would make the apology more genuine—a stance that deeply unsettled Paul, who felt that the headmaster showed no remorse for what had transpired. Following the incident, the school announced that Holian is on leave as they conduct an investigation. The acting headmaster reassured parents that such behavior does not reflect the school’s values.
The impact of this incident on Trayson has been significant. Initially confused about why he was singled out, he later became withdrawn and quiet. To protect her son from further distress, Paul chose to transition him to remote learning. “He’s just hurt and humiliated,” she shared, reflecting on the emotional toll of the experience.
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Summary
A white headmaster at a New York Catholic school forced a Black sixth grader to kneel while apologizing, drawing criticism from the child’s mother, who felt it was a disrespectful and culturally insensitive act. The headmaster justified his actions by referencing a Nigerian father’s approach, but the mother emphasized the importance of recognizing individual backgrounds. The incident has left a lasting emotional impact on the child, leading to a decision to pursue remote learning.
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