Conversation with Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen
My principal spoke first: “Mr. Cohen, there has been an accusation against you.”
— Zeke Cohen (@Zeke_Cohen) November 1, 2021
I felt dazed scanning the grim range of accusations a student could make against her teacher.
The mom spoke next. “Last night my daughter came home and told me: ‘That Jew is trying to convert us!”’
“No.” I said, trying not to sound defensive. “I teach Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism and other religions. I don’t show preference, and I’m not interested in converting anyone.”
— Zeke Cohen (@Zeke_Cohen) November 1, 2021
I hadn’t volunteered that I was Jewish until a student asked. Now I regretted even doing that.
“Mr. Cohen, please go back to your classroom. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” She said cooly.
— Zeke Cohen (@Zeke_Cohen) November 1, 2021
Before I’d even closed the door, I heard her booming voice, now on a completely different decibel. “Do you know what you’ve done to this man, making false accusations? How dare you!”