Southborough Patch

www.mysouthborough.com is a news website that primarily covers events and happenings in Southborough, Massachusetts. The site features articles on local news, school updates, community events, sports, and more. One of the most prominent articles on the site is about a Neary School teacher who was put on paid leave due to alleged racist incidents in the classroom. The incidents involved an educator using dehumanizing language and holding an impromptu mock slave auction during a lesson on the triangle trade and slave auctions. Another incident involved the educator using a slur while reading a book aloud. These incidents led to investigations, and two educators were put on paid leave. The site also covers other local news, such as fire chief installations, community preservation acts, food truck festivals, and more.

64%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermines the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
Analysis.OverallConflictOfInterestScore * 0.3F + Analysis.OverallBiasScore * 0.3F + Analysis.DeceptivenessScore * 0.3F + Analysis.ReadabilityScore * 0.1F

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Daily's Verdict

This news site has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on its reporting.

Bias

50%

Examples:

  • An educator was teaching about the triangle trade, and slave auctions were discussed. During the lesson, the educator held an impromptu mock slave auction.

Conflicts of Interest

100%

Examples:

  • Meghan Cifuentes referred to incidents in her son's classroom that she was happy the school was taking appropriate actions on. Reading from a statement, she called for a better policy and guidelines around literature and what is appropriate for classrooms and teachers.

Contradictions

100%

Examples:

  • The first incident happened in January during a history lesson on the economy of southern colonies, which included slavery. An educator was teaching about the triangle trade, and slave auctions were discussed.
  • The second incident occurred in April when the same educator was reading a book aloud that was recommended by a colleague. In reading and discussing the text, the educator used the 'N-word'. It was later brought to the District's attention that the 'N-word' does not appear in the book.

Deceptions

30%

Examples:

  • Dehumanizing words such as slurs should not be spoken by employees or students.
  • Holding a mock slave auction is unacceptable and violates the District's core values.
  • The first incident happened in January during a history lesson on the economy of southern colonies, which included slavery. An educator was teaching about the triangle trade, and slave auctions were discussed.
  • The second incident occurred in April when the same educator was reading a book aloud that was recommended by a colleague. In reading and discussing the text, the educator used the 'N-word'. It was later brought to the District's attention that the 'N-word' does not appear in the book.

Recent Articles

  • Teacher on Leave for Mock Slave Auction and Use of Racial Slur in Massachusetts Classroom

    Teacher on Leave for Mock Slave Auction and Use of Racial Slur in Massachusetts Classroom

    Broke On: Monday, 24 April 2023 A Massachusetts fifth-grade teacher faces leave following reports of mock slave auction and racial slurs use during lessons in January and April 2023. The incidents involved students of color being discussed during the mock auction and the teacher's usage of the N-word from a book. Both incidents were reported on April 24, with no names released as investigations continue.