Global Courant 2023-05-15 21:48:17
Natalie Hull
A Missouri student has been suspended after filming her white geometry teacher making racial slurs in the middle of the classroom. Now the girl and her family are calling on the school to reverse the punishment and apologize.
Mary Walton, a 15-year-old student at Glendale High School in Springfield, was told Friday morning that she was reprimanded after recording her teacher using the N-word in class.
“She’s still processing everything and she doesn’t understand what she did wrong,” Mary’s lawyer, Natalie Hull, told The Daily Beast on Monday.
According to local outlet NBC 5 St. Louis, the teacher, who has not been identified, was placed on administrative leave on Tuesday immediately after using the slur. Hull said the incident happened during a discussion between the teacher and students about the N word.
Video captures grinning teacher dropping N-word ’15 or more’ times
In a video Hull delivered to The Daily Beast, the teacher can be heard speaking to the class while the camera is pointed at a desk.
“I don’t like the word,” says the teacher. “It feels like a black person is using it against another black person…then how is it still not a derogatory word?”
“I don’t get it,” he continues before being interrupted by someone else who explains that slavers used to use the term.
“Is this word ‘n—–‘ not allowed?” asks the teacher.
“Don’t say it now, as a teacher, if you want to keep your job,” someone says to the man.
“I don’t call anyone a ‘n—–‘,” says the teacher, as the camera pans up to reveal his face. “I can say the word.”
Then the teacher notices that the camera is pointing in his direction and tells Mary to put her phone away. He orders her to the office after she refuses to stop recording.
Hull said Mary recorded the video and shared it with her mother and two other friends to get advice on how to handle the situation. Somehow, however, the video circulated and ended up on social media.
“(Mary) is not the one who posted it on social media,” Hull told The Daily Beast.
Story continues
On Tuesday, Dr. Josh Grove, principal of Glendale High School, a letter to families, River Front Times reported.
“We are aware of a Glendale teacher who is using abusive, derogatory language in class today,” the letter read. “A video of the reactions has been circulating and we have received several calls from concerned parents. I want you to know that the comments in the video are inappropriate, inexcusable, and do not meet the professional standards for Springfield Public Schools employees.
‘I’m in the KKK’: ‘Reprehensible’ N-Word Videos Roil Ohio High School
After being penalized for filming her teacher on Friday, Mary and her family contacted school and district officials on Sunday, asking for Mary’s return on Monday and an apology, Hull said.
“We haven’t had any response,” she added.
According to the Student Handbook Springfield Public Schoolselectronic devices, such as cell phones, “may be in the possession of the student as long as they do not interfere with the educational process or violate the procedures for using the site.”
However, the handbook says students will be penalized for using electronics “to record, publish, or display audio or visual images of events involving faculty, staff, or other students in or around the school building, without permission of the school staff.”
An additional policy specifically for cell phones states that “use of any electronic communication device such as a cell phone or similar device is prohibited during the school day. This policy will be violated if the device is turned on or used during the school day.”
Students can face a conference and up to three days suspension for violations.
As of Monday morning, Mary had not been re-admitted to school, and Hull said the family was “examining options” for moving forward.
“We don’t want to get involved in the conversation about what happens to the teacher,” Hull said. “Our problem is what happened to Mary, the punishment she received.”
Neither Glendale High School nor Springfield Public Schools immediately responded to The Daily Beast’s requests for comment on Monday.
Get the Daily Beast’s biggest scoops and scandals straight to your inbox. Sign up now.
Stay informed and get unlimited access to the Daily Beast’s unparalleled reporting. Subscribe now.
