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A teacher in Virginia has been fired after she allegedly used racial slurs towards one of her students, in front of a classroom.
The teacher at the seventh grade class at Lucille Murray Brown Middle School is accused of using a number of racist terms while speaking to one pupil on Tuesday, October 8.
"She called him a n****t," one parent, who was not identified to protect her child's identity, told WWBT. "She called the student a n****t. She went on and there were other words and terms expressed and stated out loud.
"No one should be called a n****r or a n****t. I'm concerned for the culture that's within the school. I'm concerned about who we have in the classroom," the parent, who was inside the classroom the time, said.
Two days later, the school sent a letter to parents saying they are investigating the use of inappropriate language used by a teacher towards a student and that "others may have heard it and been offended" by the comment.
"This matter was brought to out attention within the past 48 hours, and we have acted with expedience to direct the concern to the appropriate Richmond Public Schools designee," the letter adds.
"The well-being of our children is a top priority and we remain committed to providing a safe and loving school culture."
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras confirmed to WTVR that the teacher in question is no longer employed in the school system.
"Richmond Public Schools does not condone offensive or inappropriate language of any kind. The use of such language directed at a child is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated," a spokesperson told Newsweek.
The parent said the incident shows how vital it is that people know who are teaching their children.
"The school system has various races, ethnic backgrounds, customs and for something like that and a word to be said it's very inappropriate. Not just inappropriate but it's hateful," she said.
"Really get in the classroom and get to know who the instructors are. Build relations and then you can really see who are teaching our children."
Elsewhere, a former employee at a high school in Wisconsin said he was fired from his job for using racist language, but only in an attempt to stop a student using the word against him.
"Don't call me that, don't call me the n-word, and don't call me n*****," Marlon Anderson is said to have told the student.
Anderson, who worked as a security guard at West High School in Madison for 11 years, said he was let go as the scool has a zero-tolerance policy against racist language due to a number of recent incidents involving staff.
"I want the zero-tolerance policy to be looked at. It's lazy," he told Channel 3000.
"My mother was called this word. My father was called this word, my grandmother, my grandfather and keep going down the family line.
"We were all called this word, and not one of them could say, 'Don't call me that.' I can. And I shouldn't be punished, because I have the right to tell somebody not to call me this word."
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more