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A high school student in Missouri has been suspended after filming her white teacher repeatedly using the n-word in class.
According to The Daily Beast, Glendale High School handed down the punishment on Friday (May 12) to 15-year-old Mary Walton, who recorded her geometry teacher using the racial slur.
“She’s still processing everything, and she doesn’t understand what she did wrong,” Walton's attorney, Natalie Hull, told The Daily Beast.
According to Hull, the teacher used the slur during a discussion with his students about who is allowed to use the N-word.
“I don’t like the word,” the teacher said in the recording obtained by The Daily Beast. “It feels like when a Black person is using it towards another Black person…how is it not still a derogatory word?”
“I don’t get it,” he continues.“Is this word, ‘n-----,’ not allowed?”
“Don’t say it right now, as a teacher, if you want to keep your job,” someone warned the teacher.
“I’m not calling anyone a ‘n-----,’” the teacher responded. “I can say the word.”
The teacher then noticed that Walton was recording the discussion and told the student to put her phone away. Walton was sent to the office after she declined to stop filming.
According to Hull, Walton shared the video with her mother and two friends, seeking advice on how to handle the situation. However, the video ended up circulating on social media.
“[Mary Walton] is not the one that posted it on social media,” Hull told The Daily Beast.
Glendale High School Principal Dr. Josh Grove sent a letter to families last week addressing the incident.
“We are aware of a Glendale teacher using offensive, derogatory language during class today,” the letter read. “A video of the comments is being circulated and we have received several calls from concerned parents. I want you to know that the comments expressed in the video are inappropriate, inexcusable, and do not meet the professional standards for Springfield Public Schools employees.”
Springfield Public Schools said Monday (May 15) that the teacher was "no longer employed" by the district after being placed on administrative leave last week.
However, Walton's family is still seeking justice over her suspension. They reached out to school and district officials, requesting an apology and for Walton to return to school on Monday.
“We have not had any response,” Hull said.
According to the Springfield Public Schools Student Handbook, cell phones “may be in the student’s possession as long as they are not disruptive to the educational process or in violation of site use procedures.” But students may be punished for using electronics “to record, publish or display audio or visual images of events involving faculty, staff or other students in or around school premises, without approval of school personnel.”
Students can receive a conference and up to a three-day suspension for violations, per the handbook.
In a statement, Springfield Public Schools said it “is confident that the district appropriately and promptly handled all matters related to what occurred at Glendale.”
“We want our schools to be safe and welcoming learning environments,” the district said. “When students have concerns, they should follow the appropriate steps for reporting.”
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