Sierra Middle School is currently embroiled in a controversy that has parents calling for a teacher's termination after she allegedly made a racist comment on a student's seating chart. The comment included the N-word written next to a student's picture.
Manipol-Lee, a mother of four and part of the concerned parent community, expressed her outrage, stating, "Certified hate speech, so casually written by a teacher in a position of power." She pointed out that the teacher could have chosen to write "racial slur" or "inappropriate language," but instead used the racial epithet.
Kelly Dextraze, the school's superintendent, released a statement saying that Lincoln Unified School District does not condone actions of racism or culturally insensitive language. "The teacher has not returned to the classroom, and we are actively investigating the incident," Dextraze said. Plans are reportedly in the works to prevent future occurrences of this nature.
Manipol-Lee, for her part, has made it clear that she does not want this teacher educating her daughter, stating, "It's racism. It shouldn't just bother me. It should bother the whole community." She emphasized the severity of the situation, noting her daughter's African-American heritage.
In an interesting turn of events, the accused teacher was also one of the teachers discussed at a recent school board meeting concerning a resolution to approve teaching outside of their credential area. The teacher was denied this opportunity after parents voiced their concerns.
The principal has also sent a formal apology and is currently investigating the incident. While no specific disciplinary actions have been disclosed due to legal restrictions, the school asserts that it is taking steps to rectify the situation.
The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of teacher training programs in addressing issues of cultural sensitivity and racial bias. It has also sparked a broader discussion within the student body and among parents about the systemic issues that may be at play.