January 1, Middle School Teacher Urges Students to Use the N-Word [Video]

A middle school teacher in Fontana, California, has come under fire after being caught on video repeatedly using a racial slur in class and encouraging a student to read aloud the n-word contained in a Mark Twain novel. The incident, which has sparked controversy and outrage, took place at Sequoia Middle School, part of the Fontana Unified School District.

The teacher, who remains unidentified, was filmed by a student on her phone as she repeatedly used the derogatory term and argued that it was just another word in the English language. The student who captured the video told Los Angeles news station ABC7 that the teacher even encouraged a student to use the racial slur as well.

“The teacher got in front of the class and she was saying that the word is just an English word and everybody can say it if she wants to, it’s in the dictionary, and people are oversensitive over the word,” the student said. “She was trying to force him to say the word and she repeatedly kept saying it and she had a smirk on her face. I was just thinking, ‘Dang, this teacher is out of her mind.'”

According to the student, the teacher used the racial slur “a lot of time, probably 15 or more.” The video was shared on TikTok by the news channel, causing widespread outrage and condemnation.

While it’s unclear which one of Mark Twain’s novels the students were reading, it is worth noting that Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, published in 1885, contains the same racial slur used by the California teacher. The novel has been a source of controversy for its irreverent portrayal of authority and religion, and the use of the n-word has sparked ongoing debates over whether it should be removed from the novel or replaced.

The Fontana Unified School District released a statement to ABC7, stating, “While we acknowledge that this derogatory language comes from a novel first published in the late 1800s, and that historical context is important to consider when discussing literature, the district does not condone the language that was used in the video or using that language outside of the context of discussing the novel.”

Bottom Line

This incident has raised serious concerns about the appropriateness of language used by teachers in the classroom and the need for sensitivity and respect when discussing sensitive topics. Many parents and community members are calling for swift action to be taken against the teacher involved, and for increased efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and tolerance in schools. The Fontana Unified School District must take decisive steps to address this issue and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

Do you think it’s acceptable for teachers to use the n-word in class when discussing classic literature?

Source: Newsweek