A white teacher in Oklahoma was placed on administrative leave after she was captured calling a Black student a racial slur.
According to KWTV, the instructor, who teaches at Holdenville High School, overheard a Black student telling someone about his plans to “walk home.” When the student got up to leave the classroom, she physically blocked him from making his departure, holding onto the student’s backpack as he held his hands up in the air. When he broke free, he cautioned, “Watch where you touch me,” to which the teacher replied, “You better get yourself over there nigger, do it!”
Per the footage, the use of the slur shocked students in the classroom, who were surprised to hear that language from their teacher.
Video of the incident, which reportedly took place on Friday (April 9), was shared on Facebook before it made its way around the internet. It eventually got the attention of students’ family members.
“I want her out of the classroom,” said Shawna Jim, a parent of one of the students in the classroom. “If she thinks language like that is acceptable or appropriate in a classroom full of students like I don’t think she should be an educator.”
School officials also got wind of the teacher’s altercation with the Black student. After failing to show up to work on Monday (April 12), the unidentified instructor was placed on administrative leave pending the end of an internal investigation.
“Holdenville Public Schools’ main priority is the safety and well-being of our students,” said Superintendent Randy Davenport in a statement. “The district is fully aware of the incident that occurred at our high school on Friday, April 9, 2021. At this time, the staff member in question has been placed on administrative leave and will be through the duration of a full investigation is completed.”