The Lake Washington School District is investigating an incident at Juanita High School in which a history teacher allegedly repeatedly used a racial epithet during a classroom discussion.
According to the family of a freshman girl, who said they have filed a complaint with the NAACP on the matter, the incident occurred on Oct. 22 after a student allegedly made a racial joke during a class discussion on ancient Chinese civilizations.
The teacher then allegedly got into an argument with the freshman student over whether it was acceptable for people to say “racist” things about their own race. At that point, the family claims, the teacher proceeded to have a conversation with the student, in front of the class, about the use of a specific racial slur (not used in the initial joke) and whether or not it could be used depending on the person’s race.
During the discussion, the family claims, the teacher explicitly said the specific racial slur numerous times. The girl argued that the teacher couldn’t use the word because he was white, while the teacher allegedly argued that if the word is used repeatedly in the lyrics of rap songs performed by black rappers then those who buy the music should be able to sing the lyrics, as well. When she told him he couldn’t use the word because he was white, he allegedly compared it to when his dad would swear in front of him as a kid but then later tell him not to use the same words.Eventually the student became so upset she left the classroom. When her parents brought the matter to school officials, one of them allegedly said, “Teachers are human and make mistakes, I am sure he is so sorry.”
The school officials then arranged for a meeting between the teacher and the student so he could apologize, along with offering the family the ability to move her to a different class, according to emails obtained by the Reporter. The family ultimately declined to meet with the teacher. They also chose to keep their daughter in the honors class, which they said was to protect her academic standing.
The teacher, who is not being named because the school district’s investigation is still ongoing, declined to comment on the incident when contacted by the Reporter via phone and email. Prior to the incident, the family complained to school officials at the beginning of October about the use of racial slurs by students in front of their daughter.
The school district’s parent and student guidebook forbids the “harassment of any employee or student on the basis of individual differences” including “race, color, national origin.”
“Harassment can take many forms,” the guidebook continues, “and can include bullying, slurs, comments, rumors, ‘put-downs,’ jokes, innuendos, unwelcome compliments, cartoons, pranks, and/or other verbal or physical conduct relating to an individual which (1) have the purpose or effect of creating and intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment; (2) have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or education; or (3) otherwise unreasonably affects an individual’s employment or education opportunities.”
Additionally, the district has a Teaching About Controversial Issues policy, which addresses respecting different opinions between students as well as the students and teachers. Under a separate district policy regarding teacher’s ethics, “Each teacher shall set an appropriate example of personal conduct and will avoid making any statement to any student which may be demeaning to any student or groups of students.”
