A white Oklahoma teacher has been placed on administrative leave after calling a Black student the n-word. The move comes four days after the Holdenville High School teacher, who has reportedly not been identified, was caught on camera using the racial slur against the student during a confrontation.
The incident reportedly took place on Friday (April 9) when the teacher can be seen in the video holding on to the student’s backpack as his arms were held up. Eventually, the teacher let’s go of his bag and the student tries to leave when she can be heard saying, “You better get yourself over there n****r, do it!”
The video was posted to Facebook, according to News 9, before circulating the web. Parents and relatives of students in the classroom at the time saw the video and expressed their concern about the teacher’s use of the slur.
“I want her out of the classroom. If she thinks language like that is acceptable or appropriate in a classroom full of students, I don’t think she should be an educator,” Shawna Jim told the outlet. Her niece was in the classroom at the time of the incident and showed her the video.
“Every student should go to school and feel comfortable and not think that something like that is going to happen to them,” Jim added.
District officials released a statement following their decision to put the teacher on leave.
“Holdenville Public Schools’ main priority is the safety and well-being of our students. 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,” Superintendent Randy Davenport said.
The teacher was reportedly not at school the following Monday (April 12).
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