NAACP seeks state review of Glendale racial slur incident, apology for suspended student

In a joint release, the Missouri NAACP and its Springfield chapter have called on the state to review why a Glendale High School math teacher and coach was allowed to resign — rather than face disciplinary measures — after repeatedly using a racial slur for Black people during class.

The NAACP also demanded that the suspension imposed on the student who shot smartphone video of the May 9 incident be wiped from her school record.

The teacher, hired by the district in August 2008, repeatedly said the racial slur during a conversation with students in his geometry class. Two of the utterances were caught on a short video shot by sophomore Mary Walton, who was given a three-day out-of-school suspension for "inappropriate use of electronic devices."

Nimrod Chapel, Jr., president of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, said it appears the only person who was disciplined was the student.

“No student should bear the burden of enduring racial slurs and the subsequent trauma caused by such incidents in the classroom. If this brave student, Mary Walton, had not captured this unlawful and abhorrent conduct, we would not be discussing the hate she endured today,” said Chapel, in the release. “We join the family in calling for a public apology to be issued to Ms. Walton, and acknowledgement of the harm caused in punishing the one person who sought to expose the teacher's conduct.”

Natalie Hull, a Chillicothe attorney who represents Walton, issued a statement Sunday calling for Springfield Public Schools to lift the suspension and wipe the student's record.

"We appreciate the support of the NAACP in our request for the Springfield Public Schools to apologize to Mary and expunge the suspension she received after she took video of her teacher using a vile racial slur. We support their suggestion that students of the school should be offered trauma counseling after the experience they endured in that classroom. Imagine having to hear that word hurled at you numerous times and being unable to leave the room. That is what these children endured," Hull said Friday.

"Mary has returned to school and was happy to do so. Things have gone well since she has returned. She has been overwhelmed by the support of the nation and this experience has even sparked an interest in a possible career in journalism."

Chapel said: “The suspension not only punishes 15-year-old Mary Walton, it potentially silences other students who witness misconduct because it signals that those who report abuses will be punished. That cannot be the message we send to our kids."

News about the incident and suspension, first reported by the News-Leader, has grabbed national and international headlines including NBC, ABC, CBS, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and the BBC.

It is unclear what prompted the teacher, who has not been named by the district, to use the racial slur but the video showed students were taken aback. One male student explained it was "derogatory" no matter who said it and a female student audibly gasped, covered her mouth and asked "Why are you saying it?"

More: Glendale High teacher placed on leave as SPS investigates use of racial slur in classroom

The NAACP said it was encouraged that the teacher is no longer employed but urged the district to take additional steps including offering "trauma-related therapy" to the students in class, if they want it.

"I am appalled by the recent incident in our community involving a teacher's use of a racial slur," said Kai Sutton, president of the Springfield NAACP.

"This incident is not only deeply hurtful but also demonstrates a profound lack of understanding and respect for the experiences of marginalized students. We condemn the teacher's behavior in the strongest possible terms."

The NAACP also called for the state to get involved.

“Because he was allowed to resign, we call upon the school district to join forces with the community and the NAACP to demand a thorough review of the incident by the Missouri Department of Secondary Education," Sutton said. "The responsible teacher must face appropriate disciplinary measures as to his state-issued teaching certificate to ensure accountability and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future."

Sutton said the district needs to provide resources and send a clear message that this behavior is wrong.

“Racism has no place in our educational institutions, and incidents like this must be treated with the utmost seriousness," Sutton said. "We expect the school district to take immediate action to rectify this situation, demonstrate its commitment to eradicating racism in this school and the district, and foster a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students."

The district placed the teacher on paid administrative leave shortly after the incident and he was told the leave the school building.

In a statement May 9, Glendale Principal Josh Groves called the teacher's language offensive and derogatory. "The comments expressed in the video are inappropriate, inexcusable and do not meet the professional standards for Springfield Public Schools employees."

More: Glendale student who recorded teacher saying racial slur suspended for violating policy

Nimrod said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incident in a Glendale classroom.

"Such behavior is not only offensive but also perpetuates a culture of racism and discrimination," he said. "We stand firmly against any form of racial slurs and derogatory language, especially when it is directed at students who are meant to be nurtured and protected within the school environment."

The NAACP said this incident provides an opportunity to learn about the importance of cultural sensitivity and the impact of racial slurs.

The News-Leader has reached out to the Springfield district for comment.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: NAACP seeks review of racial slur incident, apology to suspended teen