An elementary school teacher will be sent a “warning letter” by the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education for using a racial slur during what the instructor meant to be a teachable moment, authorities said.
Dwayne Springs, who spoke at the board meeting before the reprimand was issued, said his fifth-grade grandson was present, “when a teacher used the N-word to attempt to teach a lesson.” He urged the board to take action.
“The teacher was comfortable enough to say the entire thing,” Springs said. “There is no word comparable to that. The anti-Black sentiment that prevails throughout the nation and the world allows people to think there is something comparable to saying the N-word. There is not.”
The board unanimously decided to issue a warning letter to the teacher Tuesday at the Lincoln Center administration building in Waukegan for his use of the slur.
Since he is a tenured teacher, the warning letter was issued because the District 60 administration considers the behavior “remediable,” allowing him to modify his behavior “to avoid dismissal,” according to district documents.
Springs said during a class, one of the students reportedly used his hands in making a facial expression considered demeaning to Asians. The teacher then compared it to other slurs impacting different groups to explain how behavior like that can be hurtful, Springs said.
“He let out with a string of racially insulting remarks,” Springs said. “He put a strong emphasis on the N-word.”
Jeff McBride, who is one of three Black members of the seven-person board, said he was personally offended the word was used at all. Though he voted for the reprimand, he did not think it was a sufficient enough action for the use of the word.
“The issue we’re dealing with right now was an insult to me,” McBride said. “There’s no way that word we’re speaking about should be coming out of anybody’s mouth, especially that teacher.”
When the board met privately in closed session before the public portion of the meeting, McBride said he had to leave the room during the discussion because he heard the word one time too many.
“Even in America with what’s going on right now, we’re dealing with racism,” he said. “The bottom line is when somebody makes a comment like that, it’s just not right. You just don’t use that word. I felt hurt. It’s a no-brainer to me. You just don’t do it.”
Board member Adriana Gonzalez said she too was upset by the teacher’s actions.
“When people want to have a teachable moment, reactionary is not the way to go,” she said. “This is not the first time something like this has happened, but it has to be the last time it happens.”
“’Unfortunate’ is not even the word that covers this,” board member Christine Lensing said. “To hear this come out of an adult’s mouth is very concerning.”
Shortly after the incident, Superintendent Theresa Plascencia sent an email to the school community on Sept. 20. She called the teacher’s choice of words “unacceptable.” During the investigation, he was removed from the school buildings in accordance with district policies.
“I am offended and hurt to hear this language was used,” Plascencia said in the email. “We do not condone the use of harmful language in any form. The use of any racial slur, regardless of context, can be deeply hurtful and offensive and will not be tolerated.”
Attempts to reach the teacher or a representative of the teachers’ union were unsuccessful.
