Teacher uses racial slur in class, forcing California school district to issue apology

A California school district is apologizing after a teacher used a racial slur during class.

The Oxnard Union High School District issued an apology Thursday, saying a Rio Mesa High School teacher used a racial slur while teaching, the video statement on Facebook said.

School officials say the teacher’s intention was “to educate students about the harmful effects of this word.”

Superintendent Penelope DeLeon told the Ventura County Star that the incident happened in a math class Wednesday, and the slur was not directed toward any students. DeLeon also said the teacher is a “tenured, veteran instructor,” according to The Los Angeles Times.

“Rio Mesa High School and the Oxnard Union High School District stand for equity, support, and human rights for all of our students, staff, faculty, parents, and community,” the school district’s statement said. “We are opposed to any language which is offensive or harmful to anyone based on gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability.”

The statement said Rio Mesa is addressing the matter and apologizes to anyone who could have been negatively impacted.

The school district also plans to partner with local NAACP representatives to offer training on “appropriate and acceptable terminology and cultural awareness,” officials said in the statement.

“Given the climate and environment we’re living in, we are very sensitive to the use of such a derogatory remark,” Regina Hatcher-Crawford, president of the Ventura County NAACP, told the Ventura County Star. “The school has been very proactive in responding to the matter.”

This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 3:43 PM with the headline "Teacher uses racial slur in class, forcing California school district to issue apology."