A group of high school teachers in New Jersey caused anger by wearing American Bay T-shirts to their classes.
The shirt worn by a small cluster of teachers at Belleville High School on the recent dressdown day is a reference to President Trump's executive order declaring that the Gulf of Mexico should be called the US Gulf instead. Reported by NJ.com.
But the obvious political statements are screaming for a foul in a suburban town of about 35,000 people 15 miles west of Manhattan.
“Our students' bodies are in pain, they cry, come to school and say emails from the kids aren't saying they're coming back because they're afraid their parents will be picked up in an ice attack. “I'm doing that,” one Belleville teacher wrote in a social media post.
“Our job is to support these kids and to reassure you that school is a safe place and that you are here,” she continued.
“I feel like the Belleville High School T-shirts are sending a clear message to these kids in order to threaten them and bully them.”
The towns in Essex County are 53% Hispanic; According to the US Census Bureaualmost three-quarters of Belleville High students.
On Tuesday, district chief Principal Nick Perapato sent a brief vague letter to his parents saying the issue was being addressed internally.
“Last week, a small group of staff members wore tailored clothing that some students and staff felt were offensive,” Perapato wrote in a letter obtained by mail.
“We understand that this has impacted our community members in many ways and we take these concerns seriously.”
The supervisor has not specifically stated how he planned to address the issue, claiming it was a HR issue.
“We recognize that political discourse may be particularly prosecuted, and encourage thoughtful behavior and respectful conversations between students and staff,” Perapato wrote. Masu.
Local school board policies protect free speech, but generally prohibit teachers and staff from engaging in politically charged activities on school grounds.
But it doesn't say much about clothes with political slogans.
Many parents who took them to a private Facebook parent group had no idea why shirts were the problem.
However, some noted that inflammatory clothing does not have any place in district buildings.
“It's a matter of politeness and good example,” one parent wrote.
“No one in an influential position on teachers and children should wear something like this. They all love that I'm skilled or evenly stupid. That's what you say, like if you're wearing a shirt.”
“Even if you personally believe it, don't bring it to work,” another parent wrote. “You send the wrong message to students: it is the Gulf of Mexico.
