A group of teachers at Belleville High School in New Jersey is facing accusations of xenophobia because they wore “Gulf of America” t-shirts to school.
The shirts were worn during a dress-down day and referenced President Trump’s Executive Order to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
A history teacher at the school denounced the shirts and said it was an attempt by her colleagues to bully and intimidate Latino students.
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Do you support President Trump’s decision to change the name of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America? | ||
| Yes! | ||
| No! | ||
“Our student body has been suffering, crying, coming into school, emails from kids saying their parents are not letting come back for fear that they get picked up by ICE raids,” the teacher wrote on social media. “Our job is to support these kids and reassure them the school is safe place and to come here. I feel as if those t-shirts at Belleville High School are sending a clear-cut message to these kids in order to intimidate them and to bully them.”
The school district declined to say if the teachers had been punished. But they told local news reporters the matter had been addressed and the apologized to anyone who was offended. They also announced that counselors would be available to assist students and teachers who might have suffered mental trauma as a result of the t-shirts.
“We recognize that political discourse can be especially charged, and we encourage thoughtful actions and respectful conversations among our students and staff,” Supt. Nick Perrapato wrote in an email obtained by NJ Advance Media, adding that school counselors would be available for any student in need of support. “We are committed to working together to ensure that our schools remain a positive learning environment.”
The teacher who stirred the controversy went on to say that her job as a history teacher is two-fold: one to convey the facts and then to protect children emotionally and physically.
In fact, the history teacher has only one job – to teach the kids history. If the kids know that George Washington was our first president you’ve done your job. Anything else and you’ve overstepped.
And far be it from me to question the psychological state of that history teacher, but getting triggered by a t-shirt is a clear indication that you are overworked and might need to take a mental health day.
I hear the Gulf of America is quite nice this time of year.
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