Teacher at Florida School Disciplined for Discouraging Race Mixing

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

A middle school teacher in Florida has been suspended for 10 days after being accused of using the n-word, calling students "dumb" and making other racist or inflammatory comments in class.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/education/wp/2018/03/09/a-teacher-used-the-n-word-and-told-students-dating-black-people-was-not-worth-it-district-says

David Swinyar, a math teacher at Kernan Middle School in Jacksonville, was suspended without pay Tuesday by Duval County Public Schools. The district had been investigating Swinyar since October, when a student's mother complained about the teacher's behavior.

That complaint led to interviews with more than two dozen students and staff members, who alleged, among other things, that Swinyar yelled at and confronted students in a "physically aggressive manner," according to a copy of the district's investigation report obtained by The Washington Post

Swinyar was also accused of making racist remarks, including using the n-word, to some of his students last semester.

"If my daughter was dating someone who used the 'f' word, I wouldn't have any respect for that n—–," Swinyar said during one of his classes, according to the report.

Several students testified that the classroom grew quiet after that, seemingly in shock over Swinyar's use of the slur. When some questioned him about it, Swinyar denied using the word, saying he would "never" do so, according to the report.

Shortly after the incident, one male student left the classroom to report Swinyar's "aggressive tone and demeanor" to his mother, but Swinyar followed the student, "began 'yelling' at him ... [and] also snatched the phone out of his hand," the report said.

Another student told district investigators that Swinyar had been discussing relationships when he told students: "If your boyfriend says bad things to you and/or treats you wrong, that means that he's acting like a n—–," and, "You all should not be dating all these different African American boys because they are not worth it."

In all, at least 24 students and several staff members gave statements about Swinyar's behavior to investigators and to the Kernan Middle School principal and assistant principal. Allegations of racist comments aside, the interviews also painted a picture of a teacher who was easily angered and who liked to "confront students by getting in their face," the report said.

"When Mr. Swinyar gets mad, he becomes aggressive," one female student testified, according to the district's report. "Additionally, Mr. Swinyar belittles students by talking down to them about their low [Florida Standards Assessments] scores. He loves to talk about politics and Donald Trump. He also talked about attending a black church. Mr. Swinyar often 'mocks' black preachers."

However, despite finding Swinyar's behavior rude, the student said that overall she thought he was a "good teacher," according to the report.

Swinyar had no past disciplinary actions on his record, the report said.

The district concluded that "there is a preponderance of evidence to support that Mr. Swinyar exercised poor judgment when he engaged in inappropriate communication in the presence of, and/or toward students."