Florence Teacher Speaks Out Following ‘Insensitive’ Post from School
FLORENCE – A teacher at Royall Elementary School raised her concerns during Florence 1 Schools’ Board of Trustees regular meeting following the repercussions of an ‘insensitive’ post shared on the school’s social media platform. The post, which was removed from the platform three weeks ago, has led to the departure of two principals and several employees of the institution.
Insensitive Post Sparks Controversy
The contentious post portrayed two staff members wearing t-shirts printed with “U.S. Border Patrol,” standing in front of a brick wall that represented Mexico for a school event highlighting different countries. Following this, longtime Principal Julie Smith, Vice Principal Marci Gatewood, and other undisclosed employees are no longer associated with the school. Several of them were placed on administrative leave, as confirmed by Florence 1 Schools (F1S) administration.
Defence from a Fellow Teacher
Alissa Bennett, a fellow teacher at Royall Elementary, took this opportunity to express her disappointment in the quick actions taken by the district. In her statement to the school board members, Bennett mentioned the aftermath of the incident that has left a deep wound on the school’s environment and its proud heritage. She also criticized the district’s hasty reaction to the matter, which has resulted in substantial emotional and professional damage.
“Florence 1, you let us down. You let an entire community down. You did exactly what the media bullied you into doing, you reacted. You did not take the time to gather the facts. To look at the history. To make an educated decision. You made a decision in haste,” she said in her statement.
In her statement, she also highlighted the impact this incident has had on the school. “The decision you hastily made against these five individuals was wrong. And it is going to have a lasting impact on our school and your district,” Bennett added.
F1S Superintendent Responds
In response to the incident, F1S Superintendent Dr. Richard O’Malley issued a letter to the parents of Royall Elementary students assuring them that they were actively looking for a new principal. He expressed his humiliation over the incident and emphasized the lessons to be learned, turning such challenges into opportunities for institutional growth.
“Again, as a school and district, we are so much better than this. I sincerely hope our community will continue to support our school staff across the district as they carry out our mission of providing educational excellence for ALL students in Florence 1 Schools,” O’Malley stated.
Aftermath of the Incident
Post the incident, the school issued an apology recognizing their insensitive demeanor towards the distinct cultural backgrounds of their student community, assuring the commitment to support and celebrate diversity. However, the Mexican-American community expressed their discontentment over the incident and the school’s poor representation of Mexico, which gained national media attention.
The incident has stirred a debate nationally regarding the importance of sensitivity towards the diverse backgrounds of the student community, and the crucial role educators play in fostering an environment that promotes inclusivity and mutual respect.
