The community of Florence, South Carolina is in the throes of controversy following insensitive pictures posted on Royall Elementary School’s social media account. The Florence Branch of the NAACP has expressed profound disappointment with the post, which was swiftly removed following community backlash.

Social media post stirs community uproar

The contentious images, shared during the school’s first week of celebration, show two teachers sporting “U.S Border Patrol” t-shirts. They stood in front of a brick wall display ostensibly representing Mexico. The images were part of an event on Wednesday intended to highlight different countries.

Community residents swiftly condemned the images as insensitive, sparking swift action from the school’s administration. The pictures were deleted promptly following the outcry.

NAACP Florence Branch’s response

The Florence Branch of the NAACP issued this statement in response to the controversial post: “The Florence Branch of the NAACP would like to express our profound disappointment in the actions during the ‘Olympic parade’ at Royall Elementary School in Florence One Schools. These actions by school officials foster an agenda that has no place in our public schools and can only cause confusion and conflict at the school, in the community, and on social media. We deserve better from those whom we entrust our children with on a daily basis.”

Superintendent’s Statement

Following the controversy, a statement was issued by Superintendent Dr. Richard O’Malley, expressing disapproval and ensuring accountability: “What was posted and the conduct of the staff involved is inexcusable and not a representation of the school, students, staff, or our district as a whole. There is no room for anything of this nature in our schools, and I will not tolerate it.”

Apologies and Accountability

Following the incident, an apology was issued by the school: “We acknowledge that a picture that was posted on our Facebook page [..] showed an insensitive disregard for the current challenges our Hispanic population faces. We apologise for our insensitivity but look forward to fostering relationships as we begin a new school year.”

As part of the resolution, the school has taken action against those who contributed to the event. Further details of the consequences have not yet been disclosed.

Amid widespread public criticism, this incident has served as a stark reminder of the importance of sensitivity, respect and inclusivity, especially within the education system. The Florence NAACP has committed to monitoring the actions of Superintendent Dr. Richard O’Malley in resolution of this matter, ensuring justice and fairness are served.