Student claims Centennial High School teacher used racial slurs
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A student at Centennial High School is claiming his teacher referred to him using racial slurs on several occasions.
According to a press release from the NAACP Bakersfield Branch, the teacher alluded to the student, Alijah Johnson, using the N-word.
Johnson told his mom about the incident and she scheduled a meeting with the teacher.
However, before the meeting took place, the teacher reportedly used the slur again. Johnson's brother was upset and allegedly confronted the teacher with profanity and was subsequently suspended.
The boys and their mom went to the vice-principal, who allegedly justified the teacher's comments.
The NAACP became involved after a family friend reached out for help. Bakersfield NAACP President Patrick Jackson says that when he first heard about the situation, he was frustrated with the school's leadership.
It was a lot of mixed emotions of concern, worry, shock, a bit of anger that we have adults that are incompetent, that will allow students to go through such things and think that it is okay," he said.
Jackson is calling on the school and the district to take action, as supporting such comments creates a hostile environment for students.
"They became a lot more frustrated because as they go to the leaders that they're supposed to go to for help in these type of situations, they kind of turned a blind eye and then made it seem as though they were overreacting, that they were the problem," he said.
Jackson says many students have spoken out against the leadership at the school and applauded their bravery.
They were going to do a walk-out demonstration and they were threatened with expulsion. Some of the students that spoke out were even threatened by other students that have a liking to some of the individuals involved," Jackson said.
He says the teacher and vice-principal involved should be put on leave and that the brother should be taken off suspension. He's also recommending cultural sensitivity training to be put in place moving forward.
Eyewitness News reached out to the Kern High School District for comment, who said they are investigating the case.
Bakersfield NAACP will be at next week's KHSD board meeting and plans to hold a press conference before it starts.
