Parents outraged at teachers' noose photos labeled 'back to school necklaces'

Parents were upset after three teachers at Roosevelt Middle School displayed noose photos labeled as “back to school necklaces”.

The Roosevelt School District (RSD) stated that they have taken appropriate actions against the teachers involved in the controversy, as reported by Long Island News.

Aside from the parents, a local pastor urged the school management to fire the teachers because of the offensive images.

The photos, which were put up in classrooms as part of larger collage photos, were deemed by parents as racist and highly offensive.

"The Board of Education was made aware of this incident on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, an investigation was immediately initiated and appropriate action taken,” reads the RDS statement.

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

The collage shows pictures of middle school teachers and students with sticker hearts, a smiley face, an apple sticker and the phrase, “Hey Beautiful”.

It also shows two nooses surrounded with words “Ha” and a “#YES”.

Aside from the parents, a local pastor urged the school management to fire the teachers because of the offensive images.

“If they feel that way, then they’re in the wrong school district,” Yvette Hudson of Roosevelt told News12 Long Island on a video.

The Office of the Hempstead Town Supervisor noted in a statement that during the school year 2017-2018, nearly half or 45 percent of Roosevelt Middle School students are of African-American descent while 55 percent have Hispanic roots or Latinos.

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RACISM

The RSD assured that they are thoroughly investigating the incident, but pointed out that it was a personal matter.

“The Board of Education has zero tolerance for the display of racially offensive images,” it added.

This is the latest case of racism happening in a school. In 2017, a parent in New Jersey was disappointed after the South Mountain Middle School in South Orange taught slave history in an inappropriate manner – by asking fifth-grade students to make “wanted” posters for runaway slaves.

Another incident in the same school was a black child being “sold” by white classmates as part of a mock slave auction.

At Brookwood High School in Gwinett County, Georgia, students were also disciplined after flashing their instruments with an offensive racial slur.