LE††UCE PREY
O’FALLON, Mo. — The St. Charles County branch of the NAACP and several parents are calling for change after five teachers were pictured on social media holding up a racial slur.
It started as a game of human Scrabble. The photo shows faculty from the Christian School District rearranging letters to form the word “coons.” Someone then posted it to social media, parents said it was even on the school district’s website. However, Principal Jake Ibbetson told 5 On Your Side Wednesday that wasn’t the case. He said the photo was never posted to the school’s website or any of the school’s social media accounts.
“They were running around trying to spell raccoon, but they didn’t have the R and the A,” said Pastor Raymond Horry who has two children enrolled in the district. “I don’t believe it that five Caucasian teachers, not one of them knew that. Maybe one didn’t know it, maybe two didn’t know it, but all 5 didn’t know it?”
The school issued the following:
Christian School District desires to be a place where all people encounter the unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ. Part of this endeavor is to see an end to division between races through the unity offered by Christ. Over the weekend pictures were posted to a personal page on social media featuring Christian School District employees. One of these pictures included an abbreviated word that has racial connotations. As soon as this was brought to the attention of the individual who posted it, the picture was removed. Christian School District has been investigating and addressing the incident since it was brought to our attention. Appropriate disciplinary action will occur after the investigation is complete. We are spending time listening to those impacted, providing support to help repair relationships, and identifying necessary steps in moving forward together. We recognize that this ill-informed action caused hurt and offense to many students and families in our school and in the wider community. We offer no excuse as to why this word was used. In a statement to families last night, we apologized for the incident and sought their forgiveness. We also ask that of anyone who has been impacted by this picture. We are working hard as a district to educate our faculty through specific professional development around diversity, and the creation of a Oneness Committee to give a voice to all students, staff and parents at Christian School District. This incident highlights that more is needed to be done. We are committed to doing more for the good of the district and the glory of God.
No scriptures, and/or proselyting
