MILWAUKIE, OR — Jasmyn Spencer was eating lunch May 31 with her friends at Linwood Elementary School in Milwaukie, Ore., when the employee chided the kids for misbehaving.
What We Know:
- Jasmyn’s mom, Syreeta Spencer, learned of the harangue when her daughter returned home from school that day. She immediately went to the school to meet with the principal.
- “The teacher was like, ‘you’re lucky I’m not making you pick cotton and clean my house and stuff like that,’” said Jasmyn. “It made my feel really sad and targeted.”
- The school board issued a statement on Tuesday, reported TV station KGW8.
“We know and understand that the impact of words spoken can be hurtful for our students and that was the case in this situation,” the letter reads. “I deeply regret this impact and will continue to work with our students and school community to make sure they are heard and feel supported. Our school and the school district are committed to an inclusive environment that honors each student’s identity and provides safety, respect and care in each of our spaces.”
- “If she were to curse at the kids or yell at them, that’s forgivable and we can work past that,” said Spencer. “To say something about picking cotton and cleaning and painting houses, that’s deeper than that and it’s not something that just slips out.”
The employee accused of making a racist comment to a student at the Milwaukie elementary school is no longer with the district, according to a letter sent from the principal to parents.
