Education

Middle School Teacher Drops N-Word In Class, Gets Off With 10-Day Suspension

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Rob Shimshock Education Reporter
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A Florida middle school teacher received a 10-day suspension without pay after he said the n-word when lecturing seventh and eighth grade students on dating black Americans.

Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Fla., gave Kernan Middle School teacher David Swinyar the suspension, after which he will be reassigned, according to New York Daily News.

“If your boyfriend says bad things to you and/or treats you wrong, that means he’s acting like a n*****,” Swinyar said, according to investigative notes New York Daily News obtained. “You all should not be dating all these different African-American boys because they are not worth it.”

“If my daughter was dating someone who used the ‘f-word,’ I wouldn’t have any respect for that n*****,” the teacher reportedly said. “If [my daughter] was dating someone and that n***** said the f-word, I would beat him up.”

Swinyar “would never say [the n-word], but if I did, I am sorry,” when a student confronted him over his use of the word, he said.

Swinyar received a letter of reprimand in his file and a “[mandatory] referral to the Employee Assistance Program,” in addition to the suspension and reassignment, Kernan principal said.

“His mentality hasn’t changed because he was suspended,” one parent told First Coast News. “He spoke his mind; he spoke his truth, and he didn’t think it was going to get out.”

“Mr. Swinyar will not be in the classroom for the remainder of this year  —  as an annual contract employee, Mr. Swinyar’s employment contract with the district expires June 30, 2018,” Duval County spokeswoman Tracy A. Pierce told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “In May, recommendations for contract renewals for all annual employees will be considered.”

Pierce said the district has four steps of discipline — verbal, written reprimand, suspension without pay and termination — but the severity of the Swinyar case caused the county to proceed directly to the third step. The spokeswoman also noted the district had experience with a similar case in the past.

Updated as of 3:03 p.m. EST.

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