Ugh, Florida. Your ability to disappoint never fails to…well, disappoint.
This time, it’s because a middle school teacher was suspended for repeatedly using the N-word in class. The teacher also reportedly told his students not to date African-Americans "because they are not worth it." David Swinyar teaches math at Kernan Middle School in Jacksonville, where 22.6 percent of the 1,448 students are black.
The alleged incident took place on Oct. 6, 2017. Just after lunch, Swinyar and several students were talking about relationships (why a grown man/math teacher was talking to 7th and 8th graders about dating is an entirely separate can of worms, I guess). According to student testimony, Swinyar said, "If your boyfriend says bad things to you and/or treats you wrong, that means he's acting like a n-----." The teacher added, "You all should not be dating all these different African-American boys because they are not worth it."
Students said Swinyar reportedly made similar racist remarks during a different incident in August 2017 as well. But Swinyar’s racist fuckery didn’t stop there. He also once reportedly turned up at a black church and mocked the preacher’s preaching style.
Swinyar, who received a 10-day unpaid suspension following an investigation, denies having said any such things to students. CNN reported they got their hands on a letter Duval County Schools Superintendent Patricia Willis sent to the school board members, which further detailed how the teacher would be "reprimanded" (quotes mine, and you’ll see why).
"Following the employee's suspension without pay, he will be reassigned to an appropriate district position with no contact with students for the remainder of the year," Willis wrote. "As an annual contract employee, Mr. Swinyar's employment contract with the district expires June 30, 2018. In May, recommendations for contract renewals for all annual employees will be considered."
