Teacher accused in racial slur incident

Terry Webster

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 | 11:16 a.m.

Marking the third racial slur controversy in two months, Clark County School District officials confirmed Wednesday that a teacher at Sunrise Acres Elementary is accused of using a slur in reference to a student's parentage.

The teacher allegedly told a mother her child "doesn't look like a nigger," school officials said.

The comment reportedly came after the father and the child stepped outside of a meeting Friday and the teacher questioned the mother about the child's "real" father.

The teacher at the eastern Las Vegas school strongly denies the allegation, said assistant superintendent Edward Goldman.

The charge will be hard to prove, Goldman said, because it stems from a conversation between two people. Based on interviews with the parent and the teacher, school officials will have to determine who is telling the truth.

If the district decides to take disciplinary action, its options are limited.

Regulations do not provide for immediate dismissal of school employees for using racial slurs, Goldman said. At most, the teacher could be suspended without pay for from one to 20 days.

Then, depending on the level of discipline, an appeal can be made to Goldman.

Superintendent Carlos Garcia said the accusation is being taken seriously. He promised "swift and immediate action if this is true."

Garcia found himself in the middle of a controversy for his approach to condemning racism by using a racial slur during a late July radio talk show interview with a group of high school student interns.

He issued a public apology, and the School Board told him to never again use the term.

The next incident occurred on Sept. 6 when a Charles I. West Middle School eighth grade teacher allegedly recited a childhood saying that included a racial slur.

The teacher admitted making the statement, but claimed she meant no harm. She was transferred to Johnson Middle School and was disciplined. School officials declined to reveal how she was disciplined.

The teachers' names have not been released by the district.

Garcia issued a Sept. 15 memo warning all school district employees to not use racial epithets under any circumstances. Anyone doing so will be subject to disciplinary action, the memo states.