A black sixth-grade language arts teacher in Florida has been placed on leave over the controversial “point of view” TikTok videos he’s been posting to the internet.
In one video, Ethan Hooper’s students performed a Black History Month skit that evidently involved his white students literally bowing to his black students and acting like their doting slaves.
Watch:
This Florida teacher made students participate in a skit for black history month where white students act like servants for black students pic.twitter.com/g29SgNd3pn
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 17, 2023
In another politically charged video, Hooper mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ schoolroom ban on inappropriate books by going around his classroom, grabbing random books from his students, and saying they were banned.
Watch:
Florida teacher makes students participate in a series of tiktoks mocking the FL Dept of Education for removing books from schools containing pornography, CRT, and gender ideology pic.twitter.com/i8BzdhFsbw
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 17, 2023
As both videos went viral, they stirred a massive public backlash.
“If one of the teachers was using my kid for political gain, that would upset me. What if I don’t believe in that, and, you know, that’s not what I’m teaching my kid,” one local parent told station WKMG.
The backlash was especially evident on social media:
This is horribly racist, sad, and pathetic.
— Jason “Storm Chaser” Nelson (@Storm4Congress) February 17, 2023
If any of these were my child, I know deep down I would react in a non socially acceptable way. I know I shouldn’t, but I don’t think I could help myself. Fire with fire.
— John (@Ut_Credamus) February 18, 2023
This is disgusting and wrong. This teacher should be fired. The entire point of learning from our bad history is that all humans are EQUAL, not that some should be treated like royalty because their ancestors were treated horribly…
— DrGratefulAC19 (@gratefulAC19) February 17, 2023
Makes the little black kids seem helpless, useless, and lazy. Letting other kids do everything for them. Even to placing food in their mouths. As if they were incapable or unable to do it themselves. Representative of the typical lefty racism of low expectations.
— Silver Kait (@silverkait) February 20, 2023
You rock libsoftiktok! I forwarded to both the Governor and the Education Department so they can decide what happens to this teacher who clearly is spending all his time Woke-ing his students instead of teacher! Thank you so much!!
— tinyCSgeek (@tinyGammaGeek) February 18, 2023
The backlash eventually culminated in Orange County Public Schools issuing a statement condemning Hooper, according to local station WKMG.
“Orange County Public Schools will not tolerate the use of our children as political pawns by anyone, including a classroom teacher. Any employee of who creates videos or other content with students in an effort to exploit them for political purposes will be immediately removed from the classroom, placed on administrative leave and swift action will be taken to terminate employment,” the statement reads.
“I am appalled at the behavior and judgment of the teacher who posted the inappropriate videos using his students as political props. This is not free speech — it is the exploitation of our students for political purposes, and it will not be tolerated in our school district,” OCPS superintendent Maria Vazquez added in a separate statement.
BREAKING: After Florida’s Voice reached out to Orange County Schools on a middle school teacher recording students to mock the DeSantis administration’s crackdown on inappropriate books, he was placed on administrative leave
“Swift action will be taken to terminate employment.”
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) February 17, 2023
Hooper has for his part somewhat apologized, while at the same time claiming it’d been done “in good fun” and accusing his critics of being malicious.
“It was in good fun. There was no political agenda behind it. It’s being maliciously used, and I am deeply apologetic toward the students and parents of those involved. I am also sorry to the students who weren’t involved,” he said to local station WESH.
“I want to be an example for them. If this does not match up with what they viewed [of me], I am truly sorry. My heart is for my students and the parents, first and foremost,” he added.
However, not everybody disagrees with what he did.
“We all agreed to it. He didn’t really do anything wrong. None of [the other students] think that this should be really happening. He’s one of my favorite teachers. He’s probably the best. It’s just not fair,” one of his students, Jaida Jackson, said to WESH.
Listen:
Her mother, Shauna Thompson, concurred.
“The fact that the students really devised the content specifically means that it’s something that matters to them. And to say that they were used as pawns is false,” Thompson said.
She even defended the slaves video.
“The other example my daughter showed me was for Black History Month. They put some black students on the chairs, and then the white students were fanning them and making them comfortable. You know, it’s awesome, it’s beautiful, it’s celebratory, and I loved it,” she said.
According to her, other parents feel similarly.
“A lot of them are feeling guilt because when you love somebody, you want to protect them, and they’re so young, they don’t understand what’s happening. Why are adults coming for our favorite teacher?” she said …
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Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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