Parents Outraged After Anti-Gay Slur Used Against Special Needs Son

metroweekly.com:

KFSM. “I didn’t have an answer for my son.”Their son said he had been wrestling and roughhousing with another boy, and that the teacher had encouraged the other student to use the slur against him.The Stepps had more questions about the incident, so they went to the Talihina Elementary School principal, the superintendent, and the teacher for answers.Amber Stepp says she recorded a phone conversation with the teacher in question, playing the recording for KFSM.In the recording, the teacher is heard saying, “Two of the boys were wrestling with each other, and one of them started yelling, saying, ‘He’s touching me, he’s touching me,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, when he does that, yell “f** alert.”‘”The Stepps say they were shocked by the teacher’s behavior.“I never expected it to happen to anyone, let alone my own child,” Jonathon Stepp said. “I’m supposed to trust this professional to teach my son positive things, not hatred.”KFSM confirmed that the Talihina Public School District launched an investigation, during which the Stepps’ son was sent home and could not access his special ed services.In a statement, the school district claimed it had taken “appropriate action.”“Talihina Public Schools values and takes student and employee safety very seriously.

We have received this complaint and, in response, have completed an investigation and taken appropriate action,” the statement reads. “This teacher does remain employed in our school district.

We cannot comment further as this involves confidential personnel and confidential student information.”Amber Stepp said her son was then told to either return to the same classroom, or the option of an all-girl classroom.