because i don’t think this is getting enough attention, especially because the school made them delete it. i want everyone to know that these kids are from SOUTHLAKE CARROLL. pic.twitter.com/k6xg7CSOBx
— uh-LAY-nuh (@ahylaina) October 30, 2018
Several white students at a high school in North Texas were punished by the school’s administration after posting a racist video to Facebook on Friday night.
The video features several white teenagers–the majority of whom are girls–chanting the n-word repeatedly. At the end, one them says, “We up on that black shit.”
The video was not filmed at the high school the teenagers attend, but in line with their school district’s code of conduct, they’re being punished for effectively causing a disruption on campus.
Southlake Carroll administrators met with the students in the video, and their parents, on Monday morning to outline the consequences those students would be subject to as a result of the racist chant.
The details of those consequences, however, are not being made public.
Julie Thannum is the school district’s assistant superintendent for board and community relations. In a statement provided to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram she said:
Due to confidentiality laws, the district will not share the consequences handed down to students per the Student Code of Conduct. But I can say they are being evenly applied.
The Carroll Independent School District’s code of conduct states, in relevant part, that “students are prohibited from…posting…messages that are abusive, obscene…threatening [or] harassing.” The code also notes that this prohibition “applies to conduct off school property if it results in…disruption to the educational environment.”
On Saturday, school officials sent an email to parents, students and staff regarding the video in question.
That email notes that the school is “aware of an inappropriate video that was posted publicly on social media by some Southlake teens and circulated online this week.”
“We are extremely disappointed that any of our students would be involved in making a video involving a racial slur,” the statement noted.
The emailed statement also seems to implicate the above-mentioned provision in the school district’s code of conduct related to campus-wide disruption.
“[The video] has quickly become an issue that we as a district and a community must address,” the statement said.
The email also offered a preview of the incoming disciplinary action and implored the high school’s community to come together in response. The statement concludes:
Meeting with students and parents regarding consequences are happening on Monday. It’s a touch social media world out there for our kids, for sure. But as Dragons, we are better than this. We must value and respect everyone and avoid any actions that promote racism or hate speech.
Southlake Carroll junior Trevor Easton expressed his disdain for the video with the local Fox affiliate.
“I was definitely frustrated by the content,” Easton said. “It’s definitely not exemplary of what our whole student body is about. They’re representing a sport and a school, and they shouldn’t be representing them like that.”
[image via screengrab]
Follow Colin Kalmbacher on Twitter: @colinkalmbacher
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