A teacher in a majority white school district was fired after she attempted to protect a black student from bullies. According to ABC 15 in Fountain Hills, Arizona, teacher Pam Aister noticed one of her black fourth-grade students was surrounded by a group of white students.
The white students were bullying the black student by calling him the N-word, “monkey,” and “coon.” Aister stepped in between the students and told them they would have to deal with her if the racist taunts continued.
The white students told their parents, who eventually got upset. The parents went to the Fountain Hills school board and lobbied for her dismissal.
Aister told the board that she was only protecting her black student against racist bullying. However, the board members did not believe her claim. They all voted for immediate dismissal.
Aister’s firing is another case of privileged students and their parents being allowed to dictate rules. However, some people have decided to speak up for Aister. More than 7,800 people have signed a petition on change.org to have Aister reinstated by the board.
Aister has been a teacher for 24 years.
