Racial Slur In Class 'Disappointing,' Union City Principal Says

Warning: Profane language follows.

UNION CITY, CA — A ceramics teacher at James Logan High School used a racial slur in class in late February, which has since been circulating on social media and prompted concern from parents, according to school officials.

In February, a Logan student posted an Instagram story showing a woman lying on the floor of an art classroom. With the photo, a caption read:

“my ceramics teacher just said [n---a] 😑 when we got on her ass she said we were mean and layed on the floor 😭”

Logan Principal Ron Polk told Patch on Tuesday that the teacher did not direct the word at any students.

“It was, unfortunately, used in a conversation to discuss the atrocities of the word itself,” Polk wrote in an email to Patch.

On Feb. 28, Polk sent an email to staff and families that the school would “take all necessary and appropriate actions, including training, to assist this staff member in understanding the impact of this conduct on their students.”

Polk told Patch he was not at liberty to disclose if any disciplinary actions were taken against the teacher. He also said that while “sensitivity training is normally a part of our training; however, there may need to be other trainings as we go forward for next year with our staff.”

Polk told families that the students in the class would be offered support and counseling, as needed.

“We want our students to feel comfortable and welcomed when they come to school each day and we will do whatever it takes to ensure that they do,” Polk said. “It is disappointing that this incident occurred and we have no tolerance for this type of conduct.”

At around the same time, Union City residents saw and photographed what appears to be an abandoned car vandalized with the same word, and other profanities. Patch reached out to the Union City Police Department to hear if any reports or arrests had been made in connection with the vandalism.

Union City is diverse, according to 2020 Census data. The city is 20.5% white, 4.9% Black, 53.4% Asian, and 20.2% Latino.