Taylor was elected DeKalb County school superintendent in 2013 despite concerns that he sends his own four children to a private Christian academy. He says he made this choice because of his religion.
DeKalb County Alabama school superintendent Hugh Taylor (left) cancelled a high school history club field trip. The movie they had wanted to see was “Selma.” The school is predominantly minority (i.e. black). Their parents were paying for the tickets.
The superintendent said he was predominately concerned about obscene language and “racial profanity” in the Oscar-nominated film. Apparently the superintendent had reason, because the movie has two F-words and 26 derogatory terms for African-Americans.
According to Taylor, he is concerned about what would happen if a child was offended by the film and wanted to leave the theater, saying he didn’t think teachers should have to be put in the position of playing parent.
An African-American parent of one senior questioned the decision.
“It raises my curiosity as to whether something that they are not wanting exposed or the children not to know about.” said Reverend James Stanton. “I don’t believe it is just about the profanity.”
Taylor was elected DeKalb County school superintendent in 2013 despite concerns that he sends his own four children to a private Christian academy.
While so much is being said about white cops and their racism, this seems to me to be a bigger deal. Parents, not administrators or boards elected by the populace at large, should control their kids schools.
The most dangerous thing about bigotry in 21st century American society is that the political right is trying to make it socially respectable again. We must not allow them to succeed.