HILLSBORO, Ore. (KOIN 6) – A small group of students formed a walkout Monday to show support for a teacher under investigation.
The Century High School teacher has not been identified. A spokesperson for the school district says the incident occurred Friday at a school assembly.
Senior Lacey Shier, who spoke with KOIN 6 News after getting her father’s permission, says that she was at the assembly when the comment was made. She says the two boys who reported the incident were reportedly upset with the comment. Shier says the teacher’s comments were likely taken out of context. She says the teacher is well liked and often “jokes around” with students.
Shier is helping to organize the all day walkout. She says school leaders asked the students walking out of class to return, but they refused. She says officials told them that their parents would be notified and they could be issued detention. Most at the group told KOIN they had already told their parents about the rally and had their support.
“I think the only way to get the message out there is that this teacher is a good person,” Shier says.
Katlyn Bivins, a senior, also had parent permission to speak with KOIN, says that the teacher under investigation has always told his students to “stand up for what they believe in.” She says she wanted to join the walkout group so other students and teachers knew how she felt.
“This is important to me,” Bivins said.
District leaders Monday could not say how long the investigation would take.