Teacher compares student’s ‘build the wall’ shirt to swastika

A Kennewick mother says she never meant to get her son’s teacher in trouble for comparing his “Build the Wall” T-shirt to a swastika. But Michelle Fischer told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson that it does stir the debate about teachers’ political perspectives and students.

“I don’t want to get the teacher fired, I don’t want to get her in a lot of trouble, I just don’t agree with the way she was teaching the class and making my son feel,” she said. “And I don’t like the fact that she compared the shirt to wearing a swastika.”

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Fischer’s seventh-grade son, Jack, attends Chinook Middle School in Kennewick where he wore his “Build the Wall” shirt. She explained that he is in the political minority as a Trump supporter. One of his teachers has been teaching Jack’s class about the election and debate and watching CNN Kids news in class every day.

“Pretty much, the teacher is pro-Hillary and Jack is pro-Trump,” she said. “His buddy is pro-Trump, too, but the rest of the class is, I guess you would say, on the side of the teacher.”

‘Build the Wall’

On Inauguration Day, Jack wore a navy blue T-shirt to school that said “Build the Wall” across the chest, had an American flag and said “Trump 2016.”

“The teacher said that it was inappropriate, that it was offensive and how would Jack feel if somebody was wearing a T-shirt with a swastika on it,” Fischer said, noting that Jack responded that the two things were “totally different.”

She said Jack also pointed out: “If my shirt is too political then why did my math teacher … have on an Obama shirt?”

Fischer made her concerns public on Facebook and after Conservative talk show host Sean Hannity shared her story, the issue went viral. She said the principal reached out to the family and had a respectful and positive conversation about the issue.

According to the Tri-City Herald, school district officials said in a statement that the school’s principal investigated the incident and took appropriate action. The newspaper added that “the district believes students expressing themselves is an important part of education in a democratic society” and that district policy allows students to express opinions as long as it doesn’t disrupt the education of others.

KIRO Radio reached out to the Kennewick School District. It sent this statement:

We are aware that media outlets are reporting a claim that a student at Chinook Middle School was bullied by a teacher for wearing a shirt expressing support of a particular political view. The school principal investigated and appropriate action was taken with the employee. There was no punishment for the student for wearing the shirt. The school investigation also concluded that the student was not isolated or reprimanded during lunch as some social media posts and news outlets are reporting.

Kennewick School District supports our students’ right to free expression of opinion as an important part of education in a democratic society. Our policy states ‘Students’ verbal and written expression of opinion on school premises is to be encouraged so long as it does not disrupt the operation of the school, subject to reasonable limitations.’

Listen below to hear the full explanation of Fischer’s concerns.

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