Running head: PORTFOLIO ARTIFACT

EDU 210 Portfolio Artifact #2

Ryan Moore
College of Southern Nevada

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2
EDU 210 Portfolio Artifact #2

While talking with principal Freddie Watts and assistant principal Jimmy Brothers, both of
whom are African-American, a white tenured teacher by the name of Ann Griffin became angry
and blurted out that she hates all back folks. Negative reactions amongst employees of all races
arose when word of the incident was released. Concerns on whether or not Ann Griffin contains
the ability to treat her students equally as well as her judgment caused the principal to question
dismissal.
What Ann Griffin said was blatantly racist and clearly not acceptable for an environment
such as a school. Regardless of if students heard the comment from Griffin herself, word travels
fast in schools. If the children attending this institution were to hear of a teacher exhibiting such
inexcusable behavior, they may take it as an initiative to act the same way. The First Amendment
grants Griffin the freedom of speech however, the fact that she said it to two superiors of the
African-American race makes dismissal the most suitable choice. The ruling of a 1942 case called
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, declared that peace disrupting, fighting words are not protected
under the First Amendment.
Ann Griffin was hired not only to teach but also to be a role model to the students. A role
model does not make racist remarks; therefore Griffin is in no position to be a role model. There is
no grey area for racism anywhere, but it is extremely out of line when in a school. The ruling of
West v. Derby Unified School District stated that schools have the right to suspend students for
displaying acts of racism, or in this case the displaying of a Confederate flag. If a school is able to
suspend a child who may not know any better for racism, than a teacher who does know better
should be let go from that position.
However, at the end of the day, Ann Griffin was an employee exercising her right to free
speech. She was sharing an opinion, and though it is an unpopular one, the school has no reason

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to fire her. Racism will exist whether or not Ann Griffin continues to work for the district or not.
Children can find institutional racism in the books in the library, which according to the case
Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v. Pico, schools are not able
to remove books from the library because the ideas in the book are found to be objectionable. If a
school cannot remove books for their ideas, than people should be treated the same.
It also could be a similar case to Pickering v. Board of Education. In 1968 the Supreme
Court ruled that it is a violation of a teachers first amendment right to fire them if they are
speaking as a citizen on matters of public concern. The basis of the conversation between Griffin
and the two superiors is not clear. These people could have been having a conversation as citizens
rather than employees.
In the end, Ann Griffin should be fired. The First Amendment does not give every one a free
pass to make racist remarks, especially in a professional setting. Whether or not it was just in the
heat of the moment, the Supreme Court has ruled time and time again that the First Amendment
does not protect speech that directs hate towards another person or group of people in a place
such as a school. Griffins statement permanently tainted the relationship between her and her
superiors. Claiming that she hates all black folks welcomes hatred and obscene behavior into a
place where it does not belong.

References
Chaplinsky v. State of New Hampshire. (1999). Communications & the Law, 21(4), 45.
The Nonpartisan Freedom of Expression of Public Employees. (1977). The Nonpartisan

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Freedom of Expression of Public Employees. Michigan Law Review, 76(2), 365404.

Retrieved from http://doi.org/10.2307/1287894
Pickering v. Board of Education , 391 U.S. 563 (1968). First Amendment Center. Retrieved from
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=317
West v. Derby Unified School District No. 260, 206 F.3d 1358 (10th Cir. 2000). First
Amendment Center. Retrieved from
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=1688