Valley mom upset over punishment for students saying racial slur

TEMPE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - A valley family is upset about a racially charged incident at their daughter's elementary school.

They claim a group of students were repeating a racial slur at lunchtime and that their daughter was offended, so she reported it to school administrators. The family, however, says the school did not take enough disciplinary action.

These days some believe schools are becoming very politically correct, with lots of anti-bully programs and meetings about the importance of feelings. So when a mother of a fifth grader found out her daughter overheard a racial slur being repeated at school, she expected significant repercussions, but she says that is not what happened.

"It feels to me as if my concerns were just brushed under the rug," said Kristel Hunter.

Two weeks ago Hunter's 5th grader came come upset because she had heard some of her peers use a racial slur they heard on the internet. After an investigation, the schools says they took action.

"All of the children were spoken to, and of course, the parents of the children who were singing the song were spoken to, and they understood completely that it was inappropriate, very hurtful. These children are only 8, 9, or 10-years-old," said Nancy Dudenhoefer.

Hunter says that's not enough, she wants all the parents and children involved to sit down together and perhaps an apology for her daughter.

"She went to the authorities, and she expected them to protect her and have her back, and I don't feel that the principal protected her or had my daughter's back," said Hunter.

A representative for the school says she believes this can be a learning opportunity for students and parents.

"We also want to use this as a teachable moment for the children that may or may not have initially understood what they were saying is extremely hurtful to others... and it's also a teachable moment for parents that our children cannot look at everything on the internet and think it's okay to say and repeat," said Dudenhoefer.

And although she may be young, 11-year-old Jenaia has some wise words for her peers.

"Everybody is equal no matter what color you are, and everybody should be treated the same, so you shouldn't say that word no matter if you're black or white, you just shouldn't say it period," said Jenaia Hunter.

Hunter says to her knowledge the word has not been repeated since the issue was addressed.