Florence 1 Schools took swift action after an “inappropriate” picture surfaced on an elementary school’s social media. The photo, posted on Royall Elementary School’s Facebook page, showed staff in sombreros and other Hispanic attire. Two staff members wore gray t-shirts with “U.S. Border Patrol” written on them.
Superintendent Richard O’Malley said, “I was notified by my staff of an inappropriate social media post on one of our school’s Facebook accounts. What was posted, and the conduct of the staff involved, is inexcusable and not a representation of the school, its students and staff, or of our district as a whole.”
He added, “This matter has been thoroughly investigated, and those responsible have been held accountable. There is no room for anything of this nature in our schools. I will not tolerate it. We have made great strides in Florence 1 over the last several years, and I believe the best is yet to come. Thank you for your continued support of the students and staff of Florence 1 Schools.”
The school acknowledged the “insensitive” picture and promptly removed it from Facebook. They issued an apology, stating, “It is with regret that we acknowledge that a picture posted yesterday showed an insensitive disregard for the current challenges our Hispanic population faces.”
“At Royall, we take pride in embracing and supporting every student who walks through our doors,” the post continued. “Our staff is committed to celebrating diversity and ensuring each student is successful, happy, and recognized for their unique culture and abilities. We apologize for our insensitivity and look forward to fostering relationships as we begin a new school year.”
The Florence County Democratic Party responded, condemning the photo. Chairman Isaac Wilson wrote, “I am appalled by the images shared by educated professionals but more disappointed that someone thought this tasteless display represented Mexican culture.”
He added, “In a time where we should unite to solve issues like racism and bigotry, this tone-deaf behavior cannot be tolerated. Our schools should educate our children on online behavior and kindness towards diverse populations.”
“Approximately 50 students at Royall Elementary will attend classes today feeling their school doesn’t see them or their community’s struggles,” Wilson continued. “Words and images online have power and permanence. The Florence Community should use this incident to discuss online behavior, implicit bias, and the contributions of our Hispanic population.”
The Racial Justice Network, a national civil rights organization, also weighed in via email. “There was a lot of work, time, effort, and thought put into this display,” the organization said. “There was no regard for the students’ feelings or the message being sent to others.”
The group questioned the motives behind the post and demanded that “all parties involved be fired.” They also called on state Superintendent Ellen Weaver and the state Department of Education to get involved.