The parents of an 11-year-old student in Monroe, Washington removed him from school after being subjected to "persistent racism."
An 11-year-old student's parents say numerous racist run-ins -- and little action by the Monroe School District -- has forced them to remove him from in-person class. #FOX13 https://t.co/vbyhqVxUCH
— FOX 13 Seattle (@fox13seattle) December 1, 2021
Their decision came just as the Monroe School District publicly addressed racism in schools after a viral video showed high school students targeting a Black student using the n-word.
You can watch a video of the news story, below.
Parents pull son from Monroe, Washington school after racial slurs | FOX 13 Seattleyoutu.be
The boy's father, Craig Crecelius, told Fox 13:
"He started to be called the n-word to the point where he thought it was normal."
"He broke down and told my wife about what was happening – and he said, ‘I don’t know, maybe it’s just a thing kids say.’"
Monroe. Color me not the least surprised.
"Parents withdraw child from school after 11-year-old was constantly called the N-word: report"https://t.co/0HzyZobVDe
— Portia 🧑🏾🎄Vaxxed and Boosted 🧑🏾🎄McGonagal (@PortiaMcGonagal) December 1, 2021
I hope they sue the school for the legal education they're NOT giving AND sue the parents for bullying or SOMETHING
Money will get their attention
— undrcvr🌶️ (@undrcvrmexican) December 1, 2021
The news station reported:
"When asked about the racism at the high school, Monroe Public School responded via a public information officer with a letter that was previously released to parents – specific questions went unanswered."
"When questioned about an 11-year-old driven from in-person learning, the district stopped responding altogether."
Heartbreaking.
— KAS (@WeMustSpeakUp) December 1, 2021
Unacceptable!
— ThatDude (@ThatDudeShannon) December 1, 2021
Crecelius continued:
"I think they just hope we stop talking about it and that it goes away. That’s really what’s pushed me to not stop talking about it."
Disgusting - where is the school board ? Why aren’t they handling this!
— paula (@pauliegirl53) December 1, 2021
His wife, A.J. Crecelius, said the district made the family choose between their son's safety and his education, even though Craig Crecelius said the school was not set up for virtual learning and that it was not a long-term solution.
To which his wife added:
"Again, with that comment, it felt like we’re being pushed out. Instead of, ‘How was he doing, what can we do?’ It was more, ‘Just so you know, this isn’t something we’re set up to do long-term so what are your plans.’"
The family said they have not made a decision on how to move forward as their son is devastated about not going back to school but also not being mentally prepared to go back.