New Jersey teachers under fire for wearing ‘Gulf of America’ shirts to school
A small group of teachers wearing “Gulf of America” T-shirts to school has stirred controversy in their New Jersey district over whether it was unwelcome political statement.
The shirts were worn during a dress-down day Jan. 31 at Belleville High School.
The T-shirts apparently referenced an executive order from President Donald Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. Some say the move has caused tension with the largely Latino school community.
Another teacher at Belleville High School took to social media to denounce what she called an attempt to bully Latino students who fear Trump’s threatened Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
“Our student body has been suffering, crying, coming into school, emails from kids saying their parents are not letting come back for fear that they get picked up by ICE raids,” the Belleville teacher said in the post. “Our job is to support these kids and reassure them the school is safe place and to come here. I feel as if those t-shirts at Belleville High School are sending a clear-cut message to these kids in order to intimidate them and to bully them.”
School board President Gabrielle Bennett-Meany declined comment and referred all inquiries to school Superintendent Nick Perrapato, who did not respond to repeated requests for an interview.
On Tuesday, Perrapato sent a letter to parents, staff and the school community in which he acknowledged “a recent situation that has caused concern within our school community,” and said the matter was being addressed “internally.”
“Last week, a small group of staff members wore coordinated clothing that some students and staff found offensive,” Perrapato wrote in the letter obtained by NJ Advance Media. “We understand this has impacted members of our community in different ways, and we take these concerns seriously.”
Perrapato declined to provide specifics, citing it as a personnel matter, but stated that it would be addressed according to district policies and procedures.
Belleville High School is 73% Hispanic, according to the latest state Department of Education data.
“We recognize that political discourse can be especially charged, and we encourage thoughtful actions and respectful conversations among our students and staff,” Perrapato wrote, adding that school counselors would be available for any student in need of support. “We are committed to working together to ensure that our schools remain a positive learning environment.”
Belleville school board policy generally prohibits teachers and staff from engaging in political activity on school grounds.
The policy states teachers and staff can’t distribute political circulars or petitions on school grounds, but it doesn’t expressly forbid clothing with political slogans.
The policy also protects freedom of speech.
“Nothing in this Policy shall be interpreted to impose a burden on the constitutionally protected speech or conduct of a teaching staff member or a student,” it says.
The teacher who posted on social media did not respond to a request for an interview. But in her post, she said a history teacher has two jobs: to convey the facts, and to protect the children emotionally and physically.
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