Ohio teacher suspended for telling student 'We don’t need another black president'

A Fairfield, Ohio, science teacher has been suspended without pay and could be dismissed after he allegedly told a male African-American student, “We do not need another black president.”

Fairfield Freshman School teacher Gil Voigt allegedly made the remark earlier this month after the student commented that he would like to become president.

Voigt has 10 days to request a hearing with the school board.

Assistant Superintendent Roger Martin investigated the matter and says the incident occurred with at least four other students present. “This is a rare occurrence. This is the first time I’ve faced it since being named assistant superintendent (in 2011),” Martin said.

Voigt, who has taught at Fairfield for 14 years, was previously disciplined in 2008 for making an inappropriate racial remark and received a verbal warning last year for calling a student “stupid.”

The teen who was the alleged target of Voigt’s comment has been removed from his class.

“We intend to uphold board policies and to hold teachers accountable for the essential functions of the teacher job description,” Martin said.

According to Voigt, the student misinterpreted his comment. He stands accused of violating board policies related to staff ethics, staff-student relations and harassment.

[Cincinnati Enquirer]