On Friday, Libs of TikTok shared videos of a Florida teacher featuring middle school students. In the videos, Ethan Hooper, a language arts teacher at Howard Middle School in Orange County, Florida, features underage students in twisted Black History Month “skits.”
In one video, Hooper mocks state education officials’ decision to remove inappropriate books from Florida schools.
Florida teachers get students to participate in a series of tiktoks mocking the FL Department of Education for removing books from schools that contain profanity, CRT and gender ideology. pic.twitter.com/i8BzdhFsbw
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 17, 2023
Another shows white students acting like servants to black students.
This Florida teacher had students participate in a skit for Black History Month where white students act as servants to black students. pic.twitter.com/g29SgNd3pn
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 17, 2023
After facing backlash for the “skits,” Hopper was allegedly placed on administrative leave.
Voice of Florida reports:
Hooper removed the videos after Voice of Florida asked the district if this was appropriate behavior for teachers.
“I am appalled by the behavior and judgment of a teacher who posted inappropriate videos using her students as political props,” said Superintendent Maria Vazquez.
“This is not free speech – this is the exploitation of our students for political purposes and will not be tolerated in our school district.”
Orange County Public Schools media manager Michael Ollendorff said the district “will not tolerate” using children as political pawns in the classroom.
“Any employee who creates videos or other content with students in an attempt to exploit students for political purposes will be immediately removed from the classroom, placed on administrative leave and subject to immediate action to terminate employment,” Ollendorff said.
The series of videos was labeled “POV A Florida Classroom” and featured students repeating that teachers “don’t read books”, “books are bad” and “if I read it the feds would approve it”.
