Teacher Resigns Over Online Post Comparing Obamas to Ape-Like ‘Zoo Escapees’
A high school teacher in Arkansas has given up his position after being scrutinized for online postings where he likened President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to primates.
Trent Bennett was a science teacher at Malvern High School, and the local school district has been looking into several “racially-charged” remarks that he posted on Facebook last week.
In Bennett’s now-deleted posts, he referred to the First Lady as “Michelle Obummer… America’s First Chimp” before saying how happy he was to see “that nasty chimp and her spider monkey hubby gone for good.” Bennett also called the First Couple “zoo escapees” and talked about how the president was “from Kenya.”
The Malvern school district released a statement several days ago which said they were looking into Bennett’s “inappropriate, insensitive” comments. During a Thursday night meeting, the board members unanimously voted to accept Bennett’s resignation.
Bennett responded to the news with a letter to his former students, which he sent to KARK-TV.
“I would like to issue an apology for the outrage and hurt feelings caused by these comments. I acknowledge that they were disrespectful and offensive. I am aware of the impact this has had, and though I negate that I have ever conducted myself in a less than professional manner in regard to my students, I have resigned my teaching position at Malvern High School. I have also removed my social media presence to prevent any future issues. I am unavailable for further statements or interviews, and humbly ask for everyone to respect the privacy of my family, friends, and former colleagues.”
[Image via screengrab]
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