Shocking awards given to middle school students leave parents outraged

Teachers use the term 'ghetto' in award titles.

Parents and school officials are shocked after learning "award certificates" with a poor taste of words were handed out to eight grade graduates. The "8th Ghetto Classroom Awards," signed by teachers Stephanie Garner and Thomas Couch, were given to students of Sulphur Springs Middle School, Texas. The school principal claims she outsourced the task and was oblivious to the written text.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "I had to take a second look. I was like, really? How could a teacher put this on there? Did she just say ghetto on a certificate that she was giving my grandson?" said one student's grandmother, Debra Jose, during an interview with ABC 7. She addressed what the word meant during her time, the segregation and the negative implications the word has ties with.

Jose said that if teachers really knew what the word means and the experiences African Americans had, they wouldn't have the guts to use the word.

Sulphur Springs Superintendent Michael Lamb expressed his shock after learning about the condemned certificates.

"Shocked. Shocked. Truly, it goes in layers. You kind of ask yourself, had anything else been used, the 'teacher's name' award, would it start to seem more acceptable. The "huh?" award just begs questions," said Lamb, describing his initial reaction after seeing the awards, according to The Daily Mail.

Lamb noted that the teachers copied the practice from another district.

Nonetheless, he said it is not something the district is proud of and they have deemed the practice unacceptable. "It is not anything we want to be a part of," he said.

The school principal, Jena Williams claims she had nothing to do with the awards and that she was also shocked at the teachers' bad humor. Williams reportedly had someone else sign and stamp the awards for her.

Couch, an English teacher, and Garner, a special education instructor, have yet to release their statements.

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