In response to President Trump’s stringent immigration policies, a nationwide protest dubbed “Day Without Immigrants” led many immigrant-owned businesses to shut down. However, when students at a high school in California chose to participate in this demonstration, a group of their teachers expressed their discontent on social media.
Five educators and a guidance counselor from Riverside’s Rubidoux High School made disparaging comments on Facebook regarding students who joined the protests. Former student Maria Gonzalez captured screenshots of their remarks, which have since been deleted, and shared them on her Facebook profile.
One teacher suggested that students were merely using the strike as an opportunity to be “lazy or get drunk,” with others chiming in to celebrate the absence of what they termed “failing students.” Agriculture teacher Lisa Marquez remarked, “What a fantastic day! The troublemakers were gone,” showcasing a troubling disregard for the students’ rights to protest.
Superintendent James Carter confirmed that the teachers involved, including Marquez and guidance counselor Sandra Lee, have been placed on administrative leave while the situation is reviewed. Gonzalez, reflecting on the incident, voiced her disappointment, stating, “I admired these teachers, and now I see how they truly feel about us and our community.”
In a subsequent apology, one teacher acknowledged the harshness of their previous comments while standing by the belief that skipping school is not an effective way to advocate for one’s value to society. Superintendent Carter emphasized the need to support students and the wider school community, noting that the incident does not represent the overall sentiment of the staff.
The backlash against the Trump administration’s immigration policies continues to ignite discussions nationwide, with students becoming increasingly vocal about their concerns for their futures and their families. It is disheartening that, rather than encouraging civic engagement, some educators chose to ridicule their students for advocating for an issue that directly impacts many of them.
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In summary, the actions of the teachers at Rubidoux High School highlight a concerning disconnect between some educators and their students’ rights to protest. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting civic engagement and understanding the personal impact of national policies.