Racist? Head coach Jason Popp in the Richmond Heights High School gym on February 3. He has been suspended after allegedly taunting his black students
A white Ohio basketball coach has been suspended for the rest of the season after furious parents accused him of using racial slurs against their children.
Richmond Heights High School coach Jason Popp is now undergoing sensitivity training after being suspended without pay for the rest of the season.
The school announced its decision after claims from parents and members of the basketball team that Popp had racially harassed the players and called them nigger.
The school’s varsity basketball team had been undefeated so far this season. But their dream streak turned into a nightmare as the accusations went public.
Players declared they would boycott the rest of the season if Popp did not go.
Schools superintendent Linda Hardwick hesitated for two days over her decision. She has refused to confirm if Popp said what he is accused of saying.
Students claim Popp has not denied what he is accused of. But one parent, Rick Early, said he believed the issue was more about insensitivity than racism.
‘They’ve lost faith in him,’ he told local media. ‘They feel this guy has really broken their spirit.’
The power of words: Popp has been defended by former students – but his basketball team were willing to risk their dream season to see him go
At a meeting last Wednesday night furious parents took their case to local media, claiming they were sticking to the guns, and either Popp had to go or they would.
Last Thursday Dr Hardwick said the coach would be suspended with pay, replaced by an assistant.
He would continue to teach health classes at the school, she said, and is set to take up coaching again next year after sensitivity training.
Every other teacher in the district is also set to undergo such training.
Despite the outcry, students in Popp’s health class defended their teacher.
And one of his former basketball players told Newsradio WTAM 1100 that he was an ‘old school’ coach who taught by the fundamentals.
The former player, named in reports as Spencer, said he never heard Popp say anything inappropriate.
In fact, he said Popp had often warned the team that they would face racial slurs playing in rural districts – but that they shouldn’t pay attention.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357746/He-called-children-N-word-Parents-fury-forces-school-suspend-white-basketball-coach.html#ixzz1vgepmrzt
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