Advertisement Teacher fired after making racially charged comments at students Video shows teacher yelling in class Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A Baltimore school teacher has been fired after making racially charged comments at students. The district said, "A middle school science teacher at Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School engaged in verbally abusive behavior and made racially charged comments directed at students." Baltimore City schools CEO Sonja Santelises made the call to terminate the teacher after watching cellphone video recorded by student. "The behavior in that video was not about a teacher trying to regain control of the class. The focus of our reaction was really about the way that teacher went about it, and frankly, the way young people were treated and addressed," Santelises said. The incident took place a couple of days ago, but it only came to light after the incident was posted on social media. The teacher was apparently trying to bring order to her eighth-grade science class, but it's how she went about it and what she said in the heat of the moment that concerns city school officials. The teacher said to students: "You're getting zeros for doing nothing." She then used language offensive to African-Americans. School officials said they stand by their decision. "In a very trying time in the country right now, here in city schools, we are clear: We do not tolerate that type of language or interaction using hate speech with anyone, let along our young people," Santelises said. "In the current climate, we in city schools are very, very clear about where we stand with any kind of hate speech, any kind of obvious discriminatory language." The Baltimore Teachers Union released a statement, saying it "condemns the language used by the teacher at Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School. The union stands together with Baltimore City Public Schools in supporting respectful and equitable learning environments for all our students." The parent of a student who had just been put out of the same classroom talked with 11 News about what she heard on the video. "It bothers kids to think that an adult think of them in a certain way, so for a teacher to think that you are just a punk, whatever, whatever, 'You just want to get shot,' this is what you tell the kids, it's not OK," said Erica Deminds, a Harlem Park parent. Prior to the incident, the parent had given the teacher high marks. "She's a good teacher. I know her. I've talked to her before. It took me by surprise to see her in action like that, because I've never witnessed it before," Deminds said. "It was heartbreaking to see her talk to the kids that way, to hear her say the things she said to the kids. And most of the kids in the class look up to her, they admire her, my son is one of them." WBAL-TV 11 News has learned that the teacher had taught in the school district for four years. WBAL-TV 11 News made attempts to contact the teacher, but has yet to receive a response. WBAL-TV 11 News Education Alert reporter Tim Tooten will have more on this story on 11 News at 5 and 6 p.m.