A group of educators at a largely Latino high school in New Jersey, recently caused quite an uproar. They allegedly chose controversial clothing on a school-sanctioned dress-down day. The teachers allegedly wore shirts that read “Gulf of America” to Belleville High School on January 31, 2025. Some think the teacher’s choice of attire was in poor taste. Others believe it’s potentially a political statement in support of President Donald Trump.
Trump signed an executive order on January 20 titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.” The president ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the Gulf of America. Per the order, “The Gulf will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America’s future and the global economy, and in recognition of this flourishing economic resource and its critical importance to our Nation’s economy and its people, I am directing that it officially be renamed the Gulf of America.”
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The order instructed the secretary of the interior to rename the Gulf of Mexico within 30 days and to “ensure all federal references to the Gulf of America, including on agency maps, contracts, and other documents and communications, shall reflect its renaming.”
According to NJ.com, an unnamed teacher from Belleville High School shared their frustration with other staff at the school.
“Our student body has been suffering, crying, coming into school, emails from kids saying their parents are not letting come back for fear that they get picked up by ICE raids,” the Belleville teacher wrote in the post. “Our job is to support these kids and reassure them the school is safe place and to come here. I feel as if those t-shirts at Belleville High School are sending a clear-cut message to these kids in order to intimidate them and to bully them.”
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The shirts caused quite a conversation on the NJ.com Facebook page.
A follower wrote, “I wasn’t born in this country…Im a naturalized citizen and I appreciate such antics no matter my political or personal views…I personally see it as a teaching moment for my students that no matter the age people the we sometimes trust and expect more from make choices that we don’t agree with or are deemed acceptable.”
This person expressed frustration, writing, “That’s so embarrassing. Imagine explaining this to children. We call it the ‘Gulf of America’ but the entire rest of the world refers to it by its proper name ‘gulf of Mexico.'”
“I remember being in school and we couldn’t wear anything political.. biblical..or any kinda thing on our clothes that was not appropriate… so how is it ok for them to wear that?.. cuz I bet if kids wore shirts that said black lives matter or anything like that ppl would be causing a fuss,” another person shared.
In a letter to parents obtained by NJ.com, Superintendent Nick Perrapato acknowledged the incident. He stated the administration would handle the issue “internally.”
