Language and racial slurs are sensitive subjects. Although it is important to acknowledge the roles they play in society, they also need to be handled with care. That is why parents of students at Katherine L. Albiani Middle School in Elk Grove, California, were shocked when sensitive language was used in a classroom lesson. Members of the community came together to speak out about it.
They were confused about what students could possibly get from the lesson. Ultimately, families took the school to task for the way it tried to teach the history lesson. It was clear the teacher wasn’t thinking about the harm it could have caused.
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CBS 13 reported on the incident, saying a teacher at the middle school shared materials as a part of a history lesson. Students received a handout with the title “History of the N-word,” which included “N-word bucks.” Included on the paper was a note. It read “some of the content in this writing may be offensive to children.” On the dollar bill was racist imagery, phrases, and words.
The Elk Grove Unified School District released a statement to CBS 13, noting the materials “do not represent nor reflect the District’s core values.”
On March 4, 2025, more than a dozen people attended the district’s school board meeting. They brought up their concerns and how the materials sparked outrage and confusion. Initially, the discussion was not on the agenda, but speakers were allowed to take the mic and speak about the issues.
“The N-word, the images, the stereotypes covering the bill were just crazy,” one parent said during the meeting. Another added, “There’s no possible way this can be framed as an educational endeavor.”
District employee Kathy Wilson was one of the first to give public comment, according to KCRA. “It’s time for us all to commit to ensuring that every Black member of the district is treated with dignity and respect and humanity every single day,” she said.
In its statement, the district noted that it was “currently conducting a thorough investigation into the incident,” per Fox 40. Once it was done, it would decide what direction officials would take.
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“While I recognize that this matter is under investigation, I have to say unequivocally, the material referred to as racially offensive in the letter is without a doubt racist to its core,” Wilson added, according to KCRA.
Wilson admitted to the news outlet that she was the one who reported the incident. All she wants is for staff at Katherine Albiani Middle School and the district to take responsibility. “I think that we need to come together with solutions that are more than training, that are more than an email. There needs to be ongoing accountability,” she said.
The district has placed the teacher involved on administrative leave while the investigation continues.
